SPRING FOOTBALL
NFL Network in major broadcasting change with more than 30 games of newly-streamed sport being shown live
The NFL revealed on Thursday they are partnering with another football league
NFL fans can expect to see football games in April, but it will differ from the kind many are accustomed to seeing on the network.
The Arena Football League announced on Thursday that the NFL Network will broadcast "select matchups" throughout the season.
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The deal will see over 30 AFL games broadcast on the NFL-owned cable channel and the NFL's streaming service.
Overtime's football league (OT7) is also a part of the partnership, and their games will be displayed live on the NFL Network this spring.
The Arena Football League is relaunching this year under new ownership, and Troy Vincent, senior NFL executive vice president of football operations, expressed his joy over the deal in the press release.
"The Arena Football League and Overtime's OT7 provide yet another opportunity for coaches, players, and officials to develop their skills and showcase their talent to the growing football fanbase," Vincent said.
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"This expanded coverage further underscores the many avenues available in the sport of football."
Arena football has been around for decades, starting in 1987.
The game is played indoors on a shorter, narrower field, which resembles a similar look to a hockey game with eight players on offense and defense.
However, OT7 is a vastly different game from the NFL and AFL.
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The league will feature some of the nation's top high schoolers playing seven-on-seven touch football.
NFL Network's coverage of OT7 will start on Saturday, April 6, and runs through May 5.
Meanwhile, the arena football broadcasts kick off shortly after the 2024 NFL draft ends.
The first game will be the Orlando Predators vs. the Albany Firebirds on Saturday, April 27, right after the NFL Network concluded its coverage of the draft.
"We are excited to partner with the AFL and OT7 to bring more live football to NFL Network," said David Jurenka, senior VP at NFL Media, in a statement.
"The energy surrounding live football games is unmatched, and we're thrilled to provide our fans such great action from these two leagues throughout the spring."
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