Keeping Up With All The Industry Press Releases
On Oct. 4, ESPN will launch Debatable – a new digital-exclusive series – across the network’s Twitter, Facebook and YouTube channels and the ESPN App.
The post ESPN Launches <i>Debatable</i> on Oct. 4 Adding to Network’s Expansive Digital Library appeared first on ESPN Press Room U.S..
“I can’t think of any game that’s been more anticipated than this one in the 36 years I’ve covered the NFL in primetime.” – Al Michaels
“In my lifetime, the greatest run that we have ever seen out of a coach and a quarterback is standing right in front of us for this game, and they’re on opposite sides of the field.” – Cris Collinsworth
“I’m telling you, Peyton Manning would feel like he had the advantage playing against me and the Colts defense, and I’ll tell you Tom Brady feels like he has the advantage having practiced against that defense.” – Tony Dungy
“Twenty years together, that is a long time to be able to win championships, win titles, division titles, win a bunch of games. It takes a lot of unselfishness. It takes a lot of sacrifice to do that.” – Rodney Harrison on Tom Brady and Bill Belichick
“To me, they’re outmatched in this game personnel-wise, and they’re going to have to pull out all the stops to beat them.” – Drew Brees on the Patriots’ defense
Coverage Begins this Sunday with Special On-Site Football Night in America at 7 p.m. ET from Gillette Stadium; Followed by 8:20 p.m. ET SNF Kickoff
STAMFORD, Conn. – Sept. 30, 2021 – NBC Sports’ Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Tony Dungy, Rodney Harrison, and Drew Brees previewed this weekend’s Sunday Night Football matchup on a media conference call as Tom Brady makes his long-anticipated return to Gillette Stadium when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers visit Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots this week.
Coverage begins this Sunday at 7 p.m. ET with a special on-site edition of Football Night in America, followed by kickoff at 8:20 p.m. ET from Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., on NBC, Peacock and Universo.
For Michaels, Sunday’s matchup marks the 44th time he will call a game with the 44-year-old Brady as the starting quarterback. For highlights of Michaels’ most memorable primetime QB moments, click here.
Following are excerpts from the call. Click here for a full transcript.
ON ‘THE RETURN’
Michaels: “I can’t think of any game that’s been more anticipated than this one in the 36 years I’ve covered the NFL in primetime.”
Dungy: “I can’t remember a regular season game that had this much buildup and anticipation. I think back to when I was in Indianapolis and went back to Tampa the first time, and … I’d only been in Tampa six years. Tom Brady, 20 years in one spot with the same coach and now going back, it’s going to be amazing.”
Collinsworth: “They know each other inside out. And which path are they choosing to attack the other? I can’t imagine there’s a better story, if you just love football, than simply that. I can’t wait to watch it.”
ON BRADY VS. BELICHICK
Collinsworth: “In my lifetime, the greatest run that we have ever seen out of a coach and a quarterback is standing right in front of us for this game, and they’re on opposite sides of the field. Football’s been my lifetime anyway, but how do you get more passionate and more interesting and more theatrical than that? I mean, it’s just going to be a great, fun watch.”
Harrison on the Patriots’ success: “Tom’s a tremendous player, and Bill’s a tremendous coach, but none of that stuff happens without the other players…Everyone wants to put them together, pit them against each other as opposed to celebrating success. Twenty years together, that is a long time to be able to win championships, win titles, division titles, win a bunch of games. It takes a lot of unselfishness. It takes a lot of sacrifice to do that.”
Dungy: “I also am curious who is going to have the advantage? I think of, if I played a game against Peyton Manning and he played against my team, all the practice time he had against the defense, all the practice time Tom has had against that New England defense, knowing their calls, what they like to do, will he have the advantage? … I’m telling you, Peyton Manning would feel like he had the advantage playing against me and the Colts defense, and I’ll tell you Tom Brady feels like he has the advantage having practiced against that defense.”
Dungy on his experience returning to Tampa Bay with the Colts in 2003: “When you walk in that stadium and you go to the visitor’s locker room, which you’ve never been in before, and you come out the visitors tunnel and you’re not sure what the reaction is going to be and you see people that were so special to you for 10 or 12 years and now they’re in opposite uniform or they’re not your teammates anymore or your staff, it’s emotional…No matter how you say it and slice it and try to say it, for Tom Brady going back after 20 years, I can’t even imagine.”
ON THE MATCHUP
Brees: “I think Tampa has a ton of weapons, and it’s going to be really hard to handle all those guys. I think Tom has the ability to find each and every one of those guys depending on what the look is that he’s given. At the end of the day, I think the Patriots are going to have to find a way to take the ball away. They’re going to have to find a way to steal a possession…To me, they’re outmatched in this game personnel-wise, and they’re going to have to pull out all the stops to beat them.”
Harrison: “I think for me just watching the Patriots secondary, they’ve given up some plays. They haven’t really been able to make a lot of plays on the ball…As much as you can hit Tom — and it’s shown in the past, if you can hit him, if you can make him uncomfortable, you can rattle him. I think you saw a little bit of that last week against the Rams. That’s the way you have to play Tom. You have to play very physical. Not just with Tom, but with his receivers as well. You’ve got to jam them up and kind of slow them down and disrupt them.”
