The NFL wants the CFP to alter expanded playoff schedule. Plus: Netflix announces Mike Tyson–Jake Paul bout; Charter subscribers receive ESPN+ free as result of last year’s Disney-Charter negotiations; ESPN and Jessica Mendoza reach contract extension; NWSL broadcast plans come into focus; Don Van Natta Jr. to author a biography on Jerry Jones.
NFL urges CFP to shift schedule
The NFL is reportedly lobbying the College Football Playoff to alter its original plans to play three first round games on Saturday, December 21st this upcoming season, per a Puck report Thursday. That date, which falls on the third Saturday of December, falls outside of the parameters set by the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 that prevents the NFL from televising Friday or Saturday games throughout most of the season to protect high school and college football. As such, the NFL typically takes advantage of the additional standalone inventory that Saturday provides, usually only competing with minor college football bowl games. The expanded CFP format makes this Saturday a critical date for both entities.
Per the report, the CFP originally planned to hold three games on that Saturday, one each in the afternoon, evening, and night. The NFL sees it as unrealistic that the CFP would move all three games off the Saturday, thus the league would like to see the CFP move at least one of those games to Friday instead. In that scenario, the CFP would hold two games Friday and two games Saturday. (Puck, 3.7)
Netflix inks Tyson-Paul fight
Netflix will continue its foray into one-off live sporting events with a boxing match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul this summer, the company announced Thursday. The bout will be Netflix’s third live sporting event ever, following its recent golf and tennis exhibitions dubbed The Netflix Cup and The Netflix Slam respectively. Recently, Netflix was announced as the new home of WWE Raw beginning in 2025, which will mark the first recurring live programming series for the streamer. For now, the company’s primary sports content strategy continues to be producing docuseries like Drive to Survive or Quarterback, and supplementing them with one-off live events. The Tyson-Paul fight will take place on July 20th in the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium. (Netflix, 3.7)
ESPN+ now included in Charter package
Charter customers will now have access to ESPN+ the companies announced Thursday, a result of the contentious carriage negotiation between Disney and the distributor last summer. As part of those negotiations, Charter demanded access to Disney’s direct-to-consumer services such as Disney+ and ESPN+ to be bundled with its cable package at no additional cost for Spectrum TV Select Plus subscribers. Charter customers received access to Disney+ in January. The new carriage agreement will also include ESPN’s future direct-to-consumer service, which is reportedly planning a 2025 launch. (Charter, 3.7)
Plus: Mendoza, NWSL, Jerry Jones biography
— ESPN analyst and former Olympic softball player Jessica Mendoza has signed a multi-year extension with the network, she told Awful Announcing Thursday. Mendoza has served as a game analyst for softball and baseball properties on ESPN including the Women’s College World Series, Little League World Series, and MLB. Additionally, Mendoza appears on ESPN’s studio programming including First Take and Baseball Tonight. (Awful Announcing, 3.7)
— Amazon Prime Video is reportedly set to announce Mike Watts and Lori Lindsey as its lead NWSL broadcasting team, per The Athletic on Thursday. The pair will be joined by Kealia Watt as a sideline analyst. Scripps Sports also announced its NWSL broadcast plans earlier this week. The company will air Saturday Night Soccer doubleheaders on ION with pre and post-match studio coverage. JP Dellacamera and Jill Loyden will lead the ION broadcast booth. (The Athletic, 3.7) (E.W. Scripps, 3.6)
— Don Van Natta Jr. announced Thursday he will be writing a Jerry Jones biography titled The Star, set to be published by Simon & Shuster in 2026. Van Natta penned what is widely regarded as the definitive profile of the Dallas Cowboys owner for ESPN in 2014. In a statement released by the publisher Van Natta said Jones is, “the most fascinating person I’ve met and covered.” (Simon & Shuster, 3.7)
