On The Air
by Laura Nachman
Bucks County Courier Times
September 1, 2006

CN8's new lineup sounds like an improvement for sports viewers.

Instead of the old half-hour “Out of Bounds” that aired at 11 p.m., but was taped hours before, there will be two hours of live shows each night.

The newly revamped “Out of Bounds” will air at 7 and 11 weeknights on CN8. Gregg Murphy will host the Philly-based early edition from the Penns Landing studio.

The panel will include WIP 610-AM's Rhea Hughes and former Eagle Brian Mitchell, who is a radio host in Washington, D.C. At 11 p.m., “Out of Bounds” will be based in Boston with new hosts Phil Burton and John Carchedi. WIP 610-AM's Brian Startare will be a Philadelphia-based contributor for the 11 p.m. show.

CN8 is re-launching its network Tuesday, expanding to the Washington, D.C., market, putting it in 9 million homes.

Meanwhile, it should be interesting to see the outcome of the Mid-Atlantic Emmys on Sept. 9. Former “Out of Bounds” host Lou Tilley is nominated for three awards. The longtime CN8 host and the network parted ways earlier this summer.

It's nice that CN8 is expanding its sports programming, but it's a shame that there wasn't any room for Tilley, who has been part of the Philadelphia television scene for 20 years.

Fantasy Island

There are plenty of places for fantasy football on television this season.

ESPN2 presents “The Fantasy Show,” Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. The NFL Network's “NFL Total Access” will look at fantasy football through the “Hollywood Fantasy Football League” Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Comcast SportsNet airs “Fantasy Fix” Thursdays at 4:30 p.m.

New deal

The Flyers agreed to a new three-year contract with WIP 610-AM. Tim Saunders and Brian Propp will continue in their roles as play-by-play announcer and color analyst. WIP's Glen Macnow will host the pregame, intermission, and postgame shows during the week. Startare will take over during the weekend.

Eagles-Jets

The Eagles-Jets preseason game airs tonight at 7 p.m. on 6ABC. The Eagles Television Network production will feature Gus Johnson and Ron Jaworski in the booth, and Dave Spadaro on the sidelines.

On the move

Former CN8 sports reporter Bruce Casella will join “It's Your Call with Lynn Doyle” as a reporter.

Yankees miniseries

ESPN will air a miniseries about the 1977 New York Yankees, “The Bronx is Burning” in 2007. Casting suggestions: Jason Lee as Billy Martin, “Grey's Anatomy's” Isaiah Washington as Reggie Jackson, and Larry David as George Steinbrenner.