Brees on Brady potentially breaking his all-time passing yards record this weekend: “I’d be all for Brady just launching the first play of the game and just go ahead and get it out of the way…Let’s have New England kick it in the end zone. They start at the 25. Have him launch one to Mike Evans and let’s just be done with it…I can’t think of a guy who has invested more into his career, into his preparation and kind of what he’s meant for the game. It’s definitely a special record because it speaks to the longevity that he’s been able to experience and the level that he’s been able to play at.”
Brees on Patriots rookie QB Mac Jones: “I’ve been really impressed with him…I think what I see is a guy who’s got pretty good command of that offense. He doesn’t look like he’s ever rattled. He looks like he is in a position where he’s playing with confidence.”
Collinsworth on Jones and the Patriots offense: “I think for all of us that have watched Brady play the game with New England and Josh McDaniels‘ offense for all those years, it’s amazing how much — and I’m not comparing him to Tom Brady so don’t get me in trouble with something that only I can say — but it feels like their offense again.”
Harrison: “I’m looking at Josh McDaniels. You look at this offense, and you see it’s a kind of wide open offense, and it’s very conservative…I think he hears the talks and all the conversations about the Patriots offense not being a big play offense, and I think they should open it up a little bit. I think they should let him run the no huddle and maybe the hurry-up offense just to get another feel for it.”
–NBC SPORTS–
Fans Invited to Participate in the Live Show; Set Located Outside the Patriots Hall of Fame
Tedy Bruschi, Randy Moss, Matt Hasselbeck, Rex Ryan and Sam Ponder Preview the Buccaneers-Patriots Showdown and More Week 4 Action on Oct. 3 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. ET
The post ESPN’s <em>Sunday NFL Countdown</em> to Originate from Gillette Stadium for Tom Brady’s Return appeared first on ESPN Press Room U.S..
NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Round of 12 Drives On Sunday at 2 p.m. ET on NBC, Hour-Long Pre-Race Coverage Begins at 1 p.m. ET
Five of Final Six Cup Series Races to Air on NBC
Six Consecutive NASCAR Cup Series Races Have Delivered Viewership Gains vs. 2020
NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs Round of 12 at Talladega – Race Coverage Presented Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN; Pre-Race Coverage Gets Underway at 4 p.m. ET
2021 is Most-Watched NTT INDYCAR SERIES Season in NBC Sports History
STAMFORD, Conn. – Sept. 30, 2021 – The 2021 NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series Playoffs continue this weekend on NBC and NBCSN from Talladega Superspeedway as drivers face the unpredictability that looms on the largest oval track on the NASCAR circuit in critical playoff races.
The second race in the Round of 12 in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs airs this Sunday, Oct. 3, at 2 p.m. ET on NBC. An hour-long edition of Countdown to Green pre-race coverage begins at 1 p.m. ET on the broadcast network. The race at Talladega marks the first of five of the final six Cup Series races of the season to air on NBC.
The NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs Round of 12 is presented this Saturday, Oct. 2, at 4 p.m. ET from Talladega with Countdown to Green on NBCSN, leading into race coverage at 4:30 p.m. ET.
Two-time Daytona 500 Champion and NASCAR Hall of Fame selection Dale Earnhardt Jr. will join Daytona 500-winning crew chief Steve Letarte, and 21-time Cup Series race winner and “The Mayor” of NASCAR Jeff Burton in NBC Sports’ “Racing Team” broadcast booth to call the Xfinity Series race Saturday from Talladega. NBC Sports’ lead NASCAR race announcer Rick Allen will call Sunday’s Cup Series race with Earnhardt Jr., Burton and Letarte. Rutledge Wood will also provide reports and engage with fans remotely using #HeyRut throughout Sunday’s race.
Marty Snider, Kelli Stavast, Dave Burns and Parker Kligerman will contribute coverage from pit road during the Playoff races from Talladega.
Kyle Petty and Brad Daugherty will anchor pre- and post-race coverage from the Peacock Pit Box this weekend, with Marty Snider hosting pre-race coverage for both races. During Sunday’s Countdown to Green, Earnhardt Jr. will drive a ceremonial lap in Ron Bouchard’s historic No. 47 car to honor the 40th anniversary of Bouchard taking his Buick to victory lane at Talladega in a thrilling race in 1981.
Race coverage on Sunday will include a special feature with Earnhardt Jr. and Brad Keselowski discussing what it takes to win at Talladega. Earnhardt Jr. and Keselowski both own six Cup Series victories at the superspeedway track, tied for second most all-time with Jeff Gordon (Dale Earnhardt Sr. is the all-time wins leader with 10).
Denny Hamlin became the first driver to secure a berth in the Round of 8 of the Cup Series Playoffs with his victory Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. In the Xfinity Series, Josh Berry won his second race of the season.
