ESPN just ran a promo for their Super Bowl coverage featuring their commentary B-Team of Chris Fowler, Louis Riddick and Dan Orlovsky. So I guess they’ll be calling ESPN’s AU/NZ coverage, and once again it won’t be Joe Buck & Troy Aikman.
It makes me wonder what will happen in 2027 when ABC/ESPN have US broadcast rights for the Super Bowl. Will they send Joe & Troy out globally or provide an alternative AU/NZ feed with whoever happens to be on their B team that year?
It’s interesting that they don’t see value in Buck and Aikman calling for Australia/NZ but maybe it’ll be part of talent contracts (it’s no doubt a thrill for that B-team to call a Super Bowl even out of market) etc.
You’d hope they would plug them into the AU/NZ feed in 2027 rather than use the B-team.
I wonder if there are rules against them using their primary crew now they are in the Super Bowl rotation. Buck and Aikman signing with ESPN came not long after the broadcast rights deal was secured which gave ESPN/ABC Super Bowl rights in the 2026 and 2030 seasons.
Possibly. And it would probably be less special for Buck/Aikman to call it every year than once every cycle on ABC.
I’m hoping DAZN do a cheap deal for the conference finals and Super Bowl. Last year I think the Super Bowl stream was 2 bucks or something for warts and all Fox coverage including ads.
I already have Game Pass so I am all set. Seeing the US commercials makes it a more authentic broadcast
NFL had an ad over the weekend on their website with the finals series for $40
Saw that. Hoping it goes a little cheaper this weekend or after. I’d really like it for Redzone during the regular season but I can’t justify it from a timing and financial perspective.
CBS’s B-team of Ian Eagle and Charles Davis does the NFL Films’ World Feed coverage
That’s a good point. The NFL has interfered with announcer choices on previous occasions, notably when NBC picked up Thursday Night rights, NBC wanted to use Mike Tirico on Thursdays but the NFL blocked it, insisting the then-SNF crew of Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth had to call both matches as Thursday was supposed to be treated as a top-tier broadcast despite the terrible games being scheduled in the timeslot. The NFL eventually relaxed that rule.
Side note. Assuming ESPN run Buck & Aikman globally when they have the Super Bowl, I wonder if Seven will take the NFL Films World Feed that year? Normally they take the host broadcast feed, but I wonder if they will want a point of difference?
Right now, Callum Ferguson is on the panel of “Around The Wicket” on ESPN.
In a few short months I’ve seen him on the cricket coverage for Nine (for the ODI World Cup), on Seven for BBL and now ESPN.
I’m guessing he’s freelance?
They’ve had Clarke (Nine media) Sthalaker (7) Michael Hussey (Fox Cricket) and Aaron Finch has been in both 7 and Fox commentary boxes this season.
He’s also working for Triple M Cricket - that said, I think he may have a longer-term SCA contract as he’s been involved in the Dead Set Legends in Adelaide
ESPN viewers will experience unmatched access to the showpiece event with the game being called exclusively for Australian and New Zealand audiences by ESPN’s Chris Fowler, Dan Orlovsky and Louis Riddick inside Allegiant Stadium.
Pass for me. I have the entire coverage on Game Pass with the full CBS feed
ESPN’s coverage is tailored for the Australian-NZ audience. The diehard fan will watch 7’s coverage with CBS or Game Pass with the US commercials
I know you could obviously get away with this with a VPN but if this is the norm in the NFL game pass at without a VPN then how would they get away with this? Sorry if this comes up every year lol.
Get away with what? I’m not sure I follow your question.
GamePass is a NFL product.