Blues, FanDuel Sports activities Community, 101 ESPN unveil reimagined sport protection – NHL.com

Chris Kerber, Joey Vitale to simulcast video games over FanDuel Sports activities Community and 101 ESPN; John Kelly departs amid strategic realignment and expanded pre and postgame protection
ST. LOUIS – The St. Louis Blues, FanDuel Sports activities Community, and 101 ESPN at present made a joint announcement associated to their sport broadcast and studio reveals starting subsequent season, highlighted by longtime radio play-by-play voice Chris Kerber and analyst Joey Vitale advancing to the tv sales space as a part of a brand new simulcast mannequin with 101 ESPN, the workforce’s radio associate.
The transfer by the workforce and tv community consists of new internet hosting roles for the Blues LIVE pregame and postgame reveals in addition to in-game reporting duties. As a part of the restructuring, the contract for John Kelly as the tv play-by-play voice was not renewed.
“Chris Kerber arrived 25 years in the past this summer time to the St. Louis Blues, establishing himself early on as one of many league’s most energetic and colourful radio play-by-play voices,” mentioned Chris Zimmerman, Blues President and CEO of Enterprise Operations. “The Blues and FanDuel Sports activities Community imagine that Chris has earned this second and alternative to attach with a wider viewers. When factoring within the distinctive chemistry and relationship Chris has had with Joey Vitale as his radio analyst over the previous seven seasons, we’re assured the Blues and FanDuel Sports activities Community will supply our followers one of the best tv and streaming expertise within the sport, all whereas persevering with to serve listeners with the identical high quality product on 101 ESPN.”
“We’re thrilled to welcome Chris and Joey to an expanded position on our tv protection,” mentioned Norby Williamson, President of Manufacturing and Programming, FanDuel Sports activities Community. “Their pure chemistry, deep data of the sport, and fervour for Blues hockey make them an ideal match for this subsequent chapter. This transfer permits us to ship a extra unified and dynamic broadcast expertise to followers throughout all platforms.”
“We’re proud to have the ability to share the trusted voices of Chris Kerber and Joey Vitale with the Blues’ tv and streaming viewers transferring ahead, whereas persevering with to convey St. Louis Blues hockey to followers on 101 ESPN,” mentioned John Kijowski, President of Hubbard Radio St. Louis. “Chris and Joey have constructed a powerful reference to our listeners, and their perception, power, and love for the sport are unmatched. As platforms evolve, we’re excited by the truth that all Blues followers will get the constant ardour and precision that Chris and Joey convey to each name.”
Extra modifications to the broadcasting lineup introduced at present by the Blues and FanDuel Sports activities Community embody Jamie Rivers returning to his position as a Blues LIVE analyst, his position from 2009-23 earlier than sliding over to the sport analyst chair the final two years. Rivers is joined on the Blues LIVE analyst workforce by a pair of Hockey Corridor of Fame members, Bernie Federko – returning for his 25^th season on the Blues broadcast workforce – and Chris Pronger, who will now have a larger position with Blues LIVE and FanDuel Sports activities Community amongst his different media commitments. Andy Strickland expands his position as rinkside reporter to incorporate Blues residence and highway video games and likewise internet hosting Blues LIVE for highway video games. Scott Warmann continues his Blues LIVE internet hosting duties for residence video games. Alexa Datt has concluded her four-year stint internet hosting Blues LIVE.
Kelly served within the Blues’ tv sales space early in his NHL profession earlier than taking the lead tv play-by-play roles for the Tampa Bay Lightning (1992-1995) and Colorado Avalanche (1995-2004). Kelly returned to St. Louis starting with the 2005-06 season to deal with Blues play-by-play on Fox Sports activities Midwest, the workforce’s tv rightsholder on the time. Kelly had been a mainstay on Blues native market telecasts, airing over quite a lot of regional community manufacturers and over-the-air stations, all through the previous 20 seasons.
“John Kelly’s legacy as the tv voice of the Blues will ceaselessly be treasured and revered,” Zimmerman mentioned. “John holds a spot of excessive honor with the St. Louis Blues, and we plan to pay tribute to John and his superb profession calling our video games within the season forward. John Kelly will all the time be a part of our household.”
“We wish to sincerely thank John for his distinctive work within the sales space all through his profession,” Williamson added. “He’s been a real professional and strong ambassador for the Blues group, and we deeply respect the influence he’s made through the years.”
The Blues and FanDuel Sports activities Community are coming into the second yr of a multi-year settlement. Collectively, in coordination with 101 ESPN, they’re envisioning a brand new mannequin that can present thrilling telecasts that join with quite a lot of audiences throughout tv, streaming and radio.
“The panorama for native broadcasting rights is in fixed change all through the trade, and that’s actually true right here in St. Louis as nicely,” Zimmerman mentioned. “We’re extraordinarily inspired as to what’s attainable on FanDuel Sports activities Community. They’re a workforce of visionaries and the easiest at what they do, and that’s excellent news for Blues followers.”
Among the many deliberate strikes to boost the Blues LIVE pre, put up and intermission reveals, the desk location for residence video games at Enterprise Heart will transfer to a fan-friendly location throughout the venue to allow larger fan interplay and engagement. Particulars might be introduced at a later date nearer to the beginning of the season, together with native and nationwide broadcast schedules and the potential for an over-the-air simulcast partnership to increase the attain of the FanDuel Sports activities Community broadcasts.
About Chris Kerber and Joey Vitale
The longest-tenured play-by-play voice in workforce historical past, Chris Kerber has been calling Blues video games for 25 years whereas Joey Vitale has been an analyst alongside Kerber for the previous seven seasons. A veteran of six seasons as an NHL participant, Vitale has appeared as an analyst on the Blues LIVE pregame and postgame reveals for FanDuel Sports activities Community over the past three years. Kerber and Vitale are each natives of St. Louis and shared the radio name of the one Stanley Cup title within the historical past of the Blues franchise to conclude their first season working collectively within the sales space in 2018-19.
Concerning the St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues have been part of the NHL since 1967 and through greater than 50 years of operation, the group has established itself as one of many premier skilled sports activities franchises within the nation. With a Stanley Cup, ten division titles, a Presidents’ Trophy and greater than 20 former workforce members enshrined within the Hockey Corridor of Fame, the Blues have etched one of the crucial storied histories within the NHL. Via their historical past, the Blues have hosted greater than 35 million followers and invested tens of millions within the St. Louis neighborhood by way of Blues for Youngsters, the workforce’s charitable basis.
About FanDuel Sports activities Community Midwest
FanDuel Sports activities Community Midwest – a Essential Avenue Sports activities Group-owned regional sports activities community – is the native TV and streaming residence for the St. Louis Cardinals and St. Louis Blues. FanDuel Sports activities Community Midwest presents extra reside, native sports activities programming than some other networks within the area, serving followers in Missouri, Indiana, Illinois and Iowa. For extra data and content material, go to fanduelsportsnetwork.com.
About 101 ESPN and Hubbard Radio
101 ESPN is its seventh yr because the flagship radio station of the St. Louis Blues. At Hubbard Radio, one of the best individuals in native media construct dominant manufacturers that join customers and advertisers to construct higher companies and communities. We succeed by all the time doing the best factor with focus, urgency, and fervour. For extra data, go to hubbardradio.com.

source