Vegas Stats & Information Network (VSiN) is ready to launch as the first multi-channel sports betting network in the United States. Longtime ABC, ESPN, and CBS sportscaster Brent Musburger has been hired for VSiN Network coverage.
The VSiN television studio is located in the sportsbook of the South Point in Vegas. South Point Hotel and Casino includes a 25-story hotel along Las Vegas Boulevard in Enterprise, Nevada. The South Point opened in 2005 under the name South Coast, but it changed its name in 2006 when owner Michael Gaughan took full control over the resort.
Brent Musburger and Al Bernstein
Brent Musburger is headlining the network, as a well-known face of sports broadcasting over the past 4 decades. Brent Musburger hosted a pre-Super Bowl event for VSiN on February 5. The full launch date is Monday, February 27.
Respected boxing analyst Al Bernstein is another big hire for the network. Both Musburger and Bernstein are set to host their own shows on VSiN. Al Bernstein's show is planned for the 3-5PM ET/noon-2PM PT time slot each day. Brent Musberger's daily shot is planned for the from 6-8PM ET/3-5PM PT time slot on a Thursday-through-Monday basis.
VSiN's Roster of On-Air Talent
Veteran broadcasts like Matt Youmans and Norm Clarke will host other shows on the daily schedule. Famed oddmakers like Jimmy Vacaro, Chris Andrews, and Vinny Magliulo also have been hired to complete VSiN's roster of on-air talent.
VSiN's On-Air Programming
Brian Musburger, a nephew of Brent Musburger's, is chairman of the VSiN. The younger Musburger said one of the goals of the Vegas Stats & Information Network is to "illustrate the legitimacy and science" of sports betting. He added that the bookmaker market has been "under-served" in the past.
Early press releases for the VSiN stated that the network plans to offer "unbiased" information and analysis on sports betting. Those expert opinions are planned through a number of channels, including television, radio, and the Internet. In the online arena, viewers can access ifnormation via live streaming, social media, and mobile platforms.
South Point Hotel & Casino's TV History
South Point Casino has been the site of a number of television broadcasts before. In 2006, the casino was the home of NBC's Poker After Dark and ESPN's Pro-Am Poker Equalizer. The resort also hosted the 3rd and 4th seasons of High Stakes Poker, which aired on GSN. The 2006 through 2011 Jerry Lewis MDA Telethons broadcast from the site, while the show Vegas Stripped on the Travel Channel depicted behind-the-scenes operations of the South Point Casino.
Brent Musburger Profile
Brent Musburger first became famous nationally for his work on CBS, which he began in 1973 as a sportscaster. In 1975, Brent Musburger hosted "The NFL Today", which was a groundbreaking show in the way it presented pro football. Together with on-air personalities like Jimmy "The Greek" Snyder, Irv Cross, and Phyllis George. The NFL Today is credited with helping NFL football reach a new level of popularity.
Musburger's time at CBS had its rough points. In 1980, Musburger and Jimmy the Greek got into a fistfight in a New York City bar. For the next broadcast, the two wore boxing gloves and laughed about the incident. In 1988, Jimmy the Greek was fired from the show after making remarks generally regarded as racist. The program won 13 Emmy Awards during Musburger's era, and Brent Musburger was considered CBS's number one broadcaster throughout the 1980s, as he was the chief announcer for Major League Baseball and NCAA college basketball.
In 1990, Brent Musburger was fired by CBS, and it took a trio of broadcasters to replace him. Greg Gumbel took over on the NFL Today, while Jack Buck was hired for MLB broadcasts and Jim Nantz took over the duties on college basketball. Musburger quickly was hired by ABC, which made him a top sportscaster for baseball and basketball (Al Michaels led football broadcasts). Eventually working for Disney properties ABC and ESPN, Brent Musburger became a top ABC broadcaster for a generation of NCAA college football fans. He broadcast 7 NCAA National Championship games from 2000 to 2014.
Al Bernstein Profile
Al Bernstein began a writer for Boxing Illustrated and The Ring. In 1980, he was hired by ESPN for its Top Rank Boxing series. In his 24 years at ESPN, Al Bernstein became synonymous with the boxing industry, as he broadcast classic fights like the Marvin Hagler-Tommy Hearns championship match. He worked as a reporter for SportsCenter, but also hosted the series Big Fights Boxing Hour on ESPN Classic.
Since 2003, Al Bernstein has worked for Showtime Championship Boxing. He also has hosted programming from the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympics, while being a boxing analyst on IBN Sports and Channel5. His trademark mustache and friendly on-air personality has made him a trusted name in boxing coverage.
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