Short on live sports, ESPN will air the MLB Draft for the first time in 12 years. Also: the NFL is loosening one of its broadcast rules; a number of soccer leagues have announced their return plans; and more.
MLB Draft airing on ESPN for first time since 2008
ESPN announced Friday that it will televise next month’s Major League Baseball draft, the first time it has carried the event since 2008. Day one will air on ESPN and day two on ESPN2.
ESPN will provide its own separate production from that of MLB Network, which typically airs the draft solo. Karl Ravech will host from ESPN’s Bristol, Conn., studios alongside analyst Kiley McDaniel. [ESPN PR 5.29]
NFL loosens rule banning competition for local home games
NFL owners on Thursday approved a further loosening of the league’s rule prohibiting competing game broadcasts in markets where the home team is playing. Per Sports Business Daily, those markets will now be allowed to break the rule up to four times during the season, up from twice last season. [SBD 5.28]
EPL, Serie A, NWSL set returns
The English Premier League announced this week that it plans to resume its season June 17. The 92 remaining matches, which are expected to run through late July, would air in up-to-ten broadcast windows per weekend, or up-to-six during midweek matchweeks. As in the German Bundesliga, fans will not be permitted to attend the games.
In other soccer news, Italy’s Serie A is set to return June 20.
As for the domestic leagues, the NWSL announced Wednesday that it plans to return with a one-month, 25-match tournament starting June 27. All of the games will be staged in Utah but with no fans in attendance. CBS, which acquired NWSL rights earlier this year, will carry the opening and championship games, with all others available through CBS All-Access. [ESPN.com 5.28, 5.29, NBCSports.com 5.28; NWSL 5.27]
Plus: John Deere Classic, Boston Marathon, KBO, announcers
The PGA Tour John Deere Classic, scheduled for July 9-12, has been canceled due to pandemic-related restrictions in Illinois. The PGA Tour is reportedly expected to add a new event in its place. … The Boston Marathon, originally postponed from April 20 to September 14, has been canceled for the first time in its history. … Starting Tuesday, all of ESPN’s Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) games will air on its flagship network, rather than primarily on ESPN2. As a result of the move, ESPN’s morning talk shows will be pushed back a half-hour Tuesdays through Fridays. … NBC’s IndyCar broadcast team will be on site for next weekend’s season opener at Texas, per Sports Business Daily. Meanwhile, the New York Post reported this week that a “limited number” of play-by-play voices and analysts could call NBA games on-site if and when the season resumes in Orlando. [Golf Digest 5.28, ESPN.com 5.28, ESPN PR 5.29; SBD 5.29, NYP 5.27]
