The WNBA will get primetime exposure on broadcast television for the first time. Plus: Amazon will make its Black Friday NFL game free to watch without a subscription; Stan Van Gundy’s addition to NCAA Tournament coverage is now official; and more.
WNBA gets primetime broadcast television exposure for first time
The WNBA All-Star Game is scheduled to air in primetime on ABC Saturday, July 15, marking the first primetime over-the-air game in the 27-year history of the league. The All-Star Game aired at 1:30 PM ET on ABC last season. In addition to the All-Star Game, ABC is set to carry ten afternoon regular season games this season, starting with a doubleheader of Atlanta-Dallas and Las Vegas-Seattle on May 20.
ESPN is scheduled to air the first two games of Brittney Griner’s return to the WNBA, Phoenix-Los Angeles on May 19 and Chicago-Phoenix on May 21. The May 19 game is set for 11 PM ET as ESPN will likely have NHL Conference Final commitments earlier in the night. Griner is expected to make her return to the court this season after missing last year due to her incarceration in Russia. (ESPN PR)
Amazon to make Black Friday NFL game free without subscription
Amazon Prime announced this week that it will make its Black Friday NFL game available to watch for free without a Prime subscription. In its announcement, the company characterized the move as it offering a “free sample of the benefits that come with Prime membership.” Amazon pushed for the Black Friday game in the hopes of driving traffic to its website on the biggest shopping day of the year. (Amazon PR)
Van Gundy officially announced as part of NCAA Tournament team
CBS and Turner Sports officially announced Tuesday that Stan Van Gundy will replace Reggie Miller on its NCAA men’s basketball tournament coverage, news that was first reported Monday by the New York Post. Other changes of note include Ernie Johnson staying with the Atlanta studio team for the entire tournament, as opposed to alternating with Greg Gumbel in New York for the first week of coverage. Johnson will be joined in Atlanta by the returning Candace Parker and Seth Davis, as well as first-year CBS analyst Jay Wright.
Jamie Erdahl, who left CBS college football coverage to join NFL Network, will return to the network as a sideline reporter on the Andrew Catalon and Steve Lappas team. (CBS Sports/Turner Sports PR)
Plus: Big East, CBS soccer channel, Stanley Cup Playoffs
The Big East plans to soon begin talks on a media rights extension with Fox Sports, league commissioner Val Ackerman said Wednesday. The conference is in the midst of a 12-year deal with Fox that was signed in 2013 and runs through the 2024-25 season. … CBS Sports announced Wednesday that it will launch a free, 24-hour soccer-focused streaming channel called “Golazo! Network.” The channel will be distributed through the CBS Sports website and app, Paramount+ and Pluto TV. … ABC is set to carry first round Stanley Cup playoff games on consecutive Saturday nights next month, a marked change from last year, when it did not air any games in the first three rounds of playoffs. (Joe Arruda/Twitter 3.8, CBS Sports PR, ESPN PR)
