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Television

NEC Announces 16-Game Basketball TV Package for 2024-25 Season

2024-12-05

The Northeast Conference (NEC) has made a significant announcement regarding its basketball programming for the 2024-25 season. With an extensive 16-game television package, fans are in for a treat. Le Moyne College's men's and women's basketball teams will each get their moment in the spotlight. Here's a look at the highlights:

ESPN Platforms Dominate

All 16 games will be featured on ESPN platforms, ensuring wide reach. ESPNU will showcase a pair of marquee matchups, while ESPN+ will broadcast 12 games this season, including four exclusive matchups. This extensive coverage will bring the NEC basketball action to fans across the nation.

Regional Networks in Action

YES Network, SportsNet Pittsburgh, and NESN/NESN Nation will each carry eight games, providing extensive regional coverage. This allows fans in specific areas to enjoy the games while also making them accessible nationwide on ESPN+. The 2024-25 NEC slate includes eight men's and eight women's games, ensuring all teams get a chance to shine during the regular season.

NEC Tournament Coverage

The NEC Tournament coverage is set to be exciting. The men's and women's semifinals will be televised, with the title games airing on ESPN2 (men) and ESPNU (women). This adds to the excitement and drama of the postseason.

ESPNU's Key Games

ESPNU will televise a pair of key games during conference play. One of them is a rematch of a 2024 NEC women's semifinal on February 20, when preseason favorite FDU hosts Le Moyne. On the final day of the men's regular season, preseason co-favorites CCSU and Wagner will square off in New Britain. These games will be watched by a national audience on ESPNU.

ESPN+ and Newcomers

ESPN+ will be the go-to destination for NEC basketball enthusiasts this winter. It will host a dozen games, evenly split between the men's and women's teams. Notably, it will air the first-ever NEC-televised games featuring league newcomers Chicago State and Mercyhurst. Fans can subscribe to ESPN+ for $10.99 a month (or $109.99 per year) via ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com, or the ESPN App. It is also available as part of The Disney Bundle.

March Madness and Semifinals

With March Madness on the horizon, ESPN+ will carry the NEC men's semifinals on Saturday, March 8, and the women's semifinals on Thursday, March 13. As part of its Championship Week coverage, ESPN2 will air the NEC men's title game for the 38th consecutive year on Tuesday, March 12, at 7:00 pm. Furthermore, ESPNU will televise the NEC Women's Championship game for the 18th straight year, scheduled for Sunday, March 16, at 12:00 pm.

Regional Partners in New York

The NEC will continue to have a strong presence in the New York metro area with YES Network returning as a regional partner. YES will broadcast four regular-season games on its linear network and YES App, highlighted by a February 6 doubleheader between CCSU and FDU. When March arrives, YES and the YES App will air the NEC men's and women's semifinals, though these broadcasts may be impacted by potential conflicts with New York Yankees spring training. YES will carry the semifinals on tape delay in the event they cannot be aired live.

Expanded SportsNet Pittsburgh and NESN Coverage

SportsNet Pittsburgh (SNP) and NESN are set to expand their NEC coverage this season. Each network will broadcast four regular season games and four playoff games. SNP's coverage will be split between SNP and SNP+, while NESN will feature several games on NESN Nation, a soon-to-launch FAST (free ad-supported streaming television) channel accessible on various streaming platforms, smart TVs, and other connected devices.

Broadcasting Teams

Now in his 25th season, Dave Popkin will serve as the primary play-by-play announcer on men's broadcasts, with Paul Dottino (26th year) filling in. Tim Capstraw (26th year) and Joe DeSantis (18th year) are slated to split color analyst duties. Dottino and Craig D’Amico (16th year) will once again split play-by-play duties on women's telecasts. Pam Roecker is back for her 23rd year as color analyst.

Production Duties

Pack Network and Linacre Media will handle production duties for the league's ESPN+ package, ensuring high-quality broadcasts.The NEC is committed to delivering an exceptional viewing experience for fans through its various broadcast partnerships. This season, basketball fans can look forward to a thrilling ride as the NEC teams take to the court.

