TV/Radio

Remote patrol: The woof is on fire

By JOHN C. COTEY
Published February 11, 2005

USA Network airs its big event of the year, the 129th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, for the 22nd straight year Monday and Tuesday from 8 to 11 p.m. And for the first time, it also will be shown live in high definition on Universal HD.

Lester Holt, co-anchor of NBC's Weekend Today and host of Lester Holt Live on MSNBC, will host for the first time with analysts David Frei and Charlsie Cantey.

Holt, who owns three purebreds, said he was unaware how big the show was until he signed on to host.

"I knew it was big. But since it's been announced that I was doing this, my phone has been ringing off the hook with friends going, "You're doing the Westminster?"' Holt said. "Mind you, I have interviewed big celebrities and politicians and gone to amazing places. They never call. But they found out I'm doing Westminster, and suddenly, I'm really cool."

And for the Glen of Imaal Terrier fans out there, the breed will compete for the first time along with Black Russian Terrier and Neapolitan Mastiff.

Fox has a live, prime-time presentation of the Bud Shootout at 8 p.m. Saturday from Daytona International Speedway, an event Fox analyst Jeff Hammond calls "NASCAR's Opening Day."

Fox's coverage continues with Daytona 500 qualifying at 1 p.m. Sunday. Fox, FX and Speed will have more than 88 hours of coverage from Speedweeks leading up to the Feb.20 Daytona 500.

Sun Sports, formerly Sunshine, airs the first of its 10 Arena Football League games featuring Tampa Bay or Orlando when the teams renew the "War on I-4" at 7:30 tonight. Those with cable will see the game on the normal Sun Sports channel. But on DirecTV, it's Ch.635. On Dish Network, it's Ch.447. Rick Peckham, not busy with his Lightning duties, will handle the play by play with analyst James Bates.

Sun Sports is airing five Storm and five Predator games this season as well as 11 games featuring other teams. At 3 p.m. Sunday on Ch.8, there's more Arena football as Tim McGraw's Nashville Kats play at Jon Bon Jovi's Philadelphia Soul. Storm assistant and former Bucs quarterback Steve DeBerg will join Glenn Parker and Al Trautwig as the guest analyst in the studio.

Former Philadelphia manager Larry Bowa will join ESPN as a Baseball Tonight analyst this season. ... ESPN begins its weeklong Daytona 500 coverage with a Sunday Conversation with Dale Earnhardt Jr. during its 11 p.m. Sports-Center. ... Sunday, 16 women's basketball teams, including four of the past six NCAA champions, will be shown on ESPN2 as it showcases eight games within two telecast windows (3 to 5 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m.).

[Last modified February 11, 2005, 00:52:18]