ESPN is reportedly in active preparations to take its channels direct-to-subscriber. Plus: ESPN adds “The Pat McAfee Show,” some NBC Olympics news and more.
ESPN now “actively preparing” to take networks direct-to-subscriber
ESPN has begun “actively preparing” to make its linear cable networks available to stream direct to subscriber, though there is no timeline on when such a move will occur, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday. Per the report, ESPN has negotiated with cable providers the flexibility to go over-the-top and is securing similar rights in its discussions with its league partners. Some of ESPN’s existing deals — including its 2014 contract with the NBA — already allow for games to be presented via a direct-to-subscriber platform.
Under ESPN’s plan, the linear channels would continue to be offered through the traditional cable bundle, but would also be available in a standalone streaming option.
Disney has been open about the inevitability of offering ESPN direct-to-subscriber, with CEO Bob Iger saying in March that such a move was “inevitable.” Those prognostications have always been cut with a degree of vagueness (Iger prefaced his March comment with “Down the road, at some point”). (WSJ 5.18)
ESPN to carry Pat McAfee Show
ESPN announced Tuesday that it has reached a deal with Pat McAfee to move his eponymous show to the ESPN family of networks. Starting this fall, “The Pat McAfee Show” will be broadcast daily on the ESPN flagship network, ESPN+, the ESPN app and ESPN’s YouTube channel. McAfee’s show, which has gained notoriety in recent years for its interviews with athletes like Aaron Rodgers, had previously been carried by FanDuel.
McAfee is in his second stint with ESPN, having rejoined last year as an analyst on “College Gameday.” He had a previous stint with the network in 2019 that included game analysis. (ESPN PR)
NBC to air marquee Olympic events live outside of primetime
NBC announced last week that its broadcast network will carry live swimming, gymnastics and track and field outside of its traditional primetime window during next year’s Olympics. Traditionally, live coverage of those marquee events had been available only via live stream if occurring outside of primetime. NBC says it will air more hours of Olympics coverage on its broadcast network than during any prior Games, including at least nine hours of morning and afternoon coverage per day.
In addition to NBC and Peacock, other Olympic broadcasters next year will include USA Network, E!, CNBC, Golf Channel, Telemundo and Universo. (NBC Sports PR)
Plus: Matt Ryan, Tim Kiely, Big Ten, Univision
- CBS announced this week that it has hired NFL quarterback Matt Ryan as an NFL game and studio analyst. Ryan, who says he is not retiring from football, will work select games, contribute to the suite of CBS NFL pregame shows (“The NFL Today,” “That Other Pregame Show,” and “NFL Monday QB”) and appear on the CBS Sports HQ streaming service. (CBS Sports PR)
- Longtime Turner Sports producer Tim Kiely — who has held that role on TNT’s “Inside the NBA” studio show since 1995 — is retiring at the end of the season, the New York Post reported Wednesday. [Related: 2009 SMW Q&A with Tim Kiely] (NYP 5.16)
- CBS is scheduled to air the September 23 Iowa-Penn State college football game in primetime, the network’s first game selection in its new rights deal with the Big Ten. The network’s first Big Ten game will be September 2, with game and time yet to be announced. Fellow Big Ten newcomer NBC will also begin its coverage September 2 with a previously announced primetime West Virginia-Penn State game. (CBS/NBC PR)
- Univision has acquired Spanish-language rights to this season’s Super Bowl, marking the first time the network has ever carried the game. CBS has English-language rights to the game this year and as CBS does not have a Spanish-language channel, Spanish-language rights must be awarded to a network outside of its corporate family. In prior years, ESPN Deportes aired the game in CBS years. (Univision PR)
