BBC to broadcast NFL games as part of new two-year contract
“America’s game” has found a new home in British broadcasting: The BBC has agreed a two-year deal with NFL to show live coverage of the Super Bowl and International Series games at Wembley.
A highlights show called “The Road to the Super Bowl” will be shown on BBC Two and online every week from November to the end of the season in February.
The BBC regains the rights to the sport from Channel 4 who decided not to renew their own two-year deal which expired this year. Sky Sports are a year into a five-year deal with the NFL to show 80 live matches a season from the States.
“The BBC’s free-to-air and digital platforms offer us a fantastic opportunity for further growth of our sport”, NFL UK’s managing director Alistair Kirkwood said.
“The range of programming will offer an entry point for new fans as well as providing great content for existing NFL fans.”
Three NFL matches will be played at Wembley for the first time this year and the New York Jets vs Miami Dolphins and the Jacksonville Jaguars vs the Buffalo Bills, on 4 October and 25 October respectively, will be broadcast live on BBC Two. The Detroit Lions vs the Kansas City Chiefs on 1 November will be available on the red button and on the BBC Sport website.
Barbara Slater, director of BBC Sport said: NFL has a growing fan base in the UK and I’m delighted that the BBC can bring it free-to-air for our audience. We look forward to delivering all the best action and drama of American Football for the next two years on BBC TV, radio and online at the BBC Sport website.”