Update: Marie Donoghue is the new Chief Business & Growth Officer at gaming company DraftKings.
In her new role, Donoghue will work closely with existing teams to uncover new, sustainable growth opportunities and bolster product and customer experience. She will also be charged with spearheading various internal processes.
“I am thrilled to be joining DraftKings during this exciting phase and have long admired the organization’s steady rise as an industry innovator,” said Donoghue. “This is a special opportunity to expand on its industry-leading position and propel the company to new heights.”
DraftKings and rival FanDuel are the U.S. leaders in sports betting. DraftKings is also reportedly in advanced talks on a marketing agreement with Barstool Sports.
Earlier: Marie Donoghue, the VP of global sports video at Amazon’s Prime Video, is leaving the company.
Donoghue informed her staff on Thursday with a farewell email. Prime Video just concluded its...
In her new role, Donoghue will work closely with existing teams to uncover new, sustainable growth opportunities and bolster product and customer experience. She will also be charged with spearheading various internal processes.
“I am thrilled to be joining DraftKings during this exciting phase and have long admired the organization’s steady rise as an industry innovator,” said Donoghue. “This is a special opportunity to expand on its industry-leading position and propel the company to new heights.”
DraftKings and rival FanDuel are the U.S. leaders in sports betting. DraftKings is also reportedly in advanced talks on a marketing agreement with Barstool Sports.
Earlier: Marie Donoghue, the VP of global sports video at Amazon’s Prime Video, is leaving the company.
Donoghue informed her staff on Thursday with a farewell email. Prime Video just concluded its...
- 1/26/2024
- by Bruce Haring and Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Marie Donoghue, who parlayed a stint at ESPN into a job helping Amazon break into the U.S. sports-media business, is leaving the company, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Amazon declined to comment.
Donoghue had been hired to oversee Prime Video’s global sports strategy, identifying and evaluating new sports opportunities, and led efforts to acquire the rights to “Thursday Night Football,” which has helped the tech giant gain traction among consumers and sports leagues over the last few years. Amazon has tried to weave new elements into the traditional game-watching process, offering the chance to call up stats and replays at the click of a button, as well as watch a group of “alterna-casts” aimed at different audience niches.
“We have already devoted a lot of time to thinking about how to use new technologies to drive viewing experiences,” Donoghue told Variety in 2021, in an interview.
Amazon declined to comment.
Donoghue had been hired to oversee Prime Video’s global sports strategy, identifying and evaluating new sports opportunities, and led efforts to acquire the rights to “Thursday Night Football,” which has helped the tech giant gain traction among consumers and sports leagues over the last few years. Amazon has tried to weave new elements into the traditional game-watching process, offering the chance to call up stats and replays at the click of a button, as well as watch a group of “alterna-casts” aimed at different audience niches.
“We have already devoted a lot of time to thinking about how to use new technologies to drive viewing experiences,” Donoghue told Variety in 2021, in an interview.
- 1/4/2024
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
Amazon’s Prime Video and Premier Boxing Champions announced a multiyear rights agreement to bring top pay-per-view boxing events to U.S. viewers.
Launched in 2015, Pbc features over 150 active fighters across various weight divisions, including top contenders and current world champions. In 2023, its matchups have included David Benavídez vs. Caleb Plant, Gervonta “Tank” Davis vs. Ryan Garcia, Errol Spence vs. Terence Crawford, and Canelo Alvarez vs. Jermell Charlo.
Prime Video will distribute Pbc’s PPV events in the U.S., with the first event anticipated for March 2024. The events will be available for anyone to purchase — whether or not they are Prime members. In addition, in the U.S. and select countries, Prime Video will exclusively stream a Pbc Championship Boxing event series showcasing top matchups among boxing’s current and rising stars.
Amazon’s deal with Pbc comes after Paramount Global said it was shutting down Showtime Sports — a major U.
Launched in 2015, Pbc features over 150 active fighters across various weight divisions, including top contenders and current world champions. In 2023, its matchups have included David Benavídez vs. Caleb Plant, Gervonta “Tank” Davis vs. Ryan Garcia, Errol Spence vs. Terence Crawford, and Canelo Alvarez vs. Jermell Charlo.
Prime Video will distribute Pbc’s PPV events in the U.S., with the first event anticipated for March 2024. The events will be available for anyone to purchase — whether or not they are Prime members. In addition, in the U.S. and select countries, Prime Video will exclusively stream a Pbc Championship Boxing event series showcasing top matchups among boxing’s current and rising stars.
Amazon’s deal with Pbc comes after Paramount Global said it was shutting down Showtime Sports — a major U.
- 12/7/2023
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
The future of sport for fans and advertisers alike lies in streaming, according to Marie Donoghue, VP Global Sports Video at Amazon, as she offered a jaw-dropping statistic to support her case at a Cannes Lions event charting the evolution of live sports viewing.
“By 2026, 136 million fans will be streaming sports,” she quoted from New Marketer. “It’s the present and it’s the future. It’s a great opportunity to bring great content, convenience and value to fans, and for advertisers to interact and engage.
“Viewers are younger, more affluent and spend a lot more time with the game. A lot of our audience wasn’t even watching NFL on other services.”
Related: NFL Schedule 2023: Primetime Games, Thanksgiving & Christmas Tripleheaders, Prime Video Black Friday Freebie & More
Donogue oversees all of Prime Video’s global sports video and was pivotal in last year’s launch of Thursday Night Football.
“By 2026, 136 million fans will be streaming sports,” she quoted from New Marketer. “It’s the present and it’s the future. It’s a great opportunity to bring great content, convenience and value to fans, and for advertisers to interact and engage.
“Viewers are younger, more affluent and spend a lot more time with the game. A lot of our audience wasn’t even watching NFL on other services.”
Related: NFL Schedule 2023: Primetime Games, Thanksgiving & Christmas Tripleheaders, Prime Video Black Friday Freebie & More
Donogue oversees all of Prime Video’s global sports video and was pivotal in last year’s launch of Thursday Night Football.
- 6/21/2023
- by Caroline Frost
- Deadline Film + TV
WNBA fans likely already know that Prime Video is the primary broadcasting partner of the Seattle Storm in Washington state, and streams around 30 of the team’s games every season. But they may not know that Prime Video will also carry more than 20 other WNBA contests this season, including five doubleheaders, as well as the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup Championship Game.
30-Day Free Trial $8.99 / month amazon.com
Throughout the 2023 season, Prime Video will air four games as part of the annual WNBA Commissioner’s Cup, including the Commissioner’s Cup Championship Game on Tuesday, Aug. 15. The Commissioner’s Cup is an in-season competition, and each team in the league has 10 regular season games designated as Cup play. The two teams with the most points from their Cup games will enter the Commissioner’s Cup Championship and compete for a special prize pool.
“We are excited to offer the action of the...
30-Day Free Trial $8.99 / month amazon.com
Throughout the 2023 season, Prime Video will air four games as part of the annual WNBA Commissioner’s Cup, including the Commissioner’s Cup Championship Game on Tuesday, Aug. 15. The Commissioner’s Cup is an in-season competition, and each team in the league has 10 regular season games designated as Cup play. The two teams with the most points from their Cup games will enter the Commissioner’s Cup Championship and compete for a special prize pool.
“We are excited to offer the action of the...
- 5/23/2023
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
For well over a year, there have been rumors about the NFL expanding its hold over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend with the introduction of a Black Friday game, and after earlier this spring when the game was confirmed to be happening this season, we now know which two squads will be helping Amazon sell Christmas presents and rolls of toilet paper.
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On Wednesday, ahead of the full-season announcement on Thursday, May 11, Prime Video announced that the Miami Dolphins will visit their AFC East rivals to take on the New York Jets on Friday, Nov. 24 at 3 p.m. Et. The game will feature new Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and will be sandwiched by live, on-site pre and postgame coverage from MetLife Stadium. Additionally, the game will be available to football fans whether they are Prime members or not — a savvy move by Amazon to get as...
30-Day Free Trial $8.99 / month amazon.com
On Wednesday, ahead of the full-season announcement on Thursday, May 11, Prime Video announced that the Miami Dolphins will visit their AFC East rivals to take on the New York Jets on Friday, Nov. 24 at 3 p.m. Et. The game will feature new Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and will be sandwiched by live, on-site pre and postgame coverage from MetLife Stadium. Additionally, the game will be available to football fans whether they are Prime members or not — a savvy move by Amazon to get as...