2021 NASCAR CUP SERIES PLAYOFF STANDINGS ROUND OF 12
| Drivers | Points |
| Denny Hamlin | Advanced to Round of 8 |
| Kyle Larson | 3096 (+57) |
| Kyle Busch | 3074 (+35) |
| Martin Truex Jr. | 3070 (+31) |
| Ryan Blaney | 3063 (+24) |
| Chase Elliott | 3061 (+22) |
| Joey Logano | 3045 (+6) |
| Brad Keselowski | 3043 (+4) |
| William Byron | 3039 (-4) |
| Kevin Harvick | 3036 (-7) |
| Alex Bowman | 3030 (-13) |
| Christopher Bell | 3018 (-25) |
The official home of the NASCAR Championship and Playoffs, NBC Sports will once again present the final 20 NASCAR Cup Series races and 19 NASCAR Xfinity Series races in 2021, culminating with the Championship at Phoenix Raceway on Nov. 6-7. Click here for more information on NBC Sports’ 2021 NASCAR coverage.
NASCAR Pick ‘Em: NBC Sports’ free-to-play game, NASCAR Pick ‘Em, features a weekly contest for each NASCAR Cup Series race. NASCAR Pick ‘Em is available for download now on the NBC Sports Predictor app powered by PointsBet (available in the App Store and Google Play Store) and at nbcsports.com/predictor.
BROADCAST TEAM
STUDIO COVERAGE TEAM
HOW TO WATCH
| Date | Coverage | Network | Time (ET) |
| Sat., Oct. 2 | Countdown to Green – NASCAR Xfinity Series | NBCSN | 4 p.m. |
| NASCAR Xfinity Series Racing at Talladega Superspeedway | NBCSN | 4:30 p.m. | |
| NASCAR Xfinity Series Post Race | NBCSN | 7 p.m. | |
| Sun., Oct. 3 | Countdown to Green – NASCAR Cup Series | NBC | 1 p.m. |
| NASCAR Cup Series Racing at Talladega Superspeedway | NBC | 2 p.m. | |
| NASCAR Cup Series Post Race | NBCSN | 6 p.m. |
NASCAR VIEWERSHIP NOTES
The six most recent NASCAR Cup Series races on NBC and NBCSN have all delivered year-over-year viewership gains vs. 2020, including the regular-season finale at Daytona on NBC, and all four Playoff races to this point. Last Sunday’s race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway produced a Total Audience Delivery (TAD) of 2.127 million viewers, up 6% vs. 2020’s race.
INDYCAR SEASON-LONG VIEWERSHIP
NBC Sports’ coverage of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES’ 2021 season delivered its most-watched INDYCAR season on record, NBCSN’s most-watched season on record, and the best combined broadcast/cable viewership for the series in five years.
For the 15 races across NBC, NBCSN and NBC Sports digital platforms, the 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season averaged a Total Audience Delivery (TAD) of 1.223 million viewers, the best in NBC Sports history, up 19% vs. last season’s average viewership (1.027 million), up 10% vs. 2019 (1.108 million), and the most-watched season for the INDYCAR SERIES since 2016 (1.310 million, ABC/NBCSN). Click here for more details and to view the top 10 local markets for the 2021 season.
MOTOGP: GRAND PRIX OF THE AMERICAS
Circuit of The Americas will host the lone U.S. race of the 2021 MotoGP season, the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas, live this Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN. NBC Sports’ Leigh Diffey will host pre- and post-race coverage on-site in Austin, Texas, which will feature an interview with 2021 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross 250 champion Jett Lawrence.
Yamaha rider Fabio Quartararo, owner of five wins and nine podiums on the season, sits atop the points standings with Ducati rider Francesco Bagnaia, winner of the past two races, in second. Eight-time world champion Marc Marquez returns to competition seeking his 7th victory at COTA in just 8 races.
NBC Sports will present a special free-to-play contest, Checkered Flag Pick ‘Em, featuring Sunday’s MotoGP race at COTA. Checkered Flag Pick ‘Em is available to play now within the NBC Sports Predictor app powered by PointsBet (available in the App Store and Google Play Store).
NITRO RALLYCROSS
As the exclusive home of Nitro Rallycross, Peacock is offering live coverage of the ERX Motorpark race series in Minneapolis, Minn., on Oct. 2-3. This weekend marks the second stop in the Nitro Rallycross circuit, coming off last weekend’s opener at Utah Motorsports Campus. The thrill-packed and high-impact racing will be available to stream on Peacock from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Oct. 2 and Sunday, Oct. 3. Tune in to see how NRX is redefining motorsports racing.
DALE JR. DOWNLOAD
Former NASCAR driver and current County Commissioner in North Carolina, Robert Pressley, is this week’s guest on the Dale Jr. Download episode that airs tonight at 6 p.m. ET on NBCSN.
Produced on-site at Dirty Mo Media Studios in Mooresville, N.C., the Dale Jr. Download on NBCSN takes viewers couch-side for the taping of the motorsports icon’s weekly podcast, featuring unparalleled perspective, candid commentary, and insight that fans have come to expect from Dale Jr.
