Archives for August 2016

2016 FNIA NFL SEASON PREVIEW CONFERENCE CALL

Aug. 31, 2016

4 p.m. ET

CHRIS MCCLOSKEY: Good afternoon, everyone, and thank you for joining us today for our Football Night in America call that’s previewing the 2016 NFL season. Today we’ll be joined by Football Night analysts Tony Dungy and Rodney Harrison, hosts Dan Patrick and Mike Tirico, and executive producer Sam Flood. We’ll have opening statements from our speakers and then questions from the press. As always, there will be a transcript available of today’s call in a few hours after the call concludes. It will be on our media dedicated website at NBCSportsgrouppressbox.com.

Quickly, before we begin with opening remarks, Rodney Harrison wanted to address the apology he made yesterday regarding his comments on Colin Kaepernick. Rodney?

RODNEY HARRISON: Thank you, Chris. I tweeted out an apology yesterday, but I really wanted to use this call as an opportunity to formally apologize to Colin Kaepernick. I made a mistake. I should have never brought up his race, and I really humbly apologize to him.

And now I want to shift all my attention and my focus on talking football, so I’m going to send it back to you, Chris. Thank you.

CHRIS McCLOSKEY: Thank you, Rodney, very much.

We’ll begin now with opening statements starting with our executive producer of NBC Sports, Sam Flood.

SAM FLOOD: Thanks, Chris. Glad we could get the band back together again, and we’ve got some new toys to play with this year and some new excitement for this season. Obviously, the addition of Thursday Night Football has given us another platform to help grow the NFL and give us an opportunity to showcase the way we like to tell the story of the NFL and the players that play the game. So for Thursday Night Football, we’ve got Bob Costas heading out to be with Tony and Rodney on site every week, and that will be our Thursday Night gang.

And that opens up the road position for Mike Tirico, and Mike being the new member of the team, will be hosting the Football Night in America show from the stadium each week. This first week game in Arizona, Mike will get the handoff from Bob as they will share the set in Arizona as Bob shows them where the buttons are and shows them where the desk is and shows him his way around the field and how Football Night in America works. Then Mike will be in that position.

We think it’s a great combination of opportunities. One, for Mike to be a part of that show every week and get back in the studio with Dan, Tony and Rodney, the three of them together, I believe it’s their eighth season together as a trio, which is fun for me as the guy that gets to sit in the chair and produce those three men in the studio each week. And then for Bob, to signify to everyone who tunes in on Thursday night how important that property is to NBC. When we put Bob on a property, it tells you it is critical to our network and to our partners, and that’s why Bob will be there each week hosting Thursday Night Football.

So with that, I hand it off to the guy who runs the show in in the studio each week and makes Tony and Rodney better and challenges them to have opinions and analysis on why things are happening each night. So Dan, here you go.

DAN PATRICK: Yeah, I’m still surprised that it’s been eight years, but I do remember when we first started and Sam told me what we wanted and what we needed out of that studio show, with Bob going out in the field, and Rodney and Tony came in and said, ‘We’re rookies, teach us what we need to learn,’ and that willingness to learn has not stopped. So it’s been enjoyable. The product is great. We’re lucky to have that great schedule not only on Sunday but also on Thursday. I’m glad that Bob is still involved in it, as somebody who was a mentor to me when I first got into the NBC family.

I look forward to the upcoming season. To be able to bridge, not me personally, but hopefully I had a word in bringing Mike in, that I’ve had an opportunity to work with him — I’m not sure how many years it was, I think 15 years I worked with him at the mothership. But to have him there, there was a moment we had on the beach in Rio when we were doing the Olympics and there’s probably 30 seconds before we’re going live on TV and I looked at Mike and I said, we’re doing the freaking Olympics together, and we just had this big laugh because who would have thought all these years later we’d be working together, working an Olympics and now on Football Night in America.

So with that, I welcome in with Mike.

MIKE TIRICO: Thank you, Dan. It’s funny I shared that with my family when I came back. It was fun for me and struck a special chord as well, given our friendship. And getting to know and covering Tony and Rodney over the years and the League, it’s great to be a part of the team that’s really worked so well together.

This Sunday Night Football franchise is, as everyone knows, the number one show in primetime, and to be a significant part of the top pre-game show in football is an absolute treat. And for me, someone who started in the studio, but loves the atmosphere and energy you get at a game site, there’s no better role that you could have as part of the NFL every week on a Sunday than doing exactly this job. So I look forward to being at the stadium, spending some time with Chris there in the pregame and then interacting with the guys back in the studio.

The job, I guess the job requirement is for an under 6-foot Syracuse alum to have this job. So I’m glad I fit both requirements there and sit in the chair that Bob has elevated to such a great level.

Needless to say, between this and the Olympics and Notre Dame and Ryder Cup and the other golf stuff, it’s been a great start to my NBC life, and I’m just looking forward to being a huge part of this. One of us was doing the preseason games this week, and it was great to spend the second half of one of those games with Coach Dungy in the booth as Chris and I called the second half of that game in Orlando. And Coach, I’ll turn it over to you, the Hall of Famer. Go ahead, sir.

TONY DUNGY: Thank you, Mike, and I’d like to welcome Mike as well. It’s great — [Disconnected].

RODNEY HARRISON: I’m really excited about welcoming Mike Tirico to the family. This is, like we all talked about, eighth season. I’m really excited about it. I appreciate Dan for all his patience and hard work, just the patience that he’s shown with Tony and myself over the years.

I’m really excited about continuing my work with Tony Dungy. I mean, when I went to the Patriots, I had an opportunity to play under Bill Belichick, and I just thought he was the smartest man in football. Then I got a chance to learn next to Tony, and I still think Bill Belichick is the smartest man in football (laughing).

But really, really truly a blessing to be part of Football Night in America. I thank Sam Flood for the opportunity, and really a blessing to be a football fan. I don’t remember the last time we get a chance to sit back and watch a Super Bowl rematch on opening night.

I’m really excited about the Carolina Panthers. I knew I was a person that really wasn’t sold on the Carolina Panthers, but what a terrific season they had last year, and I feel like with the talent that they have, Kelvin Benjamin coming back, they have a chance to play in a big game this year.

I’m also excited about the Denver Broncos. I mean, the team lost their starting quarterback, starting linebacker, defensive tackle in Malik Jackson. I had an opportunity to play in two of these games. And I tell you, the emotion is absolutely like a Super Bowl. So I’m really pumped up about the season, and the opportunity we have for Thursday Night Football.

So with that, Chris, I appreciate the time. Thank you.

CHRIS McCLOSKEY: My understanding is that Tony is back on. So, Tony, if you can hear us, go ahead with your opening remarks.

TONY DUNGY: Yes, I can. Excuse me, we are having some tremendous storms down here in Tampa. They actually moved the Buccaneers game to tonight trying to get through this. But I was saying when I lost you, I welcome Mike and just happy to have him with our family.

I’m so excited to be on our eighth year of Sunday Night Football and looking forward to being a part of it. I don’t know that we’ve ever had an opening weekend like this where we’ve got the top four teams from last year on Thursday and Sunday. We’ll get a chance to see where they are right away as they go against each other. It should be just a tremendous weekend for us being in Denver for Denver-Carolina, and then being in Arizona for Arizona and New England. So it should be great. Looking forward to it and excited to start off the year.

Mike, I’m glad, with the news over the last couple days, we’ve learned you will have things to do this fall because all of your fans wondered after the news of 11 days ago if that would be the case. I don’t know how forthcoming you want to be on this, but how upset were you when you found out you would not be able to do Thursday night play-by-play for reasons beyond your control, obviously? And also, how did Sunday night hosting come about? Did Sam or Mark reach out to you? Did Costas call you and say I don’t feel like I need to keep doing Sunday night, this would be ideal for you? If you could talk about that process?
MIKE TIRICO: Sure. I’ll try to keep it quick so everybody can get to the guys with football questions. But the reports of what I was going to do regarding the NFL at NBC were all assumptions. There was never anything stated about what I was going to do, and I had to make the decision.

I had a couple of things to deal with, and one of them was how much opportunity was there going to be to not just stay involved in the NFL but do other things at NBC. And as I got into the conversations with the folks here, there are plenty of things to do. So I decided to make the jump and figure it out once we got here.

Sunday nights has always been a part of the equation from the get-go in this. This didn’t just come up in the last 10 or 15 days. That has been part of the plan here all the time as we’ve gone through. So as you’ve seen with a couple of preseason games, there were a couple games during the year I’ll be involved with, Notre Dame, Ryder Cup, the Olympics, The Open Championship. There is plenty, plenty for me to do. I’ve done more high-profile stuff already than I would have in an entire year at ESPN, and it’s only going to increase with Football Night and working with these guys.

Don’t worry. My fall is plenty busy, and I’m super happy to be part of the number one pregame show on NBC in terms of the NFL.

