or


[12/19/06 - 02:34 PM]
ESPN Acquires Minority Stake in Arena Football Multimedia Rights and Minimum of 26 Television Games Per Season
ESPN will televise a minimum of 17 regular-season games and nine playoff games -- including a minimum three Wild Card games, three Divisional playoff games, both Conference Championships and the Arena Bowl -- on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC.

[via press release from ESPN]

ESPN ACQUIRES MINORITY STAKE IN ARENA FOOTBALL MULTIMEDIA RIGHTS AND MINIMUM OF 26 TELEVISION GAMES PER SEASON

ESPN has acquired minority ownership in the Arena Football League as part of a five-year agreement announced today that includes extensive multimedia rights and a minimum of 26 televised games per season, beginning in 2007. The agreement enhances ESPN�s year-round football programming lineup, the most comprehensive in sports television.

Similar to recent major ESPN content acquisitions, the agreement entails a broad range of rights. Fifteen ESPN platforms will benefit from this new agreement, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN on ABC, ESPN Classic, ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD; ESPN.com; Spanish-language ESPN Deportes; ESPN360 (the company's growing interactive and customizable broadband service); Mobile ESPN Publishing (the company's wireless content licensing business); ESPN Radio, ESPN The Magazine and other ESPN-branded services (i.e., iPod, video on demand). ESPN also gains the right to both air and syndicate Arena Football League games through ESPN International.

ESPN will televise a minimum of 17 regular-season games and nine playoff games -- including a minimum three Wild Card games, three Divisional playoff games, both Conference Championships and the Arena Bowl -- on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC. ESPN will also have an exclusive window for weekly Monday night primetime games on ESPN2 -- continuing to establish Monday night as a �football night� for fans.

ESPN�s 2007 AFL coverage will kick off on ABC with a pair of regional games -- Chicago Rush at Kansas City Brigade and Dallas Desperados at New York Dragons -- on Sunday, March 4 at 12:30 p.m. ET. ABC will broadcast ArenaBowl XXI on Saturday, July 29 at 3 p.m. from the New Orleans Arena as the city of New Orleans hosts the first team championship event since the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. (ESPN�s entire 2007 AFL television schedule is listed below.)

�We are committed to the Arena Football League and its exciting brand of football. We will help grow the league across all of our multimedia platforms. As the league grows, so will our business, and we see a bright future for us both,� said John Skipper, executive vice president, content, ESPN.

Arena Football League Commissioner David Baker added, �This is the longest and most comprehensive media partnership in AFL history. ESPN�s brand is ingrained in sports fans, who watch, read and listen to its multiple media properties. Through its equity purchase, ESPN now owns a piece of the AFL and has the ability to provide exciting football content on Monday nights for fans on a year-round basis. There is no better partner to help grow the AFL into a leading global, multimedia property."

The addition of Arena Football League rights expands ESPN�s already extensive football programming line-up and gives the company a year-round schedule of games, news and information shows and other content highlighting the National Football League and Monday Night Football, the Arena Football League, college football, high school football and select youth football events.

ESPN previously televised Arena Football League regular season and playoff games from 1995-1999, and most recently televised AFL playoff games from 2000-02. It also aired the inaugural ArenaBowl live in 1987, while ABC aired the ArenaBowl five consecutive years from 1998-2002.

Often recognized as one of the nation's most affordable and fan-friendly sports leagues, the Arena Football League begins its 21st season in March with 19 teams as it enters a five-year media relationship with ESPN. On the strength of its Mission Statement and Fans' Bill of Rights, the AFL is the second-longest running football league in U.S. history.

2007 Arena Football League ESPN TV Schedule:

Date Teams Network Time

Regular season

Sun., March 4 Chicago at Kansas City Dallas at New York ESPN on ABC (regional) ESPN on ABC (regional) 12:30 p.m. 12:30 p.m.

Mon., March 12 Los Angeles at Orlando ESPN2 7 p.m.

Thurs., March 22 Colorado at Philadelphia ESPN2 7 p.m.

Mon., March 26 Dallas at Orlando ESPN2 7 p.m.

Sun., April 1 Los Angeles at Chicago ESPN2 1:30 p.m.

Mon., April 9 Georgia at Philadelphia ESPN2 7:30 p.m.

Mon., April 16 Philadelphia at Dallas ESPN2 8 p.m.

Mon., April 23 Philadelphia at Columbus ESPN2 7:30 p.m.

Mon., April 30 Philadelphia at Chicago ESPN2 8 p.m.

Mon., May 7 Colorado at Chicago ESPN2 8 p.m.

Mon., May 14 New York at Philadelphia ESPN2 7:30 p.m.

Mon., May 21 New Orleans at Philadelphia ESPN2 7:30 p.m.

Mon., May 28 New York at New Orleans ESPN2 8 p.m.

Mon., June 4 Colorado at Utah ESPN2 10:30 p.m.

Mon., June 11 Los Angeles at Arizona ESPN2 10 p.m.

Mon., June 18 Chicago at Colorado ESPN2 10 p.m.

Mon., June 25 Dallas at Colorado ESPN2 10 p.m.

Postseason

Fri., June 29 Wildcard ESPN 7 p.m.

Sat., June 30 Wildcard ESPN 12 p.m.

Sat., June 30 Wildcard ESPN 3 p.m.

Mon., July 2 Wildcard ESPN2 10 p.m.

