Google is the favorite to acquire the NFL’s International Series game from Brazil, which would air for free on the main YouTube platform. Plus: play-by-play voice Michael Grady could split time between both of the NBA’s new broadcast partners next season; TNT Sports has announced its full French Open lineup.
Google favorite for NFL Brazil game, which would air free on YouTube
Google-owned YouTube is now considered “the heavy favorite” to acquire exclusive rights to this season’s NFL International Series game from Brazil, Andrew Marchand of The Athletic reported Thursday. The game would be available to watch for free worldwide on the main YouTube platform, as well as through the subscription YouTube TV service.
While YouTube TV is the home of NFL Sunday Ticket, Google has never before produced an NFL telecast of its own. The Brazil game, which like last year is set for the Friday of Week 1, aired exclusively on Peacock last season and averaged a Nielsen-estimated audience exceeding 14 million viewers.
Sports Business Journal was first to report that YouTube was a contender for the rights, along with Amazon and Warner Bros. Discovery.
While the full NFL schedule is not going to be released until next Thursday, the International Series games will be announced on Tuesday.
Play-by-play voice Grady could work for both Amazon and NBC
Minnesota Timberwolves play-by-play voice Michael Grady could call NBA and WNBA games for both Amazon and NBC Sports starting next season, according to Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports. Amazon and Grady are expected to reach a deal that would make him the streamer’s lead WNBA voice, but that would evidently not prevent him from also working for NBC, with whom he has also held talks.
Grady has spent this season calling games nationally for ESPN.
TNT officially announces French Open lineup
TNT officially announced its French Open broadcast teams on Thursday, which as previously reported will include analysts Andre Agassi, John McEnroe, Lindsay Davenport, Jim Courier, Chris Evert, Caroline Wozniacki and Sloane Stephens. Venus Williams, who was included with the others in a commercial promoting the network’s coverage over the weekend, will not be an analyst and instead serve as a contributor for taped features.
Additional analysts who were not mentioned in the Saturday promo are CoCo Vandeweghe of Tennis Channel, Darren Cahill of ESPN, and Chris Eubanks of both networks.
Adam Lefkoe will serve as the primary on-site studio host, ESPN’s Patrick McEnroe will fill multiple roles, and Brian Anderson, Alex Faust and Mark Petchey will call play-by-play. ESPN’s Mary Jo Fernandez will serve as a reporter and contributor.