–NBC SPORTS–
Mike Tirico, Drew Brees, Kathryn Tappen and Terry McAulay to Call Matchup
Notre Dame Peacock Postgame to Stream Exclusively on Peacock, Hosted by NBC Sports’ Jac Collinsworth and Corey Robinson
Irish Pick ‘Em, New NBC Sports Predictor Game Featuring $10,000 Jackpot, Continues this Weekend for Cincinnati-Notre Dame
STAMFORD, Conn. – Sept. 30, 2021 – In a showdown between top-10 teams, the No. 9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (4-0) host the No. 7 Cincinnati Bearcats (3-0) this Saturday, Oct. 2, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind., at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
NBC Sports’ Mike Tirico (play-by-play) and Drew Brees (game analyst) will call the game along with Kathryn Tappen (sideline reporter) and Terry McAulay (rules analyst).
The Fighting Irish defeated then-No. 18 Wisconsin, 41-13, last weekend at Soldier Field. Notre Dame scored 31 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to top the Badgers, highlighted by two interception-return touchdowns and running back Chris Tyree’s 96-yard kickoff-return TD.
Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly was the head coach at Cincinnati from 2007-09, compiling a 34-6 record over three seasons. Saturday marks the first meeting between the schools in over 100 years as they last faced each other on Oct. 20, 1900, when the Fighting Irish topped the Bearcats, 58-0, at home.
Saturday’s matchup marks the third time in Kelly’s tenure that Notre Dame will host a top-10 showdown. The Fighting Irish are 2-0 in the previous games: 47-40 (2OT) against No. 1 Clemson on Nov. 7, 2020, and 38-17 against No. 7 Stanford on Sept. 29, 2018.
Cincinnati, who are coming off a bye last weekend, defeated Indiana, 38-24, on Sept. 18 behind quarterback Desmond Ridder’s 210 passing yards and two touchdowns (one passing, one rushing). Ridder, who led the Bearcats to an undefeated regular-season and a berth in the Peach Bowl last season, was the American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2020.
After the game, Peacock will stream Notre Dame Peacock Postgame, an exclusive post-game show hosted by NBC Sports’ Jac Collinsworth and Corey Robinson. The show features Notre Dame Football Head Coach Brian Kelly’s press conference, analysis and commentary.
The ND on NBC Podcast, hosted by Jac Collinsworth, returned last week and will release weekly episodes throughout the season. On the latest episode, Collinsworth speaks with Notre Dame safety Houston Griffith. Episodes are released every Thursday and can be found here.
NBC Sports’ Irish Pick ‘Em, a new free-to-play contest featuring a $10,000 jackpot, continues on the NBC Sports Predictor app for Notre Dame-Cincinnati this weekend.
All remaining Notre Dame home games during the 2021 season will air on NBC and stream on Peacock.
| REMAINING 2021 NBC NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL SCHEDULE | |||
| DATE | TIME (ET) | OPPONENT | WHERE TO WATCH |
| Sat., Oct. 2 | 2:30 p.m. | Cincinnati | NBC/Peacock |
| Sat., Oct. 23 | 7:30 p.m. | USC | NBC/Peacock |
| Sat., Oct. 30 | 7:30 p.m. | North Carolina | NBC/Peacock |
| Sat., Nov. 6 | 3:30 p.m. | Navy | NBC/Peacock |
| Sat., Nov. 20 | 2:30 p.m. | Georgia Tech | NBC/Peacock |
Notre Dame Football coverage will stream on Peacock Premium. Peacock Premium is included at no additional cost for Comcast’s eligible Xfinity X1 and Flex customers and Cox Contour customers. Viewers can sign up at https://www.peacocktv.com/sports/notredame. Peacock is widely available across devices, details here
This year, NBC Sports Group and Notre Dame kick off their 31st season. NBC Sports Group and the University of Notre Dame began their landmark Notre Dame Football relationship in 1991 and have renewed the partnership numerous times. The current agreement runs through the 2025 season.
-NBC SPORTS-
Cementing The Walt Disney Company’s collection of television networks and direct-to-consumer streaming platforms as the new destination for all things hockey, The Point joins ESPN2’s weekly Thursday afternoon lineup from 3-4 p.m. ET.
The post ESPN to Launch New NHL Studio Show, The Point, October 7 appeared first on ESPN Press Room U.S..
ESPN Fantasy Football, the No. 1 most popular fantasy football game, established a new all-time record for sign-ups this season, up +21% over last year and up +3% over the previous high set in 2019. The new milestone for Fantasy Football follows record participation in the 2020-21 seasons of ESPN Fantasy Basketball and Fantasy Hockey, which also set all-time highs for sign-ups over the previous year, up +21% and +8%, respectively.
The post ESPN Fantasy Football Sets All-Time Record for Sign-Ups appeared first on ESPN Press Room U.S..
World’s Top Drone Pilots Compete in 2021-22 DRL World Championship Season Level 1 Race from Allianz Field in Minnesota
NBC Sports Presents Nearly 30 Hours of Drone Racing League This Season
STAMFORD, Conn. – Sept. 29, 2021 – NBC Sports presents coverage of the Drone Racing League World Championship Season tonight at 8 p.m. ET on NBCSN.
The 2021-22 DRL World Championship Season launches tonight at Allianz Field in Minnesota, where the world’s top drone pilots race high-speed drones through a spectacular, complex course. Elite pilots will navigate a fast outdoor track with several tight turns, complicated by elevation changes.