- 5/10/2023
- by Matt Tamanini
- The Streamable
Click here to read the full article.
Amazon is adding more basketball to its portfolio of live sports rights, inking a multi-year global streaming deal with Overtime Elite, the six-team basketball league featuring players aged 16-20.
The deal will see Amazon Prime Video stream 20 live games per season over the next three years, beginning Nov. 4. Prime Video is Overtime Elite’s first global media rights partner.
Prime Video will also stream an unscripted series going behind-the-scenes at the young league beginning next year. Amazon has also made an investment in Overtime Elite in its Series D funding round.
Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Overtime Elite hosted its inaugural season in 2021-2022. The league aims to provide education and training to its athletes to “prepare them for college and professional basketball,” the league says.
While Overtime Elite isn’t the NBA (the league is expected to sell a streaming rights deal when...
Amazon is adding more basketball to its portfolio of live sports rights, inking a multi-year global streaming deal with Overtime Elite, the six-team basketball league featuring players aged 16-20.
The deal will see Amazon Prime Video stream 20 live games per season over the next three years, beginning Nov. 4. Prime Video is Overtime Elite’s first global media rights partner.
Prime Video will also stream an unscripted series going behind-the-scenes at the young league beginning next year. Amazon has also made an investment in Overtime Elite in its Series D funding round.
Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Overtime Elite hosted its inaugural season in 2021-2022. The league aims to provide education and training to its athletes to “prepare them for college and professional basketball,” the league says.
While Overtime Elite isn’t the NBA (the league is expected to sell a streaming rights deal when...
- 11/2/2022
- by Alex Weprin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Amazon’s Prime Video has set a multiyear, global distribution agreement with the 16-to-20-year-old players basketball league Overtime Elite, which will see the streamer exclusively air 20 live games per season for the next three seasons.
Additionally, Prime Video will launch a season-long unscripted series focused on the YA league Overtime Elite (Ote) in mid-2023.
Under the pact, which marks Ote’s first global media rights partner, Amazon has also made an investment in Overtime as part of its Series D funding round.
Beginning Nov. 4, the 20 Ote games will air live on Prime Video on Friday and Saturday nights, broadcast from Ote Arena in Atlanta. The larger on-air broadcast team will include sports-and-gaming social media group Amp.
Ote is a global YA basketball league focused on training players for college and pro basketball. The league features six teams: the Yng Dreamerz, Cold Hearts, City Reapers, Bruins, Falcons and Rams.
Per the league,...
Additionally, Prime Video will launch a season-long unscripted series focused on the YA league Overtime Elite (Ote) in mid-2023.
Under the pact, which marks Ote’s first global media rights partner, Amazon has also made an investment in Overtime as part of its Series D funding round.
Beginning Nov. 4, the 20 Ote games will air live on Prime Video on Friday and Saturday nights, broadcast from Ote Arena in Atlanta. The larger on-air broadcast team will include sports-and-gaming social media group Amp.
Ote is a global YA basketball league focused on training players for college and pro basketball. The league features six teams: the Yng Dreamerz, Cold Hearts, City Reapers, Bruins, Falcons and Rams.
Per the league,...
- 11/2/2022
- by Jennifer Maas
- Variety Film + TV
Prime Video announced on Wednesday an exclusive media rights deal with Overtime Elite. The global multiyear deal includes livestreams of 20 youth basketball games per season for the next three seasons.
The rollout begins Nov. 4 and will make Prime Video Ote’s first global media rights partner. Prime Video will have broadcast rights and will also exclusively stream a season-long unscripted series set to arrive in mid-2023.
“This collaboration with Prime Video is an exciting move for Overtime Elite, affording us the opportunity to reach even more sports fans,” said Overtime co-founder and CEO Dan Porter in a statement. “Prime Video has separated themselves as the premier live-sports streaming service, and we are thrilled to showcase Overtime Elite and our fan-first approach in front of Amazon’s global audience.”
The 20 Ote games will air live on Prime Video Friday and Saturday evenings and will be broadcast from Ote Arena in Atlanta.
The rollout begins Nov. 4 and will make Prime Video Ote’s first global media rights partner. Prime Video will have broadcast rights and will also exclusively stream a season-long unscripted series set to arrive in mid-2023.
“This collaboration with Prime Video is an exciting move for Overtime Elite, affording us the opportunity to reach even more sports fans,” said Overtime co-founder and CEO Dan Porter in a statement. “Prime Video has separated themselves as the premier live-sports streaming service, and we are thrilled to showcase Overtime Elite and our fan-first approach in front of Amazon’s global audience.”
The 20 Ote games will air live on Prime Video Friday and Saturday evenings and will be broadcast from Ote Arena in Atlanta.
- 11/2/2022
- by Scott Mendelson
- The Wrap
Click here to read the full article.
Having secured a piece of the NFL broadcast pie, Amazon is now looking to expand its sports programming with a slate of talk shows.
The 12-hour block of shows, set to launch Nov. 1, will feature hosts including former ESPN anchor Cari Champion, Australian tennis commentator Rennae Stubbs and former Bleacher Report host Master Tesfatsion. Embassy Row, the production company headed by Jeopardy! executive producer (and co-host of the soccer podcast and TV show Men in Blazers) Michael Davies, is producing the lineup.
The goal is to feature up-and-coming talent in front of the camera and a “positive, uplifting take on sports” as opposed to the argument-based format on big players like ESPN and Fox Sports 1, Amazon’s vp global sports video Marie Donoghue told the New York Post, which first reported the news.
It could also serve as a signal to other...
Having secured a piece of the NFL broadcast pie, Amazon is now looking to expand its sports programming with a slate of talk shows.
The 12-hour block of shows, set to launch Nov. 1, will feature hosts including former ESPN anchor Cari Champion, Australian tennis commentator Rennae Stubbs and former Bleacher Report host Master Tesfatsion. Embassy Row, the production company headed by Jeopardy! executive producer (and co-host of the soccer podcast and TV show Men in Blazers) Michael Davies, is producing the lineup.
The goal is to feature up-and-coming talent in front of the camera and a “positive, uplifting take on sports” as opposed to the argument-based format on big players like ESPN and Fox Sports 1, Amazon’s vp global sports video Marie Donoghue told the New York Post, which first reported the news.
It could also serve as a signal to other...
- 10/31/2022
- by Rick Porter
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Prime Video and the NFL have inked a deal to tackle a pro football first: a “Black Friday” game that will air the day after Thanksgiving, in 2023.
This first-ever Black Friday NFL game will be held Nov. 24, 2023, with an expected kick-off time of 3 pm Et. (The participating teams will be announced when next year’s NFL schedule is released.)
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This first-ever Black Friday NFL game will be held Nov. 24, 2023, with an expected kick-off time of 3 pm Et. (The participating teams will be announced when next year’s NFL schedule is released.)
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- 10/18/2022
- by Matt Webb Mitovich
- TVLine.com
After gaining rights to “Thursday Night Football,” Amazon Prime is getting a crack at a game on Friday.
The live-streaming giant will launch a new “Black Friday” broadcast in 2023, broadcasting a new game on the day after Thanksgiving. The move will add more NFL football to a period that opens the nation’s critical holiday shopping season and expand the NFL beyond its usual annual Thanksgiving roosts on NBC, CBS and Fox.
Executives from Amazon and the NFL indicated the new match was baked into the recent 11-year deal the two sides struck that gave the digital titan sole rights to “Thursday Night Football,” starting with the current season. Amazon has moved aggressively to bolster its new property, enlisting top announcers like Al Michaels, and promoting the games widely via its shipping materials and online portal.
While many TV mainstays have faced ratings erosion, “Thursday Night Football” has secured a new foothold among sports fans,...
The live-streaming giant will launch a new “Black Friday” broadcast in 2023, broadcasting a new game on the day after Thanksgiving. The move will add more NFL football to a period that opens the nation’s critical holiday shopping season and expand the NFL beyond its usual annual Thanksgiving roosts on NBC, CBS and Fox.
Executives from Amazon and the NFL indicated the new match was baked into the recent 11-year deal the two sides struck that gave the digital titan sole rights to “Thursday Night Football,” starting with the current season. Amazon has moved aggressively to bolster its new property, enlisting top announcers like Al Michaels, and promoting the games widely via its shipping materials and online portal.
