SI this morning debuted a new weekly online video program, "Pro Football Now," devoted to analysis of the NFL. The show will be hosted by Maggie Gray, who also leads SI's daily midday video program "SI Now." Former Giants WR Amani Toomer will serve as lead analyst, and the program will be based in Time Inc.'s new video studio in its N.Y. HQs. "Pro Football Now" will continue going forward in its Thursday 10:30am ET time slot. John Hancock has signed on as the presenting sponsor. The debut of the program extends a heightened interest by SI in original video, as also seen with the June debut of "SI Now," live specials devoted to the NCAA men's basketball tournament and NFL Draft, and "SI Swimsuit Live" this past February. "The new Time Inc. video infrastructure with its cutting-edge studios and robust distribution network is an important statement to the advertising community that we are going to be a major player in the video space," said Time Sports Group President Mark Ford.
STATE FARM JOINS MMQB: SI also has signed State Farm as the fourth sponsor of "The MMQB," the NFL-devoted site led by Peter King. State Farm joins existing sponsors Bose, Gillette and Microsoft's Windows 8. State Farm in particular will sponsor King's "Tuesday Morning Mailbag," a new weekly video series titled "On Further Review" that will analyze coaching decisions, and forthcoming midseason reports and playoff previews.
