Message #1136699

[RobDibblesGhost]

Here are two names most Nationals fans likely don't know: Jim Cuddihy, the executive vice president of programming for MASN, and Chris Kinard, the program director at 106.7 the Fan. They are behind the regular-season television and radio coverage of the Nationals and are ready for playoff baseball.

With the Nationals' playoff games on TBS and/or MLB Network, how will that affect your coverage?

Cuddihy » "All season long we have been the home of the Nationals and the Orioles. Both teams have set all time highs in ratings, and fans expect us to be there for them in the playoffs. We all know that TBS and Fox will do a fine job covering the games, but it just won't be the same as having Bob Carpenter, F.P. Santangelo and Kristina Akra on hand covering the team. So we will be sending them to all the games as part of our extended versions of the "Nats Xtra" pre- and postgame shows. They will air an hour before each game, Then after the game is over we will come back for an hour postgame. As always, Johnny Holliday and Ray Knight will anchor the shows. We also will have Saturday and Sunday morning editions of 'Nats Talk Live' with Phil Wood to give fans a chance to talk about the games. Our goal is simple: give the fans plenty of up-to-date information from people who have covered the team every day since spring training."

On the radio side, what are your plans?

Kinard » "We have the advantage of airing all the games through the World Series, so fans can continue to hear Charlie Slowes and Dave Jageler do the broadcasts. But we have really moved into playoff mode in a big way. We will have a three-hour pregame show with Holden Kushner and Danny Rouhier handling the duties. Then we have the game followed by our postgame. Following the games, there will be three more hours of 'Nats Talk,' 45 minutes hosted by Phil Wood with contributions from Slowes and Jageler and then about two more hours hosted by Bill Rohland. That is a minimum of nine straight hours of Nationals coverage --not counting our extensive daily coverage on all our shows."