Coach Dungy, if you’re one of these teams like Arizona who has to face the Patriots in week one or maybe Miami in week two, how do you prepare to face a quarterback with Jimmy Garoppolo who hasn’t put much real tape out there?
TONY DUNGY: That’s really tough. You have to prepare for what you do know and the things that New England is going to do. But you don’t know exactly what they’re going to do, what they’re going to feature with this quarterback. And that’s one of the great things about the Patriots. Bill Belichick can shift his attack based on who is there. He’s done it with running backs and the receivers and tight ends. He did it with Matt Cassel several years ago when Tom was hurt, and he’s going to play to Garoppolo’s strengths. Now we don’t know exactly what that is, and that’s going to be something that’s as much of a disadvantage as it is for the Patriots not to have Tom Brady in there. There’s a little disadvantage to Arizona as well, because they aren’t going to know exactly what to prepare for.

RODNEY HARRISON: For me to jump in on that, if I’m Arizona and I’ve got a chance to meet their defensive coordinator this summer, and basically if you’re playing against the Patriots, you want to take away what they do best. Well, they have the best tight end in all of football, so they’re going to have to find a way, whether it’s Tyrann Mathieu, whether it’s a double team, whether it’s Buchanan, to try to stop Rob Gronkowski. And we know about Julian Edelman and what he did do in the slot.

So I don’t think it’s necessarily them going into the game saying, ‘Hey, we want to stop Jimmy Garoppolo.’ But I think it’s them saying these are the guys we need to focus on number one. As much of as Tom Brady and Belichick and that offense is known for passing the ball, they come into a game, their number one priority the majority of time is they want to run. They want to establish the run and set up the pass.

So I think you’ll see a lot of focus and attention on Rob Gronkowski and making sure he doesn’t have a big game.

Bill and Tom are entering year 16 or year 17 together. It’s one of the longest runs with a quarterback and coach we’ve ever seen in the NFL, four Super Bowl titles, all kinds of accolades and awards. What about their personalities and their relationship together that has allowed them to thrive for so long together?
RODNEY HARRISON: I think, first and foremost, they’re both stubborn. They’re both stubborn to the point they really want to win. They think their way is the best way, and Coach Belichick has proven that his way is a lot more effective than Tom Brady’s way.

So I think at times Tom wants to do certain things his way and it’s part of him being a competitor. But the one common denominator is mutual respect. I’ve seen these guys for six years. They’ve had an opportunity to be there and watch him interact and communicate. They have such a mutual respect for one another. I think ultimately Tom understands that it was Bill Belichick that gave him an opportunity when no one else saw the potential that Bill Belichick saw in Tom Brady. So if I’m Tom, I’m always going back to the guy that gave me the opportunity. It’s the respect factor.

But I also think you have to include Josh McDaniel. I think he’s done a fine job. He’ll be a heck of a head coach one day. But I think he’s the neutralizer. I think he’s the guy that’s really that buffer between Tom and Bill when they’re bumping heads at times.

Dan, as the elder statesman in Football Night, can this show get any bigger? Is there still room for this show to grow?
DAN PATRICK: I think we take our cue from Fred Gaudelli, who is producing Sunday Night Football, and Drew Esocoff who is directing it. They continue to reinvent themselves every year in how they present a football game, which is pretty amazing. And that’s our job. That’s my job. What do I tap into with Tony and Rodney to get out of them that I didn’t get the previous year?

Mike Florio, what kind of information are we getting? How are we getting it? What kind of highlights are we showing? I think we set out to do this for the educated football fan. It wasn’t about laughs. It wasn’t about — if there was humor, then it was in the course of what was part of the programming. It wasn’t something we set out to do. We sort of fit, I think, the show to fit Tony’s personality, and we try to bring out other things with that.

Rodney has complimented Coach. I push him, they allow me to push him. Those are things we continue to dissect every week. It almost feels like you’re reviewing game film when you’re done with the show is I immediately want to dissect what we did and didn’t do. And these guys have been great at taking the criticism and myself as well.

I say to Sam Flood, tell me what we’re doing and not doing. Is the energy there? Are we doing the highlights the way we should do it? There’s a lot involved in it. It’s not something we take for granted that we just have a great game and you’re going to go out there and have a big number. It’s more to it than that. But it really starts with those guys out on the field and how they put together a football game and they continue to do it at the highest level of anybody, and that’s our goal every week for the studio show as well.

Tony, how has Mike Tomlin evolved as a coach since you had him down in Tampa on your staff? And knowing the Steelers as well as you do, why is he such a good fit for them?
TONY DUNGY: Well, Mike, in my opinion, has developed into a great football coach, and you could see that coming from the first day he stepped into my office as a 29-year-old. He had a command of the game. He had a confidence in himself, but he had a way to communicate with players. They understood he knew what he was talking about without coming across like a know-it-all. I think that’s just his personality.

I think he’s meshed perfectly with the Steelers, because that’s what the Rooney family wants. They want a very self confident guy, but not someone who feels like they are the entire show. It’s been that way with Chuck Noll and Bill Cowher, and will continue with Mike Tomlin. I think Mike fits the personality of the city, and he definitely fits what Mr. Rooney wants to run the team. He’s developed. He’s doing a great job. People wouldn’t believe it, but he’s had a higher winning percentage than Coach Noll or Bill Cowher did. It’s a pretty awesome job what he’s done, and I’m really proud of him.

Coach Dungy and Rodney, I was wondering what you guys think about the Panthers and their abilities to bounce back after the Super Bowl and can they make another run? Will they get caught in that Super Bowl hangover? Also, how big a deal is this first game in Denver to try to get revenge quote-unquote for what happened in the Super Bowl?
RODNEY HARRISON: Well, I can jump in and talk about the Super Bowl hangover. For the Carolina Panthers, to me, I’m not even concerned about that. They have their core group of guys, a bunch of young guys that are very hungry, that are very excited. Guys that, as you watch them on tape, they love playing the game of football. It’s not about playing to the level, getting a big paycheck and shutting it down. I don’t see that happening with these guys.

You see Luke Kuechly signing a $50 million contract and still out there doing the little things it takes, the leadership, all the little things it takes to be a great player. Thomas Davis, a guy that had so many knee surgeries. I think he’s gained perspective like no one else. All those knee surgeries could have easily ended his career, his season, and he keeps coming back.

I think the other thing that’s challenging for them and it’s really an opportunity as people say, hey, there is going to be a Super Bowl hangover. What about the departure of Josh Norman? Can you guys survive without him? I think these guys — and if I’m in that locker room, I say the same thing, hey, let’s prove to these guys, to the media, to the world that we’re going to be fine, no matter if our All-Pro cornerback left.

So I think Coach Ron Rivera has really done a good job of keeping things right in front of this team, and these guys have a lot of young players, they have tremendous leadership. And I think it only gets better. I really do. I’m not going to sit here and say I think they’re going to go 15-1 this season. But I do believe that the hunger, the thirst, the enthusiasm, everything is there. I just believe Cam Newton has that deep down inside of him. A lot of people have doubted him. I’ve doubted this team last year. What did they do? They just proved me wrong. Went 15-1 and ended up in the Super Bowl.

So I look forward to seeing this team, and I don’t think whatsoever there is going to be any Super Bowl hangover. Coach?

TONY DUNGY: I agree with Rodney. Having spent some time with those guys, Thomas Davis, Kuechly, they’re great leaders. Young team, fired up. I think they’re going to come back with a determination to get back. But the problem and part of the Super Bowl hangover is not the fact that you’re not doing everything the same way, it’s the fact that everybody else is pointing at you.

Now Carolina is the team to beat in the NFC. Everybody has studied them. Everybody has watched them. Everybody’s pointing at them. You’re getting everybody’s best shot. So I think that the conference is going to come after them. And I don’t think they’ll go 15-1 again, but I don’t think it’s going to be because of a lack of effort, a lack of intensity or a lack of focus on their part. They’ve got too much leadership there.

MIKE TIRICO: I’m going to jump in for 15 seconds because I spoke to Ron Rivera about that topic yesterday for about 15 minutes. Of the coaches I’ve seen that have to deal with, ‘We lost the Super Bowl, how do we come back the next year?’ he’s been very proactive in reaching out and canvassing other people, not just limited to the football world, of how to deal with a team that came so close, but get them ready to try to go that next step this year. I applaud him. He’s taken such a cerebral and in-depth approach to trying to get over that “Super Bowl hangover.”

Tony, Rodney, I was hoping you could talk about the Broncos turning the keys of a Super Bowl champion over to Trevor Siemian, a guy that’s never thrown an NFL pass. How risky is that and do you have to lean on the defense again? And secondly, do you think Thursday night comes down to whether Von Miller can disrupt Cam Newton like he did in the Super Bowl?
TONY DUNGY: I’ll start off with that. It’s an unusual move, as we all know. One thing you have to hang your hat on is John Elway knowing what quarterbacking is all about, and obviously he feels good about this move.

