Comcast Sportsnet

Home Team Sports becomes Comcast SportsNet today, launching a channel that adds sports news coverage to continued telecasts of regional teams. Comcast SportsNet will televise two nightly sports news programs, beginning with "SpotLIGHT," an hourlong show at 6 tonight that originates from Camden Yards. After the Orioles-Boston Red Sox game, the channel will air a post-game show that includes managers' news conferences, locker-room interviews and analysis. Comcast SportsNet's second news program, "SportsNITE," airs immediately after the Orioles post-game show.

Major League Soccer D.C. United renews contract with Comcast SportsNet D.C. United has reached a long-awaited - and long-term - agreement with Comcast SportsNet, but coverage will not begin until May 8 and no matches are currently on the outlet's schedule after Sept. 15. The three-year deal calls for at least 16matches annually. Every other U.S.-based Major League Soccer club, except Chivas USA, will have 21 or more games on local channels this season. More United: Captain Dwayne De Rosario will miss tonight's match at Sporting Kansas City with an adductor strain.

Presenting the weekly sports media notes, guaranteed to be trans-fat-free: Very cool idea by Comcast SportsNet for Wednesday's Capitals-Calgary Flames game. The network is employing "OvechKam," a camera that will constantly be trained on Caps star Alex Ovechkin. Ovechkin sets up in the circle, you'll see him. Ovechkin passes off and sidesteps a defenseman, you'll see him. Ovechkin hears a joke while on the bench and laughs so hard water comes out of his nose, you'll see him. (Yes, that was one of my typically lame attempts at humor, but the camera literally will stay on Ovechkin even when he's on the bench.

Maryland entered the day knowing it needed to improve a running game ranked last in the Atlantic Coast Conference. But the Terps were without leading rusher Wes Brown (shoulder). Maryland started Justus Pickett at tailback and also played Albert Reid. Pickett caught a 20-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. But Pickett, the primary ball carrier, struggled early. He had 10 carries in the first half for a net of minus-3 yards. Overall, Pickett carried 15 times for a net of minus-8 yards.

In an interview on Comcast SportsNet earlier this season, Orioles third baseman Cal Ripken described a no-hitter as a blend of timely skill and timely luck. The strong start of Comcast SportsNet can be characterized in much the same way. In just eight weeks, the revamped regional cable power - you'll remember it as HTS - has made a terrific improvement in the offerings for local sports fans. The station should get even better. CSN has hired experienced Washington sports anchor Chick Hernandez, former Fox Sports Net reporters Sage Steele and Russ Thaler, and veteran producers from Washington and Baltimore.

Major League Baseball's delicate deal to ensure the widespread broadcast of Washington Nationals baseball games while appeasing Baltimore Orioles owner Peter G. Angelos hit a snag yesterday when Comcast SportsNet sued the Orioles and baseball over broadcast rights. The lawsuit, which claims Comcast has a contract guaranteeing it exclusive rights to negotiate for Orioles broadcast rights through November 2005, will delay efforts to get Nationals games carried on local cable television and potentially limit advertising revenue that could have come with increased exposure.

Maryland men's basketball Morgan State@Maryland Tonight, 8, Comcast SportsNet, 1300 AM, 88.9 FM

Opponent: New York Yankees Site: Camden Yards Time: 7:05 TV/Radio: Comcast SportsNet/ WBAL (1090 AM) Starters: Yankees' Roger Clemens (14-9, 4.13) vs. Orioles' Jason Johnson (10-7, 3.83)

The Ravens' starters want to gain confidence. Everybody else wants to gain a roster spot. Tonight's preseason game Ravens@Redskins, 8 p.m., Ch. 45, Comcast SportsNet, 97.9 FM

Greivis Vasquez looked disgusted. "I don't even think we made any threes," the sophomore guard said after Maryland lost to UCLA on Monday night. "We need to shoot the three better." Lehigh @Maryland Today, 4 p.m., Comcast SportsNet, 1300 AM

Many Maryland fans complained on Twitter that they missed the opening of today's Terps-Virginia game because the Richmond-New Hampshire television broadcast ran long on Comcast SportsNet. The Maryland game began at 3 p.m. Fans missed a portion of the opening quarter, which included a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown by Stefon Diggs on the first play. Maryland released a statement attributed to Brian Potter of Comcast SportsNet (below): "In order to be fair to all teams and their fans, Comcast SportsNet's policy (which is similar to other sports networks)

To celebrate the 10 th anniversary of the Maryland men's basketball national championship in 2002, the Terps will welcome back four of the five starters from that team for the program's annual “Maryland Madness” this Friday at Comcast Center. Juan Dixon, Steve Blake, Byron Mouton and Chris Wilcox, are expected to play in the alumni game that starts at 10:30 p.m, according to a Maryland news release. Johnny Rhodes, Mike Grinnon and Dave Neal are also planning to play. The 40 th Maryland Madness is set to start at 9:30 p.m. and will include performances by the university's spirit team, pep band and dance squad.

I counted four bleeps from Bruce Boudreau, but after watching close-up shots of the 1st Mariner Arena workers mopping the ice, I'm sure there were about 400 bleeps that got cut out by the folks at Comcast SportsNet. Other than that, though, I bet the Capitals coach had a lovely [bleeping] time at the inaugural Baltimore Hockey Classic. [ via D.C. Sports Bog ]

Nothing is a bigger TV draw in the Baltimore area than Ravens football, and this year the team is announcing more and bigger media partnerships than ever with broadcast, cable and radio outlets. Here's the release, and it includes the answer to just about any question fans will have about where and when and how to see the Ravens games and all the surrounding football-related programs on area media. Read it carefully. Clip and save... Both WBAL-TV (Baltimore) and WJLA-TV (Washington, D.C.)

Washington's 6-5 overtime loss Wednesday night to the host Montreal Canadiens drew the highest ratings in Comcast SportsNet history for a Caps game. It earned an average household rating of 5.8 in the Washington market and was viewed by an average combined audience of 148,000 households in Washington and Baltimore. - From Sun staff and news services div.talkforum #creditfooter { display: none; } div.talkforum .feedItemAuthor { display: none; } div.talkforum div.feedburnerFeedBlock ul li span.

Virginia women@Maryland 7 p.m. [Comcast SportsNet] Why the long faces? Maryland, left, has lost its past three home games by a total of five points after winning 48 in a row at Comcast Center. This could be another close game. The Terps edged the Cavaliers, 61-60, last month in Charlottesville.

Vermont@Maryland 8 p.m. [Comcast SportsNet] Get your first look at this season's men's basketball Terps. Unless you've already made the trip to Comcast Center, in which case feel free to sit by your less aware friend and speak over the television commentary with your own, more informed analysis.