Tom Brady and the Buccaneers are set to open the 2021 NFL season against the Cowboys. Plus: IndyCar may soon be leaving NBC, ESPN is reportedly adding LaLiga, and ESPN reporter Marty Smith has a new extension.
Cowboys-Bucs to lead off 2021 NFL season
The defending Super Bowl champion Buccaneers will host the Cowboys in this year’s scheduled NFL Kickoff Game, it was announced Wednesday. The game marks the Cowboys’ first appearance in the season opener since 2012. NBC is also scheduled to air Bears-Rams on Sunday Night Football in Week 1.
In other Week 1 action, ESPN and ABC will carry Ravens-Raiders to open the Monday Night Football schedule. ESPN’s annual Week 1 doubleheader has been discontinued under its new media rights deal with the NFL (replaced by a season-ending Saturday doubleheader in Week 18).
In another change, both FOX and CBS are scheduled to air doubleheaders in Week 1. In the featured 4:25 PM ET window, FOX has Packers-Saints and CBS Browns-Chiefs. The full Week 1 schedule is available here, with the NFL’s remaining schedule set to be announced later Wednesday. [NBC Sports PR, CBS Sports PR, ESPN, Fox 6/Twitter 5.12]
NBC’s short time with IndyCar may be ending
NBC Sports is heading toward the end of its relationship with IndyCar, though talks have not yet broken off, Sports Business Journal reported Tuesday. NBC’s three-year deal with IndyCar expires after the current season and the parties have begun “to envision life without the other.”
Per the report, CBS would be the leading contender to replace NBC.
While the NBC family of networks has held IndyCar rights since 2009 — when NBCSN (then Versus) replaced ESPN as the series’ cable partner — the NBC broadcast network only began airing races in 2019. [Sports Business Journal 5.11]
ESPN to announce LaLiga deal
ESPN has acquired English and Spanish-language rights to the Spanish LaLiga, with an official announcement expected this week, World Soccer Talk reported Tuesday. Matches currently air on beIN Sports.
Most of the LaLiga matches are expected to air on ESPN+, with some set aside for the linear ESPN networks. [World Soccer Talk 5.11]
Marty Smith gets ESPN extension
ESPN announced Tuesday that it has reached a multi-year contract extension with reporter Marty Smith, who will continue in his current role covering an eclectic mix of events. Smith has been with ESPN since 2006, originally covering the network’s NASCAR programming and staying on after it lost the rights. [ESPN PR 5.11]
