FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — FOX Sports Florida, the television home of the Miami Marlins, will produce and televise 150 Marlins regular season games in high definition as part of the 2012 season. Additionally, the network will produce and distribute regionally four Marlins spring training contests during the months of March and April.
FOX Sports Florida is set to kickoff spring training action on Saturday, March 10, when the Marlins play host to the St. Louis Cardinals in Jupiter. Other preseason games include March 25 against the Tampa Bay Rays, as well as both exhibition games against the New York Yankees to be held at the new Marlins Park in Miami.
Regular season coverage begins Thursday, April 5, when the Marlins travel to Cincinnati for a meeting with the Reds at 4 p.m. Home and away game telecasts will feature half-hour Marlins LIVE pregame shows and all will offer extended post-game coverage from site.
In addition to the 150 games on FOX Sports Florida, Marlins fans will see two of the team’s contests against the Rays on Sun Sports.
Tommy Hutton, who spent 12 years in the majors as a first baseman, returns to the broadcast booth with expert commentary, marking his 16th season as FOX Sports Florida’s Marlins’ television analyst. Rich Waltz returns for his eighth year as play-by-play announcer and Craig Minervini is back for his 11th season as pregame host and in-game reporter.
FOX Sports Florida’s Frank Forte hosts Inside the Marlins and select Marlins LIVE pre- and postgame shows, and Allison Williams returns as feature reporter.
“Mr. Marlin,” former Marlins star Jeff Conine, continues on FOX Sports Florida’s telecast team and will provide expert analysis on Marlins LIVE pre- and postgame shows for all home game telecasts.
FOX Sports Florida’s newest additions to Marlins LIVE, former Marlins Cliff Floyd and Preston Wilson, will provide added commentary and analysis throughout the season as well.
Going beyond just coverage of games, FOX Sports Florida’s partnership with the Marlins provides fans with more opportunities to get to know the team and its players.
Seven half-hour HD episodes of FOX Sports Florida’s popular Inside the Marlins are planned this year and will include player profiles, with exclusive behind-the-scenes stories and interviews, plus episodes offering inside access to other aspects of the team and its operations – all designed to bring the fans closer to their favorite team.
Also returning, three young reporters in the making – Brendan Brundage (ninth grade), Stevie Orban (ninth grade) and Lauren Hutton (seventh grade) – host the “Billy’s Bunch” kids series and are joined on select episodes by Marlins players.
To help fans get ready for the upcoming season, FOX Sports Florida will produce its annual Miami Marlins season preview, premiering Saturday, March 24, at 3:30 pm on FOX Sports Florida.