While many TV mainstays have faced ratings erosion, “Thursday Night Football” has secured a new foothold among sports fans,...
- 10/18/2022
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
There will be lots of teams worth following this NFL season, be they the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or the returning Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams. Even so, many people in the media business have their eyes on a very distinctive player: Amazon Prime Video.
The streamer, which once shared “Thursday Night Football” games with Fox, now has exclusive rights to that action and must convince some pigskin Luddites to plug into broadband. Streaming “Thursday Night Football,” after all, will require a different kind of remote — and familiarity with a home screen, not a cable box.
“It is going to be a behavioral shift for people,” acknowledges Jay Marine, VP of Prime Video and its global head of sports. “Our job is to make sure they are able to find ‘Thursday Night Football’ at its new home and make it as easy as possible to get into the Prime Video app and start streaming.
The streamer, which once shared “Thursday Night Football” games with Fox, now has exclusive rights to that action and must convince some pigskin Luddites to plug into broadband. Streaming “Thursday Night Football,” after all, will require a different kind of remote — and familiarity with a home screen, not a cable box.
“It is going to be a behavioral shift for people,” acknowledges Jay Marine, VP of Prime Video and its global head of sports. “Our job is to make sure they are able to find ‘Thursday Night Football’ at its new home and make it as easy as possible to get into the Prime Video app and start streaming.
- 9/15/2022
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
On Thursday, the home page of Amazon.com and is mobile apps transformed into a full-bleed video ad promoting Thursday Night Football, reminding the company’s millions of customers that the NFL is entering a new era, and that Amazon is at the center of it.
The tech giant will debut its first regular season Thursday Night Football game tonight, with high expectations and significant ramifications.
As the NFL’s first exclusive national streaming rights deal, Tnf could pave the way for other deals in the future, and with the company leaning into the internet’s ability to remix and personalize content, the viewership experience could be very different than other NFL coverage … if viewers want it.
“NFL fans have a very definitive expectation when they turn on the television,” says Tnf executive producer Fred Gaudelli, speaking to reporters at a recent press conference.
On Thursday, the home page of Amazon.com and is mobile apps transformed into a full-bleed video ad promoting Thursday Night Football, reminding the company’s millions of customers that the NFL is entering a new era, and that Amazon is at the center of it.
The tech giant will debut its first regular season Thursday Night Football game tonight, with high expectations and significant ramifications.
As the NFL’s first exclusive national streaming rights deal, Tnf could pave the way for other deals in the future, and with the company leaning into the internet’s ability to remix and personalize content, the viewership experience could be very different than other NFL coverage … if viewers want it.
“NFL fans have a very definitive expectation when they turn on the television,” says Tnf executive producer Fred Gaudelli, speaking to reporters at a recent press conference.
- 9/15/2022
- by Alex Weprin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A new 30-minute NFL comedy show will air every Wednesday on Prime Video, with actor, comedian, writer, and Saturday Night Live alum Taran Killam hosting.
The NFL Pile On Presented by Carnival Cruise Line debuts Wednesday, Sept. 14 at 7 Pm Et, the day before Prime Video’s season-opener Thursday Night Football game, when the Los Angeles Chargers visit the Kansas City Chiefs.
Each week, The NFL Pile On will showcase funny and unexpected moments from across the league, from mic’d up players during pregame warmups to postgame press conference one-liners—everything from studio shows, social media, and fashion faux pas. With full access to the NFL Films library of content, The NFL Pile On will ensure that no epic fumble or comedic moment throughout the season-long NFL campaign goes unnoticed.
“The NFL Pile On will give viewers an entertaining, fresh take on all the week’s NFL action,” said Marie Donoghue,...
The NFL Pile On Presented by Carnival Cruise Line debuts Wednesday, Sept. 14 at 7 Pm Et, the day before Prime Video’s season-opener Thursday Night Football game, when the Los Angeles Chargers visit the Kansas City Chiefs.
Each week, The NFL Pile On will showcase funny and unexpected moments from across the league, from mic’d up players during pregame warmups to postgame press conference one-liners—everything from studio shows, social media, and fashion faux pas. With full access to the NFL Films library of content, The NFL Pile On will ensure that no epic fumble or comedic moment throughout the season-long NFL campaign goes unnoticed.
“The NFL Pile On will give viewers an entertaining, fresh take on all the week’s NFL action,” said Marie Donoghue,...
- 9/9/2022
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Amazon will bow a new laugh lead-in for its exclusive “Thursday Night Football” NFL games package, enlisting “Saturday Night Live” alum Taran Killam as the host of “The NFL Pile On” — the league’s first official comedy show.
“The NFL Pile On” will premiere Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. Et on Prime Video, airing each Wednesday throughout the NFL season one day before Amazon’s “Thursday Night Football” coverage. In the half-hour show, Killam will riff on “funny and unexpected moments” from the across the NFL the week prior, from mic’d up players during pregame warmups to postgame press conference zingers, and from epic fumbles to off-the-field blunders — according to Amazon, “everything from studio shows, social media and fashion faux pas will be fair game.”
“I am so excited and grateful to help launch a show about two things I love: football and comedy,” Killam said. “The fact that we...
“The NFL Pile On” will premiere Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. Et on Prime Video, airing each Wednesday throughout the NFL season one day before Amazon’s “Thursday Night Football” coverage. In the half-hour show, Killam will riff on “funny and unexpected moments” from the across the NFL the week prior, from mic’d up players during pregame warmups to postgame press conference zingers, and from epic fumbles to off-the-field blunders — according to Amazon, “everything from studio shows, social media and fashion faux pas will be fair game.”
“I am so excited and grateful to help launch a show about two things I love: football and comedy,” Killam said. “The fact that we...
- 9/8/2022
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: A documentary series about the rivalry between the Mexican and American national men’s soccer/football teams is kicking off at Amazon.
The company will launch Good Neighbors, a three-part series on its Prime Video service around the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which begins in November.
The series will look at the political, social, and sporting layers of the rivalry; Mexico has beaten the U.S. 36 times since 1934, when the first game was played, but the U.S. has the edge since 2000 with 17 wins and nine losses.
It will feature interviews with the likes of U.S. star Landon Donovan and Mexico’s Rafa Márquez, who became symbols of their country’s cultures during their respective careers. It will also examine the passionate, international battle for on-field talent and fan support that has made the U.S.-Mexico border one of the most fascinating soccer frontiers in the world, with...
The company will launch Good Neighbors, a three-part series on its Prime Video service around the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which begins in November.
The series will look at the political, social, and sporting layers of the rivalry; Mexico has beaten the U.S. 36 times since 1934, when the first game was played, but the U.S. has the edge since 2000 with 17 wins and nine losses.
It will feature interviews with the likes of U.S. star Landon Donovan and Mexico’s Rafa Márquez, who became symbols of their country’s cultures during their respective careers. It will also examine the passionate, international battle for on-field talent and fan support that has made the U.S.-Mexico border one of the most fascinating soccer frontiers in the world, with...
- 8/11/2022
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Taylor Rooks is getting ready to open another field of study.
The Bleacher Report standout and up-and coming Turner Sports broadcaster has signed a new multi-year deal to broadcast across both the digital-sports outlet and TV programs produced by the Warner Bros. Discovery sports division, even as she has secured a role as a features reporter for the new “Thursday Night Football” streamcast being handled by Amazon’s Prime Video.
Rooks has been known for her coverage of the NBA. She intends for that to continue. But she also wants to make a splash with her time reporting on the NFL.
“I don’t want to be someone who can only do one thing, or be put in this box,” she tells Variety. “In this business, it’s really easy to throw people into something that’s confined. I view myself as an incredibly versatile broadcaster and I want to...
The Bleacher Report standout and up-and coming Turner Sports broadcaster has signed a new multi-year deal to broadcast across both the digital-sports outlet and TV programs produced by the Warner Bros. Discovery sports division, even as she has secured a role as a features reporter for the new “Thursday Night Football” streamcast being handled by Amazon’s Prime Video.
Rooks has been known for her coverage of the NBA. She intends for that to continue. But she also wants to make a splash with her time reporting on the NFL.
“I don’t want to be someone who can only do one thing, or be put in this box,” she tells Variety. “In this business, it’s really easy to throw people into something that’s confined. I view myself as an incredibly versatile broadcaster and I want to...
