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In great news from Showtime TCA we learn that Showtime Networks, Major League Baseball Productions and the 2010 World Series Champion San Francisco Giants are teaming up for a new series chronicling the competitive and complex world of professional baseball. The new series will give viewers a front row seat into the lives of the players, coaches and team personnel as they begin the arduous task of defending their World Series title through the 2011 MLB season.A collaboration between Showtime and MLB Productions, the soon-to-be-titled series is currently in production and will be shot over the course of ten months in numerous locations at home during the off-season, on to Scottsdale, Arizona for Spring Training and embedded with the team during the regular season. The series is set to premiere with a preview episode on Opening Day in April 2011 followed by regularly scheduled episodes during the second half of 2011. The show will expand on the SHOWTIME Sports® existing line-up of stellar and award-winning programming that includes INSIDE THE NFL, INSIDE NASCAR, SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING andSTRIKEFORCE Mixed Martial Arts.
“This new series is one I’ve wanted to do for as long as I can remember,” said David Nevins, President of Entertainment, Showtime Networks. “Having produced Friday Night Lights, I’ve received numerous pitches over the years for scripted shows about the world of professional sports, but nothing can capture the drama and intensity of the real thing. We are both honored and excited to have the 2010 World Series Champion San Francisco Giants grant this extraordinary access. The diversity, passion, and larger-than-life personalities of the players, their manager Bruce Bochy, and front office, led by Managing General Partner and CEO Bill Neukom, General Manager Brian Sabean and President Larry Baer, came together to achieve the club’s historic World Series win. I’m confident that this group of personalities will make for a provocative and groundbreaking television series that will appeal beyond the hardcore baseball fan to all viewers who appreciate great drama.”
“We’re constantly seeking new programming platforms to bring our fans closer to the game, and this new series will do exactly that in a very exciting fashion, thanks in large part to the tremendous group of personalities that make up the 2010 World Champion San Francisco Giants” said Chris Tully, Major League Baseball Senior Vice President, Broadcasting. “We’re excited to work with Showtime on this project and are grateful to the Giants organization and its players for embracing the goal of giving fans a look inside their world.”
“The Giants are delighted to work with Showtime and Major League Baseball Productions on this exciting new project,” said Giants President and Chief Operating Officer Larry Baer. “Showtime and MLB Productions’ reputations for producing high quality, compelling content speak for themselves. I have no doubt that this series will break new ground and will enable our team to forge an even closer connection with our fans and the public at large.”
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[…] the beginning of the year I told you Showtime and the MLB were joining forces to a then untitled show. Well, now the show has a title: The Franchise: A season with the San […]
I know they are going to give it everything they have and many people and mostly men are just loving the show to Death and many children are loving the show as much and that reason is passion and working hard at being good is the gift to the world and fans are just crazy about sports and it is like a dream for this people to listen and notice and watch a game…There soul and passion and care is so deep and well wishs to every one out there that care and are there to watch sports…I know you really love the what it brings to the table.