British network ITV has signed a three-year deal with the NFL to showcase game day highlights in the U.K. The free-to-air broadcasts will maximize the game for British fans, part of an expanding NFL presence in the region, according to i-Conseils.fr.
The contract kicks off Friday, September 9 with weekly hour-long shows from 11:30 p.m. Laura Woods and two-time Super Bowl champion Osi Umenyiora will host and analyze the games.
ITV will also replace BBC Sports as the British broadcaster of Super Bowl LVII on February 12.
London will host two games this season, both showcased by ITV. The New York Giants take on the Green Bay Packers at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 9 and the Jacksonville Jaguars meet the Denver Broncos at Wembley Stadium on October 30.
The weekly ITV show will serve NFL fans with a comprehensive rundown of the weekend’s slate of games. ITV’s NFL reviews will also be repeated at 8:30 a.m. on Saturdays on ITV4 and on ITV Hub.
NFL programming will be broadcast on STV in Scotland and Virgin Media in Ireland, and all the programs will be available on demand.
Henry Hodgson, managing director, NFL U.K., said: “This is another significant milestone for the NFL in this country. We have enjoyed seven fantastic years of NFL coverage on BBC TV and the time is right to take advantage of the opportunities offered by a new partnership with ITV.
“When you look at the development of the NFL in the U.K. in recent years with momentum behind fan growth, more London games, successful British players in the NFL, the launch of an Academy and a charitable foundation, this announcement is another sign of our ambition to grow and develop the sport in the U.K.”