- 8/4/2022
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
Prime Video‘s exclusive hosting of Thursday Night Football will kick off (that’s a football term) Sept. 15 with Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers visiting their AFC West rivals, Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Sources tell me that the last meeting between the Chiefs and Chargers in 2021 was an “overtime thriller” in L.A., with Travis Kelce catching a 34-yard pass from Mahomes on his way to scoring the game-winning Td.
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Sources tell me that the last meeting between the Chiefs and Chargers in 2021 was an “overtime thriller” in L.A., with Travis Kelce catching a 34-yard pass from Mahomes on his way to scoring the game-winning Td.
More from TVLineOuter Range Recap: Royal's Rivalry With Autumn Intensifies, as [Spoiler] Makes a Life-Changing ConfessionJ.K. Simmons and Sissy Spacek's Out-of-This-World Secret Is at...
- 4/29/2022
- by Matt Webb Mitovich
- TVLine.com
Al Michaels, considered the dean of NFL announcers, will helm Prime Video’s exclusive Thursday Night Football livestreams this fall, alongside ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit.
Amazon made the news official today, though it has been in the wind (at least the Michaels part) for months. The tech giant will kick off its 11-year rights deal on September 15, the first time a streaming platform will have a weekly NFL exclusive. While the company has not confirmed the price it paid for rights, numerous reports have pegged it at $1 billion a year. The weekly showcase of 15 regular-season games will add some potent fuel to Amazon’s burgeoning efforts to scale its video advertising business, across Prime Video, IMDb TV and Twitch.
Michaels, 77, had a 15-year run on NBC’s Sunday Night Football and before that became a national figure during his tenure at ABC, which encompassed Monday Night Football as well as baseball and other sports.
Amazon made the news official today, though it has been in the wind (at least the Michaels part) for months. The tech giant will kick off its 11-year rights deal on September 15, the first time a streaming platform will have a weekly NFL exclusive. While the company has not confirmed the price it paid for rights, numerous reports have pegged it at $1 billion a year. The weekly showcase of 15 regular-season games will add some potent fuel to Amazon’s burgeoning efforts to scale its video advertising business, across Prime Video, IMDb TV and Twitch.
Michaels, 77, had a 15-year run on NBC’s Sunday Night Football and before that became a national figure during his tenure at ABC, which encompassed Monday Night Football as well as baseball and other sports.
- 3/23/2022
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Fans of “Thursday Night Football” will next season hear one of TV sports’ most recognizable voices calling the games for a rather sizable upstart hoping to gain new yards off his play.
Michaels, who has offered play-by-play patter for “Monday Night Football” and “Sunday Night Football” since 1986, will lead a new effort by Amazon’s Prime Video, which has gained sole rights to telecast the NFL’s “Thursday Night Football” in the fall. Starting Thursday, September 15, Michaels will team up with analyst Kirk Herbstreit, known for his college football prowess at ESPN, to lead coverage of the games as Amazon becomes a bigger player in TV sports rights — which have largely been the domain of traditional broadcasters. They will be part of a team that also includes Fred Gaudelli, the veteran “Sunday Night Football” producer who will remain part of the NBC Sports executive team. NBC is collaborating with Amazon in its production.
Michaels, who has offered play-by-play patter for “Monday Night Football” and “Sunday Night Football” since 1986, will lead a new effort by Amazon’s Prime Video, which has gained sole rights to telecast the NFL’s “Thursday Night Football” in the fall. Starting Thursday, September 15, Michaels will team up with analyst Kirk Herbstreit, known for his college football prowess at ESPN, to lead coverage of the games as Amazon becomes a bigger player in TV sports rights — which have largely been the domain of traditional broadcasters. They will be part of a team that also includes Fred Gaudelli, the veteran “Sunday Night Football” producer who will remain part of the NBC Sports executive team. NBC is collaborating with Amazon in its production.
- 3/23/2022
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
Amazon and MGM said Thursday that their $8.5-billion deal has closed. The storied, nearly century-old studio — with more than 4,000 film titles, 17,000 TV episodes, 180 Academy Awards and 100 Emmy Awards — is now part of Amazon “and will complement Prime Video and Amazon Studios’ work in delivering a diverse offering of entertainment choices to customers,” Amazon said in its announcement.
Amazon Studios and streaming service Prime Video are led by Amazon’s Mike Hopkins. No news on management structure in terms of how the two studios will fit together; an Amazon spokesperson said the digital giant is planning to make offers and welcome all of MGM’s current employees.
It’s early days yet with the deal just closed this morning, but here’s what else could be gleaned about the new entity:
In terms of production, Amazon is excited by MGM’s slate and doesn’t anticipate changes in release dates or...
Amazon Studios and streaming service Prime Video are led by Amazon’s Mike Hopkins. No news on management structure in terms of how the two studios will fit together; an Amazon spokesperson said the digital giant is planning to make offers and welcome all of MGM’s current employees.
It’s early days yet with the deal just closed this morning, but here’s what else could be gleaned about the new entity:
In terms of production, Amazon is excited by MGM’s slate and doesn’t anticipate changes in release dates or...
- 3/17/2022
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Amazon Studios is making some changes to its film team by naming Julie Rapaport its sole Head of Movies, while current co-head Matt Newman is transitioning into a new role in Amazon Prime Video’s global sports group.
The news was announced Tuesday in an internal note by Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke, who explained that with Newman’s move, the film group will be “applying a single threaded leadership approach to movies.”
“With Julie’s top-notch leadership skills and her ability to nurture a diverse range of filmmakers – from up-and-comers to the well-established – this move will help us continue to build on our great momentum,” Salke wrote in part. “I’m grateful for Julie’s vision and continued contributions to the Studio.”
Rapaport was named a co-head of movies at Amazon Studios along with Newman back in 2018. Rapaport will continue to report to Salke.
As for Newman, he’ll...
The news was announced Tuesday in an internal note by Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke, who explained that with Newman’s move, the film group will be “applying a single threaded leadership approach to movies.”
“With Julie’s top-notch leadership skills and her ability to nurture a diverse range of filmmakers – from up-and-comers to the well-established – this move will help us continue to build on our great momentum,” Salke wrote in part. “I’m grateful for Julie’s vision and continued contributions to the Studio.”
Rapaport was named a co-head of movies at Amazon Studios along with Newman back in 2018. Rapaport will continue to report to Salke.
As for Newman, he’ll...
- 3/15/2022
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
A slight executive shift here at Amazon Studios as Movies Co-Head Matt Newman goes to Prime Video’s global Sports group to develop sports docuseries, movies and scripted fare. Julie Rapaport will remain Amazon’s Head of Movies.
Both sectors remain vibrant areas for Amazon; the former seeing the launch of Thursday Night Football in the autumn. Rapaport will continue to report into Amazon Studios’ Head Jen Salke, while Newman will now report to Marie Donoghue, VP of Global Sports Video.
Newman and Rapaport remained the co-Heads of Movies at the studio following Ted Hope’s departure in May 2020, he also being a Co-head. This new executive assignment now puts the movie division under Rapaport after several years of a co-Heads structure.
During Newman and Rapaport’s oversee of the feature division they saw a number of feature acquisitions from rival studios during the pandemic which turned into huge events for Prime Video,...
Both sectors remain vibrant areas for Amazon; the former seeing the launch of Thursday Night Football in the autumn. Rapaport will continue to report into Amazon Studios’ Head Jen Salke, while Newman will now report to Marie Donoghue, VP of Global Sports Video.
Newman and Rapaport remained the co-Heads of Movies at the studio following Ted Hope’s departure in May 2020, he also being a Co-head. This new executive assignment now puts the movie division under Rapaport after several years of a co-Heads structure.
During Newman and Rapaport’s oversee of the feature division they saw a number of feature acquisitions from rival studios during the pandemic which turned into huge events for Prime Video,...
- 3/15/2022
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Amazon is making some changes atop its movies team.
Julie Rapaport, who previously served as co-head of movies, will become the sole chief of the division. Matt Newman, Rapaport’s fellow co-head, will transition to a new role at Prime Video’s global sports group, where he is being tasked with developing original sports docuseries, films and scripted projects. He will report to Marie Donoghue, vice president of global sports video at Amazon. Rapaport will continue to report to Amazon Studios chief Jennifer Salke.