I’ve watched Trevor Siemian in the preseason, and it certainly wouldn’t be what a coach would desire, that, ‘Hey, we’re going in with an untested player at the key position.’ But Siemian’s been there. They know him. They believe in him. I do think they made that move in part based on who they are as a team. They feel like, hey, we’ve got good running backs. We’ve got a tough offensive line. We’ve got a great defense. We can do this with a young, untested quarterback. We’ll see what happens. I think the game is going to come down to which defense wins the game.

Yes, Von Miller will be a part of it on the other side, but I think Kuechly and Thomas Davis, some of those guys Rodney mentioned, it will be the same approach on their side. We want to take T.J. Anderson and that running game away, put the ball in Siemian’s hands and see if he can win the game.

RODNEY HARRISON: And what he has to do is he has to understand he doesn’t have to do it all by himself. He’s got, like Coach talked about, he’s got tremendous playmakers. I mean, Emmanuel Sanders is one of the most underrated wide receivers in this league. And he’s actually a lot tougher to defend than Demaryius Thomas after talking to some defensive backs. But Demaryius Thomas is a big, physical receiver who has had some issues with drops.

So when I look at this team, I mean, they’ve got a tight end, Virgil Green, who has really had a really good preseason. So I look at other guys making contributions, running the football obviously. What better situation for him to be in? To have such a great offensive mind calling plays, mentoring him and really teaching him the game of football.

So really for me, I look at the defense. Coach talked about the defense and this defense is going to be one of the top two or three defenses in the league. I don’t think they’re going to hold the level that they held last year, but it will still be one of the top two or three defenses in the league.

But, yes, when you talk about Carolina, I think the biggest thing for them is don’t underestimate this young kid. Because Gary Kubiak, in order to make this kid a little bit more relaxed, I expect him to come out and take some shots early and maybe loosen Trevor up and say, hey, we have confidence in you. They no longer have Josh Norman. We’re going to take some shots. We’re going to try to soften the defense and let them know they’re going to be in a game. It’s not like we’re just going to run the ball 50 times and not pass the ball.

Dan and Mike, I know you touched on it a little at the top of the call, but when was the first time you guys worked together at ESPN, and did you ever envision not only being reunited but working together on television’s number one show?
DAN PATRICK: Did we do a SportsCenter together?

MIKE TIRICO: I started in ’91 and then I graduated, quote-unquote, to the shows you were on. So it would be late summer or fall, probably 1991, somewhere in that neighborhood, I would say.

And did I envision working with Dan? I remember there were nights where Dan was primarily on the 11:00 at that point or 11:30. I was primarily on the 2:30 SportsCenter. So there were times we’d have a double-header game in baseball or some night where there was one show where they would blend our two crews and those were the times you’d work with Dan or during vacations you’d move up one slot to work the 11:00, and I’d do that dozens of times, I would say, at least.

Still to this day and on Football Night you see it and you’re reminded of it, Dan does highlights in a different and a better and a more humorous, yet informed way than almost anyone on TV. A lot of people get a lot of credit for clichés and catch phrases and Dan is informative. It’s simple, and smart and it’s an art form. To get the chance to be on the same team with Dan again, I was reminded watching him work in Rio as we’d exchanged shifts, how great he is. And he’s been this great for 25 years or so.

Is that what I was supposed to say, Dan?

DAN PATRICK: I thought there was another paragraph, but that’s fine, you can cut that off right there.

MIKE TIRICO: I’ll save that for some other time.

DAN PATRICK: If you would have told me that Mike was going to evolve into this, I wouldn’t have thought that. I just didn’t know it. Mike was so young when he got there. And Steve Young in that room, and it’s a tough room that we were in. There were a lot of people back then, Berman who was doing SportsCenter, Chris Fowler was, John Saunders was in there, Chris Myers. There were a lot of names in there. And Mike had to come in, and the fact that he survived and then all of a sudden realized that he was really a play-by-play guy. And it just dawned on me that there’s an expiration date for what we do. You don’t know what that is. And I just was there on stage with him on that beach in Rio, and I just said, we did it. You know? We’re doing it again.

There was just something that, it’s like when I got a chance to be around Al Michaels in London. I never thought I’d get that opportunity, and he couldn’t have been a nicer, greater mentor for me. Hopefully I can play that role with Mike at NBC if he needs that. But, yeah, it was one of those honest moments that I’m surprised I didn’t say it on the air. It’s just we had fun with it, and I’m very appreciative of what he’s done. And to add him to this group, I think it’s the best talent assembled, and that’s a credit to Sam Flood and Mark Lazarus to bring in Tirico. Because I worked hard behind the scenes saying, it would be nice to have Mike. It would be nice to have Mike. And through osmosis, we ended up getting him. So it’s great. Look forward to many, many more years to come.

Got a little heavy on that, Mike, sorry.

MIKE TIRICO: I’m a little choked up, Dan. Sorry. I need a moment, thank you (laughing).

Ryder Cup Programming Led by More Than 25 Live Hours of Competition on Golf Channel and NBC

Mike Tirico to Host NBC Sports’ Ryder Cup Coverage; David Feherty to Make Ryder Cup Broadcast Debut after Competing in 1991 for European Team

Three-Part Road to the Ryder Cup Series to Provide Overview on Players, Captains and Top Storylines, Airing on NBC: Sept. 4, 11, and 25

NBC Sports’ Promotional Campaign Utilizes Opera Music to Capture Most Dramatic Event in Golf: “It’s Not Golf, It’s the Ryder Cup”

Trip to 2018 Ryder Cup in Paris & Ryder Cup Trophy Tour Kick-Off Across NBCUniversal On-Air Platforms Highlight Ryder Cup Fan Engagement

ORLANDO, Fla. (August 31, 2016) – NBC Sports Group has announced its plans for the 2016 Ryder Cup – the most electrifying three days in golf – featuring the United States against Europe in the historic biennial international match-play competition, Sept. 30-Oct. 2 at Hazeltine National Golf Club, outside of Minneapolis. Led by more than 25 hours of all-encompassing live action from the 1st tee through the final putt of each scheduled match on Golf Channel (Friday) and NBC (Saturday-Sunday), coverage will be complemented by Golf Central Live From the Ryder Cup programming, making up nearly 90 live hours, and more than 170 total hours of Ryder Cup-themed programming Sept. 26-Oct. 2 on Golf Channel and NBC.

NBC Sports Group All-Encompassing Live Coverage of Every Match, Sept. 30-Oct. 2
NBC Sports Group will dedicate more than 25 hours to showcasing live action of the Ryder Cup, featuring all-encompassing coverage from the first tee shot of Friday’s opening match through the conclusion of Sunday’s singles matches. Golf Channel will televise Day 1 matches on Friday, Sept. 30, while NBC will carry the final two days of the competition, Saturday-Sunday Oct. 1-2:

Friday, Sept. 30          8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. ET                2016 Ryder Cup – Day 1        Golf Channel
Saturday, Oct. 1          9 a.m.-7 p.m. ET                     2016 Ryder Cup – Day 2        NBC
Sunday, Oct. 2            Noon-6 p.m. ET                      2016 Ryder Cup – Final Day  NBC 

Ryder Cup Broadcast Team
NBC Sports’ Mike Tirico will host all three days of coverage, as well as the trophy presentation on Sunday. Dan Hicks and Terry Gannon will handle play-by-play duties, while Johnny Miller, Nick Faldo (Friday morning) and David Feherty (Saturday morning) will rotate as lead analyst in the 18th tower. Peter Jacobsen, Gary Koch, Curt Byrum and Tom Abbott will serve as tower analysts, while Feherty – making his Ryder Cup broadcast debut after competing in the event as a member of the European team in 1991 – Roger Maltbie, Mark Rolfing, Notah Begay and Jerry Foltz will walk inside the ropes as on-course reporters. Steve Sands will conduct player interviews, and Jimmy Roberts will provide essays. 

Golf Central Live From the Ryder Cup
Originating from a dedicated set positioned between the 1st tee and 18th green, Golf Central Live From the Ryder Cup will kick off Monday, Sept. 26, and continue through Sunday, Oct. 2. A second ancillary set on-site will be utilized for interviews throughout the week. Rich Lerner (primetime), Ryan Burr and Kelly Tilghman will anchor the network’s coverage, while Brandel Chamblee, Frank Nobilo, David Duval, Mark Rolfing, Notah Begay, Jim Gallagher Jr., Paul McGinley and Colin Montgomerie will serve as analysts. Todd Lewis and Steve Burkowski will provide reports and conduct player interviews, while Tim Rosaforte and Rex Hoggard will offer insider perspective throughout the week.

