• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, November 22, 2010

Just as NBC Sports launches a free iPad app for its "Talk" online content, it's taking another swing in the blog series. "Pro Golf Talk" has debuted with former WaggleRoom.com journalist Ryan Ballengee as the voice.  

The "Talk" blogs on NBCSports.com -- baseball, basketball, hockey and college football -- follow the model of the well-trafficked "Pro Football Talk," offering a combination of edgy commentary and news.

The "NBC Sports Talk" iPad app has a screen allowing an easy entrée into all of the blogs, rather than having to bounce from page to page. Top stories are highlighted and can be opened, while leaving links to the other stories visible.

As a new blog, "Pro Golf Talk" will be added to the free offering soon. The app received promotion over the weekend during a Notre Dame football game on NBC and the pre-game show for its Sunday NFL game. NBC said that led to a significant boost in downloads from the iTunes store.

The "Talk" series accounted for 45% of page views on NBCSports.com in October. NBC has tried to establish a beachhead in the crowded sports Web-site field and has a linchpin in "Pro Football Talk," which it added in 2008. That sparked the "Talk" franchise.

"We are committed to delivering "NBC Sports Talk" to fans regardless of where they consume content," said Rick Cordella, who oversees NBC Sports Digital, of the iPad gambit.