On Monday we told you that the NFL Network wanted to make a big splash.
And Wednesday at a news conference in New York, it did just that by naming Bryant Gumbel and Cris Collinsworth as its broadcast team for the network?s eight-game television package that begins Thanksgiving night.
Gumbel, a respected broadcasting veteran, and former wide receiver-turned-commentator Collinsworth will be able to work for NFL Network and continue to do their other broadcasting jobs.
Both work for HBO, which waived its cable-exclusive contract clauses so that the deal could be done. Gumbel will continue to host “Real Sports,” and Collinsworth will still hold down a chair on “Inside the NFL” as well as serve as Bob Costas? co-host on the new NBC Sunday night pregame show.
The package will start in Week 12 and continue until the end of the regular season. Most of the telecasts are set for Thursday nights, but the network will air three Saturday night games. The Ravens face Cincinnati on Nov. 30, which is the second game on the NFL Network schedule.
Each NFL Network telecast will feature a live, three-hour pregame show from the host city, providing a unique feel for the atmosphere surrounding the event. A one-hour postgame show will wrap up the action with interviews, highlights and press conferences.
This move is the latest for the network that is becoming far more aggressive in its programming. Earlier this week it announced “NFL Game Re-Airs,” which will feature four of the top games from each weekend, rebroadcast exclusively on NFL Network the following Tuesday and Wednesday. Any game originally shot in high definition will air on NFL Network in HD. Two games will be shown each Tuesday and Wednesday night with 5:30 and 8:30 kickoff times.
Also, NFL Network will go head to head with ESPN this weekend covering the NFL draft.
NFL NETWORK 2006 SCHEDULE
Week 12: Denver at Kansas City
8 p.m., Thu., Nov. 23 (Thanksgiving)
Week 13: Ravens at Cincinnati
8 p.m., Thu., Nov. 30
Week 14: Cleveland at Pittsburgh
8 p.m., Thu., Dec. 7
Week 15: San Francisco at Seattle
8 p.m., Thu., Dec. 14
Week 15: Dallas at Atlanta
8 p.m., Sat., Dec. 16
Week 16: Minnesota at Green Bay
8 p.m., Thu., Dec. 21
Week 16: Kansas City at Oakland
8 p.m., Sat., Dec. 23
Week 17: N.Y. Giants at Washington
8 p.m., Sat., Dec. 30
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer.
