The Name of the Game Is Change

In an industry whose only constant is change, this season’s sports television lineup features a larger than usual number of switches of both broadcast packages and announcers.

Here’s a look at what to expect this season:

NETWORK

CBS

Arrivals: Merlin Olsen (from NBC) ... Brad Nessler (from Minnesota Vikings announcing team) ... Jim Henderson (from New Orleans Saints announcing team).

Departures: Musburger (to ABC) ... Will McDonough (to NBC) ... NBA Basketball (to NBC) ... Dick Butkus (to concentrate on acting career).

New Events: The PGA Championship (from ABC) ... Atlantic Coast Conference basketball (from NBC) ... Big 10 Basketball (from ABC).

Big Events: Baseball’s League Championship Series and the World Series

Familiar faces in new places: Pat O’Brien has become the host of the network’s post-season baseball pre-game shows and college basketball halftime shows and an “NFL Today” regular.

Andrea Joyce will anchor the college football studio show along with Mike Francesa.

Greg Gumbel has succeeded Musburger as “NFL Today” host. Terry Bradshaw and Irv Cross also have switched places, with Bradshaw joining “NFL Today” and Cross becoming a game analyst. Lesley Visser also will be an “NFL Today” regular.

NBC

Arrivals: Todd Christensen (from Raiders) ... Pat Riley (from Lakers)

Departures: Bobby Beathard (to San Diego Chargers) ... Merlin Olsen (to CBS) ... Jimmy Cefalo (to “Trump Card” game show) ... Atlantic Coast Conference basketball (to CBS).

New Events: NBA Basketball (from CBS).

Big Events: New Year’s Day college football bowls, including the Fiesta and Orange Bowls ... Wimbledon and French Open tennis ... Horse racing’s Breeders’ Cup.

Familiar Faces in New Places: Bob Costas and Marv Albert will serve as NBA basketball play-by-play announcers.

ABC

Arrivals: Musburger (from CBS) ... Jim Valvano (from North Carolina State) ... Beth Ruyak (from USA Today on TV).

New Events: Golf’s Skins Game (from NBC) ... The World League of American Football, a 12-team circuit with franchises in the United States, Montreal, Mexico City and Europe set to begin play in March.

Big Events: Monday Night Football plus Super Bowl XXV ... Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl ... thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown ... Indianapolis 500.

CABLE

ESPN

Other than professional basketball and hockey, nearly every sport imaginable again will be seen on ESPN. The network also has found time to add 22 hours of coverage of December’s $6 million Grand Slam Cup, the richest tournament in tennis history. “Expedition Earth,” a 16-part adventure series examining the environment, will debut in November. The exercise series “Body By Jake” comes to ESPN in January.

Prime Ticket

At least 35 Lakers games, 70 Kings games, college sports featuring USC, UCLA and San Diego State along with Forum boxing, tennis and volleyball highlight Prime Ticket’s viewing choices. The service’s most ambitious project is “Prime Ticket Press Box,” a daily live half-hour sports news show set to air at 10 p.m. beginning Oct. 15. Prime Ticket expects to add a 7 p.m. broadcast in November.

Prime Ticket’s partnership with regional sports networks throughout the nation provide it with many other live events, topped by college football and basketball and professional tennis. The service also has moved up its weekend sign-on to 9 a.m.

SportsChannel

The youngest Southland regional sports service has augmented its programming by adding 52 live Big West Conference events, including eight football games and the California Raisin Bowl.

SportsChannel will continue its exclusive home game coverage of the Dodgers and Angels. The fall and winter will be highlighted by the National Hockey League, Notre Dame sports, college basketball and high school sports telecasts from throughout the nation.

TNT

A nine-game NFL package joins television’s most comprehensive NBA schedule. The network has added two prominent commentators, former Rams and USC quarterback Pat Haden and veteran NBA coach and announcer Hubie Brown.

USA

The network will add Saturday and Monday night prime time World League of American Football telecasts. Also, six Saturday afternoon games and a playoff game are added to its sports schedule.

PAY-PER-VIEW

Beginning with the Buster Douglas-Evander Holyfield world heavyweight championship fight Oct. 25, look for nearly every major boxing match to go the pay-per-view route as the major broadcast networks, basic and pay cable networks are economically unable to match the riches possible on pay-per-view.

Several made-for-pay-per-view events are on the horizon, including the return of the “One-on-One Collegiate Challenge” basketball tournament with top college stars. A home run contest with top major leaguers is in the talking stages.