Opening Day Coverage of the 2021 Marlins Regular Season to
Feature the All-New Bally Sports Florida Network Branding
“Bally Sports Big Opening Day” Will Debut April 1 at 11 a.m. Prior to Marlins vs. Rays Coverage;
Live Show to Offer MLB Previews and Sports Updates Across the 19 Bally Sports Regional Networks
MIAMI – Bally Sports Florida (rebranding from FOX Sports Florida) announced today the network will produce and televise all 162 regular season Miami Marlins games as part of the 2021 Major League Baseball season. The new season on Bally Sports Florida also marks the beginning of a new multi-year media rights agreement for the network to continue as the home of the Marlins, extending their existing 20-year relationship.
Paul Severino returns for his fourth season as play-by-play announcer, while former Marlins player Todd Hollandsworth is back for his fifth year in the broadcast booth as color analyst. Four-time World Series Champion Jeff Nelson, former Marlins player Gaby Sanchez, longtime Marlins announcer Tommy Hutton and former MLB catcher J.P. Arencibia will all play roles as analysts in the network’s pregame and postgame coverage this season. Former Marlins player Cliff Floyd will make his Bally Sports Florida debut, rejoining the broadcast team for his first season since 2013, as a pre- and post-game analyst. Craig Minervini will begin his 20th season as host and in-game reporter, in addition to Jessica Blaylock, who enters her seventh season as in-game reporter and host. Kelly Saco rounds out the broadcast teamin her fourth season as contributing host and in-game reporter, while South Florida digital host and reporter Jeremy Tache will cover all things social in his first season with the network.
All broadcasts throughout the season will feature half-hour “Marlins Live”pregame shows along with extended postgame coverage. “Marlins Live” will originate from Marlins Park for home games, while away games will be anchored between Marlins Park and the new Bally Sports studio.
Bally Sports Florida’s “Marlins Live” coverage on Opening Day will start at 3 p.m. from Marlins Park. Complementing Opening Day coverage on April 1 – and marking a new era of regional sports – “Bally Sports Big Opening Day” will leverage the Bally Sports regional networks to offer fans across the country for the first-time ever a live, whip-around style MLB Opening Day broadcast complete with expert analysis, interviews and more. In coordination with Sinclair-owned sister sports platforms, including Tennis Channel and Stadium, the 4.5-hour special will also feature NHL, NBA, and pro-tennis updates and highlights. Leading off at 11AM ET, “Bally Sports Big Opening Day” will originate from Stadium’s studio in Chicago and air across all 19 Bally Sports regional networks.
Marlins programming will air on Bally Sports Florida and stream live on the upcoming all-new Bally Sports app, and on ballysports.com, when a consumer authenticates through their pay-TV service. The Bally Sports app will be available on mobile and tablet devices, including iOS and Android, as well as connected devices including, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, PlayStation, Roku Players and Roku TV, Samsung and LG platforms and Xbox One. The FOX Sports GO app will update to the all-new Bally Sports app upon the release of the new app. Fans can also download the app for free from the iTunes App Store, Google Play, Amazon App Store, Roku App Store, XBOX One App Store and Windows App Store.
Going beyond the games, Bally Sports Florida’s partnership with the Marlins provides fans with opportunities to get to know the team and its players. “Marlins All-Access” and “Marlins Clubhouse” both return to provide fans with unique perspectives and captivating insights on the team, players, coaches, organization and more.
Lastly, this season’s broadcast schedule will be subject to change in anticipation of MLB, team, network and provider updates and clarifications. Any changes will be communicated to media and fans ahead of each series in accordance with the Marlins and MLB.
ABOUT BALLY SPORTS FLORIDA / BALLY SPORTS SUN
Bally Sports Florida and Bally Sports Sun, formerly FOX Sports Florida and FOX Sports Sun, are the local destinations for the Orlando Magic, Miami HEAT, Tampa Bay Rays, Miami Marlins, Tampa Bay Lightning and the Florida Panthers. Together, Bally Sports Florida and Bally Sports Sun present more live, local sports programming than any other network or broadcast system in the market. Serving sports fans across the Sunshine State, the regional networks combine to produce more than 700 live sporting events and over 300 studio based and original programs year round. Bally Sports Florida and Bally Sports Sun are committed to making a positive impact in the communities we serve by engaging our audiences and providing award-winning TV, digital and streaming coverage of Florida’s hometown sports teams.
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