FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, September 5th, 2018
SUPER BOWL MVP NICK FOLES & PHILADELPHIA EAGLES HOST MATT RYAN & ATLANTA FALCONS IN NFL KICKOFF 2018 TOMORROW NIGHT ON NBC
Coverage Begins with Football Night in America at 7:30 p.m. ET; Followed by New, Earlier 8:20 p.m. ET Kickoff
NFL Kickoff and Sunday Night Football Feature New, Earlier Kickoff Time at 8:20 p.m. ET
Aaron Rodgers and the Packers Host Khalil Mack and the Bears in Season Debut of Sunday Night Football – Coverage Begins with Football Night in America at 7 p.m. ET on NBC
New SNF Show Open Starring Carrie Underwood & NFL Players Premieres Ahead of Bears-Packers
NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports App to Live Stream NFL Kickoff and All Sunday Night Football Games to Desktops, Tablets, Connected TVs, and, For the First Time, Mobile Devices
STAMFORD, Conn. – Sept. 5, 2018 – NBC Sports’ season-long coverage of the 2018 NFL season begins with NFL Kickoff 2018 tomorrow, Thursday, Sept. 6, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pa., when Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles and the Philadelphia Eagles begin their title defense against 2016 NFL MVP Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons in a rematch of the 2017 NFC Divisional Playoffs. Coverage begins at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC, followed by a new, earlier kickoff time at 8:20 p.m. ET.
Sunday Night Football – America’s No. 1 primetime television show for an unprecedented seven consecutive years – debuts on Sunday, Sept. 9, as two-time NFL MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers celebrate the start of the franchise’s 100th season against 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year and recently acquired LB Khalil Mack and the Chicago Bears. Coverage begins with Football Night in America – the most-watched studio show in sports – at 7 p.m. ET. All SNF games will feature a new, earlier kickoff time this season at 8:20 p.m. ET.
Calling both matchups is Al Michaels (play-by-play), in his record 33rd season as the voice of the NFL’s premier primetime package; 16-time Emmy Award-winner Cris Collinsworth; and two-time Emmy Award-winning sideline reporter Michele Tafoya. This marks the 10th season that Michaels and Collinsworth will serve as the announcer team in the SNF broadcast booth.
In addition, three-time Super Bowl referee and SNF’s new rules analyst Terry McAulay will join Michaels and Collinsworth in the booth. NBC’s coverage of NFL Kickoff 2018 and Sunday Night Football is led by executive producer Fred Gaudelli and director Drew Esocoff. SNF has won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Live Sports Series in nine of the last 10 years.
Seven-time Grammy Award-winner and multi-platinum recording artist Carrie Underwood will debut “Game On,” the newest opening theme for Sunday Night Football, ahead of Sunday’s coverage of Packers-Bears.
NBC’s coverage of NFL Kickoff 2018 begins with a special edition of Football Night in America, the most-watched studio show in sports since its debut in 2006, at 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, featuring new studio host Mike Tirico. He will be joined on-site from Lincoln Financial Field by Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy, two-time Super Bowl champion Rodney Harrison and NFL Insider Mike Florio. Football Night begins every Sunday at 7 p.m. ET.
NBCSPORTS.COM & NBC SPORTS APP TO LIVE STREAM ALL NBC NFL GAMES:
NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app will stream all NBC games to desktops, tablets, mobile devices and connected TVs via “TV Everywhere,” giving consumers additional value to their subscription service, and making high-quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms. This marks the first season that NBC Sports is able to live stream to mobile devices and on PlayStation 4. The full HD-quality video stream will come directly from NBC’s broadcasts. Powered by Playmaker Media, the NBC Sports app is available on Apple iOS, Android and select Samsung devices, as well as on Amazon Fire, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Win10, PlayStation and Xbox.