This season, NBC Sports will present nearly 30 hours of action-packed Drone Racing League coverage.
During the season, the world’s 12 best drone pilots race high-speed drones in spectacular courses across all dimensions. The elite pilots will aim to dominate 14 Levels of racing through iconic sports arenas and DRL SIM virtual maps to be crowned the World Champion.
DRL race locations include: Allianz Field, home stadium of Major League Soccer’s Minnesota United, in St. Paul, Minnesota, FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee, home arena to the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies, and a championship race location to be announced. Virtual courses in the DRL SIM game on Playstation, Xbox, Steam and Epic Games include the newly released U.S. Air Force Boneyard – Night Mode Map.
HOW TO WATCH – TONIGHT WED., SEPTEMBER 29
| Date | Network | Time (ET) |
| Wed., Sept. 29 | NBCSN | 8 p.m. (LIVE) |
DRL INFORMATION
-NBC SPORTS-
Coverage Begins with Special On-Site Football Night in America at 7 p.m. ET from Gillette Stadium; Followed by 8:20 p.m. ET SNF Kickoff
Peacock Sunday Night Football Final to Feature Postgame Press Conferences, Including Brady & Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick
“Sunday Night 7” Free-to-Play Game Features Weekly $100,000 Jackpot
STAMFORD, Conn. – Sept. 29, 2021 – In one of the most anticipated regular-season games in recent NFL history, Tom Brady returns to New England, where he won six Super Bowls and became the winningest quarterback in NFL history, as the Super Bowl champion Buccaneers visit the Patriots on this week’s edition of NBC’s Sunday Night Football.
Coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET with a special on-site edition of Football Night in America from Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., followed by kickoff at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC, Peacock and Universo.
Brady spent 20 seasons with the Patriots (2000-19) after being selected by New England in the 6th round of the 2000 NFL Draft. Brady and Patriots head coach Bill Belichick hold the NFL record for most wins by a quarterback-head coach duo (197), while advancing to 13 AFC Championship Games and winning six Super Bowls. Brady and Belichick guided the Patriots to winning records in 19 of their 20 seasons together.
Bucs tight end Rob Gronkowski, Brady’s teammate in New England from 2010-18 and with Tampa Bay since last season, also returns to Foxborough this Sunday. He leads all NFL tight ends with four touchdown receptions this season and is third all-time with 90 career TDs among tight ends.
The Buccaneers (2-1) fell to the Los Angeles Rams, 34-24, last week, marking Tampa Bay’s first loss since Week 12 last season. Brady passed for 432 yards and one touchdown against the Rams, and wide receiver Mike Evans caught eight passes for 106 yards.
New England (1-2) looks to bounce back from a 28-13 defeat to New Orleans in Week 3. Patriots quarterback Mac Jones, who was selected with the 15th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, leads all rookies with 737 passing yards this season.
At halftime of this Saturday’s Notre Dame-Cincinnati game (2:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock), NBC Sports’ Tim Layden narrates a video essay on Brady’s relationship with the fans in New England.
Calling Buccaneers-Patriots is Al Michaels (play-by-play), in his record 36th season as the voice of the NFL’s premier primetime package; 16-time Emmy Award-winner Cris Collinsworth; and four-time Emmy Award-winning sideline reporter Michele Tafoya. Three-time Super Bowl referee Terry McAulay is the Sunday Night Football rules analyst. For Michaels, Sunday’s matchup marks the 44th time he will call a game with the 44-year-old Brady as the starting quarterback. For highlights of Michaels’ most memorable primetime QB moments, click here.
NBC’s coverage of Sunday Night Football is led by executive producer Fred Gaudelli and director Drew Esocoff. SNF has won a record 11 Sports Emmys for Outstanding Live Sports Series.
A special on-site edition of Football Night in America this week features host Mike Tirico, Hall of Fame head coach Tony Dungy, and Super Bowl XLIV MVP Drew Brees from Gillette Stadium, along with co-host Jac Collinsworth and two-time Super Bowl champion Rodney Harrison. Co-host Maria Taylor and former NFL quarterback Chris Simms will contribute from NBC Sports’ International Broadcast Center in Stamford, Conn., and NFL Insider Mike Florio will report remotely from his home studio. In addition, celebrated correspondent Steve Kornacki will utilize his famous touch screen at the Stamford studio to break down Tom Brady’s career.
Football Night, the most-watched studio show in sports since its debut in 2006, begins every Sunday at 7 p.m. ET. The coordinating producer of FNIA is Rob Hyland and the co-producer is Matt Casey. FNIA is directed by Pierre Moossa.
Peacock Sunday Night Football Final, a new NFL post-game show produced by NBC Sports, streams exclusively on Peacock following every Sunday Night Football game during the 2021 season. The show is hosted by NBC Sports commentators Kathryn Tappen and Chris Simms, who will provide instant reactions to each Sunday game along with highlights and interviews. Plus, Football Night in America commentators Mike Tirico, Tony Dungy, Drew Brees, Rodney Harrison and Jac Collinsworth will provide recaps and insights into the day’s biggest moments. This week’s Peacock Sunday Night Football Final will feature the postgame press conferences of Brady and Belichick.
