Primetime NFL games will start a little bit earlier this season. In other news, ESPN and Fox are reportedly preparing a joint UFC bid, Five Thirty Eight is leaving ESPN, and the NASCAR Truck Series is headed to primetime network TV.
Primetime NFL Kickoff Times Moving Up
The NFL is moving up kickoff times for primetime games this season, The Boston Globe reported Wednesday. Thursday and Sunday night games will begin at 8:20 PM ET, up from 8:25 and 8:30 respectively. Monday Night Football will begin at 8:15 PM, up from 8:30.
The full 2018 NFL schedule will be released Thursday night. [Boston Globe 4.18]
ESPN, Fox, Propose Joint UFC Bid
ESPN and Fox Sports are proposing a joint bid for UFC television rights, Variety reported Wednesday. Under the potential agreement, ESPN and Fox would each pay at least $120 million per year. The new ESPN Plus streaming service would carry up to 15 fight cards, taking some of the inventory currently held by Fox. [Variety 4.17]
Five Thirty Eight Moving to ABC
ESPN is transferring the data analysis website Five Thirty Eight to corporate sibling ABC News, it was announced Tuesday. ESPN acquired Five Thirty Eight when it hired the site’s founder Nate Silver in 2013. [ABC News 4.17]
FOX to Air Truck Series in Primetime
The FOX broadcast network will televise the August 16 NASCAR Truck Series race from Bristol (Tenn.) live in primetime. It will almost certainly mark the first ever Truck Series event on primetime broadcast television. The race was originally set to air August 15 on FS1. [Fox Sports 4.17]