The hit procedural series "The Rookie" by ABC might be gearing up for a second spinoff, and this time, it will remain within the cop show realm. Sources reveal that Lionsgate Television, 20th Television, and the show's creator Alexi Hawley are in the early stages of development. Set in Washington state, this potential spinoff follows a male cop as he enters a new phase of life in his second act, similar to the original series which began with Nathan Fillion's John Nolan switching careers. The Rookie executive producer/showrunner Hawley, along with stars like Fillion and other executive producers, is at the helm of this new project. Lionsgate Television will co-produce with 20th Television.

Staying Power and Popularity

Heading into its seventh season and set to premiere on Jan. 7, "The Rookie" remains one of ABC's most watched series. It has also become a top performer on streamer Hulu, especially among young viewers. Disney Television Group President Craig Erwich revealed in February that the show was the #2 drama on Hulu and had generated over 500 million hours viewed since its 2018 launch, with nearly half of them in the most recent year. This shows the staying power of a good drama.

Blind Script Commitment

ABC gave Hawley a blind script commitment earlier this year with the intention of a potential new "The Rookie" spinoff, which led to the current project in development. This is a different approach compared to the first spinoff, which started with a two-episode backdoor pilot on "The Rookie" during the 2021-22 season, introducing characters like Emmy winner Niecy Nash-Betts as Simone Clark. The offshoot, titled "The Rookie: Feds", was picked up but its run was cut short due to the 2023 Hollywood strikes.

Lionsgate's Acquisition and Expansion

Lionsgate completed the acquisition of "The Rookie" producer eOne at the end of 2023, just two months after "The Rookie: Feds" was canceled after one season. The indie studio took over Hawley's eOne overall deal and extended it this past summer, with expanding the "The Rookie" franchise being one of the goals. Hawley is also the creator/executive producer of Lionsgate TV's Netflix series "The Recruit", starring Noah Centineo, which is returning for a second season on Jan. 30. He is represented by the Shuman Company and attorney Adam Kaller.

French President Emmanuel Macron made a significant television address to the nation following the toppling of Prime Minister Michel Barnier's government in a no confidence vote in parliament. This event took place in Paris, France, on December 5, 2024. The image of Macron on screen captured the attention of the country during this crucial moment.

Macron's Address Amidst Government Turmoil

Background and Context

The no confidence vote in parliament was a turning point in the political landscape of France. It led to the downfall of Michel Barnier's government, leaving the nation in a state of uncertainty. Emmanuel Macron, as the French President, stepped forward to address the nation and provide clarity on the next steps. This address was of great importance as it would shape the future course of the country.During this time, the people of France were closely watching the developments and awaiting Macron's words. His appearance on screen became a symbol of leadership during this challenging period. The events of December 5, 2024, marked a significant chapter in the country's history and Macron's address played a crucial role in guiding the nation through it.

Macron's Message and Vision

In his television address, Macron emphasized the need for unity and stability in the face of the political upheaval. He outlined his plans and strategies for moving forward, addressing the concerns of the people. Macron's words carried a sense of determination and hope, inspiring the nation to come together and work towards a better future.He highlighted the importance of collaboration between different political forces and the need to focus on the interests of the country as a whole. Macron's vision for France was clear, and his address provided a roadmap for the nation to follow. His leadership during this time was crucial in maintaining the stability of the country and guiding it towards a path of growth and development.

Impact and Aftermath

The impact of Macron's television address was immediate and far-reaching. It helped to calm the nerves of the people and provided a sense of direction. The nation began to move forward, with various political actors coming together to discuss the way forward.In the aftermath of the address, there were discussions and debates about the future of the country. Macron's leadership was put to the test as he navigated through the complex political landscape. However, his address served as a foundation for these discussions and helped to shape the future of France.Overall, Macron's television address after the no confidence vote was a defining moment in French history. It demonstrated his leadership skills and his ability to address the nation during times of crisis. The events of that day will be remembered for years to come, and Macron's address will be seen as a turning point in the country's political journey.