‘Altitude’ Lou McNally to host show on NESN ‘Let’s Go Boating’ to debut Sunday at 10 p.m.

Viewers of Maine Public Broadcasting’s Made in Maine television series or then-Lewiston (now Portland) ABC affiliate WMTW will likely know the name of “Altitude” Lou McNally.

Well, Lou’s altitude is a bit lower these days – sea level, to be exact – as the former Channel 8 weather man heads to the open waters as host of New England Sports Network’s new series called “Let’s Go Boating.”

The half-hour show, whose first season includes 26 episodes, debuts Sunday at 10 p.m. The fast-paced, magazine-style show tries to provide viewers with a front row seat at a unique boating destination while revealing the amenities and features of the region profiled in each episode. “Let’s Go Boating” is also airing in New York on the Empire Sports Network each Sunday at 6 p.m.

“It’s not a fishing show at all,” said publicist Tami Kennedy. “We focus on boating and the boating lifestlye, as well as popular venues for boaters.”

The first show, which was shot last winter, takes a look at Palm Beach, Fla., but the series will be concentrating on many New England spots. Maine is a particular focus.

After Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale (two parts) are featured, the show shifts to Maine with Kennebunkport highlighted in the July 27 episode. Other Maine stops include Casco Bay, Portland, Bath-Brunswick, Bangor, and the Bar Harbor-Mount Desert Island area.

“Right now, depending on how weather and other variables affect our shoots, we’re scheduled to be in Bangor for planning and scouting locations in early September,” Kennedy said. “We should begin shooting in late September.”

Kennedy said the “scope” of the Bangor show has yet to be determined, but she welcomes suggestions and insight from the public. Anyone interested in contacting Kennedy about the show can e-mail her at tami@maine.rr.com.

Several businesses are on the show’s to-do list as well, including Hinckley Yachts in Southwest Harbor, Atlantic Explorer, and First Chance Whale Watch. It’s unclear how much boating will be done, but even the Sea Dog, Kennebunkport and Shipyard Brewing Companies will be featured on the show, along with Feder Jack’s Restaurant and Brew Pub.

Show host McNally provides weather commentary for Maine Public Radio and runs a private weather service for yacht owners and people involved in trans-Atlantic crossings and races. McNally, who has hosted “Made in Maine” for 17 years, has spent the last eight developing “Let’s Go Boating.”

“He likes to sail and he has a keen interest in boating,” Kennedy said.

McNally is also a candidate for the Ph.D. in Global Climate Change from the University of Maine’s Climate Change Institute in Orono.

The show is shot, produced, written and edited by video professionals in Maine. Most of the footage is worked on by Portland’s Groff Film and Video.

“We have a great crew of people working on the show,” McNally said. “Everyone involved likes what they’re doing and are good at what they do.”

The show will also be repeated Wednesdays at 4 p.m.

NBA TV suits up for summer

For the first time, NBA TV, the league’s 24-hour network, will televise a full, live slate of NBA Summer League games.

The action starts July 9 with a Los Angeles Pro Summer game between the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers at 8:15 p.m.

NBA TV will also air nine Reebok Pro Summer League games from Boston, 10 Reebok Rocky Mountain Revue games from Salt Lake City in Utah, and seven other L.A. games.

NBA TV is available on DirecTV and EchoStar (Dish Network) satellite TV systems, but is not yet on any cable TV systems. Another option for fans is to use a RealNetworks RealOneTM Player to view NBA TV summer games via live, streaming video on the NBA.com Web site through the NBA Inside Ticket broadband subscription package. NBA Inside Ticket will also archive each game webcast and provide individual game highlight packages for viewing on an on-demand basis.

Andrew Neff can be reached at 990-8205, 1-800-310-8600, or ANeff@bangordailynews.net