Sat., July 7 Divisional Playoff ESPN 3 p.m.

Sat., July 7 Divisional Playoff ESPN 8 p.m.

Sun., July 8 Divisional Playoff ESPN2 9 p.m.

Mon., July 9 Divisional Playoff ESPN2 7:30 p.m.

Sat., July 14 Conference Championship ESPN 3 p.m.

Sun., July 15 Conference Championship ESPN2 12:30 p.m.

Sun., July 29 ArenaBowl XXI (New Orleans, La.) ESPN on ABC 3 p.m.

All times EST

* ESPN will have a minimum of three Wildcard games and three Divisional Playoff games





  [december 2006]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
     


· MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL (ESPN)





[02/14/25 - 01:01 PM]
Max Renews "The Pitt," Starring Noah Wyle, for a Second Season
New episodes of the 15-episode first season debut on Thursdays at 9:00 p.m. ET leading up to the season finale on April 10.

[02/14/25 - 01:01 PM]
"XO, Kitty" Renewed for a Third Season at Netflix
Season 2 premiered on January 16, 2025 and debuted at #2 on the English TV List with 14.2 million views.

[02/14/25 - 11:01 AM]
HBO Original Six-Part Documentary Series "Eyes on the Prize III: We Who Believe in Freedom Cannot Rest 1977-2015" Debuts February 25
Inspired by Henry Hampton's legendary documentary series "Eyes on the Prize: America's Civil Rights Movement," this new installment of the groundbreaking 1987 series illuminates the bold stories of people and communities who continue to work for equity and racial justice in the years since the birth of the American civil rights movement.

[02/14/25 - 10:06 AM]
"Farmer Wants a Wife" - Are You DTF? Meet the 32 Women Ready to Saddle Up and Take on the Farm Life, Premiering Thursday, 3/20 at 9/8c on FOX
This season, four new farmers - Matt Warren, Jay Woods, John Sansone and Colton Hendricks - bring the heat as all-new daters look to leave behind city life for the charm of the country as they embark on an adventure that could change the course of their lives forever.

[02/14/25 - 10:01 AM]
HBO Announces Returning Main Cast and New Cast Starring in Season Three of the Emmy-Winning Drama Series "Euphoria," As Well As New and Returning Key Crew Members
Returning series regulars include Emmy winner Zendaya, Hunter Schafer, SAG Awards winner Eric Dane, BAFTA Film Award nominee Jacob Elordi, Emmy nominee Sydney Sweeney, Alexa Demie, and Maude Apatow.

[02/14/25 - 10:01 AM]
Love Is in the Air! New Reality Dating Series "Bravo's Love Hotel" Coming Soon
The new reality dating series brings together some of "The Real Housewives" franchise fan favorites, including Shannon Storms Beador, Gizelle Bryant, Ashley Darby and Luann de Lesseps for the ultimate luxurious getaway in the hopes of finding true love.

[02/14/25 - 08:01 AM]
The Latest Season of "Yellowstone" Heads Exclusively to Peacock - Season 5: Part 2 Arrives March 16
The Dutton family fights to defend their ranch and way of life from an Indian reservation and land developers.

[02/14/25 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Bridgerton" Season 4 - Sneak Peek - Netflix
To celebrate the Season of Love, Netflix takes you behind the scenes of filming "Bridgerton" Season 4 with Luke Thompson (Benedict Bridgerton) and Yerin Ha (Sophie Baek).

[02/14/25 - 07:01 AM]
Peacock Exclusively Streams Focus Features' Gothic Tale "Nosferatu" Beginning February 21
From acclaimed director Robert Eggers, the film stars Bill Skarsgård, Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin, Willem Dafoe and more.

[02/14/25 - 12:01 AM]
Video: "My Family" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A terminally ill father prepares his chaotic family to care for his two young kids and face life without him - but they must put old quarrels to rest.

[02/13/25 - 03:23 PM]
BYUtv Premieres Powerful, Fantastical New Zealand-Set Family Series "Secrets at Red Rocks"
The series follows the journey of Jake, an eccentric boy struggling to find belonging whose life is profoundly impacted by his discovery of mythical selkies who shapeshift from seal to human form.

[02/13/25 - 01:42 PM]
ESPN NBA Schedule Update: Memphis Grizzlies Visit Cleveland Cavaliers on February 23
This matchup replaces the previously scheduled Miami Heat vs. Milwaukee Bucks game.

[02/13/25 - 01:15 PM]
Showtime Original Series "Dexter: Resurrection" Adds Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, Kadia Saraf, Dominic Fumusa and Emilia Suarez
Production kicked off in January 2025 in New York and the series is set to launch in summer of 2025 on Paramount+ with Showtime.

[02/13/25 - 01:00 PM]
Video: "O'Dessa" - Official Trailer - Hulu
Set in a post-apocalyptic future, "O'Dessa" is an original rock opera about a farm girl on an epic quest to recover a cherished family heirloom.

[02/13/25 - 12:01 PM]
Legendary Lineup Grows as "Saturday Night Live" Announces More Musical Guests and Comedians for "SNL50: The Homecoming Concert" Streaming Live on Peacock from Radio City Music Hall on February 14 at 8ET/5PT
The event celebrating 50 years of legendary "SNL" musical and comedy performances will also feature special appearances by Ana Gasteyer, Andy Samberg, Maya Rudolph, Paul Shaffer, Tracy Morgan, Will Ferrell, and more surprise guests.