After securing a piece of the NFL broadcast, Amazon is now set to launch a 12 hour block of shows on November first, that will feature hosts including former ESPN anchor Cari Champion, Australian tennis commentator Rennae Stubbs and Bleacher Report’s Master Tesfatsion. The production company, Embassy Row, headed by Jeopardy! executive producer Michael Davies, is producing the lineup. His goal is to feature up and coming talent and a “positive, uplifting take on sports” opposed to the argument format on networks such as ESPN and Fox Sports 1.
The move also signals to other sports leagues that Amazon intends to be a player in the TV sports business. They also have the rights to NFL’s Thursday Night Football franchise for the next decade and also has packages for the WNBA and National Women’s Soccer League in the United States, tennis and the Premier League in the U.K., a handful of contests in France’s top soccer league, Ligue , and UEFA Champions League matches in Italy and Germany.
The next media rights packages that could be in play are for NASCAR, whose deals with NBC and Fox run through 2024, and the NBA, which come up for renewal after the 2024-2025 season. Amazon’s talk shows will not feature any highlights from the previous day’s competition, choosing instead what Donoghue described as “more deep and interesting conversations” about sports and culture. The shows will be available for free on Prime Video and other Amazon owned platforms.
The daily lineup for Amazon’s shows are listed below in E.T.
8-10 a.m.: Bonjour Sports Talk, hosted by Madelyn Burke and Ben Lyons. A replay will run at 10 a.m.
Noon-2 p.m.: The Cari Champion Show.
2-4 p.m.: Sports Talk Game Breakers, hosted by comedians Eitan Levine and Drexton Clemons.
4-5 p.m.: From the Desk of Master T, hosted by Tesfatsion.
5-6 p.m.: The Power Hour, hosted by Stubbs.
6-7 p.m.: The Greatest Hour of All Time (GHOAT), highlighting an hour from the previous programming that day.
7-8 p.m.: The Backup Plan, hosted by Hana Ostapchuk and Jason Spells, featuring clips from the day’s shows and more sports and pop culture discussion.
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