The ESPN-NFL media rights extension will translate into many more hours of studio programming.
Though ESPN’s NFL extension does not kick in until 2014, the network plans to expand NFL studio programming immediately.
Starting this Sunday, the Sunday NFL Countdown morning show will grow to three hours starting this season, airing from 10 AM to 1 PM ET on ESPN.
The extra hour may seem a bit gluttonous until one considers that the football version of College Gameday — which covers a much less popular sport than the NFL — has already reached the three-hour mark, albeit across two networks.
ESPN will also televise additional NFL studio programming during the week. Starting Thursday, NFL Live will expand to one hour each weekday, and the Audibles talk show will air on a weekly basis.
On ESPN2, a pair of new NFL shows will debut over the next week. Tuesday marks the debut of NFL 32, an hour-long daily show that talks about NFL action in an “interactive, unscripted” format. Suzy Kolber and Chris Mortensen will host.
The second show, which will not start until September 16, is NFL Kickoff — a Friday night look at the upcoming weekend’s NFL action. Trey Wingo will serve as the primary host, with analyst Mark Schlereth.
According to Sports Business Journal, a “key aspect” of ESPN’s extension with the NFL was “that it will receive many more highlight rights” (sportsbusinessdaily.com, 9/8). Indeed, ESPN touted in a Thursday press release that “at least 30 additional ESPN programs across multiple networks and platforms will utilize NFL highlights as part of the agreement,” including programs ranging from SportsCenter to Dan LeBatard is Highly Questionable.
(Information from espnmediazone3.com; additional information from Sports Business Daily via Fang’s Bites)