‘Road to the Ryder Cup’ Airing on NBC
Hosted by NBC Sports’ Feherty and Rolfing, the three-part Road to the Ryder Cup series will offer exclusive insight from those whom will play the most prominent roles at Hazeltine, including U.S. captain Davis Love III, European captain Darren Clarke, Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, and Ryder Cup hopeful, Bubba Watson. The series also will highlight what ultimately led to the creation of the U.S. Ryder Cup task force, the history of the event, and a detailed overview on Hazeltine National Golf Club. Parts I, II and II of Road to the Ryder Cup will air on NBC, leading into live coverage of the FedExCup Playoffs, ahead of the 3rd Round of the Deutsche Bank Championship (Sunday, Sept. 4, 2:30-3 p.m. ET); the Final Round of the BMW Championship (Sunday, Sept. 11, 1:30-2 p.m. ET); and the Final Round of the TOUR Championship (Sunday, Sept. 25, 1-1:30 p.m. ET). An exclusive preview to Part I of Road to the Ryder Cup can be viewed here.

Promotional Campaign: It’s Not Golf, It’s The Ryder Cup
Building upon the extraordinary moments in golf this summer playing out on Golf Channel and NBC, including The Open in July, golf’s return to the Olympics in August and the FedExCup Playoffs in September, Golf Channel has introduced a promotional campaign featuring opera music, set against the backdrop of dramatic moments unique to the Ryder Cup. The first two spots, ‘Ecstasy’ (Libiamo ne’ lieti calici – Guisippi Verdi’s La Traviata) and ‘Fanatics’ (Dalibor) premiered during the network’s coverage of The Open and Olympics, and the third spot, ‘Epic’ (Aida) will debut during this weekend’s NBC Sports’ NASCAR coverage, including both NASCAR Xfinity Series and Sprint Cup races. Golf Channel’s “It’s Not Golf, It’s The Ryder Cup” campaign is targeting sports fans across a wide-spectrum of media platforms, including ESPN, Fox Sports, NFL Network, AMC, Discovery, History, A&E, Food, FX, and TNT, as well as prominent NBC Sports assets including Sunday Night Football, Notre Dame Football, NASCAR, Premier League, NBCSN and a variety of NBCUniversal platforms, including CNBC, MSNBC, Esquire, Weather, and SB Nation.

“Ultimate Ryder Cup Fanatic” Campaign to Offer Trip to 2018 Ryder Cup in Paris
Beginning this week, Golf Channel will be searching for the Ultimate Ryder Cup Fanatic, asking fans to submit their best video (up to 60 seconds), for a chance to win a trip for two to Paris for the 2018 Ryder Cup. Between now and Sunday, Sept. 18, fans can visit http://www.golfchannel.com/ryder-cup-fanatic/ to submit their video. To help drive awareness to the NBCSports’ Ryder Cup coverage, the three finalists will be posted on Golf Channel Digital on Friday, Sept. 23, where fans can vote on their favorite and have a chance to win prizes. The ultimate winner will be chosen by a combination of fan votes and a panel of Golf Channel commentators, and is scheduled to be announced on Morning Drive on Thursday, Sept. 29.

Ryder Cup Trophy Tour Kicks Off with NBCU On-Air Platform Integrations
On Monday, the PGA of America kicked off its Ryder Cup Trophy Tour, offering sports fans around the United States a chance to engage with the Cup in the weeks leading up to the biennial competition. The tour officially got underway across the networks of NBCUniversal, with the trophy making an appearance on CNBC’s Squawk Box, followed by a visit on TODAY on NBC, and an appearance on NBCSN’s Dan Patrick Show. In all, the Ryder Cup tour will include 13 cities leading up to the competition at the end of September, and will be profiled across NBCUniversal’s portfolio, including Golf Channel, NBC Sports Network, NBC Sports Regional Networks, NBC Sports Radio and local NBC affiliates.

ADDITIONAL RYDER CUP-THEMED PROGRAMMING:

Morning Drive
Morning Drive will kick off each day of Ryder Cup week with the latest news and storylines surrounding the competition. The show will feature a dedicated set on-site at Hazeltine, which will provide a backdrop for live reports from Gary Williams, Cara Robinson, John Cook and Matt Ginella, who will be joined by special guests throughout the week.

Golf’s Greatest Rounds – 1999, 2012, 2014 Ryder Cups
In the month leading up to the 2016 Ryder Cup, viewers will have an opportunity to relive the final day of three of the most recent Ryder Cups contested as part of three special episodes of Golf’s Greatest Rounds. The 2014 Ryder Cup final day will air on Tuesday, Sept. 6 (8-10 p.m. ET), while the unforgettable 1999 and 2012 Ryder Cups will air on Tuesday, Sept. 13 (8-10 p.m. ET) and Wednesday, Sept. 21 (8-11 p.m. ET) respectively.

Feherty: Tuesday, Sept. 20 (10 p.m. ET) – ’14 European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley
Premiering on Tuesday, Sept. 20, David Feherty will be joined by 2014 European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley on a new episode of Feherty. McGinley reflects on his two-year journey as the 2014 European Ryder Cup captain, and looks back on the strange circumstance that led to him conceding an 18th hole putt to J.J. Henry while competing as a player at the 2006 Ryder Cup.

The Golf Fix
Hosted by 2012 PGA Professional Teacher of the Year Michael Breed, The Golf Fix will air live on Monday, Sept. 26 at 6 p.m. ET from the driving range at Hazeltine National Golf Club. The episode will feature special guests, and Breed’s instruction will center around keys to tailoring your game for match play, and how to succeed under pressure.

PGA TOUR Champions Learning Center
On Tuesday, Sept. 27 at Midnight ET, PGA TOUR Champions Learning Center will premiere a new episode dedicated to the Ryder Cup. Special guests will include past Ryder Cup participants Lee Trevino, Bill Rogers and Jerry Pate. Tom Lehman, vice captain for the 2016 United States Ryder Cup team, also is expected to take part in the episode.

International Ryder Cup Programming
Golf Channel will produce live international Ryder Cup news programming in both Japanese and Mandarin. These productions will complement the international distribution of Golf Central’s Live From the Ryder Cup, which is distributed to markets within Golf Channel’s worldwide footprint in more than 80 countries, 200 million households and 11 languages.

2016 Ryder Cup Programming Air Times (all times ET):

Sunday, September 4
2:30-3 p.m.                  Road to the Ryder Cup – Part I                                             NBC

Tuesday, September 6
8-10 p.m.                     Golf’s Greatest Rounds – 2014 Ryder Cup                           Golf Channel

Sunday, September 11
1:30-2 p.m.                  Road to the Ryder Cup – Part II                                            NBC

Tuesday, September 13
8-10 p.m.                     Golf’s Greatest Rounds – 1999 Ryder Cup                           Golf Channel

Tuesday, September 20
10-11 p.m.                   Feherty – 2014 Ryder Cup Captain Paul McGinley               Golf Channel

Wednesday, September 21
8-11 p.m.                     Golf’s Greatest Rounds – 2012 Ryder Cup                           Golf Channel

Sunday, September 25
1-1:30 p.m.                  Road to the Ryder Cup – Part III                                          NBC

Monday, September 26
7-9 a.m.                       Morning Drive                                                                        Golf Channel
6-7 p.m.                       The Golf Fix                                                                           Golf Channel
7-8:30 p.m.                  Golf Central Live From the Ryder Cup                                 Golf Channel

Tuesday, September 27
Midnight-12:30 a.m.   PGA TOUR Champions Learning Center                              Golf Channel
7-9 a.m.                       Morning Drive                                                                        Golf Channel
9 a.m.-6 p.m.               Golf Central Live From the Ryder Cup                                 Golf Channel
7-9 p.m.                       Golf Central Live From the Ryder Cup                                 Golf Channel

Wednesday, September 28
7-9 a.m.                       Morning Drive                                                                        Golf Channel
9 a.m.-6 p.m.               Golf Central Live From the Ryder Cup                                 Golf Channel
7-9 p.m.                       Golf Central Live From the Ryder Cup                                 Golf Channel

Thursday, September 29
7-9 a.m.                       Morning Drive                                                                        Golf Channel
9 a.m.-5 p.m.               Golf Central Live From the Ryder Cup                                 Golf Channel
5-8 p.m.                       Golf Central Live From the Ryder Cup, Opening Ceremony Golf Channel

Friday, September 30
6-8:30 a.m.                  Golf Central Live From the Ryder Cup                                 Golf Channel
8:30 a.m.-7 p.m.          2016 Ryder Cup – Day 1                                                        Golf Channel
7-9 p.m.                       Golf Central Live From the Ryder Cup                                 Golf Channel

Saturday, October 1
6-9 a.m.                       Golf Central Live From the Ryder Cup                                 Golf Channel
9 a.m.-7 p.m.               2016 Ryder Cup – Day 2                                                        NBC
7-9 p.m.                       Golf Central Live From the Ryder Cup                                 Golf Channel

Sunday, October 2
7-9 a.m.                       Morning Drive                                                                        Golf Channel
9 a.m.-Noon                Golf Central Live From the Ryder Cup                                 Golf Channel
Noon-6 p.m.                2016 Ryder Cup – Final Day                                                  NBC
6-9 p.m.                       Golf Central Live From the Ryder Cup                                 Golf Channel

-NBC Sports Group-

NBC Sports Group to Televise and Stream More Than 70 Aviva Premiership Rugby Matches This Season

NBCSN Kicks Off Coverage With Defending Champion Saracens vs. Worcester Warriors on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. ET on NBCSN

2015-16 Runner-Up Exeter Chiefs vs. Wasps on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. ET on NBCSN

Exclusive Streaming Coverage on NBC Sports App and NBCSports.com Begins Friday at 2:45 p.m. ET – Gloucester Rugby vs. Leicester Tigers

Watch NBC Sports Group’s Premiership Rugby Theatrical Trailer

STAMFORD, Conn. – August 31, 2016 – NBC Sports Group begins its inaugural season of Aviva Premiership Rugby coverage this weekend, presenting the first of more than 70 combined Premiership Rugby matches that will be televised on NBCSN and streamed on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app during the 2016-17 campaign.

