ESPN Radio Inks Out-Of-Market Broadcast Deals With Five NFL Teams

ESPN Radio today formally announced multiyear deals with the NFL Giants, Jets, Patriots, Steelers and Dolphins for out-of-market Sunday afternoon syndication rights starting with the '13 season. These agreements mark the first time ESPN Radio will air NFL games nationally on its over-the-air terrestrial network. The teams will continue to broadcast in their home networks via their official local stations (ESPN Radio).

ESPN will produce "one or two games a week nationally through these deals." It will not run the out-of-market games "alongside in-market games." The move is "significant as it announces the media company’s entrance into the NFL’s radio play-by-play marketplace, and ESPN’s executives say they will be looking to pick up the out-of-market rights for more teams" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 5/27 issue).