NBC Sports Regional Networks’s New Football Roundtable Show 3 and Out Debuts Tonight

NBC Sports Regional Networks will introduce 3 and Out — a new football analysis and debate program that will debut tonight and air each remaining week of the 2013 NFL season across its lineup of Comcast SportsNet RSNs. The 30-minute program will employ next generation fiber optics to connect a panel of accomplished and spirited football analysts, each located within a separate NFL market, to break down the three most impactful storylines affecting that week’s action. The announcement was made by Tom Stathakes, NBC Sports Regional Networks SVP of Production and Programming.

NBC Sports Regional Networks’ Comcast SportsNet RSNs provide the major media markets they serve with comprehensive coverage of the NFL teams that matter most in more than 50 million U.S. homes. With a deep roster of football analysts at large across the country and state of the art communications technology, Comcast SportsNet’s ability to virtually come together each week and produce a football analysis roundtable like 3 and Out is unique. While each week’s three selected storylines will dictate which panelists will make up the 3 and Out panel, the program will feature regular appearances from CSN Houston’s Kelli Johnson, CSN Mid-Atlantic’s Brian Mitchell, CSN New England’s Mike Felger and CSN Bay Area’s Ray Ratto.

“We feel great about the fact that there is nothing like 3 and Out among the many football shows currently available,” said Stathakes. “Our ability to feature multiple perspectives, many of which will be on the ground in the markets where these stories are unfolding, will give our discussion and debate a level of depth and texture that is hard to find. While some think that we only produce great NBA, MLB and NHL live event coverage, fans in our markets know how well we cover the NFL, and 3 and Out is our first move to expand on that area of strength.”

The Comcast SportsNet RSNs are off to a hot start this football season as several networks have already posted triple-digit ratings increases for NFL pre- and postgame coverage in their territory. 3 and Out’s rotating panel of analysts will contribute engaging and counterbalancing points of view to each week’s debate, mixing in perspectives from former NFL players (i.e. Mitchell), the passionate “voices of the fan” (Felger), and the keen analysis of seasoned journalists (Ratto). The program will also feature an “Extra Point” segment, where each analyst will sign off with a thought-provoking final comment. At the wheel of each week’s discussion is Johnson, who will manage the cadence and contributions of the program’s panelists from Comcast SportsNet Houston.

Check local listings to see when 3 and Out will be airing in your market.

Among those who will be regular contributors to 3 and Out this season are:

Kelli Johnson (@kjohnsoncsn) – An anchor for Comcast SportsNet Houston’s daily news show, SportsNet Central, Kelli also contributes to the network’s coverage of the Rockets, Astros, and serves as the host of Football Postgame Live. Johnson previously served as Comcast SportsNet’s Washington Redskins beat reporter, where she provided daily coverage of the team and contributed to the network’s Redskins pregame and postgame shows, Redskins Kickoff andRedskins Postgame Live.

Brian Mitchell (@BmitchliveCSN) – As a player, Mitchell spent 14 years in the NFL as a return specialist and running back from 1990 to 2003, highlighted by 10 seasons with the Washington Redskins. In 223 games, he gained more than 23,000 all-purpose yards, which is second on the all-time NFL list. The former NFL great is now the host of Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic’s daily talk show, SportsTalk Live with Brian Mitchell, and an analyst for the network’s news and game-day programs, such as Redskins Kickoff and Redskins Postgame Live.

Mike Felger (@MikeFelger) –- As a self-described impartial observer of the New England sports scene, Mike Felger revels in his ability to play devil’s advocate and singe local sports fans for their unabashed homerism. Felger has been offering his keen observations and entertaining analysis to Comcast SportsNet New England’s Mohegan Sun Sports Tonight andSports Sunday. In the Boston market, he can be heard daily on 98.5 FM, The Sports Hub.

Ray Ratto (@RattoCSN) – One of the most accomplished sports columnists in the nation, Ray Ratto has been a fixture in Bay Area sports media for over three decades.  He joined Comcast SportsNet Bay Area in 2010 as CSNBayArea.com’s “Senior Insider” and is a contributor to the network’s signature programs SportsNet Central, Yahoo! SportsTalk Live. Ray also serves as a network correspondent at various local and national sporting events.