Under Rapaport and Newman, Amazon has enacted a major pivot in its strategy. It has moved from producing arthouse films designed to have robust theatrical launches to becoming a more streaming-focused service. Their main push has been to field more populist films. With the pandemic upending traditional studios’ businesses, Amazon moved aggressively to buy movies like “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” “Coming 2 America” and “Hotel Transylvania: Transformania,...
Julie Rapaport, who previously served as co-head of movies, will become the sole chief of the division. Matt Newman, Rapaport’s fellow co-head, will transition to a new role at Prime Video’s global sports group, where he is being tasked with developing original sports docuseries, films and scripted projects. He will report to Marie Donoghue, vice president of global sports video at Amazon. Rapaport will continue to report to Amazon Studios chief Jennifer Salke.
Under Rapaport and Newman, Amazon has enacted a major pivot in its strategy. It has moved from producing arthouse films designed to have robust theatrical launches to becoming a more streaming-focused service. Their main push has been to field more populist films. With the pandemic upending traditional studios’ businesses, Amazon moved aggressively to buy movies like “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” “Coming 2 America” and “Hotel Transylvania: Transformania,...
- 3/15/2022
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Switch announced on Tuesday by Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke.
Julie Rapaport has become sole head of movies at Amazon Studios as former movies co-head Matt Newman moves to head original content, sports, at Prime Video’s global sports group.
The switch was announced internally on Tuesday (15) by Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke, to whom Rapaport will continue to report. Alongside Newman the movies division has released recent tentpoles on Prime Video such as Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, Coming 2 America, Cinderella, and Hotel Transylvania: Transformania.
Being The Ricardos starring Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem is in contention for best actress,...
Julie Rapaport has become sole head of movies at Amazon Studios as former movies co-head Matt Newman moves to head original content, sports, at Prime Video’s global sports group.
The switch was announced internally on Tuesday (15) by Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke, to whom Rapaport will continue to report. Alongside Newman the movies division has released recent tentpoles on Prime Video such as Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, Coming 2 America, Cinderella, and Hotel Transylvania: Transformania.
Being The Ricardos starring Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem is in contention for best actress,...
- 3/15/2022
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Mike Muriano, a 20-year veteran of the NFL Network, has joined Amazon as Executive Producer, Live Sports at Prime Video as the streaming powerhouse continues to ramp up its sports efforts.
About a year from now, Amazon will begin a significant new chapter, taking over exclusive rights to the NFL’s Thursday Night Football in a precedent-setting digital deal. For the first time since Fox wrested NFL rights away from CBS in the 1990s, a new broadcaster will be ramping up an operation to beam games into homes. In recent years, Amazon has streamed Thursday NFL games, but as simulcasts produced by network partners. Now, it will handle the nuts and bolts of engineering and also hire new on-air personalities as it embarks on the 11-year deal.
Muriano will build and manage the U.S.-based sports content team handling NFL programming, Amazon said. The team will develop the on-air look,...
About a year from now, Amazon will begin a significant new chapter, taking over exclusive rights to the NFL’s Thursday Night Football in a precedent-setting digital deal. For the first time since Fox wrested NFL rights away from CBS in the 1990s, a new broadcaster will be ramping up an operation to beam games into homes. In recent years, Amazon has streamed Thursday NFL games, but as simulcasts produced by network partners. Now, it will handle the nuts and bolts of engineering and also hire new on-air personalities as it embarks on the 11-year deal.
Muriano will build and manage the U.S.-based sports content team handling NFL programming, Amazon said. The team will develop the on-air look,...
- 8/17/2021
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Amazon has hired a veteran of NFL Network to lead its live sports production, most notably Thursday Night Football.
Mike Muriano joined the tech giant Tuesday as executive producer of live sports for Prime Video. He will report to Jared Stacy, director of live production for Prime Video, and “will also be responsible for building a diverse and dynamic roster of talent both on-air and behind the camera,” the company says.
In a memo to staff, Amazon vp of global sports video Marie Donoghue wrote that Muriano’s hire was “a game changer for us as a service,” continuing that “Mike brings ...
Mike Muriano joined the tech giant Tuesday as executive producer of live sports for Prime Video. He will report to Jared Stacy, director of live production for Prime Video, and “will also be responsible for building a diverse and dynamic roster of talent both on-air and behind the camera,” the company says.
In a memo to staff, Amazon vp of global sports video Marie Donoghue wrote that Muriano’s hire was “a game changer for us as a service,” continuing that “Mike brings ...
- 8/17/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Amazon has hired a veteran of NFL Network to lead its live sports production, most notably Thursday Night Football.
Mike Muriano joined the tech giant Tuesday as executive producer of live sports for Prime Video. He will report to Jared Stacy, director of live production for Prime Video, and “will also be responsible for building a diverse and dynamic roster of talent both on-air and behind the camera,” the company says.
In a memo to staff, Amazon vp of global sports video Marie Donoghue wrote that Muriano’s hire was “a game changer for us as a service,” continuing that “Mike brings ...
Mike Muriano joined the tech giant Tuesday as executive producer of live sports for Prime Video. He will report to Jared Stacy, director of live production for Prime Video, and “will also be responsible for building a diverse and dynamic roster of talent both on-air and behind the camera,” the company says.
In a memo to staff, Amazon vp of global sports video Marie Donoghue wrote that Muriano’s hire was “a game changer for us as a service,” continuing that “Mike brings ...
- 8/17/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Amazon and the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) announced a multi-year agreement giving Prime Video exclusive global streaming rights to 16 WNBA games per season, as well as the Commissioner’s Cup Game on Sunday, August 12.
Prime Video’s WNBA coverage starts Saturday, May 29 in New York with Atlanta Dream vs New York Liberty. The deal, featuring a WNBA game each week during the regular season, marks the first time Prime Video has exclusive global streaming rights to a women’s professional sports league. The matchup Saturday is also the service’s first for exclusive international streaming rights to any professional basketball game.
Unlike Amazon’s NFL exclusive, this is a partial-season deal, as per its Yankee broadcasts, but a sign that it’s continuing to push into live sports streaming. The pact gives the WNBA a reliable source of cash.
“The WNBA is one of the premier professional sports...
Prime Video’s WNBA coverage starts Saturday, May 29 in New York with Atlanta Dream vs New York Liberty. The deal, featuring a WNBA game each week during the regular season, marks the first time Prime Video has exclusive global streaming rights to a women’s professional sports league. The matchup Saturday is also the service’s first for exclusive international streaming rights to any professional basketball game.
Unlike Amazon’s NFL exclusive, this is a partial-season deal, as per its Yankee broadcasts, but a sign that it’s continuing to push into live sports streaming. The pact gives the WNBA a reliable source of cash.
“The WNBA is one of the premier professional sports...
- 5/12/2021
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Amazon Prime Video is running a hurry-up offense on its NFL push. The streaming giant said it will begin exclusive carriage of Thursday Night Football in 2022, a year ahead of schedule.
The streaming giant paid $1 billion a year to lock up rights in a set of long-term media packages exceeding $100 billion. The league and its partners unveiled the media plans in March. Amazon will have one pre-season game and 15 regular-season games through 2032.
Fox has been leading a three-way simulcast of Thursday night games. Amazon has streamed the games, which have also aired on the NFL Network. The tri-cast will expire after this coming fall season. No details were divulged about how Fox will be compensated under the new agreement.
Amazon said it would soon reveal more details about production, one of the biggest wrinkles as a streaming service breaks ground in handling the daunting task of delivering games.
“We look...
The streaming giant paid $1 billion a year to lock up rights in a set of long-term media packages exceeding $100 billion. The league and its partners unveiled the media plans in March. Amazon will have one pre-season game and 15 regular-season games through 2032.
Fox has been leading a three-way simulcast of Thursday night games. Amazon has streamed the games, which have also aired on the NFL Network. The tri-cast will expire after this coming fall season. No details were divulged about how Fox will be compensated under the new agreement.
Amazon said it would soon reveal more details about production, one of the biggest wrinkles as a streaming service breaks ground in handling the daunting task of delivering games.
“We look...
- 5/3/2021
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Retail giant will become sole home of “Tnf” in 2022
“Thursday Night Football” is coming to Amazon Prime exclusively a year earlier than planned. This coming season will be the last under the league’s “tri-cast” model, which saw games carried across Fox, NFL Network and Amazon.
Starting with the 2022 season, “Tnf” will be exclusive to Amazon (with broadcast TV stations in the participating teams’ home markets airing those games as well). Amazon is paying more than $1 billion for the rights.
