NFL Redzone Introduces Ads Amid Fan Backlash
The NFL is trying to calm down the uproar regarding the introduction of advertisements during this season of “NFL Redzone.”
When fans tune in to catch Scott Hanson hosting for seven straight hours of football, they’ll also notice four 15-second ads during that window in the first week.
This setup mirrors a test the NFL conducted back in December. I checked it out myself in a couple of scenarios with game action displayed while the ads played, as reported by Front Office Sports.
ESPN’s NFL reporter Adam Schefter chimed in on social media with some insights about the commercials.
“To clarify, NFL Redzone runs for 7 hours—420 minutes. During that time, viewers will see ads totaling about 1-2 minutes over that span,” he tweeted Thursday. “That’s around 0.25% to 0.5% of the total time, which is fairly low compared to other sports or entertainment programs.”
According to the outlet, on Sundays, game action will be showcased in one box, while ads will play in another.
A spokesperson for the league characterized the advertisement load as “incredibly small.”
“This approach has been in development and testing for more than a year and isn’t related to the recent events involving ESPN and the NFL,” they explained to Front Office Sports.
The NFL’s response came quick after Hanson appeared on the “Pat McCuff Show” Wednesday, revealing that ads would now feature prominently in the beloved football program.
“When you see me on the screen,” he said, “we’re going to hit Octobox. There are eight games in the early slots, taking fans to various cities.”
Hanson remarked, “It’s been over 250 days since our last NFL Sunday, but now we’re back!”
He also noted, “I can’t elaborate on any other factors that could affect the show since the folks in the business are addressing those issues.”
Meanwhile, some fans reacted with anger and directed their frustration toward the Disney-owned ESPN, even though it doesn’t currently own the NFL Network.
The league and ESPN reached a deal this summer, which would allow ESPN to own NFL media properties.
