Roku has signed an extensive agreement that will bring the syndicated version of NFL Network’s wake-up program “Good Morning Football” to streamers across the nation.
Starting in September, Roku’s free, ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) platform, The Roku Channel, will offer daily episodes of “GMFB: Overtime.” The same program will air on most Fox-owned local TV stations in key markets like New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco and Seattle as well.
“What we’ve been focused on is, in a world where linear television and the media just a lot of places in general are going through a lot of change, how do we make sure that our best franchises continue to grow and develop?” questioned Dvaid Jurenka, the Senior Vice President and General Manager of NFL Media.
Adding the Roku Channel in addition to its distribution agreement with Fox Television Stations, the local broadcast business at Fox Corporation, allows the NFL to reach football fans on traditional and streaming TV, without concern that the two distributors will compete with each other head-to-head.
“Partnering with the NFL is a dream come true. Opportunities like GMFB: Overtime are special and rare, and I’m grateful to the NFL for entrusting us with this jewel,” Flory Bramnick, the Executive Vice President of Distribution for Sony Pictures, which is handling domestic telecast distribution rights of the program. “Roku is the ideal distribution partner for this show because they understand the NFL’s power to drive viewership and to create authentic fan engagement.”
On Roku devices, the program will be highlighted within the “Sports Zone,” a streaming media portal that Roku has been developing with premium sports content and clips over the last few months.
““It is an honor to be the launch partner for GMFB: Overtime, the perfect addition to our Roku Sports offering,” Joe Franzetta, the Head of Sports at Roku, told the Hollywood Repoter in an interview. “This is an exciting milestone in our evolving partnership with the NFL, on the heels of the launch of our NFL Zone this past season and the second iteration of our Roku Original documentary series NFL Draft: The Pick Is In. We look forward to working with both Sony Pictures Television and the NFL to bring millions of fans free access to the latest in the NFL five days a week.”