The now 11-year deal will still run through the 2032 season. The terms of the exclusive agreement announced last month remain the same, with Prime Video set to carry 15 “Thursday Night Football” games per year and one pre-season game per year through the 2032 season.
“We look forward to bringing ‘Thursday Night Football’ exclusively to Prime members in 2022, a year earlier than previously announced,” said Marie Donoghue, vice president of Global Sports Video at Amazon.
“Thursday Night Football” is coming to Amazon Prime exclusively a year earlier than planned. This coming season will be the last under the league’s “tri-cast” model, which saw games carried across Fox, NFL Network and Amazon.
Starting with the 2022 season, “Tnf” will be exclusive to Amazon (with broadcast TV stations in the participating teams’ home markets airing those games as well). Amazon is paying more than $1 billion for the rights.
The now 11-year deal will still run through the 2032 season. The terms of the exclusive agreement announced last month remain the same, with Prime Video set to carry 15 “Thursday Night Football” games per year and one pre-season game per year through the 2032 season.
“We look forward to bringing ‘Thursday Night Football’ exclusively to Prime members in 2022, a year earlier than previously announced,” said Marie Donoghue, vice president of Global Sports Video at Amazon.
- 5/3/2021
- by Tim Baysinger
- The Wrap
Amazon will gain new rights to “Thursday Night Football” one year earlier than expected, giving the digital giant exclusive access to the NFL property in 2022, instead of in 2023.
“This expedited deal is an immediate differentiator for us as a service, as it gives Prime members exclusive access to the most popular sport in the United States.” said Marie Donoghue, vice president of Global Sports Video at Amazon, in a statement. The NFL’s pact with Amazon marks the first time the league has awarded exclusive game rights to a streaming outlet.
The new terms mean Fox will drop its rights to show the Thursday games after one more season. “Thursday Night Football” has aired on Fox, the NFL Network and on Amazon for the past several years. Amazon’s Prime Video will carry 15 Thursday-night games and one pre-season game per year through the 2032 season. Each game will also be televised...
“This expedited deal is an immediate differentiator for us as a service, as it gives Prime members exclusive access to the most popular sport in the United States.” said Marie Donoghue, vice president of Global Sports Video at Amazon, in a statement. The NFL’s pact with Amazon marks the first time the league has awarded exclusive game rights to a streaming outlet.
The new terms mean Fox will drop its rights to show the Thursday games after one more season. “Thursday Night Football” has aired on Fox, the NFL Network and on Amazon for the past several years. Amazon’s Prime Video will carry 15 Thursday-night games and one pre-season game per year through the 2032 season. Each game will also be televised...
- 5/3/2021
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
As Amazon continues its sports push, Nike vet Marc Patrick is joining the tech power to lead live sports marketing.
In a package of major rights deals announced last month, Amazon grabbed an exclusive for NFL Thursday Night Football starting in 2023. Fox has broadcast the games over the past three seasons.
Ukonwa Ojo, chief marketing officer of Amazon Studios and Amazon Prime Video, informed staffers today about the hire in a memo. (Read it in full below.)
Patrick, a 20 year Nike veteran who had most recently been an SVP at Beyond Meat, will report to Ujo and oversee marketing of all live sports, including the NFL. The company also just began streaming select New York Yankees games in the New York area via a stake in the Yankee-controlled Yes Network. Amazon has been simulcasting live games for years as linear networks take the lead, but it is stepping up its commitment,...
In a package of major rights deals announced last month, Amazon grabbed an exclusive for NFL Thursday Night Football starting in 2023. Fox has broadcast the games over the past three seasons.
Ukonwa Ojo, chief marketing officer of Amazon Studios and Amazon Prime Video, informed staffers today about the hire in a memo. (Read it in full below.)
Patrick, a 20 year Nike veteran who had most recently been an SVP at Beyond Meat, will report to Ujo and oversee marketing of all live sports, including the NFL. The company also just began streaming select New York Yankees games in the New York area via a stake in the Yankee-controlled Yes Network. Amazon has been simulcasting live games for years as linear networks take the lead, but it is stepping up its commitment,...
- 4/29/2021
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Amazon recently won the rights to show the NFL’s “Thursday Night Football.” Now all it has to do is get more people used to the fact that the games will stream exclusively on the company’s Prime Video starting in 2023, rather than airing on Fox, NBC or CBS.
That’s where Marc Patrick comes in.
Patrick, most recently senior vice president of marketing at Beyond Meat, was named global head of sports marketing for Amazon Prime Video, where he will report to Ukonwa Ojo, chief marketing officer for Amazon Studios and Amazon Prime Video. Patrick will also work with Marie Donoghue, the company’s vice president of global sports video.
Patrick “will be responsible for developing breakthrough multi-media entertainment campaigns for our live sports offerings and will work closely with the NFL as the marketing lead for ‘Thursday Night Football’ on Prime Video,” said Ojo, in a memo to staffers Thursday.
That’s where Marc Patrick comes in.
Patrick, most recently senior vice president of marketing at Beyond Meat, was named global head of sports marketing for Amazon Prime Video, where he will report to Ukonwa Ojo, chief marketing officer for Amazon Studios and Amazon Prime Video. Patrick will also work with Marie Donoghue, the company’s vice president of global sports video.
Patrick “will be responsible for developing breakthrough multi-media entertainment campaigns for our live sports offerings and will work closely with the NFL as the marketing lead for ‘Thursday Night Football’ on Prime Video,” said Ojo, in a memo to staffers Thursday.
- 4/29/2021
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
CBS, NBC and Fox have all had issues with “Thursday Night Football.” Amazon sees possibilities.
The e-commerce and streaming giant believes a new deal with the NFL that gives it sole control over the league’s Thursday-night franchise lends it an opportunity to create new viewing experiences for streamers and chances to work more expansively with advertisers. In the past, Amazon has streamed Thursday games using the feed of the broadcast network producing the telecast, and has only been able to offer a limited amount of commercial inventory around each event.
“We have already devoted a lot of time to thinking about how to use new technologies to drive viewing experiences,” says Marie Donoghue, Amazon’s vice president of global sports video, in an interview. “We think this will be a great opportunity to continue to do that. The opportunities are endless with this relationship.”
Under terms of the pact,...
The e-commerce and streaming giant believes a new deal with the NFL that gives it sole control over the league’s Thursday-night franchise lends it an opportunity to create new viewing experiences for streamers and chances to work more expansively with advertisers. In the past, Amazon has streamed Thursday games using the feed of the broadcast network producing the telecast, and has only been able to offer a limited amount of commercial inventory around each event.
“We have already devoted a lot of time to thinking about how to use new technologies to drive viewing experiences,” says Marie Donoghue, Amazon’s vice president of global sports video, in an interview. “We think this will be a great opportunity to continue to do that. The opportunities are endless with this relationship.”
Under terms of the pact,...
- 3/18/2021
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
Amazon has set broadcast crews and other programming on Prime Video and Twitch for what it is billing as a week-long “NFL Holiday Blitz.”
The spree of football starts today and runs through Saturday’s exclusive stream of the San Francisco 49ers-Arizona Cardinals game, which will mark a milestone for Amazon. The company has steadily ramped up its sports offerings in recent years, part of an effort by several major tech firms to leverage the tune-in potency of live game coverage.
On Christmas Day, Prime Video and Twitch (the gaming-centric streaming platform Amazon acquired in 2014) will offer streams of the Minnesota Vikings-New Orleans Saints game. That complementary stream will follow the season’s Thursday night pattern, with Fox and the NFL Network airing the game on linear TV.
Hannah Storm, Andrea Kremer, Bucky Brooks, Daniel Jeremiah, and Joy Taylor will call both matchups on Prime Video. Andrew Hawkins,...
The spree of football starts today and runs through Saturday’s exclusive stream of the San Francisco 49ers-Arizona Cardinals game, which will mark a milestone for Amazon. The company has steadily ramped up its sports offerings in recent years, part of an effort by several major tech firms to leverage the tune-in potency of live game coverage.
On Christmas Day, Prime Video and Twitch (the gaming-centric streaming platform Amazon acquired in 2014) will offer streams of the Minnesota Vikings-New Orleans Saints game. That complementary stream will follow the season’s Thursday night pattern, with Fox and the NFL Network airing the game on linear TV.
