Catch 47
Encyclopedia
Bright House Sports Network is a 24-hour regional sports network
in the Tampa Bay
and Central Florida
areas. The station began in the Tampa Bay region in 2004 and is owned by Bright House Networks
, seen exclusively on their systems on cable TV channel 47.
The channel was originally established as Catch 47 (after its cable slot); the channel switched to its current name in September 2008. Also around this time, the channel was expanded to Bright House's Central Florida systems, covering areas surrounding Orlando
.
Prior to 2010, the station aired: "Press Box", "Xtra Point", "Lightning Strikes" with host Joe Girvan, "The Baysball Show", "Beef 'O' Brady's High School Scoreboard". The station also airs basketball
, baseball
, and softball
games of the University of South Florida
, as well as baseball games in the Florida State League
. Bright House Sports Network also broadcasted most home games and an occasional road games of the Arena Football League's Tampa Bay Storm
before the 2009 folding of the league. The announcing team for Storm games generally consists of Drew Fellios and former NFL punter
Mark Royals
.
In late 2008 the station used its expanded coverage within the Central Florida market to start televising basketball
and football
games of the University of Central Florida
. The first few games were rebroadcasts from Comcast/Charter Sports Southeast (CSS) and the CBS College Sports Network, however on January 6, 2009 Bright House Sports Network produced their first UCF Basketball Game against the College of the Holy Cross
. Bright House Networks is also the sponsor of UCF's on campus stadium, Bright House Networks Stadium
. Bright House Sports Network is the official home of Florida Championship Wrestling
, the farm system for World Wrestling Entertainment
, which airs at 6:00pm on Sunday nights.
In addition, Bright House Sports Network also airs nationwide sports programs from sources such as ESPN Plus
and America One
; during the overnight hours, it simulcasts ESPNEWS
(which is available in full to digital subscribers).
(a similar regional sports network in the New York metropolitan area
) re-aired then-Catch 47's coverage of a Storm-New York Dragons
game from two days earlier. SNY opted to broadcast the game straight from the Catch 47 broadcast, neither editing any part of the coverage (aside from commercials), nor dubbing the game with SNY's own announcers.
Regional sports network
In the United States of America and Canada, a regional sports network, or RSN, is a cable television station that presents sports programming to a local market. The most important programming on an RSN consists of live broadcasts of professional and college sporting events, as those games generate...
in the Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is a large natural harbor and estuary along the Gulf of Mexico on the west central coast of Florida, comprising Hillsborough Bay, Old Tampa Bay, Middle Tampa Bay, and Lower Tampa Bay."Tampa Bay" is not the name of any municipality...
and Central Florida
Central Florida
Central Florida is a regional designation for the area surrounding Orlando in east central Florida, United States. The area represents the third largest population concentration in Florida, after the South Florida and Tampa Bay regions, respectively....
areas. The station began in the Tampa Bay region in 2004 and is owned by Bright House Networks
Bright House Networks
Bright House Networks is a cable television company, the seventh largest cable operator and the sixth largest traditional multiple system operator in the United States owned by Advance/Newhouse, headquartered in Syracuse, New York...
, seen exclusively on their systems on cable TV channel 47.
History
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
.
Programming
Programs include "The Toyota Sports Connection," a nightly show featuring scores, highlights and interviews, "Hooked on Fishing",and "Average Angler Adventures".Prior to 2010, the station aired: "Press Box", "Xtra Point", "Lightning Strikes" with host Joe Girvan, "The Baysball Show", "Beef 'O' Brady's High School Scoreboard". The station also airs basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, and softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
games of the University of South Florida
University of South Florida
The University of South Florida, also known as USF, is a member institution of the State University System of Florida, one of the state's three flagship universities for public research, and is located in Tampa, Florida, USA...
, as well as baseball games in the Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
. Bright House Sports Network also broadcasted most home games and an occasional road games of the Arena Football League's Tampa Bay Storm
Tampa Bay Storm
The Tampa Bay Storm are an Arena Football League team based in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. They play their home games in the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa....
before the 2009 folding of the league. The announcing team for Storm games generally consists of Drew Fellios and former NFL punter
Punter (football position)
A punter in American or Canadian football is a special teams player who receives the snapped ball directly from the line of scrimmage and then punts the football to the opposing team so as to limit any field position advantage. This generally happens on a fourth down in American football and a...
Mark Royals
Mark Royals
Mark Alan Royals is a former American football punter in the National Football League. He is currently a color commentator for coverage of the Arena Football League's Tampa Bay Storm on the regional sports television network Bright House Sports Network. He has also co-hosted various sports radio...
.
In late 2008 the station used its expanded coverage within the Central Florida market to start televising basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
games of the University of Central Florida
University of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida, commonly referred to as UCF, is a metropolitan public research university located in Orlando, Florida, United States...
. The first few games were rebroadcasts from Comcast/Charter Sports Southeast (CSS) and the CBS College Sports Network, however on January 6, 2009 Bright House Sports Network produced their first UCF Basketball Game against the College of the Holy Cross
College of the Holy Cross
The College of the Holy Cross is an undergraduate Roman Catholic liberal arts college located in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA...
. Bright House Networks is also the sponsor of UCF's on campus stadium, Bright House Networks Stadium
Bright House Networks Stadium
Bright House Networks Stadium is the football stadium for the University of Central Florida’s football team, nicknamed the Knights. Located in Knights Plaza on the main campus of the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida, the stadium was the first on-campus stadium in NCAA Division I...
. Bright House Sports Network is the official home of Florida Championship Wrestling
Florida Championship Wrestling
Championship Wrestling from Florida was the corporate and brand name of the Tampa, Florida wrestling office existing from 1961, when Eddie Graham first bought into the promotion, until 1987, when it closed down. It is also referred to as Florida Championship Wrestling...
, the farm system for World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
, which airs at 6:00pm on Sunday nights.
In addition, Bright House Sports Network also airs nationwide sports programs from sources such as ESPN Plus
ESPN Plus
ESPN Plus, the popular name of ESPN Regional Television, is an American television program syndicator. ERT is based along with sister network ESPNU in Charlotte, North Carolina...
and America One
America One
America One is an over-the-air television network in the United States. The network serves over 170 LPTV, Class A, Full Power, Cable and Satellite affiliate stations...
; during the overnight hours, it simulcasts ESPNEWS
ESPNEWS
ESPNEWS , launched on November 1, 1996, is a 24-hour-a-day sports news television channel...
(which is available in full to digital subscribers).
Programming on other channels
On March 25, 2007, SportsNet New YorkSportsNet New York
SportsNet New York is a New York City-based regional sports cable network which airs in the New York metro area and all of New York state, and nationwide via satellite. It is owned jointly by the New York Mets, Time Warner Cable, and NBCUniversal...
(a similar regional sports network in the New York metropolitan area
New York metropolitan area
The New York metropolitan area, also known as Greater New York, or the Tri-State area, is the region that composes of New York City and the surrounding region...
) re-aired then-Catch 47's coverage of a Storm-New York Dragons
New York Dragons
The New York Dragons were an Arena Football League team based in the New York metropolitan area. The team was founded in as the original incarnation of the Iowa Barnstormers, and relocated to New York in . They played in New York until 2008, when the league folded...
game from two days earlier. SNY opted to broadcast the game straight from the Catch 47 broadcast, neither editing any part of the coverage (aside from commercials), nor dubbing the game with SNY's own announcers.