FOX Sports West to broadcast 70 games; Miller named Kings ambassador

Forgive the re-purposing of a pair of press releases, but there’s a rookie game to prepare for. Via Kings PR:

FOX Sports West Announces 2017-18 Regular Season TV Schedule

The LA Kings and FOX Sports West today released their 70-game television schedule for the 2017-18 season, announced by Kings Senior Vice President, Communications and Broadcasting Michael Altieri and FOX Sports West Senior Vice President/GM Henry Ford.

All of the Kings 82 regular season games are, again, slated to be broadcast locally or on national television, along with five Kings 2017 exhibition games including three on Prime Ticket (September 22, 28 and 30).

Regular season coverage of Kings Hockey on FOX Sports West kicks-off with the club’s second game of the season, the Kings-San Jose Sharks contest in San Jose on October 7. The club’s first road game of the regular season.

As previously announced the Kings season/home opener on October 5 at STAPLES Center will be broadcast on NBCSN. Fans in attendance are encouraged to arrive to that game early.

Kings television play-by-play announcer Alex Faust joins analyst Jim Fox in the Kings broadcast booth this season. Fox, the former Kings forward, is entering his 28th season as the club’s television analyst. Faust is in his first season with the Kings.

“We are looking forward to a great season and not only introducing Alex to our fans but we are just as eager to watch Jim and Alex working together,” Altieri said.

“Kings Live” returns prior to and immediately following all home (from outside STAPLES Center) and road telecasts on FOX Sports West.

Patrick O’Neal again serves as host, sitting alongside Daryl Evans for road games, while former Kings defenseman Sean O’Donnell is back on “Kings Live” for all home telecasts as well as former Kings forward Jarret Stoll. Fox also joins the pre- and post-game to offer viewers further analysis.

In addition, Jon Rosen (LA Kings Insider) offers updates and reports before and after games on the road, while Alex Curry delivers interviews, reports and social media updates surrounding home telecasts.

For select home games, O’Donnell will be “in-between the benches” at STAPLES Center contributing analysis from ice-level.

From the production truck, Steven Dorfman will begin his ninth season on Kings telecasts, serving as the producer, and Mike Hassan will be serving as director of the telecasts, a position he has held since 1995.

“We are excited to showcase an expanded broadcast team this season and look forward to providing more comprehensive Kings programming around live game coverage,” Ford said.

The Kings-Arizona Coyotes preseason game on September 28 as well as the Kings-Ducks game on September 30 will both air on Prime Ticket.

The Kings-Ducks preseason game on September 22 will also air on Prime Ticket (Ducks broadcast).

The first Kings game on TV this preseason will be from Shanghai, China on September 21 (NBCSN). The Kings preseason game in Beijing, China on September 23 will be televised on September 23 (NHL Network).

Change this graph to: In addition to October 5, the following Kings games will be broadcast on NBCSN as previously announced: October 18, November 7, December 5, December 28, January 2, January 18, January 19, February 1, February 27, March 15 and March 19.

In addition to telecast coverage on FOX Sports West, all LA Kings games on the regional sports network will also be available on FOX Sports GO.

The FOX Sports GO app is currently available for free on iOS, Apple TV, Android, Android TV, Chromecast, Fire tablets and Fire phones, Roku players and Roku TV, select Windows devices, and online at FOXSportsGO.com.

Another full slate of Kings original programming on FOX Sports West is scheduled as follows: “Kings Season Preview” debuts Thursday, September 28, at 6:30 p.m. on Prime Ticket; “Kings Insider: 2017 NHL China Games” debuts on Saturday, October 7, at 10:30 p.m. on FOX Sports West; and “Kings Weekly” returns October 12 and will air every Thursday throughout the regular season on FOX Sports West.

On the radio the Kings return to flagship KABC 790 with Nick Nickson and Evans calling each contest beginning this Saturday (September 16 – 2 p.m. at STAPLES Center against Vancouver).

The Kings will broadcast all preseason games (minus the two contests in China) and all regular season games on KABC 790. On the radio only three current NHL club broadcasting duos have worked together longer than Nickson and Evans.

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Bob Miller to Serve as ‘Team Ambassador’ for LA Kings

LA Kings and Hockey Hall of Fame Television Play-by-Play Broadcaster Bob Miller, who retired this past April, has officially been named a Kings Team Ambassador, the club announced today.

Miller will continue to contribute to the Kings on a part-time basis, making a number of appearances and being involved in additional special projects, including serving as MC for the club’s popular Legends Night series, presented by McDonald’s.

“I am honored and truly delighted to be named an Ambassador for the Kings,” said Miller. “This will allow me to continue the association I have built with Kings management, players and fans over the past 44 years.”

Miller retired in March 2017 after 44 years as “Voice of the Kings.” He worked the first 17 years simulcast on TV and radio and the last 27 years as the exclusive television voice of the team joined by former Kings right wing Jim Fox for Kings games on FOX Sports West. Overall Miller called 3,353 Kings games including his final two telecasts on April 8 at STAPLES Center and April 9 in Anaheim.

On November 13, 2000, Miller received the Foster Hewitt Award, as selected by the NHL Professional Broadcasters’ Association. This award, which recognizes those members of the radio and television industry who have made outstanding contributions to their profession and the game during their hockey broadcasting careers, is recognized by a plaque in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

On October 2, 2006, Miller received a star on the famous Hollywood Boulevard Walk of Fame. On February 4, 2002, Miller was inducted into the Southern California Sports Broadcasters Hall of Fame, where he served as that organization’s President for five years. Miller has also been named the top Television Play-by-Play Announcer in Southern California 10 times (including 2015), and in 2014 he earned that club’s Special Achievement Award. In 2011, Miller was inducted into the California Sports Hall of Fame and in 2017 the Television Academy selected Miller as the recipient of the Governor’s Award.

In 1998, to commemorate his 25 years of loyal service to the organization, Miller was honored by having the STAPLES Center press box named after him and was presented with a “lifetime contract” by the club, and in 1997, Miller was named as one of the six inaugural members of the Kings Hall of Fame during the organization’s 30th Anniversary celebration. The National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association also named him the California Sportscaster of the Year in 1997 and 2002.

In 2013, Miller’s second book – Tales from the Los Angeles Kings Locker Room – was released. In 2006 he authored the book, Bob Miller’s Tales from the Los Angeles Kings.

A native of Chicago, Miller received his degree at the University of Iowa where he started his broadcasting career doing Hawkeye football and basketball games. Before joining the Kings, he worked professionally in radio and TV in Milwaukee and Madison, Wisconsin, and was the voice of University of Wisconsin hockey, football and basketball. In 1992, Miller received the honor of being inducted into Wisconsin’s Hockey Hall of Fame.

Along with his duties for the Kings, Miller’s voice has accented numerous TV and film projects, including “Cheers,” “Rollerball,” “Miracle on Ice,” “The Mighty Ducks” and “The Mighty Ducks 2.”

A resident of West Hills, he and his wife Judy have a married daughter, Kristin, a son Kevin, and they have two grandsons, Kaden and Brennon.

-Lead photo via Andrew D. Bernstein/NHLI