Tag: NFL RedZone

Scott Hanson apologized for initially misleading NFL fans about RedZone’s new commercials

Scott Hanson showed genuine remorse for pretending NFL RedZone was still commercial-free.

For years, NFL RedZone has operated with a “commercial-free” promise as it stacks the most exciting parts of the action from every NFL Sunday. That was not the case in Week 15, when RedZone broke from this mold in a jarring fashion and started showing some ads, in earnest, for the first time.

After backlash from this apparent initial NFL test, long-time host Scott Hanson stepped to the plate to clarify matters on Saturday night. He apologized for misleading pro football fans after still using “commercial-free” even when he knew it wasn’t true.

With this candor, it appears that this decision to start using commercials came from above Hanson. And he clearly won’t be saying that moving forward on RedZone in instances he knows it doesn’t apply (well, the change is probably permanent):

Ugh, it looks like we’ve reached the end of an era for one of the last pure football products out there. At the very least, it seems like Hanson still cares about fans, and it’s nice to see him show genuine remorse for his mistake.

Is NFL RedZone’s promise of ‘seven hours of commercial-free football’ over?

Are ads coming soon?

Among the many joys of NFL RedZone is the fact we get game action at every turn with Scott Hanson hosting. As he says at the beginning of every broadcast, “Seven hours of commercial-free football start … NOW.”

But what we saw on Sunday might be the beginning of the end of ad-free football.

In Week 15, fans of RedZone took note there were split-screen moments with ads, and per Sportico, it was a test: “The NFL does not currently have plans to test the ads again, according to someone with direct knowledge of the league’s thinking. Any permanent change would only be considered for the 2025 season, at the earliest.”

You had to figure someone would monetize it at some point, given the popularity. Still, there goes that claim!

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1371]

Are Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely the best TE duo in the NFL?

Not enough is said about the talents of all-pro Baltimore Ravens tight-end Mark Andrews and his reserve Isaiah Likely.

Not enough is said about the talents of all-pro Baltimore Ravens tight-end Mark Andrews and his reserve Isaiah Likely.

Last season, Likely stepped up big in the absence of Andrews, who sat out multiple weeks with a leg injury. Both tight-ends are sizable pass-catchers with the strength to do damage as run-blockers.


All logic suggests that offensive coordinator Todd Monken should opt for 12 personnel this season. With newly acquired running back Derrick Henry, Monken should think of ways to force the opposing defense into 3-4 and 4-3 and away from nickel-and-dime packages.

Likely, Andrews combined for 81 receptions and 11 touchdowns last season. These stats may have inflated had Andrews not missed eight regular season games. Both players fit ideally into the structure of the Ravens offense constructed around the running and play-action pass game.

With height, athleticism, and run-blocking physicality, Likely and Andrews are undoubtedly the best tight-end tandem in the NFL.

NFL+ adds NFL Network, RedZone to streaming service

The NFL announced the addition of NFL Network and NFL RedZone to its streaming service on Thursday.

If you don’t have NFL Network to watch the Minnesota Vikings take on the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night, you are in luck. The league announced on Thursday that NFL Network and NFL Red Zone will be added to their NFL Plus subscription package.

There will be two tiers. The first tier is $6.99/month and includes the following.

  • Live local and primetime regular and postseason game (phone and tablet only)
  • NFL Network
  • Live out-of-market preseason games
  • Live game audio
  • NFL Films’ and more on-demand content-all ad free

For $14.99/month, you get all of that and more.

  • NFL RedZone
  • Full, condensed and all-22 coach film replays, all ad-free

If you live outside of Minnesota, this is the perfect way to see the Vikings play in the preseason.

[lawrence-related id=81165,81154,81135,81132,81108,81101]

DirecTV will now include NFL RedZone, but fans will miss the Andrew Siciliano version

An official so long to the Andrew Siciliano version of DirecTV’s Red Zone channel.

We knew that with YouTube TV taking over with Sunday NFL Ticket DirecTV might not have the same football offerings in 2023.

Fear not, at least when it comes to RedZone, the Sunday show that gives you all the scoring highlights and end-of-game drama hosted by Scott Hanson. DirecTV agreed to carry NFL Network and NFL RedZone.

But there’s something there that’s a bummer if you were a fan of the original Red Zone channel that DirecTV carried, hosted by Andrew Siciliano.

They did more than 300 shows before Siciliano said goodbye after 17 years. So with this news, some NFL fans mourned the official loss of the OG Red Zone channel:

NFL and Google partner to bring NFL Sunday Ticket to YouTube

The NFL today announced a multi-year deal with Google granting YouTube TV and YouTube Primetime Channels the right to exclusively distribute NFL Sunday Ticket starting with the 2023 NFL season.

