CHANNEL 5 made a bold creative decision for their new NFL show – and it has not gone down well.
The broadcaster has secured rights to show the NFL on Sundays in the UK, on top of least season’s Monday night offering.
Channel 5Dermot O’Leary hosted the new game show inspired format for NFL broadcasts[/caption]
Channel 5He even got stuck in himself riding the Bucking Bronco in the studio[/caption]
But rather than feature the typical style of analysis and punditry, they opted for a new game show-esque format, hosted by Dermot O’Leary.
The Channel 5 site describes the show, ‘NFL: Big Game Night’, as a “completely new way to enjoy watching the greatest show on turf.
“Each week,” the brief continues, “Dermot will be joined by Sam [Quek] and Osi [Umenyiora] in a purpose-built studio for an entertainment format that runs alongside the big NFL Game of the Week at 6pm on 5.
“Whenever the NFL game stops in the US, 5 will keep going with the fun and games – in the form of the unique ‘game within a game’.
“Two teams of friends and family in the UK will battle for prizes in a series of games that are fast, furious and fun.”
The show clearly makes a mammoth effort to innovate sports broadcasting, in this case with mechanical bulls and family feud-style game show intervals.
It is safe to say, however, that NFL fans in the UK were not at all pleased by the ridiculous nature of the broadcast when it debuted on Sunday.
One X user responded to a picture of host Dermot riding a bucking bronco.
They said: “So Channel 5 Sport are actually doing this during the game. This is embarrassing and UK NFL fans deserve better than this.
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“Whoever signed off on this format needs to be fired.”
Another user lamented the missed opportunity to grow the audience of the NFL in the UK with insightful coverage.
They said: “Channel 5 had a real chance to help educate people and offer analysis to new NFL fans.
“Instead they are playing games and interviewing Joel Dommett. Disappointing.”
The show is set to be Channel 5’s offering for NFL game nights going forward, meaning it is worth keeping an eye out to see if the broadcaster makes any sweeping changes to the format in response to the backlash.
It is not the only bold new format for NFL coverage this season.
YouTube have also debuted their new ‘Watch with’ broadcasts where fans can watch games along with their favourite content creators on the site.
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