PETER KING’S NFL COLUMN “FOOTBALL MORNING IN AMERICA” DEBUTS EVERY MONDAY EXCLUSIVELY ON NBCSPORTS.COM
NFL Insider Peter King brings his “Football Morning in America,” which debuts every Monday morning, exclusively on NBCSports.com this season. It was announced in May that King signed an exclusive agreement with NBC Sports Group that included writing a weekly Monday morning NFL column for NBCSports.com, making regular appearances on NBCSN’s and NBC Sports Radio’s PFT Live with Florio, and continuing to contribute to Football Night in America, the most-watched studio show in sports.
NBC Sports recently premiered King’s Football Morning in America Camp Tour, a two-episode television special chronicling his visits to NFL training camps, on NBCSN. Both episodes feature dozens of interviews with high-profile players, coaches, and executives, as well as revealing insights and unique experiences. NBCSN will present encores in the days leading up to NFL Kickoff 2018. Click here for more information.
PFT LIVE – WEEKDAYS AT 7 A.M. ET ON NBCSN
Mike Florio and co-host Chris Simms bring fans the latest NFL news and interviews with players and coaches every weekday morning with PFT Live on NBCSN at 7 a.m. ET. Peter King will also contribute regularly to PFT Live’s coverage throughout the regular season. In addition, on the mornings after games where rulings are a hot topic, McAulay will join Pro Football Talk on NBC Sports Radio and NBCSN.
The two-hour PFT Live provides all-encompassing coverage of the NFL, including the most current news and analysis, thought-provoking debates, and interviews with a wide variety of NFL newsmakers. The program is a simulcast of NBC Sports Radio’s PFT Live national program that airs daily beginning at 6 a.m. ET.
SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL SOCIAL MEDIA
- SNF ON INSTAGRAM: Going into its seventh season, Sunday Night Football gives the SNF fan a look at photos through the filters of Instagram. Fans get a look around each SNF city, as well as access inside the production trucks, the locker rooms, on the field, and on the sideline, as our social media producer captures the best photos of Sunday night and posts in real time. Each week, SNF on Instagram will host Instagram Live interviews with Michele Tafoya and players from each team. In addition, SNF on Instagram will utilize Instagram stories to maximize fans’ exposure to the Sunday Night Football
- SNF ON TWITTER: Using tweets, photos, and videos, @SNFonNBC provides unique content with SNF talent, production crew and NFL players. Additionally, Tafoya will provide real-time tweets from the sideline to provide followers with updates all game long.
- SNF ON SNAPCHAT: For the second season, NBC Sports’ Snapchat account will be creating content on the platform at each Sunday Night Football game, including Kickoff and from the SNF The NBC Sports Snapchat account will take fans behind the scenes to the FNIA set and around cities where Sunday Night Football comes to town, utilizing lenses and filters to customize content specifically for the Snapchat audience.
- SNF ON FACEBOOK: – At nearly 3.7 million likes strong, the Sunday Night Football Facebook page provides social-first stories, photos and video every week.
SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL BUS RETURNS FOR 2018 NFL SEASON
The Sunday Night Football bus will travel across the country to each SNF host city. To give more fans a chance to join in on the experience, the SNF Bus will also visit markets along the route without a SNF game on the schedule. The bus will arrive in each host city two to three days prior to the game, making stops at local landmarks and events before heading to the game site. Once at the stadium, the Sunday Night Football bus will give fans the opportunity to interact with America’s most-watched primetime television show with exclusive activities and experiences.
The 2018 bus features football field decaling on the floor, and a replica of the Football Night in America studio where fans can grab a mic, and act as “special correspondents” for photos. From the Carrie Underwood music experience and the @OnHerTurf display, to the life-size NFL player wall, fans will have numerous opportunities to interact and share memories from the bus.
