American Football BBC Broadcasting NFL NFL UK

BBC renews NFL rights deal for 2017 season

August 30, 2017

A season of ground-breaking American football coverage returns on Friday (September 1) as BBC Sport and the National Football league launch a new partnership.

Coverage of the 2017 season begins with the return of The NFL Show, which will preview the race to Super Bowl LII on at 11.40 p.m. on Friday on BBC One, with a repeat at 6.45 a.m. on Saturday on BBC Two.

The NFL Show will run throughout the season on BBC One, either on Friday or Saturday nights, with NFL This Week rounding up all the action on Tuesdays on BBC Two, beginning on September 12 at 11.45 p.m. All the shows will be available to view on BBC iPlayer.

Once again, Mark Chapman will host the the shows, which combine the best of the NFL action with analysis, fun, the latest storylines and biggest personalities, plus interaction with some of the UK’s biggest sports stars.

Alongside him will be former NFL defensive back Jason Bell and two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora, who was earlier this year named as Best Sports Presenter in the Royal Television Society Awards for his performances on the programmes.

“We can’t wait to get back together to begin the new season,” said former New York Giants great Umenyiora.

“The shows are great fun to shoot and it feels like three buddies just talking about their favourite sport. I think that comes across to the viewers and helps to engage them in the NFL.”

Produced by Whisper Films, The NFL Show and NFL This Week will also be aired in various territories around the world this season, including Africa and Australia.

BBC Sport’s coverage of the NFL season will also include exclusive live coverage of the New Orleans Saints against the Miami Dolphins at Wembley Stadium at 2.30 p.m. on Sunday, October 1 and the Minnesota Vikings against the Cleveland Browns at Twickenham at 1.30 p.m on Sunday, October 29.

BBC will also air highlights of the other two NFL games played in London this autumn: the Baltimore Ravens against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley on September 24; and the Arizona Cardinals versus the Los Angeles Rams at Twickenham on October 22.

The season will culminate in live coverage of Super Bowl LII from Minneapolis on Sunday, February 4, 2018.

American Football BBC Broadcasting NFL NFL UK