Greg Olsen hopes to return to the Super Bowl Booth; no imminent changes expect to the CFP schedule; MLS offers its DTC product through pay-TV providers, and more.
Olsen hopes to call Super Bowl again with “whatever network”
In an interview with WCNC this week, Fox NFL analyst Greg Olsen said he hopes to return to the booth to call a Super Bowl again, “whatever network it’s on”. Olsen called two NFC Championships and Super Bowl LVII for Fox after the departure of Troy Aikman, but was uncerimoniously demoted to Fox’s #2 team to make way for Tom Brady.
Olsen added, “My goal getting into this was to not just call regional 1:00 games and just be happy to be there…my goal is to continue to show I’m as good if not better than anybody in this industry. I just need a chair.” There will be occasional opportunities for Olsen to call a Wild Card Playoff game on a #2 team. However, as long as Brady remains committed to his 10-year deal — which he intends to — a spot in the Super Bowl booth may be hard to come by.
The NFL’s other Super Bowl partners: CBS, ESPN, and NBC, all have Tony Romo, Aikman, and Cris Collinsworth locked up on multi-year deals as well.
No changes coming to CFP schedule
ESPN and the College Football Playoff are not anticipating significant changes to the 2025 College Football Playoff, according to Sports Business Journal. The inaugural 12-team playoff featured two early-round games opposite the NFL, which predictably dominated viewership. The SBJ report suggests that CFP executives feel the viewership for those two Saturday games was not as low as expected, and that CFP viewership may have impacted the NFL games more than the other way around.
Viewership for this year’s championship game was on the low side, caused by a number of factors including presidential inauguration coverage, a regional matchup, and a lopsided halftime score. For now, it seems the CFP is content with the performance of the 12-team tournament.
The 2026 season features some additional changes. The national championship is currently scheduled for Monday, January 25, 2027, the latest date ever. TNT will take over two quarterfinal bowls, and ABC is expected to simulcast three additional games, including the final, which should boost viewership. The playoff has also not confirmed the 12-team format for 2026 and beyond, and has reportedly considered further expansion of the field, perhaps to 14.
MLS expands Season Pass product
MLS is expanding its direct-to-consumer streaming product, “MLS Season Pass”, outside of the Apple TV app for the first time, it was announced Wednesday. Xfinity and DIRECTV customers will be able to subscribe to MLS Season Pass directly from their TV provider and access all matches within their programming guides. The 2025 MLS season begins with Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF hosting New York City FC on February 22.
As was previously expected, MLS officially annouced it will be launching “Sunday Night Soccer”, a new flagship game of the week at 7 PM ET. As with Apple’s Friday night MLB telecasts, the Sunday night matches will be available to all Apple TV+ subscribers without a Season Pass subscription. Apple’s top broadcast team of Jake Zivin, Taylor Twellman, and Andrew Wiebe will provide commentary for the Sunday night matches, which begin as new club San Diego FC makes its debut against reigning MLS Cup champions LA Galaxy on February 23.
FOX and FS1 will also simulcast select MLS matches, but not the Sunday night games.
Plus: Cowherd, NBA Draft, Super Bowl ads
— FS1 personality Colin Cowherd is expected to sign a new contract with the network before the current one expires next month, according to Front Office Sports. Terms have not yet been finalized, according to FOS. Cowherd left ESPN to join FS1 in 2015. His namesake show, “The Herd with Colin Cowherd”, which airs weekdays on FS1 and Fox Sports Radio, will reportedly split its time between FS1’s Los Angeles studios and Big Ten Network studios in Chicago.
— The 2025 NBA draft will take place on June 25 and 26, the second year of the two-day format, the league announced Tuesday. ABC and ESPN will combine to televise the first round, with ESPN alone airing coverage of the second round. The event will take place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn for the twelfth time, the 25th-straight year the draft has been held in the New York City area.
— Fox Sports has sold out of its ad inventory for its upcoming presentation of Super Bowl LIX at record pricing, according to Sports Business Journal. The network has reportedly charged more than $8 million for several 30-second slots, up considerably from the $7 million CBS charged last year.