NBCSN’s coverage begins Saturday at 9:30 a.m. ET, when defending champion Saracens face Worcester Warriors at Twickenham Stadium in London. NBCSN’s coverage continues on Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m. ET, when Wasps host 2015-16 runners-up Exeter Chiefs at Ricoh Arena in Coventry.

In addition to NBCSN’s telecasts, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app will provide live, exclusive streaming coverage of a pair of matches this weekend, beginning on Friday at 2:45 p.m. ET, when Gloucester Rugby host Leicester Tigers. NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app will also stream Saturday’s match featuring Harlequins vs. Bristol Rugby at 11:30 a.m. ET.

Each weekend, NBC Sports Group will present the most compelling Premiership Rugby matches on the schedule, often preceding or following live coverage of Premier League soccer. The Premiership Rugby season will culminate with live coverage of the league Final on Saturday, May 27 on NBCSN. Click here to watch NBC Sports Group’s Aviva Premiership Rugby theatrical trailer previewing the 2016-17 campaign.

NBC Sports’ Leigh Diffey will serve as the studio host for NBCSN’s Premiership Rugby coverage. He will be joined by analyst and former Premiership Rugby player Alex Corbisiero, who played seven combined seasons for London Irish and Northampton Saints.

Alastair Eykyn, Lawrence Dallaglio, and Ugo Monye will call the match featuring Saracens and Worcester on Saturday, while Nick Mullins, Dallaglio, and Austin Healey will have the call for Wasps vs. Exeter on Sunday.

Following is NBC Sports Group’s 2016-17 Aviva Premiership Rugby schedule through Round 8 of the season:

Date	Coverage	Time (ET)	Network
Fri., Sept. 2	Gloucester Rugby vs. Leicester Tigers	2:45 p.m.	Streaming
Sat., Sept. 3	Saracens vs. Worcester Warriors*	9:30 a.m.	NBCSN
	Harlequins vs. Bristol Rugby	11:30 a.m.	Streaming
Sun., Sept. 4	Wasps vs. Exeter Chiefs*	10:30 a.m.	NBCSN
Fri., Sept. 9	Worcester Warriors vs. Gloucester Rugby	2:45 p.m.	Streaming
Sat., Sept. 10	Leicester Tigers vs. Wasps	10 a.m.	Streaming
Sun., Sept. 11	Exeter Chiefs vs. Saracens	2 p.m.	NBCSN
Fri., Sept. 16	Sale Sharks vs. Gloucester Rugby	2:45 p.m.	Streaming
Sat., Sept. 17	Saracens vs. Northampton Saints	10 a.m.	Streaming
Sun., Sept. 18	Newcastle vs. Leicester Tigers	10 a.m.	Streaming
Fri., Sept. 23	Bristol Rugby vs. Exeter Chiefs	2:45 p.m.	Streaming
Sat., Sept. 24	Northampton Saints vs. Wasps	10 a.m.	Streaming
Sun., Sept. 25	Leicester Tigers vs. Bath Rugby*	7 p.m.	NBCSN
Fri., Sept. 30	Northampton Saints vs. Exeter Chiefs	2:45 p.m.	Streaming
Sat., Oct. 1	Gloucester Rugby vs. Bath Rugby*	8 p.m.	NBCSN
Sun., Oct. 2	Worcester Warriors vs. Newcastle Falcons*	10:30 p.m.	NBCSN
Fri., Oct. 7	Bath Rugby vs. Sale Sharks	2:45 p.m.	Streaming
Sat., Oct. 8	Harlequins vs. Northampton Saints	10 a.m.	NBCSN
Sun., Oct. 9	Saracens vs. Wasps*	11 a.m.	NBCSN
Fri., Oct. 28	Northampton Saints vs. Gloucester Rugby	2:45 p.m.	Streaming
Sat., Oct. 29	Saracens vs. Leicester Tigers*	3:30 p.m.	NBCSN
Sun., Oct. 30	Exeter Chiefs vs. Bath Rugby	10 a.m.	Streaming
Fri., Nov. 18	Bath Rugby vs. Bristol Rugby	2:45 p.m.	Streaming
Sun., Nov. 20	Sale Sharks vs. Saracens	8 a.m.	Streaming
	Leicester Tigers vs. Harlequins	10 a.m.	Streaming

*denotes same-day delay

PREMIERSHIP RUGBY ON NBCSPORTS.COM AND THE NBC SPORTS APP: NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app — NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs — will provide live streaming of all Premiership Rugby matches airing on NBCSN, as well as exclusive streaming coverage of matches each week, via “TV Everywhere,” giving consumers additional value to for their subscription service, and making high quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms.

NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app are powered by Playmaker Media and available on the iTunes App Store, Google Play, Windows Store, Roku Channel Store, Apple TV and Amazon Fire.

– NBC SPORTS GROUP –

 

NBC, the Only Network with 2 NFL Primetime Packages, Opens 2016 NFL Season With the NFL Kickoff Game on Thurs., Sept. 8

NBC’s Sunday Night Football Debuts on Sun., Sept. 11

STAMFORD, Conn. – August 31, 2016 – One week from today — next Wednesday, Sept. 7 – NBC’s Sunday Night Football and Football Night in America celebrate 10 years on the air. The 2006 NFL Kickoff game (Pittsburgh’s 28-17 victory over Miami Dolphins on Sept. 7, 2006) was the first of NBC’s 180 regular-season primetime telecasts over the past decade.

From Al Michaels and John Madden to Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth in the booth…from Pink to Faith to Carrie performing the show open…from the introduction of “flexible scheduling” to the first-ever live streaming of an NFL game (by NBC Sports Digital)…NBC’s NFL coverage has become must-see TV and fans have followed in large numbers.

Sunday Night Football has been primetime TV’s No. 1 show for a historic five consecutive seasons, and Football Night in America has been the most-watched weekly studio show in sports for all 10 years since its 2006 debut.

Following is a look back at the first 10 years of NBC’s Sunday Night Football and Football Night in America:

NBC’s Sunday Night Football & Football Night in America – A Timeline

April 18, 2005 – NBC acquired Sunday Night Football in a six-year agreement, announced by Dick Ebersol, Chairman, NBC Universal Sports & Olympics and NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue. The agreement includes the first ever “flexible scheduling.” NBC also announces a studio show (to be named Football Night in America) to begin at 7 p.m. ET every Sunday night.

June 15, 2005 – John Madden named Sunday Night Football analyst.

July 13, 2005 – Cris Collinsworth joins Football Night in America as co-host.

July 18, 2005 – Sam Flood named coordinating producer of NBC Sports, including Football Night in America. David Neal named executive producer of NBC Sports.

July 26, 2005 – Bob Costas named host of Football Night in America.

Feb. 9, 2006 – Al Michaels named play-by-play voice of Sunday Night Football (as part of the negotiation to release Michaels from his ABC contract, NBC returned to Disney the rights to ‘Oswald the Lucky Rabbit’).

Feb. 19, 2006 – Jerome Bettis named studio analyst for Football Night in America.

March 17, 2006 – Fred Gaudelli hired as producer of Sunday Night Football.

April 24, 2006 – Andrea Kremer named sideline & feature reporter for Sunday Night Football.

April 27, 2006 – Peter King joins Football Night in America as a reporter.

May 1, 2006 – Drew Esocoff hired as director of Sunday Night Football.

May 2, 2006 – Sterling Sharpe named studio analyst for Football Night in America.