Hannah Storm, Andrea Kremer, Bucky Brooks, Daniel Jeremiah, and Joy Taylor will call both matchups on Prime Video. Andrew Hawkins,...
- 12/21/2020
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
When it comes to major sports rights, streaming is still largely left out of the equation, as legacy media companies horde high-profile events for themselves, in the hope that it will keep customers connected to the cord. But with the pay-tv ecosystem continuing to hemorrhage subscribers at a record clip, Amazon Prime is among the streaming players carving out a nice shelf of sports rights that are exclusively catered to cord-cutters. The tech giant has spent the past few years cutting smaller, regionally-based deals with leagues while they are still locked into long-term TV deals. “We look at the customer in a particular country; we care really about what value we can drive for each customer,” said Marie Donoghue, VP of global sports video at Amazon and a former longtime ESPN executive. “We’re much more a part of a broad and deep entertainment service, so it really lets us...
- 10/8/2020
- by Tim Baysinger
- The Wrap
Amazon has set a more aggressive game plan to drive viewers to “Thursday Night Football” streaming for the 2020 season, adding several new features and “shoulder programming” for the NFL games available on both Prime Video and Twitch.
The ecommerce giant’s global “Tnf” streaming coverage kicks off this week, featuring the Chicago Bears hosting Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday, Oct. 8, at 8:20 p.m. Et (also available on Fox and NFL Network in the U.S.). Amazon again is making “Thursday Night Football” available to stream on Twitch — for free to anyone.
It’s the fourth year that Amazon is live-streaming “Tnf.” Amazon earlier this year clinched a three-year extension on the “Tnf” digital games package (through 2022), scoring an additional single exclusive late-season NFL game for each season.
The Amazon-exclusive NFL game hasn’t been set yet, but it will be in November or December and...
The ecommerce giant’s global “Tnf” streaming coverage kicks off this week, featuring the Chicago Bears hosting Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday, Oct. 8, at 8:20 p.m. Et (also available on Fox and NFL Network in the U.S.). Amazon again is making “Thursday Night Football” available to stream on Twitch — for free to anyone.
It’s the fourth year that Amazon is live-streaming “Tnf.” Amazon earlier this year clinched a three-year extension on the “Tnf” digital games package (through 2022), scoring an additional single exclusive late-season NFL game for each season.
The Amazon-exclusive NFL game hasn’t been set yet, but it will be in November or December and...
- 10/5/2020
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
Amazon Prime Video is ready for some more football — and the NFL, for now, expects to be hitting the field this fall.
Amazon is set to stream a dozen NFL games worldwide for the next three seasons on both Prime and the Twitch live-streaming platform, under a renewal of its pact with the league for rights to “Thursday Night Football” games through 2022.
And Amazon has secured an additional carve-out: Under the new deal with the NFL, it will have exclusive global rights to one late-season game globally on Prime Video and Twitch each of the next three seasons.
Terms of the renewed deal weren’t disclosed. Amazon has held the “Tnf” streaming rights for the past three seasons (starting in 2017) and clearly it has found value through delivering NFL games to its more than 150 million Prime members around the world. Amazon had been paying about $65 million annually for the package...
Amazon is set to stream a dozen NFL games worldwide for the next three seasons on both Prime and the Twitch live-streaming platform, under a renewal of its pact with the league for rights to “Thursday Night Football” games through 2022.
And Amazon has secured an additional carve-out: Under the new deal with the NFL, it will have exclusive global rights to one late-season game globally on Prime Video and Twitch each of the next three seasons.
Terms of the renewed deal weren’t disclosed. Amazon has held the “Tnf” streaming rights for the past three seasons (starting in 2017) and clearly it has found value through delivering NFL games to its more than 150 million Prime members around the world. Amazon had been paying about $65 million annually for the package...
- 4/29/2020
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
The NFL and Amazon have inked a multi-year extension to their Thursday Night Football deal, which sees the digital giant stream 11 fixtures throughout the season, and has added one exclusive game per year.
First signed back in 2017 and extended in 2018, the agreement sees Amazon show the games on digital via Prime Video and Twitch, with Fox retaining broadcast (plus showing in Spanish on Fox Deportes) and NFL Network handling cable.
Amazon will stream the matches in more than 200 countries. Users can choose between the Fox feed or the Fox Deportes Spanish feed, and multiple alternative audio options. Prime has 150 million paid members globally.
Additionally and significantly, the new deal sees the streamer add one exclusive regular season game per season, which for 2020/21 will take place on a Saturday in the second half of the league calendar.
First signed back in 2017 and extended in 2018, the agreement sees Amazon show the games on digital via Prime Video and Twitch, with Fox retaining broadcast (plus showing in Spanish on Fox Deportes) and NFL Network handling cable.
Amazon will stream the matches in more than 200 countries. Users can choose between the Fox feed or the Fox Deportes Spanish feed, and multiple alternative audio options. Prime has 150 million paid members globally.
Additionally and significantly, the new deal sees the streamer add one exclusive regular season game per season, which for 2020/21 will take place on a Saturday in the second half of the league calendar.
- 4/29/2020
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Amazon will stream “Thursday Night Football” for three more seasons and get an additional game all to itself in a new deal with the NFL.
The new agreement covers the 2020, 2021 and 2022 seasons, which links up with the remaining years under Fox’s TV deal for the Thursday night franchise. A new wrinkle is that Amazon and its gaming platform Twitch will get exclusive rights to one late-season Saturday game each season. That game will only be available outside of Amazon in the participating teams’ home markets, where it will air on the respective local TV stations.
“As our relationship has expanded, Amazon has become a trusted and valued partner of the NFL,” said Brian Rolapp, Chief Media and Business Officer for the NFL. “Extending this partnership around Thursday Night Football continues our critical mission of delivering NFL games to as many fans in as many ways as possible both in...
The new agreement covers the 2020, 2021 and 2022 seasons, which links up with the remaining years under Fox’s TV deal for the Thursday night franchise. A new wrinkle is that Amazon and its gaming platform Twitch will get exclusive rights to one late-season Saturday game each season. That game will only be available outside of Amazon in the participating teams’ home markets, where it will air on the respective local TV stations.
“As our relationship has expanded, Amazon has become a trusted and valued partner of the NFL,” said Brian Rolapp, Chief Media and Business Officer for the NFL. “Extending this partnership around Thursday Night Football continues our critical mission of delivering NFL games to as many fans in as many ways as possible both in...
- 4/29/2020
- by Tim Baysinger
- The Wrap
The New York Yankees, Amazon Prime Video, and the Yes Network have struck a deal to live stream 21 New York Yankees games this regular season on Prime Video at no additional cost to Prime members. The first is scheduled for April 17.
Prime members in the Yankees home-team footprint in New York state, Connecticut, northeast Pennsylvania, and north and central New Jersey will have access to the games. They will be simulcasts of games produced by Yes for airing on PIX11 and other over-the-air partners for Yankees telecasts.
The companies said Yankees games on Prime Video will feature Amazon X-Ray technology, which allows fans streaming on Android, iOS mobile, and Fire TV to access live in-game stats, team and player details, and real-time play-by-play information as they watch.
“Fans are consuming content in a variety of different ways, and we believe our unique partnership with Amazon represents an exciting development in the realm of live sports,...
Prime members in the Yankees home-team footprint in New York state, Connecticut, northeast Pennsylvania, and north and central New Jersey will have access to the games. They will be simulcasts of games produced by Yes for airing on PIX11 and other over-the-air partners for Yankees telecasts.
The companies said Yankees games on Prime Video will feature Amazon X-Ray technology, which allows fans streaming on Android, iOS mobile, and Fire TV to access live in-game stats, team and player details, and real-time play-by-play information as they watch.
“Fans are consuming content in a variety of different ways, and we believe our unique partnership with Amazon represents an exciting development in the realm of live sports,...
- 3/3/2020
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Amazon, which owns a piece of Yes Network, is now going to stream a batch of Yankees games on Prime Video.
However, the live streams of 21 New York Yankees games during the Mlb’s 2020 regular season will be available only to Prime Video users in four states that comprise the Bronx Bombers’ home-team footprint: New York, Connecticut, northeast Pennsylvania, and north and central New Jersey.
Amazon Prime Video is getting non-exclusive localized rights to the Yankees matchups through the agreement with Yes Network. The games on Prime Video will be simulcasts of games produced by Yes for airing on CW-affiliated PIX11 and other over-the-air partners for Yankees telecasts.
