By John Kiesewetter
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Play ball! WCPO-TV (Channel 9) gives Reds fans a look at the new Great American Ballpark in a one-hour show today.

Reds fans who didn't tour the team's new home last weekend will see plenty of it on Great American Expectations (8 p.m. Thursday, Channel 9).

"I take the viewers for a walk around the park during various parts of the show, showing things from fan comforts, to things for the pampered athlete, to the way the park mimics Crosley Field and how it will affect the playing of the game itself," says John Popovich, Channel 9 sports director.

The hour-long show also features an interview with new stadium announcer Joe Zerhusen, the new scoreboard, the food and ticket prices, he says.

On Saturday, Fox Sports Ohio will telecast the Reds-Indians exhibition game at 1 p.m., a warm-up for Monday's 4 p.m. Opening Day game to be seen on WKRC-TV (Channel 12), Fox Sports Ohio and nationally on ESPN.

Channel 12 will devote most of Monday to the Reds, with a special from the Fountain Square Reds rally (9-10 a.m.), parade coverage (noon-2 p.m.), a Reds preview (2 p.m.) and a newscast anchored by Rob Braun and Kit Andrews from the ballpark (3 p.m.). A post-game newscast will air 7-8 p.m.

WXIX-TV (Channel 19) will cover Opening Day on its Monday 5-9 a.m. news.

Channel 5 will broadcast the parade in a two-hour noon newscast, with NBC's Days of Our Lives moving to 11 a.m. Monday.

E-mail jkiesewetter@enquirer.com