NBC SPORTS’ NFL VIEWERSHIP OFF TO STRONG START
NBC’s Sunday Night Football, primetime TV’s #1 show for an unprecedented 10 consecutive years, is averaging a Total Audience Delivery of 21.8 million viewers through Week 3 – the show’s best start since 2016 and up 12% from last season at the same point.
Across three weeks, Football Night in America is averaging 7.1 million viewers, the best start for FNIA since 2018 and up 36% from last season.
PEACOCK TO LIVE STREAM ALL NBC NFL GAMES FOR FIRST TIME THIS SEASON
For the first time ever, all of NBC Sports’ NFL regular-season games, playoff games, Super Bowl LVI, and Football Night in America will stream live on Peacock this season. Peacock features a slate of sports talk content NFL fans can enjoy on the NBC Sports channel, which is free to stream. Shows include Brother from Another, as well as The Dan Patrick Show, The Rich Eisen Show, PFT Live, PFT PM, Safety Blitz, The Peter King Podcast, and Chris Simms Unbuttoned.
To learn more about the NFL on Peacock, including how to watch and sign up, click here. Peacock Premium is included at no additional cost for Comcast’s eligible Xfinity X1 and Flex customers and Cox Contour customers.
NBCSPORTS.COM & NBC SPORTS APP TO LIVE STREAM ALL NBC NFL GAMES
NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app will stream all NBC games to desktops, mobile, tablets, and connected TVs via “TV Everywhere,” giving consumers additional value to their subscription service, and making high-quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms. The full HD-quality video stream will come directly from NBC’s broadcasts. NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app are available on the iTunes App Store, Google Play, Windows Store, Roku Channel Store, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Samsung Smart TVs, Xbox, and Chromecast.
TELEMUNDO DEPORTES TO PRESENT ENTIRE NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL SCHEDULE, INCLUDING PLAYOFFS AND SUPER BOWL LVI
Telemundo Deportes will again carry the entire NBC Sunday Night Football package, including exclusive Spanish-language coverage of Super Bowl LVI, live for the first time on the Telemundo Network — marking the first time ever that a Super Bowl will be televised on a Spanish-language broadcast network in the U.S. The package also includes 20 regular season games that will be televised on Universo, including the NFL Kickoff game and the Thanksgiving primetime game, as well as a Wild Card game, and one Divisional Playoff game. In addition, Telemundo Network will broadcast the Sunday primetime Wild Card game. All games will also be available on live stream via TelemundoDeportes.com and the Telemundo Deportes app.
“SUNDAY NIGHT 7” FREE-TO-PLAY GAME RETURNS WITH $100,000 JACKPOT EVERY CONTEST
Once again this season, in the build-up to each week’s Sunday Night Football matchup, fans can participate in NBC Sports’ free-to-play game, Sunday Night 7, which features a $100,000 jackpot every contest for each game in the Sunday Night Football package, as well as two NFL Wild Card playoff games and one NFL Divisional Playoff. Sunday Night 7 is available for download NOW on the NBC Sports Predictor app powered by PointsBet (available in the App Store and Google Play Store) and at NBCSports.com/Predictor.
In Sunday’s game, one user won the first-place jackpot.
POINTSBET AND NBC SPORTS INCLUDE EXCLUSIVE BETTING INTEGRATIONS INTO FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA AND PEACOCK SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL FINAL POST-GAME SHOW
This season, PointsBet and NBC Sports include exclusive betting integrations on the Football Night in America studio show and the new Peacock Sunday Night Football Final postgame show. Click here for more information.
PETER KING’S NFL COLUMN “FOOTBALL MORNING IN AMERICA” DEBUTS EVERY MONDAY EXCLUSIVELY ON NBCSPORTS.COM
A new “Football Morning in America” will post every Monday morning exclusively on NBCSports.com. It was announced in May 2019 that King signed an exclusive agreement with NBC Sports Group that included writing a weekly Monday morning NFL column for NBCSports.com; making regular appearances on PFT Live with Mike Florio; and continuing to contribute to Football Night in America, the most-watched studio show in sports. The Peter King Podcast streams weekly on Peacock on Thursdays at 6 p.m. ET.
CHRIS SIMMS UNBUTTONED
NBC Sports’ Chris Simms examines everything happening in the NFL and around the sports world. Along with a rotation of NBC Sports hosts including Ahmed Fareed and Paul Burmeister, Chris Simms Unbuttoned analyses the NFL with in-depth Xs and Os breakdowns; one-on-one interviews with players, coaches and executives; and game recaps and preview. The show is available to stream on Peacock on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. ET.
NBC SPORTS EDGE
NBC Sports EDGE, part of the newly announced NBC Sports Next portfolio and one of the internet’s highest-trafficked fantasy sports and gaming websites, offers comprehensive fantasy football and betting coverage throughout the 2021 NFL season across NBC Sports’ platforms. The industry-leading source for fantasy football news and information, the 2021 Fantasy Football Draft Guide is available for purchase now via NBC Sports EDGE’s subscription model beginning at only $3.99 per month, and features more than 450 extensive player profiles, player projections, positional tiers, Top 200 rankings for PPR, Half-PPR, Non-PPR and Dynasty, as well as Individual Defensive Player rankings, sleepers and busts, drafting strategy articles, team reports and much more. NBC Sports EDGE also provides fantasy football coverage and betting insights through its digital shows, A Good Football Show and Bet the Edge.