August 6, 2006 – NBC’s Sunday Night Football makes its debut at the NFL/Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio (Philadelphia vs. Oakland). It is the first NBC NFL telecast in 3,113 days, since Super Bowl XXXII on Jan. 25, 1998 in San Diego (Denver vs. Green Bay). One day earlier, SNF game analyst John Madden was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

August 30, 2006 – NBC Sports announces that Academy Award-winning composer and music director John Williams has composed the theme music for Sunday Night Football and Football Night in America.

NBC Sports announces that Pink will perform “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night” to open SNF each week.

Sept. 7, 2006 – NFL Kickoff 2006: Miami at Pittsburgh – NBC’s first regular-season game since 1997 season.

Sept. 10, 2006 – NBC Sunday Night Football opener – Indianapolis Colts vs. New York Giants in first-ever meeting between Peyton and Eli Manning, a 26-21 Colts victory.

Football Night in America debuts from 30 Rock’s Studio 8G, the former studio home of first the Philco Television Playhouse (1948-1955) and later for game shows Concentration (1958-1973) and Jeopardy (1964-1975), and talk shows Donahue (1984-1996) and The Rosie O’Donnell Show (1996-2002). The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon now broadcasts from the studio.

Nov. 19, 2006 – First ever NFL “flex scheduling” – Chargers at Broncos moves to primetime in Week 11 of NBC’s SNF.

Feb. 13, 2007 – Tiki Barber named analyst for Football Night in America.

April 16, 2007 – Keith Olbermann joins Football Night in America as co-host.

April 23, 2007 – Michael Weisman named Executive in Charge of Production for Football Night in America.

Aug. 29, 2007 – NBC Sports announces that Faith Hill will perform “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night” to open SNF each week.

Dec. 9, 2007 – Indianapolis QB Peyton Manning throws 300^th career TD pass in the Colts’ Week 14 SNF win over the Baltimore Ravens.

July 7, 2008 – Dan Patrick named co-host of Football Night in America.

July 28, 2008 – NBC Sports & NFL announce Sunday Night Football Extra – first-ever live streaming of complete NFL games to be widely available in U.S., as full NBC slate will be streamed on NBCSports.com and NFL.com. The product includes alternative camera angles, picture-in-picture technology, in-game highlights, live stats, and live interactivity.

August 3, 2008 – At halftime of Hall of Fame Game, Al Michaels conducts a live cross-talk with Football Night in America’s Cris Collinsworth, from Beijing, China, where Collinsworth is a special correspondent for NBC’s coverage of the 2008 Olympic Games. In addition, NBC Sports provided live coverage of Brett Favre’s plane landing in Green Bay, as he met with the Packers about coming back to play after retiring in the spring.

Sept. 2, 2008 – The Sunday Night Football Cookbook is published, with introductions by John Madden and Faith Hill, and featuring 150 recipes celebrating the special dishes, unique flavors and most famous chefs of the NFL’s 31 cities, including recipes from Bobby Flay and Emeril Lagasse.

Sept. 4, 2008 – NFL Kickoff game on NBC (Redskins-Giants) begins at 7 p.m. ET — 90 minutes earlier than the start time of the traditional season opener due to the Republican National Convention, which NBC News covers following the conclusion of the game.

Oct. 19, 2008 – Al Michaels & Cris Collinsworth work their first game together – Seahawks at Bucs on SNF, giving John Madden a week off from cross-country travel.

Feb. 1, 2009 – NBC broadcasts Super Bowl XLIII from Tampa, Fla., its first Super Bowl telecast in 11 years. Pittsburgh LB James Harrison returns an INT a Super Bowl-record 100 yards on the final play of the first half highlighting a 27-23 Steelers victory over the Arizona Cardinals. Super Bowl XLIII averages 98.7 million viewers to become most-watched Super Bowl ever (at that time).

Feb. 8, 2009 – NBC televises Pro Bowl for first time in 35 years as Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth call the game from Honolulu. The previous NBC broadcast of the Pro Bowl was on Jan. 20, 1974 from Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City when the AFC, led by then Raiders coach John Madden, defeated the NFC 15-13 on five Garo Yepremian field goals.  Curt Gowdy and Al DeRogatis called the game for NBC.

April 16, 2009 – John Madden retires from broadcasting. Cris Collinsworth named Madden’s successor as SNF game analyst.

June 3, 2009 – Tony Dungy & Rodney Harrison join Football Night in America.

June 15, 2009 – ProFootballTalk.com (PFT) and its founder Mike Florio join NBCSports.com as part of a wide-ranging partnership, including the creation of “ProFootballTalk on NBCSports.com”

Aug. 19, 2009 – NBC Sports & NFL announce 2-year extension of broadcast partnership, under which NBC remains home of Sunday Night Football for 2012 and 2013 seasons.

Aug. 26, 2009 – NBC Sports announces new Football Night in America format, with Bob Costas hosting from game site.

Nov. 16, 2009 – Colts remain unbeaten at 9-0 after coming back from 17 points behind to defeat Patriots 35-34 in a game known for New England’s decision to go for a first down on 4^th & 2 from its own 28-yard line with 2:08 remaining in the fourth quarter. Patriots came up short. Four plays later, Peyton Manning throws the game-winning TD pass to Reggie Wayne.

Jan. 9, 2010 – Mike Florio makes Football Night in America debut on Wild Card Saturday coverage.

June 15, 2010 – Sam Flood named Executive Producer, NBC Sports.

Sept. 9, 2010 – NBC Sports Digital debuts behind-the-scenes offerings including Sunday Night Football All Access; a free Sunday Night Football All-Access App for iPad; and dedicated Sunday Night Football Facebook and Twitter pages.

Sept. 26, 2010 – Telemundo broadcasts its first-ever Sunday Night Football game on its New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, and Miami stations.

Oct. 31, 2010 – NBC televises its first SNF game on same night as World Series game.  Steelers-Saints averages 18.1 million viewers on NBC, while Giants-Rangers WS Game 4 averages 15.5 million viewers on FOX. It was the first time that a primetime NFL regular-season game topped a World Series game on the same night.

Dec. 28, 2010 – NBC televises Vikings-Eagles SNF game on Tuesday, Dec. 28, due to a blizzard in Philadelphia on Sunday, Dec. 26. It was the first NFL game played on a Tuesday since 1946 (New York Giants vs. Boston Yanks, 10/1/46). Vikings-Eagles averaged 23.7 million viewers.

Jan. 2, 2011 – NBC concludes its 2010 Sunday Night Football season averaging 21.8 million viewers with a 13.0/21 HH rating – making SNF the first-ever sports series to rank #1 in primetime in viewership and household rating for the fall TV season.

Jan. 29, 2011 – Comcast Corporation acquires 51% of NBCUniversal from General Electric and becomes majority owner of the company.

May 4, 2011 – Michele Tafoya named sideline & feature reporter for Sunday Night Football.

May 19, 2011 – Mark Lazarus named Chairman, NBC Sports Group.

August 22, 2011 – NBC Sports Group & NFL Films announce new weekly, in-season NFL Turning Point show to air on VERSUS (later NBCSN).

Sept. 8, 2011 – Four NBCUniversal networks – VERSUS, USA, Syfy and G4 – carry opening hour of NFL Kickoff 2011 pregame show in place of NBC, which covers speech by President Barack Obama.

Dec. 14, 2011 – NBCUniversal CEO Steve Burke, NBC Sports Group Chairman Mark Lazarus, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announce nine-year extension of NBC’s Sunday Night Football package, beginning in 2014 and running through the 2022 NFL season. Included in the new agreement: NBC will televise a Thanksgiving night game (beginning in 2012); upgraded playoff coverage (1 Divisional and 1 Wild Card Playoff Game rather than the previous 2 Wild Card Playoff games); 3 Super Bowls; expanded digital rights, including “TV Everywhere” rights; Spanish-language rights.

Dec. 20, 2011 – NBC Sports Group and NFL announce that NBC’s four postseason games – two Wild Card playoff games, the Pro Bowl, and Super Bowl XLVI – will be the first-ever NFL postseason games live streamed in the U.S.

Jan. 1, 2012 – NBC concludes its 2011 Sunday Night Football season averaging 21.5 million viewers with a 12.9/20 HH rating – figures that in May 2012 make SNF the first-ever sports series to rank #1 in primetime in viewership and household rating for the full (Sept.-May) TV season.

Feb. 5, 2012 – NBC broadcasts Super Bowl XLVI from Indianapolis, a four-point, last-minute New York Giants win over the New England Patriots. Super Bowl XLVI averages 111.3 million viewers to become most-watched show in U.S. TV history (at that time). NBCSports.com and NFL.com live stream Super Bowl XLVI – the first-ever live stream of the Super Bowl in U.S.

May 31, 2012 – Hines Ward joins NBC Sports Group as an analyst on Football Night in America and Notre Dame Football pregame.

Sept. 4, 2012 – NBCSN debuts Pro Football Talk TV show featuring host Mike Florio.