NBC SPORTS RADIO
NBC Sports Radio will surround the 2018 NFL season with daily coverage across more than 425 radio affiliates, highlighted by PFT Live, featuring NFL insider and Football Night In America commentator Mike Florio daily from 6-9 a.m. ET; the PFT PM podcast hosted by Florio, which takes a look back at the day that was in the NFL; Safety Blitz with Rodney Harrison and Dan Schwartzman; featuring three-time All Pro and two-time Super Bowl-winner Rodney Harrison; and more.
To listen to a live stream of NBC Sports Radio, or find your local affiliate, visit www.NBCSportsRadio.com
NBC SPORTS REGIONAL NETWORKS
NBC Sports Regional Networks, which serve top NFL markets such as New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Chicago, and San Francisco, will surround the 2018 NFL season with in-depth news, analysis and original programming on the teams that matter most in more than 40 million U.S. households.
NBC’S “SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL” IS PRIMETIME TELEVISION’S NO. 1 SHOW FOR UNPRECEDENTED SEVENTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR:
The last seven years of NBC’s Sunday Night Football (2011-17) have been history-making, as SNF has been primetime TV’s No. 1 show for an unprecedented seven consecutive seasons – breaking its tie with American Idol (six) for the most consecutive years atop the charts (since 1950), based on live plus same day data provided by Nielsen. Prior to 2011, a sports series had never been primetime television’s top show for a full season. Sunday Night Football has also ranked as the No. 1 show in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic for eight consecutive TV seasons.
| 2018 NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Note: New kickoff time for all games this season is 8:20 p.m. ET |
||
| Thurs. Sept. 6 | NFL Kickoff | Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles |
| Sun. Sept. 9 | Week 1 | Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers |
| Sun. Sept. 16 | Week 2 | New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys |
| Sun. Sept. 23 | Week 3 | New England Patriots at Detroit Lions |
| Sun. Sept. 30 | Week 4 | Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers |
| *Sun. Oct. 7 | Week 5 | Dallas Cowboys at Houston Texans |
| *Sun. Oct. 14 | Week 6 | Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots |
| *Sun. Oct. 21 | Week 7 | Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers |
| *Sun. Oct. 28 | Week 8 | New Orleans Saints at Minnesota Vikings |
| *Sun. Nov. 4 | Week 9 | Green Bay Packers at New England Patriots |
| *Sun. Nov. 11 | Week 10 | Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles |
| *Sun. Nov. 18 | Week 11 | Pittsburgh Steelers at Jacksonville Jaguars |
| **Thurs. Nov. 22 | Week 12 | Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints |
| *Sun. Nov. 25 | Week 12 | Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings |
| *Sun. Dec. 2 | Week 13 | San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks |
| *Sun. Dec. 9 | Week 14 | Pittsburgh Steelers at Oakland Raiders |
| *Sun. Dec. 16 | Week 15 | Philadelphia Eagles at Los Angeles Rams |
| *Sun. Dec. 23 | Week 16 | Kansas City Chiefs at Seattle Seahawks |
| *Sun. Dec. 30 | Week 17 | TBD |
*Flex Week
** Thanksgiving Night Game
FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING: Flexible scheduling will be used in Weeks 11-17. Additionally, in Weeks 5-10, flexible scheduling may be used in no more than two weeks. In Weeks 5-16, the schedule lists the games tentatively set for Sunday Night Football on NBC. Only Sunday afternoon games are eligible to be moved to Sunday night, in which case the tentatively scheduled Sunday night game would be moved to an afternoon start time. Flexible scheduling will not be applied to games airing on Thursday or Monday nights.
A flexible scheduling move would be announced at least 12 days before the game. For Week 17, the Sunday night game will be announced no later than six days prior to December 30. The schedule does not list a Sunday night game in Week 17, but an afternoon game with playoff implications will be moved to that time slot. Flexible scheduling ensures quality matchups in all Sunday time slots in those weeks and gives “surprise” teams a chance to play their way into prime time.
For more information about NBC Sports Group shows and properties, including press releases, photos, talent and executive bios and headshots, please visit NBCSportsGroupPressBox.com
–NBC SPORTS–
