There will be a record number of NHL games on broadcast television this season. Plus: Nielsen responds to criticism over its Amazon move; “Inside the NFL” has a new cast.
Record-tying 16 NHL games set for broadcast TV this season
ABC is scheduled to carry 16 games during the upcoming 2023-24 NHL regular season, up from 15 last year and tying a record for the league on broadcast television, matching NBC in the shortened 2020-21 season. (A previous version of this post said ABC would air a record-setting 17 games, but that counted the NHL All-Star Game.)
Overall, the ESPN linear networks are scheduled to carry 50 games during the regular season — higher than last season (49) and far in excess of what is required under the company’s rights deal with the league (25).
ESPN is scheduled for a pair of tripleheaders this season — on Opening Night October 10 and on October 24 — while ABC has a split tripleheader for the second-straight year on April 13. ABC is also set to carry both Stadium Series outdoor games on the weekend of February 17 and 18, including Flyers-Devils in primetime.
TNT is set for 62 games this season, the same as last year. The network’s slate includes 12 Sunday afternoon windows, up from seven last season. The full schedule is available here.
Nielsen responds to criticism of Amazon arrangement
Responding to criticism from the Video Advertising Bureau — an industry group representing the networks — Nielsen on Wednesday said it “wholeheartedly” rejects the suggestion that it has been unfair and lacked transparency in deciding to incorporate Amazon’s internal data into viewership estimates for Thursday Night Football.
Specifically, Nielsen said that it has held discussions with other companies about incorporating internal data since as early as 2021 and that Amazon was merely the first to take the opportunity. It also argued that the VAB made exaggerated and misleading claims about Amazon having an unfair advantage in the data, describing claims of disproportionate out-of-home and co-viewing on Amazon as inaccurate, insignificant or explained by behavioral changes. (As one example, Nielsen said Amazon may have a larger out-of-home lift than the other networks in part because viewers without a Prime Video subscription would have to leave their homes to watch.)
Executives at three of the four other NFL broadcast partners — including CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus — have been publicly critical of Nielsen’s move. (Nielsen via Mediapost 8.30)
“Inside the NFL” announces cast overhaul ahead of CW move
The soon-to-be-relaunched “Inside the NFL” studio show will be hosted by ESPN analyst Ryan Clark with analysts Jay Cutler, Chad Johnson, Chris Long and Channing Crowder, it was announced Wednesday. The previous cast consisted of host James Brown and analysts Phil Simms, Brandon Marshall, Julian Edelman, Ray Lewis and Michael Irvin.
The cast overhaul coincides with the show’s move to The CW, its fourth home in its 47-year history following HBO (1977-2008), Showtime (2008-2021) and Paramount+ (2021-23). The new show debuts next Tuesday. (NFL PR)
