Seen On Screen: CBS Expands NFL Content to All Access; ESPN Affiliates Begin Broadcasting NBA D-League Games

Seen on Screen provides a roundup of recent sports-programming news, including new original programs and scheduled live game coverage. In this week’s edition, CBS reaches a deal with the NFL to include football content on All Access, ESPN affiliates begin coverage of the NBA D-League during the 2016-17 season, ESPN will exclusively broadcast the 82nd Heisman Trophy Presentation, Olympic Channel unveils upcoming series of documentaries, and more.

CBS will extend its All Access platform to NFL content. The deal includes the rights to stream regular-season, preseason, and postseason games. Launched by the network in 2014, the over-the-top platform boasts 1 million subscribers at a rate of $5.99 a month and until now had access to all broadcaster programming except the NFL content. Starting Dec. 4, subscribers have access to all NFL on CBS games, including Thursday Night Football, as well as CBS live pregame and halftime coverage via the app. Subscribers are now able to stream all NFL on CBS games broadcast in their local market. CBS All Access will also allow users to sample content from NFL Game Pass, the NFL’s digital-video subscription service that makes games and other programming available on-demand.

…ESPN affiliates will combine to televise 12 games from the NBA D-League for the 2016-17 season. The coverage began last night with ESPNU’s broadcast of 76ers’ affiliate Delaware 87ers vs. the New York-affiliated Westchester Knicks. Coverage will continue on Jan. 20 with four D-League showdowns, three showcasing the league’s newest additions: Salt Lake City Stars vs. Iowa Energy, Greensboro Swarm vs. Delaware 87ers, and Long Island Nets vs. the Raptors 905. ESPNU will also broadcast the D-League playoffs, including the first round, Conference Finals, and D-League finals. The broadcast schedule will be made available in the coming weeks.

…ESPN will be the exclusive home for coverage of the 82nd Heisman Trophy Presentation on Saturday Dec. 10 at 8 p.m. ET. Hosted by Chris Fowler, the show will feature football commentators Tom Rinaldi, Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit, and Joe Tessitore, the famed “Heismanologist.” The event will feature former winners Desmond Howard, who celebrates the 25th anniversary of his award, and Tim Tebow, the 2007 winner prior to his leading Florida Gators to the National Championship. This year’s candidates include Lamar Jackson (Louisville), Baker Mayfield (Oklahoma), Jabrill Peppers (Michigan), Deshaun Watson (Clemson), and Dede Westbrook (Oklahoma). Immediately following the ceremony, ESPN will air the latest episode in its 30 for 30 series, “Catholics vs. Convicts,” about the 1988 football game between Notre Dame and the University of Miami.

…Olympic Channel has commissioned a five-episode documentary series titled Five Rings Films. Scheduled to be about an hour-long, each episode will showcase the humanity, variety, and achievements of the modern Olympic era. The films will be directed by some of the biggest names in film globally, including Peter Berg of Friday Night Lights and Patriot’s Day, who will direct the first one, focusing on iconic Cuban boxer and three-time Olympic Gold Medalist Teofilo Stevenson and his coach, Alcides Sagarra Caron.