PFT LIVE – WEEKDAYS AT 7 A.M. ET ON PEACOCK
Pro Football Talk streams live on Peacock’s NBC Sports on Peacock channel from 7 a.m. – 9 a.m. ET on weekdays and re-airs at 9 a.m. ET on NBCSN. Florio is joined by veteran sports commentator Mike Golic on Monday mornings, co-host and former NFL quarterback Chris Simms from Tuesday – Thursday, with a special guest co-hosting on Fridays.
The two-hour PFT Live is known for delivering inside information and comprehensive analysis from an independent perspective. The show covers all the latest news around the league, breaks down reports and rumors and features interviews with players, coaches and executives.
PODCASTS
NBC Sports’ football podcasts provide extensive weekly offerings from NBC Sports’ most popular personalities and present special guests, exclusive interviews, and robust conversations across all of football on The Peter King Podcast, Chris Simms Unbuttoned, PFT PM, and A Good Football Show. While The Peter King Podcast features intimate discussions with the NFL’s top players, Chris Simms Unbuttoned and PFT PM dive into deep conversations around the sports’ hottest topics, and A Good Football Show explores fantasy implications for fans. New episodes of NBC Sports podcasts are available for download each week on all major podcast platforms including:
NBCSports.com/podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and iHeart.
SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL SOCIAL MEDIA
NBC SPORTS REGIONAL NETWORKS
NBC Sports Bay Area, NBC Sports Boston, NBC Sports Chicago, NBC Sports Philadelphia and NBC Sports Washington will again deliver extensive multiplatform coverage of the 2021 NFL season, led by comprehensive live gameday shows, in-depth news, analysis and commentary programming, and multimedia digital content covering the teams in their respective markets.
canVS
NBC Sports invites fans to paint a path to Super Bowl LVI with SNF canVS, a season-long interactive art campaign, which began at the 2021 NFL Kickoff game and continues at each Sunday Night Football game throughout the season.
Each week in the city of the SNF matchup, local artists will create a five-yard long mural inspired by fan input that epitomizes the fanbase’s love for their team. This Saturday’s featured artist is Lena McCarthy.
At the end of the season, each of the 20 five-yard murals will come together to create a 100-yard masterpiece showcasing the painted pride that captures the devotion and passion of fans. Click here for more details.
CARRIE UNDERWOOD
Seven-time Grammy Award-winner and multi-platinum recording artist Carrie Underwood stars in the show open for NBC’s Sunday Night Football.
Shot at Industrial Light & Magic’s cutting edge LED sound stage utilizing the company’s StageCraft LED virtual production technology recently used in “The Mandalorian,” the 2021 Sunday Night Football show open for the first time will feature a virtual football tailgate as a backdrop for Underwood’s performance of “Waiting All Day For Sunday Night.”
In addition, the show open will highlight user-generated cameos from some of the NFL’s biggest stars, as well as fans’ self-recorded video from NFL tailgates.
NBC’S SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL IS PRIMETIME TELEVISION’S NO. 1 SHOW FOR RECORD 10 CONSECUTIVE YEARS: NBC’s Sunday Night Football finished the 2020-21 TV season as primetime’s #1 TV show in all key metrics for an unprecedented 10th consecutive year – adding to its record for the most consecutive years atop the charts (since 1950), based on official live plus same day data provided by Nielsen. Sunday Night Football also ranked as the No. 1 show in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic for the 11th consecutive TV season.
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| Sun. Oct. 3 | Week 4 | Tampa Bay Bucs at New England Patriots | ||
| *Sun. Oct. 10 | Week 5 | Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs | ||
| *Sun. Oct. 17 | Week 6 | Seattle Seahawks at Pittsburgh Steelers | ||
| *Sun. Oct. 24 | Week 7 | Indianapolis Colts at San Francisco 49ers | ||
| *Sun. Oct. 31 | Week 8 | Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota Vikings | ||
| *Sun. Nov. 7 | Week 9 | Tennessee Titans at Los Angeles Rams | ||
| *Sun. Nov. 14 | Week 10 | Kansas City Chiefs at Las Vegas Raiders | ||
| *Sun. Nov. 21 | Week 11 | Pittsburgh Steelers at Los Angeles Chargers | ||
| **Thurs. Nov. 25 | Week 12 | Buffalo Bills at New Orleans Saints | ||
| *Sun. Nov. 28 | Week 12 | Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens | ||
| *Sun. Dec. 5 | Week 13 | San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks | ||
| *Sun. Dec. 12 | Week 14 | Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers | ||
| *Sun. Dec. 19 | Week 15 | New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | ||
| *Sun. Dec. 26 | Week 16 | Washington Football Team at Dallas Cowboys | ||
| *Sun. Jan. 2 | Week 17 | Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers | ||
| *Sun. Jan. 9 | Week 18 | TBD | ||
*Flex Week
** Thanksgiving Night Game
FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING:
Flexible scheduling will be used in Weeks 11-18. Additionally, in Weeks 5-10, flexible scheduling may be used in no more than two weeks. In Weeks 5-17, the schedule lists the games tentatively set for Sunday Night Football on NBC. Only Sunday afternoon games are eligible to be moved to Sunday night, in which case the tentatively scheduled Sunday night game would be moved to an afternoon start time.
