The NFL is reportedly planning to move the Pro Bowl to Super Bowl markets; Netflix is said to be expected to bid for rights to the UEFA Champions League; and NBC announces hockey commentary teams for the Olympic Games Milan Cortina 2026. Plus news on Eric Moody, the NBA on Prime Video, Spectrum and Beasley Broadcast Group.
NFL reportedly reimagining Pro Bowl in Super Bowl market
The National Football League is currently planning to move its Pro Bowl to the market hosting the Super Bowl, where the event would become a part of festivities leading up to the championship game, according to a Ben Fischer of Sports Business Journal. This year’s Super Bowl is set for Santa Clara, California.
The news comes a few days after Jon Lewis of Sports Media Watch reported that the event was not listed among the NFL’s “important dates” and that the league had no comment on when or if it would be scheduled.
The NFL confirmed to Sports Business Journal that it is speaking with players, the NFLPA and rights partner ESPN about a “reimagined Pro Bowl” for this season. “We’ll share more in the coming weeks, but our focus is a best-in-class all-star event that celebrates the league’s top players, deepens fan engagement and spotlights flag football — especially in light of confirming player participation in the LA28 Olympic Games,” an NFL spokesperson said in a statement.
The original, traditional — and much-maligned — Pro Bowl gave way three seasons ago to a series of minigames that concludes with a 7-on-7 flag football game. This year’s event could be even more experimental, with a source telling SBJ that it will be seen as happening in a so-called “sandbox environment.” Viewership for the event hit a new low last season with an average of 4.7 million viewers across ESPN, ABC and Disney XD.
Netflix reportedly expected to bid for rights to UEFA Champions League
Netflix is said to be a possible bidder for global rights to one UEFA Champions League match per round, according to Martyn Ziegler of The Times (London). Under the American sales firm Relevent, UEFA and European Football Clubs are selling global rights to one-off Champions League games in the hopes of attracting bidders like Netflix, which has established an event-focused approach to sports rights. In addition, the organizations are looking to relax standards that have mandated short-term rights deals of three or fewer years.
UC3, the joint entity between UEFA and European Football Clubs, is beginning the tender process on Monday, Oct. 13 in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom. Relevent will be responsible for selling the rights for the cycle. The platform that wins the bidding is going to have the first selection of Tuesday games, according to Ziegler’s report, but it will be limited in terms of how many times it can show one team.
Matt Slater of The Athletic noted that the governing body and clubs are looking to surpass £4.3bn in annual media income from its club competitions, something that could be achieved by convincing a streaming platform to purchase exclusive global rights for at least one UEFA Champions League game per year. The entities are said to bring in £3.3bn under deals in its current cycle.
CBS Sports currently holds the U.S. media rights for the UEFA Champions League under a six-year deal running through 2030 that is reportedly worth $250 million/year. The long-term pact with UEFA also includes Europa League and Conference League matches.
NBC announces hockey commentary teams for Olympic Games
The lead TNT Sports NHL broadcast team of play-by-play announcer Kenny Albert and analysts Eddie Olczyk and Brian Boucher will return to NBC for the Olympic Games in February, it was announed Thursday. Albert is working his U.S.-record seventh Winter Olympic Games in the role, Olczyk will take part in his fifth, and Boucher his third. It will be the first Winter Games to feature NHL players since 2014.
Former Olympic gold medalist and U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame member AJ Mleczko will work with Albert on women’s games, marking her eighth assignment on NBC coverage of the Olympics. Three-time Olympic gold medalist and Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Jen Botterill will debut on the coverage providing “Inside the Glass” analysis on these matchups as well. Kathryn Tappen will be the on-site reporter for Team USA games, matchups in the medal round and other hockey games.
Rounding out the broadcast team is play-by-play announcers Brendan Burke and Chris Vosters, and analysts Anson Carter and Angela Ruggiero. In addition, former 16-year NHL forward T.J. Oshie will make his Olympics debut working with Burke and Vosters throughout the games.
Albert, Olczyk and Boucher formed the final lead broadcast team for the “NHL on NBC” in the 2020-21 season. All three spent several years as part of NBC’s NHL roster, with Olczyk on the lead team from 2007-21.
Plus: Eric Moody, NBA on Prime, Spectrum, Beasley Broadcast Group
ESPN has announced that it signed fantasy sports and sports betting writer Eric Moody to a multiyear contract renewal. Moody will continue providing analysis on the NFL, NBA and WNBA while appearing across select network television and radio programming.
Amazon’s Prime Video announced that musicians Common, Karriem Riggins and James Poyser have composed the “NBA on Prime” theme music. The track, titled “Victory,” was recorded last month in Nashville and will be unveiled on Friday, Oct. 24 when the company presents an NBA doubleheader.
Spectrum has announced that it will partner with Apple to present select Los Angeles Lakers games live on Apple Vision Pro. Utilizing the Apple Immersive storytelling format, Spectrum SportsNet subscribers and internet customers in the team’s territory will be able to view the game as if they are sitting courtside.
Beasley Broadcast Group CFO Lauren Burrows Coleman has resigned from the company, effective October 17, to pursue new opportunities, it was revealed in an SEC filing Thursday. This resignation did not come from “any disagreement” with Beasley, and company CEO Caroline Beasley will be the “principal financial officer on an interim basis.”