NBC in football deal
Now that NBC is back into broadcasting NFL games, it seems NBC Universal just can't get enough of football. The NBC Television Stations Division will launch "NBC Let It Fly," a national flag football tournament in conjunction with Team Championships International, which arranges participatory sports tours. For the first time ever, the NBC stations will host flag football games in their O&O markets running from now to January 2007. The games will incorporate online, on-air and on-site components to connect with the local community and also allow advertisers to market themselves to a unique audience across multiple platforms. "With the NFL returning to NBC on Sundays this Fall, 'Let It Fly' is a perfect opportunity to connect with our local audience in a new and exciting community environment," said Mark French, Senior Director Strategic Partnerships, NBC Universal Television Stations.
Players can visit their local NBC station web site within the next two weeks to register a flag football team, obtain the schedule of events and access an extensive amount of video from the regional games that have been played. Leading up to the National Championship, which takes place in Orlando, Florida from May 26 - 27, 2007, the websites will offer highlights, team standings and results from past games and combine competitions, allowing teams to review their performance on the field and scout their competition. Several NBC stations will also offer on-air highlights of the games as they take place throughout the season. In addition, viewers will see NBC's "Football Night in America" analyst and "Let It Fly" spokesperson Jerome Bettis promoting the tournament on-air, encouraging viewers to sign up and play. This year, a portion of all registration fees will go towards Bettis' The Bus Stops Here Foundation, benefiting disadvantaged children in America's inner cities. Here's the market-by-market schedule for "Let It Fly."
2006/2007 "NBC Let It Fly" Schedule
San Francisco, CA - August 26-27, 2006
Los Angeles, CA - September 9-10, 2006
New York, NY - September 16-17, 2006
Hartford, CT - September 23-24, 2006
Philadelphia, PA - September 30/October 1, 2006
Washington, D.C. - October 7-8, 2006
Chicago, IL - October 14-15, 2006
Dallas, TX - November 11-12 and November 18-19, 2006
Miami, FL - December 2-3 and December 9-10, 2006
San Diego, CA - January 7-8, 2007
National Finals, Orlando, FL - May 26-27, 2007