For Week 18, two Saturday games and the Sunday night game will be announced no later than six days prior to January 9. The schedule does not list Saturday games or a Sunday night game in Week 18, but games with playoff implications will be moved to those time slots. Flexible scheduling ensures quality matchups in all Sunday time slots in those weeks and gives “surprise” teams a chance to play their way into primetime.
–SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL–
ShopRite LPGA Classic to Mark First-Ever All-Women Golf Broadcast in U.S. Television History, Led by Producer Beth Hutter
Zoom Media Conference Call With Broadcast Team of Cara Banks, Judy Rankin, Paige Mackenzie, Karen Stupples and Kay Cockerill – Thursday at 11 a.m. ET
Live Coverage of PGA TOUR’s Sanderson Farms Championship from The Country Club of Jackson in Mississippi Begins Thursday at 4 p.m. ET on GOLF Channel
Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, European Tour’s Pro-Am Event, Coverage Gets Underway Thursday Live at 8 a.m. ET on GOLF Channel
STAMFORD, Conn. – Sept. 29, 2021 – NBC Sports will utilize an all-women broadcast team to call the ShopRite LPGA Classic at the Bay Course at Seaview Hotel and Golf Club in Galloway, N.J., this week on GOLF Channel, marking the first-ever all-women golf broadcast team in U.S. television history.
The commentary team will feature Cara Banks handling play-by-play duties, alongside analyst Judy Rankin, tower announcer Paige Mackenzie and on-course reporters Karen Stupples and Kay Cockerill. Tournament coverage will be produced by long-time NBC Sports and GOLF Channel producer Beth Hutter. More details on the historic broadcast can be found here.
The broadcast team will participate in a Zoom media conference call on Thursday at 11 a.m. ET. Click here to participate in Thursday’s media availability.
Live tournament coverage of the PGA TOUR’s Sanderson Farms Championship and European Tour’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship will also be presented this week on GOLF Channel.
LPGA TOUR: SHOPRITE LPGA CLASSIC
The 54-hole ShopRite LPGA Classic will be contested at the Bay Course at Seaview Hotel and Golf Club in Galloway, N.J. Live coverage gets underway Thursday at 1 p.m. ET on GOLF Channel. This week’s field features 16 players who competed in the recent Solheim Cup in early September, including defending champion Mel Reid and 2020 champion Lexi Thompson, and boasts seven of the top-10 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.
On Her Turf, NBC Sports’ female empowerment brand, will be highlighted throughout tournament coverage with a “Shot of the day presented by On Her Turf” as well as integration into the daily leaderboard.
GOLF Channel Broadcast Team
How To Watch – Friday, October 1 – Sunday, October 3 (all times ET)
| Date | GOLF Channel |
| Friday | 1-4 p.m. |
| Saturday | 1-4 p.m. |
| Sunday | 1-4 p.m. |
Notable Players This Week
PGA TOUR: SANDERSON FARMS CHAMPIONSHIP
The PGA TOUR continues its 2021-22 season at the Sanderson Farms Championship at the Country Club of Jackson in Mississippi, which hosts the event for the eighth straight year. Sergio Garcia, coming off his appearance on Team Europe at the Ryder Cup last weekend, looks to defend his 2020 title.
Live coverage will be presented Thursday-Sunday from 4-7 p.m. ET on GOLF Channel.
GOLF Channel Broadcast Team
How To Watch – Thursday, September 30 – Sunday, October 3 (all times ET)
| Date | GOLF Channel |
| Thursday | 4-7 p.m. |
| Friday | 4-7 p.m. |
| Saturday | 4-7 p.m. |
| Sunday | 4-7 p.m. |
Notable Players This Week
EUROPEAN TOUR: ALFRED DUNHILL LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP
The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is the European Tour’s annual pro-am event and will be contested on three courses in Scotland: the historic Old Course at St Andrews, the Championship Course at Carnoustie and Kingsbarns. The tournament is the only annual professional event to be held at the Old Course at St Andrews.
Live coverage begins Thursday at 8 a.m. ET on GOLF Channel.
How To Watch – Thursday, September 30 – Sunday, October 3 (all times ET)
| Date | GOLF Channel |
| Thursday | 8 a.m.-Noon |
| Friday | 8 a.m.-Noon |
| Saturday | 8 a.m.-Noon |
| Sunday | 7 a.m.-Noon |
Notable Players This Week
BROADCAST NOTES
| Date | Golf Today | Golf Central |
| Thursday | 1-3 p.m. | 3-4 p.m./7-8 p.m. |
| Friday | Noon-1 p.m./7-8 p.m. | |
| Saturday | Noon-1 p.m./7-8 p.m. | |
| Sunday | Noon-1 p.m./7-8 p.m. |
–NBC SPORTS–