NFL Network Executive Producer Charlie Yuk has called this weekend the Super Bowl of the offseason, and that’s an apt description. The NFL Draft, which begins Thursday, is a massive content industry for both ESPN and his NFL network. As we’ve seen over the years, ESPN’s presentations will focus on how NFL teams, prospects, and choices affect play on the field. ABC focuses on storytelling and prospect background. The NFL Network is looking to offer a hybrid of both. And having big names in skill positions only helps.
“We’re a quarterback-led league,” Yook said. “When the first night conversation has an intrigue with four, possibly five quarterbacks in the top of the NFL Draft, that makes it a lot more interesting. Combine that with the fact that I don’t think anyone can say with complete certainty that they know what’s going to happen.A curveball happens.… Business in the NFL Draft is when there’s chaos, there’s trade. It works out when there’s uncertainty, business always does well if they know in advance that there’s a solid group of quarterbacks that could be there in the first 10 picks increase.”
“I love all these quarterbacks and top-flight running backs[Texas’ Bijan Robinson],” said Seth Markman, ESPN’s vice president of production. As a team, we know skill position players, especially quarterbacks, do a lot to improve ratings.What haunted us last year was the loss of teams trading off first-round picks. It’s not friendly to us, eight teams didn’t have a first-round pick last year, which means the eight fanbases may not be interested. increase.”
Markman and Yook are right to be optimistic about tuning higher this year. This was the lowest opening night crowd since 2017. He was the only quarterback selected in the opening round last year (No. 20 Kenny Pickett), and his starting seven picks consisted of edge rusher, cornerback and offensive lineman. Our NFL Draft Analyst, Dane Brugler, puts him in the top 14 of the NFL Draft Player Rankings as four quarterbacks (Ohio’s Young, CJ Stroud, Florida’s Anthony Richardson, Kentucky’s Will and his Levis). ).
This year’s live presentation will take place on three networks (ESPN, ABC, and NFL Network) and will air during prime time for Round 1 beginning Thursday at 8:00 PM ET. Rounds 2 and 3 on Friday begin at 7:00 PM ET. Saturday coverage of Rounds 4-7 will begin at noon ET. ESPN’s presentation will be simulcast on ABC on Saturday. After speaking with Yook and Markman, here are some interesting notes to follow along.
Who will appear in each network’s coverage?
ESPN’s main desk includes host Mike Greenberg and analysts Mel Kipper Jr. (ESPN’s 40th NFL draft pick), Booger McFarland, and Lewis Riddick. Suzy Kolber interviews prospects following their selection (Kolber is the first of all odd picks to be interviewed on TV her first, so she will be first with the #1 pick). Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen are insiders. ESPN’s team facility is staffed by his five reporters: Salpa Orantonio (Panthers), Edwarder (Texans), Diana Russini (Colts), Jeff Darlington (Seahawks) and Kimberly A. Martin (Lions). increase.
The ABC set features host Rece Davis and analysts Todd McShay, Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard. Sam Ponder and Robert Griffin III appear on his second ABC set. Laura Rutledge interviews the players in the dressing room. Pete Tamel is an insider. David Pollack joins Howard, McShaye and Davis on the set of his ABC for rounds 2-3.
ESPN’s coverage on Saturday included host Davis and analysts Kiper, McShay, Riddick and longtime draft analyst Matt Miller, who made his NFL Draft TV debut.
The NFL Network’s main set consists of longtime host Rich Eisen and analysts Daniel Jeremiah, Charles Davis and Joel Klatt. Analyst Kurt Warner appears on the stage set with insider Ian Rapoport. Melissa Stark interviews the draftsman on stage after the selection (Stark gets her first televised interview of all the even selections). Eisen, Jeremiah, Davis and Kratt will once again be on the main set in the NFL Network’s coverage of Rounds 2-3. Peter Schrager joins Rapoport’s theater set. Stark returns to the stage to interview Pick. The NFL Network’s final day will feature Eisen, Jeremiah, Davis and Schrager on the main set and Rapoport on the theater set.
The NFL Network includes Judy Batista (Jets), Shelley Burruss (Lions), Bridget Condon (Seahawks), Stacey Dales (Colts), James Palmer (Eagles), Tom Pelissero (Chiefs), Omar There are reporters at multiple team locations, including Lewis. (Texans), Jane Slater (Cowboys), Cameron Wolf (Panthers).
New for 2023
Yook said one thing he wanted to change from last year was to be more consistent with on-air staffing from Round 1 through Rounds 2-3. Thus Eisen, Davis, Jeremiah and Kratt have main sets on both nights.Yuk said Shaw would be on board NFL+ Broadcast Outside LA (This is an alternate broadcast for the NFL Network version.)
Markman said Kiper Jr. pushed hard to have Miller on the Day 3 main set.
Markman said, “I was somewhat happy with who we proposed, but when a guy like Mel called you with an idea like that and wanted to share the ball, it was me.” “Over the years, we’ve changed how we broadcast Day 3. Years ago, we used to talk the big picture and entertain. We noticed we had a devoted fan base on Saturday and let’s talk about all the players who were drafted. I have.”
