NBC Sports execs "liked what they heard" from U.S. G Tim Howard during his work as an EPL analyst last season, and following his on-field performance in the FIFA World Cup, the network is "keen to have him return" when the season begins in August, according to Richard Deitsch of SI.com. Howard "worked seven games" for NBC Sports Network, a "coup for NBCSN since Howard is also the starting keeper" for EPL club Everton. NBC Sports Soccer Group Coordinating Producer Pierre Moossa said, "When I last spoke to him prior to the World Cup, he seemed very open to working with us during the upcoming season and we will continue to look for various opportunities to include Tim in our broadcasts.” Moossa said that the "goal last year for NBC Sports and Howard was to find broadcast opportunities that did not impact his normal preparation for Everton." Howard commentated on days "only after Everton games, traditionally a day off for players in the league." Moossa: “We would reach out a couple weeks in advance and see if he was available and interested. We never wanted to be a distraction for him." Moossa added, "The evolution of his broadcasting over the course of his first season was stark. He went from a softly spoken, rather shy presence, to a confident and sharp analyst in very little time" (SI.com, 7/7).
OH, CANADA: CBC/Radio-Canada's World Cup app and its French-language counterpart for iOS and Android have been downloaded more than 1 million times combined. Canadian fans during the tournament have spent more than 10 million hours watching CBC/Radio-Canada's video content across all digital platforms (CBC).