According to Tom Pelissero YouTube has completed a deal for the NFL Sunday Ticket, the out-of-market package that DirecTV has exclusively broadcast since 1994 when it debuted.

Pro Football Talk is reporting that YouTube will pay $2.5 billion per year for the package.

“We’re excited to bring NFL Sunday Ticket to YouTube TV and YouTube Primetime Channels and usher in a new era of how fans across the United States watch and follow the NFL,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said. “For a number of years we have been focused on increased digital distribution of our games and this partnership is yet another example of us looking towards the future and building the next generation of NFL fans.”

“YouTube has long been a home for football fans, whether they’re streaming live games, keeping up with their home team, or watching the best plays in highlights,” said Susan Wojcicki, CEO of YouTube. “Through this expanded partnership with the NFL, viewers will now also be able to experience the game they love in compelling and innovative ways through YouTube TV or YouTube Prime.”

Talks with Google (the YouTube parent company) came full circle after Amazon and Apple dropped out.

With consumers cutting the cable cord, the NFL Sunday Ticket package will be available on YouTube TV and YouTube Premium channels.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbx4gfbwm323hbt player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

[listicle id=679233]

[listicle id=679215]

[listicle id=679161]

[listicle id=679201]

[listicle id=679175]

[lawrence-related id=679199,679193,679130,679101]

NFL RedZone fans were quick to forgive Scott Hanson for his unfortunate mistake before Raiders’ winning TD

The people love Scott Hanson. Even if he made a big mistake Sunday.

The NFL RedZone channel is one of the greatest things to happen to sports fans in this history of sports and Scott Hanson is the perfect host who makes laying on your couch for seven hours (or more) every Sunday a very enjoyable experience.

People love Scott Hanson and rightfully so – the guy is a total gem.

Late in yesterday’s action Hanson showed everyone that he’s human and made a mistake. With the Raiders-Seahawks being the last game going on he told all viewers in the United States to switch over to CBS to see the overtime period because NFL Network isn’t allowed to keep RedZone on the air when only one game remains. It happens almost every week and every week you just switch over to Fox or CBS and get your last fill of football before, well, Sunday Night Football.

Here’s what just about everyone saw last night, however, when they switched over to CBS for the Raiders-Seahawks finish:

60 Minutes, because CBS didn’t have a national game in the afternoon window.

I know because I was one of those people who jumped over to CBS and ended up missing Josh Jacobs’ 86-yard, game-winning TD run.

Hanson immediately jumped on Twitter and shared this message with fans:

Gotta love that transparency from Hanson. Dude really cares about his viewers and it shows.

And his viewers care about him.

Everything you need to know about NBA CrunchTime, the NBA’s version of NFL RedZone

LET’S GET CRUNCHY.

“LET’S GET CRUNCHY.”

For those who tuned in to the NBA app at 8:30 p.m. ET on Monday, those were the first words they heard. Bol Bol connected on a bank shot, and the broadcast was underway. It wasn’t long, however, before there were four games simultaneously shown on the screen. What the heck was going on?

Anyone who was unfamiliar with what they were watching was probably very surprised. Without realizing it, though, they had just stumbled upon one of the most exciting updates of the 2022-23 NBA season.

Before the season began, For The Win was invited to the league office for a presentation about the NBA’s reimagined digital app. The league promised reduced latency and “the majority of the game feeds” would be shown in 1080p HD.

But what caught our attention the most was the confirmation that the NBA was officially greenlighting a program called NBA CrunchTime. This was described as a free, weekly “whip-around” show that drops fans in to watch the crucial moments of each game.

Scott Hanson amazingly poked fun at ESPN’s Aaron Judge coverage with NFL RedZone’s ‘double box’

THANK. YOU.

If you have watched any sporting event the past few days on ESPN, odds are you saw quite a few Aaron Judge walks — whether you wanted to or not.

NFL RedZone’s Scott Hanson wanted to be clear that none of that would be happening on his watch.

As Judge pursues the American League single-season home run record, ESPN has made a habit of split-screen look-ins for every at-bat. Now, the AL record is a big deal — they’ve been playing American League baseball for 121 years. But it’s not the MLB record. And you’re not going to find much fan crossover for a Kentucky-Ole Miss game. ESPN seemingly ignored that fans are tuning into football games to watch football.

Hanson — to his credit — knew that and poked fun at ESPN in the process.

He said during Sunday’s Week 4 coverage when the screen had a double box:

“Let’s go double box for the first time today. You’ll notice that no pitcher is pitching around Aaron Judge in this double box.”

NFL fans appreciated that RedZone was going to stick with its football coverage.