What role does Kansas City play in the production?
The host city will undoubtedly become a character in the NFL Network’s coverage.
“We got a glimpse of the city at the Super Bowl parade and saw a million people come together, so it has to be a character in the show,” Yook says. “We all feel that this is going to be a really good turnout if the weather is nice. The Chiefs presence, Kansas City, celebrities, BBQ, jazz, everything weaves into our coverage.”
Markman said ESPN tried to get Jason Sudeikis on opening night considering Ted Russo is a famous Chiefs fan, but the actor said there were scheduling conflicts.
How many tapes of prospects are in each network’s arsenal?
NFL Network has 600 prospective highlights and a total of 1,800 highlight packages. ESPN has a tape of about 500 prospects.
What about commercials?
There will be 14 commercials on the first night of draft coverage, but the network has flexibility as to when these breaks come.
“We all agree to take a break before going to the clock,” Yook said. If you do, you can be late, but not disrespectfully for the teams that come in on the backend.”
What if I can’t access my TV or other device?
SiriusXM presents all selections and in-depth analysis from every round live on the SiriusXM NFL Radio Channel. They broadcast onsite in Kansas City. On-air talent includes host Jason Horowitz and analysts Pat Kirwan, Jim Miller and Rick Neuheisel.
Anything else interesting?
ABC productions are much more difficult than ESPN because they have more elements to navigate, as they focus more on storytelling and player vignettes rather than how players fit into the team.
“If you have players or their families, we want to talk to them,” Markman said. Commercials can get in the way because all three networks sync their commercials.Pre-draft meetings can be held across networks to identify break zones and allow teams to draft offensive linemen, etc. We all need to take a break at the same time or the show will be a mess.
“One of our goals at ABC is not to make X and O too heavy. There’s a lot more on the plate for ABC Productions.”
ESPN and the NFL Network have a lot of behind-the-scenes staff who log endless hours to create highlight tapes of prospects for the NFL Draft. Thanks to NFL Network Senior Production Manager Zach Arnstein, Segment Producers Ben Fennell, Segment Producers Chris Jenkins and Nick Shepro, Associate Producers Marcus Davis and Aaron Hausenga, and Productions his assistant Christian Gonzalez.
Those responsible for the highlight tapes appearing on ESPN include Matt Brooks, Jeremy Drummond, Mike Logan, Kyla Burns Hefner, Adam Bauer, Andrew McConville, Eric Robinson, James Williams, Cesar Becerra, Brooke Stitch, Mikel Harvey and Aaron Cropper. included. Jason Rickell and Megan Black were responsible for producing over 500 graphics for Highlight.
Responsible for the highlight tapes featured in the ABC presentation include graphic lead Matt Diamond. Associate Producers Cordell Cumming, Eric Feinstein and Matt Reed. Production assistants are Harry Colvin, Will Desotel, Val Figueira, Roger Max, James Morgan, Erica Plunkett, Christine Taylor and Kyle Taylor.
Episode 295 of the Sports Media Podcast features ESPN National NHL Reporter Ryan Clark and Sports Business Journal Managing Editor/Digital Austin Karp. In this podcast, Clarke tells the league’s biggest story heading into the postseason. How important the ESPN name is in hockey. Press friendly team. How the war in Ukraine affected the season. Pride Night; Stanley Cup Predictions; and more. Karp discusses the second season of media rights deals the NHL has signed with Warner Bros. Discovery, ABC and ESPN. ABC/ESPN averaged 583,000 viewers for the regular season. TNT averages 364,000 viewers for regular season games. what the numbers mean in context. Best final match based on viewership. more.
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Some interesting things I read last week:
• If you read any of these works, do this. A crime scene investigator is someone who records and remembers the unimaginable. This is what they saw on Sandy Hook. Jay Kirk of The New York Times Magazine.
• Via Robert Cribb of The Toronto Star: Inside the culture of fear that muzzled and punished women who exposed abuse in Canadian football.
• athleticWrexham’s Richard Sutcliffe has been promoted from the National League after 15 years in the wilderness.
• Dominion CEO John Pouloswrote a thoughtful essay on why his company settled the lawsuit against Fox News.
• My transplanted heart and I will die soon. Amy Silverstein, New York Times.
• Best-selling authors and the sea. By Kevin Koczwara of Esquire.
• BuzzFeed news is dead. Hilary Frey of Slate.
• When will you retire? Oh my God. Demetria Gallegos of The Wall Street Journal.
• Faith, Family and Fastball: Clayton Kershaw has always belonged to Dallas. By Mike Pierucci for D Magazine.
• How cables have changed the sport and what happens when fans cut the cord. Ben Strauss of The Washington Post.
• Pain, hope and science collide when athletes turn to magic mushrooms. By ESPN’s Markian Hawryluk and Kevin Van Valkenburg.
• Lieutenants and Missing Persons. By Thomas Lake, Catherine E. Shoichet and Rosa Flores for CNN.
(Photo: Kevin Savitas/Getty Images)
