There might not be a channel as unique or as entertaining as the NFL Network’s “Red Zone.” It has become the go-to channel for millions of football fans. It’s on seven hours, once a week, on Sundays during the NFL regular season and airs on Comcast, Cox, Fios and other local cable companies.
For those football fans on the planet who have not seen “Red Zone,” it’s a commercial-free show that takes you to a game whenever a team gets into scoring position. All the Sunday games are covered.
The original channel, which was started by DirecTV with Washington-area native Andrew Siciliano as the anchor, is still going strong. It inspired the NFL Network to launch its own “Red Zone” channel last year with another familiar face to area fans — Scott Hanson, formally of CSN and now a full-time member of the NFL Network. He is in Los Angeles every Sunday handling life in the Red Zone.
Last year when we talked about “Red Zone,” did you have any idea how big of a hit the show would become?
Hanson » Last year we talked about the show and how I felt that it was going to be something special if I did my job right. So when I was writing the script for the first show I began with: “You are watching the show we hope will change the way you watch football forever.” I really knew that it was going to be a hit because if you have a program that for six-and-a-half hours shows you in real time everything that is great about NFL football, then we should be a hit or I am doing something wrong.
So what is it like on set during the show?
Hanson » It is controlled madness. I have 12 TV monitors in front of me and sitting off camera is a spotter and a researcher, who are fantastic. Then the producer is in my ear [is] telling me where we are going. Things really get good when we have two games in the Red Zone at the same time and we are going back and forth not missing any action.
How has it changed your career?
Hanson » People have been very kind. They tell me how much they enjoy the channel; they tell me how they watch me every week. Many talk about their favorite teams and they want to know how I feel after a six-and-half-hour show. The answers are: fried — in a good way — and blessed with a strong bladder.
Examiner columnist Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this!