Yankees games on Prime Video will feature Amazon’s X-Ray technology, which allows fans who are watching on Android, iOS mobile, and Fire TV to access live in-game stats, team and player details, and real-time play-by-play information as they watch.
Amazon picked...
However, the live streams of 21 New York Yankees games during the Mlb’s 2020 regular season will be available only to Prime Video users in four states that comprise the Bronx Bombers’ home-team footprint: New York, Connecticut, northeast Pennsylvania, and north and central New Jersey.
Amazon Prime Video is getting non-exclusive localized rights to the Yankees matchups through the agreement with Yes Network. The games on Prime Video will be simulcasts of games produced by Yes for airing on CW-affiliated PIX11 and other over-the-air partners for Yankees telecasts.
Yankees games on Prime Video will feature Amazon’s X-Ray technology, which allows fans who are watching on Android, iOS mobile, and Fire TV to access live in-game stats, team and player details, and real-time play-by-play information as they watch.
Amazon picked...
- 3/3/2020
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
Andrea Kramer and Hannah Storm will be back to call “Thursday Night Football” games for Amazon Prime next season.
Kremer and Storm will call 11 Thursday night games this season for Amazon. The Kremer-Storm team adds another option for Prime streamers — with the service already offering Fox’s Joe Buck and Troy Aikman broadcast, along with a Spanish-language and an often-candid British broadcast.
“Hannah and Andrea raised the bar last year as they became the first all-woman team to call NFL games,” Marie Donoghue, vice president of global sports video at Amazon, said. “Customer feedback has been great and we could not be more excited for Hannah and Andrea to once again bring their extensive knowledge to ‘Thursday Night Football’ on Prime Video.”
Also Read: 'Thursday Night Football' Sees Small Uptick in Viewers in First Fox Season
Kremer has earned multiple Emmys while covering the NFL for decades. She’s currently...
Kremer and Storm will call 11 Thursday night games this season for Amazon. The Kremer-Storm team adds another option for Prime streamers — with the service already offering Fox’s Joe Buck and Troy Aikman broadcast, along with a Spanish-language and an often-candid British broadcast.
“Hannah and Andrea raised the bar last year as they became the first all-woman team to call NFL games,” Marie Donoghue, vice president of global sports video at Amazon, said. “Customer feedback has been great and we could not be more excited for Hannah and Andrea to once again bring their extensive knowledge to ‘Thursday Night Football’ on Prime Video.”
Also Read: 'Thursday Night Football' Sees Small Uptick in Viewers in First Fox Season
Kremer has earned multiple Emmys while covering the NFL for decades. She’s currently...
- 1/24/2019
- by Tim Baysinger
- The Wrap
Amazon has tapped former top ESPN exec Marie Donoghue to head up all sports programming.
In her new role as VP of sports video, Donoghue will oversee the NFL’s Thursday Night Football games, which stream live on Amazon, as well as the platform’s coverage of other events, including tennis (U.S. Open coverage is available for Prime subscribers in the U.K. and Ireland), and soccer.
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In her new role as VP of sports video, Donoghue will oversee the NFL’s Thursday Night Football games, which stream live on Amazon, as well as the platform’s coverage of other events, including tennis (U.S. Open coverage is available for Prime subscribers in the U.K. and Ireland), and soccer.
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- 8/30/2018
- by Geoff Weiss
- Tubefilter.com
Amazon has hired longtime ex-ESPN executive Marie Donoghue to head sports for Prime Video, an area of mounting importance for Amazon.
Donoghue spent 19 years with ESPN before departing in 2017. She helped develop the “30 for 30” documentary brand and had a credit on the Oscar-winning O.J.: Made in America.
While Amazon execs have been coy about their strategy in sports, they are increasingly looking to advertising as a source of revenue company-wide and are keenly aware of the headwinds faced by traditional TV networks. Sports remains one of the few areas of programming that viewers will watch live and absorb advertising, at least to some extent.
Amazon recently extended its streaming deal for the NFL’s Thursday Night Football and added select Premiere League rights in the UK and other territory deals. Initially, the tech giant established a presence in sports via behind-the-scenes docu-series about high-visibility realms like the NFL and Michigan college football.
Donoghue spent 19 years with ESPN before departing in 2017. She helped develop the “30 for 30” documentary brand and had a credit on the Oscar-winning O.J.: Made in America.
While Amazon execs have been coy about their strategy in sports, they are increasingly looking to advertising as a source of revenue company-wide and are keenly aware of the headwinds faced by traditional TV networks. Sports remains one of the few areas of programming that viewers will watch live and absorb advertising, at least to some extent.
Amazon recently extended its streaming deal for the NFL’s Thursday Night Football and added select Premiere League rights in the UK and other territory deals. Initially, the tech giant established a presence in sports via behind-the-scenes docu-series about high-visibility realms like the NFL and Michigan college football.
- 8/29/2018
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Amazon has hired a veteran ESPN executive in a signal that it is getting more serious about sports programming.
The e-commerce giant has tapped Marie Donoghue as its new vice president overseeing global sports programming.
Donoghue brings nearly two decades of sports broadcast experience to Amazon, having spent 19 years at ESPN before departing in 2017. During her time there, she rose up the ranks, eventually overseeing digital verticals including FiveThirtyEight, Bill Simmons' Grantland and The Undefeated. Donoghue was also in charge of ESPN Films, which included the 30 for 30 franchise. Her departure from ESPN came during a larger ...
The e-commerce giant has tapped Marie Donoghue as its new vice president overseeing global sports programming.
Donoghue brings nearly two decades of sports broadcast experience to Amazon, having spent 19 years at ESPN before departing in 2017. During her time there, she rose up the ranks, eventually overseeing digital verticals including FiveThirtyEight, Bill Simmons' Grantland and The Undefeated. Donoghue was also in charge of ESPN Films, which included the 30 for 30 franchise. Her departure from ESPN came during a larger ...
- 8/29/2018
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Imagine Entertainment’s Brian Grazer, Morgan Spurlock, and comedian/actor Russell Brand are set to appear at next year’s South By Southwest confab, which today announced the first wave of 2015 Convergence speakers. The announcement of over 60 sessions includes panels in the growing SXsports program, TV, and Digital sidebars. The 2015 edition runs from March 13 – 22 in Austin, Texas – scroll down for the rundown:
A Curious Mind: The Inspiration for a Creative Life
Brian Grazer (Imagine Entertainment), Charles Fishman (The Big Thirst)
Russell Brand Interview with Brian Solis
Russell Brand (Comedian), Brian Solis (Altimeter Group)
SXsports
Athletes are Suddenly Funny: The Power of Comedy & Sports
Patrick Starzan (Funny or Die)
Battling Tradition to Re-Invent Youth Sports
Matt Farrell (USA Swimming), Kurt Kamperman (Us Tennis Association), Jeff Price (PGA of America)
Beyond the Bar Graph: Insights Over Info
Christopher Glode (Under Armour), Marybeth Thomson (MyFitnessPal)
The Business of Preparing Potential NFL Draftees
Jason...
A Curious Mind: The Inspiration for a Creative Life
Brian Grazer (Imagine Entertainment), Charles Fishman (The Big Thirst)
Russell Brand Interview with Brian Solis
Russell Brand (Comedian), Brian Solis (Altimeter Group)
SXsports
Athletes are Suddenly Funny: The Power of Comedy & Sports
Patrick Starzan (Funny or Die)
Battling Tradition to Re-Invent Youth Sports
Matt Farrell (USA Swimming), Kurt Kamperman (Us Tennis Association), Jeff Price (PGA of America)
Beyond the Bar Graph: Insights Over Info
Christopher Glode (Under Armour), Marybeth Thomson (MyFitnessPal)
The Business of Preparing Potential NFL Draftees
Jason...
- 10/16/2014
- by Jen Yamato
- Deadline
It has been a week of big announcements for Espn, with the official launch date of Nate Silver's site FiveThirtyEight revealed as March 17 and the news that Marie Donoghue will lead a newly created unit called Exit 31, which The Hollywood Reporter exclusively reported on Monday. All of this is good news for Grantland editor-in-chief Bill Simmons, who sat down with THR at SXSW in Austin, Texas, to reveal his own game plan for the sports and pop culture site that launched in 2011. "This is a big year for us, we will hit our three year anniversary in June and
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- 3/12/2014
- by Debbie Emery
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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