The AFL has reached agreement on a multi-year TV deal
with TNN and ABC/ESPN/ESPN2 starting in the 2000 season.
AFL games will be shown live on the four networks starting
next April, including a Game of the Week during the 14-week
regular season schedule on TNN, playoff games on TNN, ESPN,
ESPN2 and the Arena Bowl on ABC. In total, 25 games will
be shown on national TV, including 11 playoff games. TNN
will be the primary regular season broadcaster of the AFL,
as the network will create original pre-game telecasts and
support via a promotion campaign (AFL). While the AFL's
previous TV arrangements did not include a rights fee, the
new deal will mark the first time that the league has
received money for a national TV deal. USA TODAY's Rudy
Martzke reports that in a "three-year deal involving $20
million in promotions, TNN becomes [the] primary telecaster
of" AFL games next year (USA TODAY, 11/22). BLOOMBERG's
Curtis Eichelberger reports that the AFL "can exercise an
option to extend" ESPN and ESPN2's two-year contract at the
end of 2001, or it can re-open the TV rights negotiations if
demand for the games "has increased" (BLOOMBERG, 11/22).
