FOX Sports Ohio & Columbus Blue Jackets announce 2015-16 telecast schedule
COLUMBUS, OHIO -- FOX Sports Ohio and the Columbus Blue Jackets have announced their 2015-16 telecast schedule. The network will carry 81 regular season games.
FOX Sports Ohio's coverage of the Blue Jackets begins on Friday, Oct. 9 when the team opens the 2015-16 season at Nationwide Arena with a 7 p.m. matchup against the New York Rangers.
Coverage each game night will begin with Blue Jackets Live pregame show featuring highlights, player interviews and analysis 30 minutes before each game.
On opening night, FOX Sports Ohio will feature a special one-hour Blue Jackets Live pregame show.
Immediately following the final horn, the coverage will continue with the postgame edition of Blue Jackets Live, presented by IGS Energy.
Former Blue Jackets forward Jody Shelley returns as the color analyst alongside play-by-play announcer Jeff Rimer. Bill Davidge will continue in the role of analyst and host during the pre- and post-game editions of Blue Jackets Live, as well as contributing during intermissions. Davidge will be joined at the desk by third-year host Brian Giesenschlag. Dave Maetzold will also be back as in-game reporter.
Get ready for the start of the regular season with Countdown to Face-off coverage. FOX Sports Ohio will air four replays of memorable Blue Jackets games from the 2014-15 season in the month of September:
- Monday, Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. -- Blue Jackets' Oct. 11 win over the Rangers in last year's home opener
- Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. -- Blue Jackets' exciting Dec. 13 shootout victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins
- Thursday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. -- A nine-round shootout culminates in Blue Jackets win over eventual Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks on Dec. 20
- Monday, Sept. 28 at 7 p.m. -- In a Feb. 6 offensive onslaught, the Blue Jackets score seven goals to hand St. Louis Blues their first loss in 13 games
Fans will also have the opportunity to vote on three additional replays in the month of October leading up to opening night. A 30-minute Blue Jackets Live - Preseason Edition will precede each of the three replay games voted on by fans.
Of the Blue Jackets' complete 82-game regular season schedule, FOX Sports Ohio will NOT be able to televise the Feb. 23 game at the Detroit Red Wings due to NBC Sports Network exclusivity.
Check out FOXSportsOhio.com for more in-depth coverage throughout the season. Also be sure to follow along on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