Sept. 5, 2012 – NBC televises NFL Kickoff game (Cowboys-Giants) on a Wednesday night, avoiding the 2012 Democratic National Convention, where President Barack Obama accepts party’s nomination in a Thursday night speech. It was the first NFL game played on a Wednesday since 1948 (L.A. Rams-Detroit Lions, 9/22/48).

Sept. 9, 2012 – In his first game with the Denver Broncos (in the SNF season opener), QB Peyton Manning throws his 400^th career TD pass (vs. Pittsburgh).

Oct. 7, 2012 – New Orleans QB Drew Brees throws TD pass in NFL-record 48^th consecutive game, breaking Johnny Unitas’ 52-year old mark (47) in a Week 5 Chargers-Saints SNF game.

Nov. 22, 2012 – A new tradition begins with NBC’s first-ever NFL primetime game on Thanksgiving (New England at N.Y. Jets). This game is also known for the Jets’ second quarter “butt fumble” which the Patriots returned for a TD.

Dec. 30, 2012 – The Week 17 NFC East championship “win-and-in” game between the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins is the most-watched regular-season Sunday night game in NFL history (30.3 million viewers).

March 11, 2013 – Al Michaels is inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, which annually recognizes television’s most distinguished “innovators and icons.”

May 7, 2013 – NBC Sports announces that Carrie Underwood will perform “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night” to open SNF each week.

June 17, 2013 – Scott Pioli joins Football Night in America.

July 27, 2013 – NBC Sports announces the Sunday Night Football bus, which will travel to all SNF games.

July 29, 2013 – NBC Sports and Dallas Cowboys announce that they will work with Replay Technologies Inc. to provide a unique, new 360-degree “FreeD” look at red-zone plays for viewers watching NBC telecasts and fans at the game in AT&T Stadium, beginning with Giants at Cowboys on Sept. 8.

Aug. 2, 2013 – In Canton, Ohio for NFL/Hall of Fame Weekend, Al Michaels is honored with the Pete Rozelle Radio & Television Award for “long-time exceptional contributions to radio and television in professional football.”

Sept. 5, 2013 – In the NFL Kickoff game, Denver’s Peyton Manning throws 7 TD passes vs. Baltimore, tying an NFL record which had last been matched in 1969.

Sept. 8, 2013 – Football Night in America moves to new set in famed Studio 8H – the home of Saturday Night Live – at NBCUniversal’s 30 Rockefeller Plaza headquarters in New York City.

Sept. 11, 2013 – NBCSN debuts weekly FNIA Coach’s Clicker show featuring Tony Dungy, Rodney Harrison and host Liam McHugh.

Sept. 15, 2013 – Despite a 60-minute, first-quarter weather delay, the Week 2 San Francisco-Seattle SNF matchup was the most-watched primetime NFL game between West Coast teams in 18 years (20.5 million viewers).

Oct. 20, 2013 – Broncos QB Peyton Manning’s (Week 7 SNF) return to Indianapolis, where he played 13 seasons for the Colts, averaged 26.9 million viewers, ranking as the most-watched October NFL primetime telecast in 21 years.

Nov. 3, 2013 – Michele Tafoya reports on Texans coach Gary Kubiak, who suffered a mini-stroke on field at halftime of Indianapolis-Houston SNF game.

Nov. 24, 2013 – It was Brady-Manning XIV on SNF in Week 12, as Tom Brady led the Patriots’ biggest comeback victory ever (from 24 points behind) in defeating Peyton Manning and the Broncos, 34-31, in overtime.

Dec. 17, 2013 – Al Michaels is inducted into Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame for his “excellence and lifetime achievement.”

April 2, 2014 – Josh Elliott joins NBC Sports Group, to work on Football Night in America, Triple Crown horse racing, and the Summer and Winter Olympics

May 6, 2014 – NBC’s Sunday Night Football earns Sports Emmy for Outstanding Live Sports Series for record sixth consecutive year – no other Live Sports Series has won in the category for more than three years in a row.

May 20, 2014 – Michele Tafoya wins Gracie Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement – On-Air Talent: Sports Program.

July 25, 2014 – A behind-the-scenes look at the making of the Sunday Night Football show open featuring Carrie Underwood and NFL stars, debuts on more than 19,000 movie screens nationwide.

Sept. 5, 2014 – Debut of “Together We Make Football” on TODAY. NBC Sports teamed with TODAY to present weekly stories from that week’s SNF host city about people who have been impacted by the game of football.

Sept. 7, 2014 – Football Night in America moves to the new Studio 1 at NBC Sports Group’s International Broadcast Center in Stamford, Conn. The 5,500-square-foot studio features multiple sets, state-of-the-art LED lighting, and 44 monitors, including a 350-square-foot LED display backdrop and a 13-foot high-resolution rear-projection monitor.

Oct. 19, 2014 – Broncos QB Peyton Manning throws 509^th TD pass in a win over the 49ers on SNF in Week 7, breaking Brett Favre’s NFL career record.

Nov. 18, 2014 – Al Michaels’ autobiography is published. “YOU CAN’T MAKE THIS UP: Miracles, Memories, and the Perfect Marriage of Sports and Television” reaches No. 6 on New York Times non-fiction best seller list, and spends six weeks on the best-seller list.

Feb. 1, 2015 – NBC broadcasts Super Bowl XLIX from Arizona, a four-point New England Patriots victory over the Seattle Seahawks sealed by Malcolm Butler’s goal- line interception with 20 seconds remaining. Super Bowl XLIX averages 114.4 million viewers to become most-watched show in U.S. TV history.

April 27, 2015 – Pro Football Focus: Grading the 2015 Draft featuring Cris Collinsworth debuts on NBCSN.

Sept. 10, 2015 – Tom Brady sets the NFL record for most regular-season wins by a QB with one team (161) in Patriots’ NFL Kickoff game win over Steelers.

Oct. 4, 2015 – Saints QB Drew Brees throws 400^th career touchdown pass in Week 4 SNF victory over Cowboys. Brees’ milestone TD pass is an 80-yarder to win the game 13 seconds into OT — the quickest regular-season overtime victory in NFL history.

Nov. 1, 2015 – The 6-0 Green Bay Packers visit the 6-0 Denver Broncos on Sunday Night Football in the first-ever primetime game featuring opponents with records of 6-0 or better.

Nov. 26, 2015 – The most-watched Thanksgiving primetime game in NFL history (27.8 million viewers for Bears-Packers) features Brett Favre’s “Ring of Honor” halftime ceremony, with a special appearance from Bart Starr.

Dec. 13, 2015 – Michele Tafoya works 200^th game as NFL sideline reporter (New England at Houston).

Jan. 3, 2016 – The 10^th season of NBC’s Sunday Night Football concludes as its most-watched (22.5 million viewers) and highest-rated (13.0/22) season ever, and ranks as primetime television’s #1 show for the fifth consecutive year, a milestone accomplished by only three other primetime television shows since 1950.

Jan. 10, 2016 – In the third-coldest NFL game on record (-6 at kickoff), the Seahawks’ victory over the Vikings in the NFC Wild Card ranks as the most-watched early Sunday Wild Card on record (35.3 million viewers).

Jan. 16, 2016 – Arizona’s overtime victory over Green Bay in the NFC Divisional Playoff, featuring Aaron Rodgers’ game-tying, Hail Mary touchdown pass on the final play of regulation, ranks as the highest-rated Saturday primetime Divisional game ever (18.8/33).

Feb. 1, 2016 – NBC acquires Thursday Night Football package of games in a two-year agreement, as announced by NBCUniversal CEO Steve Burke, NBC Sports Group Chairman Mark Lazarus, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.  With the agreement, NBC will become the first network to present multiple primetime NFL packages in the same season.

May 10, 2016 – NBC’s Sunday Night Football earns the Sports Emmy for Outstanding Live Sports Series for the seventh time in eight years.

May 25, 2016 – NBC’s Sunday Night Football finishes the full (Sept.-May) TV season as primetime television’s #1 program, for historic fifth consecutive year.

June 1, 2016 – Fred Gaudelli named Executive Producer of NBC’s Sunday Night Football and Thursday Night Football.

June 20, 2016 – NBC Sports announces that Carrie Underwood has recorded new Sunday Night Football opening theme song “Oh, Sunday Night”

July 1, 2016 – Mike Tirico joins NBC Sports Group, where he will work on NBC’s NFL coverage.

July 13, 2016 – Heather Cox joins NBC Sports Group as sideline reporter for NBC’s Thursday Night Football.

Aug. 6, 2016 – Tony Dungy inducted into NFL/Hall of Fame

Aug. 29, 2016 – Mike Tirico named host of NBC’s Sunday Football Night in America; Bob Costas named host of pregame show for NBC’s Thursday Night Football & will be joined at game site by Tony Dungy and Rodney Harrison

Super Bowls on NBC since 2006

SB XLIII (Feb. 2009 – Steelers vs. Cardinals)	98.7 million viewers *
SB XLVI (Feb. 2012 – Giants vs. Patriots)	111.3 million viewers **
SB XLIX (Feb. 2015 – Patriots vs. Seahawks)	114.4 million viewers ***

* Most-watched Super Bowl in history (at the time)

** Most-watched show in U.S. TV history (at the time)

*** Most-watched show in U.S. TV history (current)

Source: Live + Same Day, The Nielsen Company

 

ON-AIR TEAM (by NFL season)

In the Sunday Night Football booth

Al Michaels & John Madden	2006-2008
Al Michaels & Cris Collinsworth	2009-present

On the sidelines for Sunday Night Football

Andrea Kremer	2006-2010
Michele Tafoya	2011-present

Football Night in America studio

Bob Costas	2006-present
Cris Collinsworth	2006-08
Jerome Bettis	2006-08
Sterling Sharpe	2006
Peter King	2006-present
Tiki Barber	2007-09
Keith Olbermann	2007-09
Dan Patrick	2008-present
Tony Dungy	2009-present
Rodney Harrison	2009-present
Mike Florio	2010-present
Hines Ward	2012-2015
Scott Pioli	2013
Josh Elliott	2014
Mike Tirico	2016-present

Football Night in America off-site reporters

Bob Neumeier, Lewis Johnson, Kenny Rice, Marty Snider & others	2006-09
Alex Flanagan	2010-14
Kathryn Tappen	2014-present
Carolyn Manno	2014-present
Paul Burmeister	2015-present

NBC NFL playoff teams (by NFL season)

Al Michaels & John Madden, Andrea Kremer	2006 Wild Card
Tom Hammond & Cris Collinsworth, Bob Neumeier	2006 Wild Card
Al Michaels & John Madden, Andrea Kremer	2007 Wild Card
Tom Hammond & Cris Collinsworth, Bob Neumeier	2007 Wild Card
Al Michaels & John Madden, Andrea Kremer	2008 Wild Card
Tom Hammond & Cris Collinsworth, Tiki Barber	2008 Wild Card
Al Michaels & John Madden, Andrea Kremer, Alex Flanagan	Super Bowl XLIII
Al Michaels & Cris Collinsworth, Andrea Kremer	2009 Wild Card
Tom Hammond, Joe Gibbs & Joe Theismann, Tiki Barber	2009 Wild Card
Al Michaels & Cris Collinsworth, Andrea Kremer	2010 Wild Card
Tom Hammond & Mike Mayock, Alex Flanagan	2010 Wild Card
Al Michaels & Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya	2011 Wild Card
Tom Hammond & Mike Mayock, Alex Flanagan	2011 Wild Card
Al Michaels & Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya, Alex Flanagan	Super Bowl XLVI
Al Michaels & Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya	2012 Wild Card
Dan Hicks & Mike Mayock, Alex Flanagan	2012 Wild Card
Al Michaels & Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya	2013 Wild Card
Dan Hicks & Mike Mayock, Alex Flanagan	2013 Wild Card
Al Michaels & Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya	2014 Wild Card
Al Michaels & Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya	2014 Divisional
Al Michaels & Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya	Super Bowl XLIX
Al Michaels & Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya	2015 Wild Card
Al Michaels & Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya	2015 Divisional

Sunday Night Football show open – performers

Pink	2006
Faith Hill	2007-12
Carrie Underwood	2013-present

VIEWERSHIP

SNF RANKS #1 IN PRIMETIME FOR HISTORIC 5^TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR

NBC’s Sunday Night Football ranks as the No. 1 show in U.S. household rating and viewership for the entire primetime television season for the fifth consecutive year (September-May season, based on Nielsen live plus same day data), which puts it in rare company as one of only four TV shows since 1950 to accomplish the feat (chart below).

Most Consecutive Years, #1 Ranked Show in Primetime, Since 1950

6 years in a row – American Idol (2005-06 through 2010-11)

5 years in a row – Sunday Night Football (2011-12 through 2015-16)

5 years in a row – The Cosby Show (1985-86 through 1989-90)…tied Cheers in ‘89-90

5 years in a row – All in the Family (1971-72 through 1975-76)

4 years in a row – Gunsmoke (1957-58 through 1960-61)

• Since the beginning of the 2011-12 TV season, only eight primetime shows have averaged 21+ million viewers, all on NBC – Sunday Night Football five times, the 2012 London Summer Games, the 2014 Sochi Winter Games, and the 2016 Rio Summer Games.

SNF AVERAGE (P2+) VIEWERSHIP RANK AMONG PRIMETIME SHOWS:

	Fall TV Season	Full TV Season
2015	No. 1 Show	1st
2014	No. 1 Show	1st
2013	No. 1 Show	1st
2012	No. 1 Show	1st
2011	No. 1 Show	1st
2010	No. 1 Show	3rd
2009	No. 2 Show	4th
2008	No. 5 Show	8th
2007	No. 7 Show	8th
2006	No. 7 Show	9th

Source: The Nielsen Company, Live + Same Day Viewing

SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL ON NBC — FULL SEASON:

YEAR	VIEWERS 2+	HH RATING/SHARE
2015	22.5 million	13.0/22
2014	21.3 million	12.5/21
2013	21.7 million	12.8/21
2012	21.4 million	12.8/20
2011	21.5 million	12.9/20
2010	21.8 million	13.0/21
2009	19.4 million	11.7/19
2008	16.6 million	10.2/16
2007	16.0 million	10.0/16
2006	17.5 million	11.0/18

Source: The Nielsen Company, Live + Same Day Viewing

FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA

• Football Night in America (7:30-8:15 p.m. ET) has been the most-watched weekly studio show in sports for 10 consecutive years since its 2006 debut. In 2015, FNIA averaged 8.7 million viewers in 2015 – the second-best season in the show’s 10-season history (behind only 2011, 8.9 million).

SNF SETS STREAMING RECORD: The 2015 Sunday Night Football season is the most streamed SNF season ever. SNF delivered a record 3.4 million unique users – a 3% increase from the previous record set last season – watching the SNF live stream to desktops, tablets, and connected TVs through NBC Sports Live Extra, NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product.  In addition, the 2015 NFL season delivered a record 303 million live minutes on NBC Sports Live Extra, up 75% from 2014.  The 2015 SNF slate also produced Live Extra’s 10 best non-Olympic authenticated events ever.

EMMY AWARDS

• NBC’s Sunday Night Football has won 25 Sports Emmys in its 10 seasons on NBC (this is season 11).  NBC’s Sunday Night Football won the Sports Emmy for Outstanding Live Sports Series in 7 of its 10 seasons with the package.

• NBC’s Sunday Night Football won the Sports Emmy for Outstanding Live Sports Series for a record six consecutive seasons (2008-13) – no other Live Sports Series has won the honor more than three years in a row.

• NBC has won the Sports Emmy for Outstanding Live Sports Special for all three of its Super Bowls since the network debuted the Sunday Night Football package in 2006. NBC’s Sunday Night Football crew is the only team for any network to win this honor since NBC won for Super Bowl XIII (Jan. 1979).

• Al Michaels has won seven Emmy Awards – six for Outstanding Sports Personality – Play-by-Play and one in 2011 for the Lifetime Achievement Award.

• Cris Collinsworth has won the Emmy for Outstanding Sports Personality-Sports Event Analyst in six of his seven seasons on Sunday Night Football.  He won the award for seven consecutive years (2008 in NFL Network & NBC booth through 2014) and has 16 career Sports Emmys

• Michele Tafoya, a two-time winner of Emmy for Outstanding Sports Personality – Sports Reporter (2011 and 2013), has been nominated for the honor in all four years the category has existed.

• Bob Costas – Host of the first 10 seasons of Football Night In America, the most watched weekly studio show in sports, has won 27 Sports Emmy Awards

ON THE FIELD

NBC has televised 180 regular-season primetime NFL games since NBC’s Sunday Night Football debuted on September 7, 2006. Among the notable facts and figures:

New Stadiums Debuting on NBC’s Sunday Night Football

Lucas Oil Stadium (Colts)	2008
AT&T Stadium (Cowboys)	2009
Levi’s Stadium (49ers)	2014

Most NBC SNF Games since 2006, Team

Dallas Cowboys	34
New York Giants	28
Philadelphia Eagles	26
Pittsburgh Steelers	26
Indianapolis Colts	24

Most NBC SNF Games since 2006, Player

L.P. LaDouceur	34
Jason Witten	34
DeMarcus Ware	33
Tony Romo	29
Peyton Manning	28

Most TD passes on NBC Sunday Night Football

Peyton Manning

65

Most rushing TDs on NBC Sunday Night Football

Brandon Jacobs

13

Most receiving TDs on NBC Sunday Night Football

Rob Gronkowski

15

— SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL –