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The National Lacrosse League (NLL) is a men's professional box lacrosse league with teams in the United States and Canada. Games have been broadcast on television in some capacity since the league's first season in 1987.

Early years on regional sports networks (1987–1990)

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In Philadelphia, Eagle Pro Box Lacrosse League games were televised by PRISM.[1] Larry Rosen,[2] Tony Seaman, and Mark Zumoff[3] were the commentators for PRISM. Meanwhile in New England, the 1990 Championship Game between the Philadelphia Wings and New England Blazers was broadcast on NESN[4] with Leif Elsmo and Steve Glover on the call.

National coverage

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1990s

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Prime Network (1991–1993)

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From 1991-1993, the Prime Network[5] was the primary national television broadcasters for the Major Indoor Lacrosse League. Commentators that Prime employed included Craig Johnson[6] and Leif Elsmo as well as Bill Beroza, Bruce Todman,[7] and Jon Horton.[8] For the Buffalo market, 1992 Championship Game between the Buffalo Bandits and Philadelphia Wings was broadcast live on Empire Sports Network.

ESPN and ESPN2 (1994–1999)

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On November 30, 1993, ESPN signed a six-year agreement with the National Lacrosse League. This particular package of 12 games would be telecast on ESPN2,[9] on a delayed basis. The first ever Monday night game on ESPN2 featured the Detroit Turbos and the Baltimore Thunder. Playoff broadcasts, meanwhile, would air on both ESPN[10] and ESPN2.

ESPN's broadcast of the 1994 Championship Game[11] between the Philadelphia Wings the Buffalo Bandits, was the first live telecast by ESPN of a National Lacrosse League game. ESPN employed Leif Elsmo,[12] Kristi Lee, and Quint Kessenich[13] as commentators during this period. On December 1, 1995, it was announced that ESPN would broadcast games on Monday nights beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET beginning in the 1996 season.

On January 9, 1998, the NLL announced deals with regional sports networks such as Comcast SportsNet, Buffalo's Empire Sports Network, and Washington, D.C.'s Home Team Sports.

The CTV SportsNet used Joe Bowen,[14] Brian Shanahan, and Suneel Joshi on commentary for their Canadian coverage of the 1999 Championship Game between the Toronto Rock and Rochester Knighthawks.

2000s

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CNN/SI and Rogers SportsNet (2001–2002)

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For the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons, CNN Sports Illustrated[15][16][17][18] broadcast 17 regular season games[19] beginning on November 24, 2001, the All-Star Game,[20] and five playoff games, including the Championship Game. Just like with ESPN's prior coverage, CNN/SI used Leif Elsmo and Quint Kessenich on commentary.

Meanwhile, on September 20, 2001, the NLL announced that Canada's Rogers Sportsnet (formally CTV SportsNet) would broadcast 26 regular season games, the Playoffs, and the Championship Game during the 2001–2002 season.[21]

Fox Sports Net (2004)

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On December 17, 2003, the league announced a new partnership with Fox Sports Net[22] to broadcast nine regular season games NLL games beginning as well as the All-Star Game.[23] Fox Sports Net employed Mitch Hyder, Brian Shanahan, and Bill Hall as commentators.

Five days after the Fox Sports Net deal was announced, the NLL announced an agreement with New York's YES Network to carry eight regular season games in featuring the Buffalo Bandits and the Rochester Knighthawks for the 2004 season.

NBC, ESPN2, and America One Television (2005–2006)

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The NLL had its All-Star Games and Championship games on NBC in 2005[24][25] and ESPN2 in 2006.[26] When NBC aired the NLL, it marked first time that live broadcasts of lacrosse would be nationally aired on American network television. Mike Emrick,[27] Brian Shanahan, and Mark Morgan provided commentary for NBC. The NLL paid NBC approximately paid $250,000 per hour to NBC. The 2005 All-Star Game in itself, garnered an 0.8 rating (or more than 800,000 U.S. households) for NBC. The NLL moved the date of the game from February 27 to February 26 to accommodate NBC's schedule. The Championship Game was also televised in Canada on The Score, and internationally via CNBC International, CNBC Asia, and on Armed Forces Network.

On February 1, 2005, the NLL announced new broadcast partnerships with the America One Television Network, Cox Sports Television and Comcast Regional Networks. One month later, the NLL announced an agreement with Canada's Bell Express Vu, to broadcast out-of-market games on its pay-per-view channels.

Versus and ESPN2 (2007–2008)

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In 2007, Versus regularly scheduled NLL games on Saturday nights.[28] Versus however, cancelled their NLL coverage in 2008 season, due to a dispute between the Professional Lacrosse Players' Association and the NLL owners in completing the collective bargaining agreement.[29] ESPN2 and ESPN360[30] wound up picking up the broadcasting rights for the 2008 NLL Championship Game.

2010s

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Versus, CBS Sports Network (2010–2012)

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Further information: NLL on CBS

In 2010, it was announced that Versus would broadcast[31] that season's championship game. For the 2011 season, it was announced that Versus would begin its coverage with the All-Star Game. This was followed by 6 weekly games, and 2 playoff games, one of these being the championship game.[32] Versus would drop the NLL for the league's 2012 season; U.S. broadcast rights were instead picked up by CBS Sports Network, which aired eight regular season games.[33]

The Lacrosse Network, Fox Sports Go, Twitter, and SportsLive (2013–2017)

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In 2012, the NLL reached an agreement with The Lacrosse Network, a partnered YouTube channel, to distribute all of the 2013 season's games onto YouTube. All games were available on YouTube after the broadcast and most games were broadcast live.[34]

During the 2016 season, Fox Sports Go streamed a package of 50 games.[35][36] Streaming was taken in-house during the playoffs, with the NeuLion-operated NLLTV streaming games from the division semifinals onward.[37] The following season, the NLL reached several streaming deals, with CBS Sports Digital's SportsLive service streaming all games, and Twitter streaming a package of selected games throughout the season under a two-season deal.[38][39][40]

B/R Live (2018–2020)

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In 2018, the league announced a multi-season deal with Turner Sports to stream games exclusively on Bleacher Report's over-the-top service B/R Live. During the 2019 season, the NLL reinstated a game of the week package, streaming on both Facebook and Twitter.[41]

For the national broadcasting teams assigned to call the 2019 NLL Finals, New England Black Wolves announcer, Brendan Glasheen[42] would provide play-by-play with Toronto Rock color commentator Brian Shanahan as the analyst for the games hosted by the East Division winner. Meanwhile, Colorado Mammoth announcer Teddy Jenner would provide play-by-play along with Vancouver Warriors color commentator Brad Challoner as the analyst for the games hosted by the West Division winner. Finally, Toronto Rock floor reporter Ashley Docking would serve as the sideline reporter for all games during the NLL Finals.

ESPN and TSN (2022–present)

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For the 2022 season, the NLL reached a new exclusive media rights agreement with ESPN Inc., under which all games will stream on ESPN+ in the United States, and at least 10 will air on an ESPN television channel.[43] TSN, a Canadian sports channel minority-owned by ESPN, also returned as the domestic broadcaster of the league in Canada, airing a weekly "game of the week" package on Saturday nights, playoff games, and streaming all other games. These games were initially free for TSN subscribers via TV Everywhere authentication or TSN Direct, but began to require a separate TSN+ subscription in the 2024 season.[44][45][46]

After previously depending on individual teams to provide game broadcasts for B/R Live, the league adopted a centralized production model for the majority of games. A skeleton crew of commentators, camera operators, and other technical staff are present on-site, while the remainder of the production is based out of one of three hubs in Clifton, Salt Lake City, or Toronto. For games televised by TSN, the network employs its own on-site production; both the Toronto hub and TSN games utilize the resources of Dome Productions,[44] which is 50%-owned by TSN parent company Bell Media.[47]

Local coverage

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Team Summary
Buffalo Bandits Buffalo Bandits games can be heard on Buffalo's Audacy stations, either WGR 550 AM or WWKB 1520 AM. John Gurtler, former play-by-play man for the Buffalo Sabres, handles announcing duties, while former Bandit Randy Mearns handles color commentary. Home games are streamed live on NLL.com. From 2010 to 2021, WGWE in Little Valley, New York simulcast Bandits games.
Saskatchewan Rush In 2016, the Rush reached a deal with CKBL-FM (radio) and SaskTel MaxTV (TV) to broadcast its playoff games, beginning with the Western Conference finals.[48] In the 2016–17 season, the Rush reached a long-term broadcasting agreement with CKBL owner Saskatoon Media Group, with the games moving to sister station CJMK-FM, and Tanner Fetch as play-by-play commentator. In the 2018–19 season, games moved back to CKBL, with former Saskatoon Blades voice Dave Thomas [49] taking over play-by-play.[50] The team also announced a bi-weekly television magazine program on Global stations in Saskatchewan.[51][52][53] In the 2019–20 season, Global was also scheduled to air encores of Rush games on Sunday afternoons.[54]

As of the 2020 season, Cody Janzen serves as play-by-play commentator for CKBL, joined by analysts John Fraser and Sabeen Ahmad.[55]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Lawler, Sylvia (September 14, 1989). "SERVICE ELECTRIC WINS AND SHOWS AT ANNUAL PHILADELPHIA EMMY AWARDS INSIDE TELEVISION". The Morning Call.
  2. ^ 1987 EPBLL Semi-Final Playoff - Washington @ Philadelphia on YouTube
  3. ^ 1989 MILL Championship Game, Philadelphia Wings vs New York Saints on YouTube
  4. ^ 1990 MILL Championship on YouTube
  5. ^ Crossley, Drew (January 2, 2020). "1990-1993 Pittsburgh Bulls". FUN WHILE IT LASTED.
  6. ^ 1992 MILL Championship Game: Buffalo Bandits at Philadelphia Wings on YouTube
  7. ^ 1991 MILL Championship on YouTube
  8. ^ 1993 MILL Championship Game: Buffalo Bandits vs Philadelphia Wings on YouTube
  9. ^ Brown, Doug (January 8, 1994). "MAJOR INDOOR LACROSSE LEAGUE PREVIEW". The Baltimore Sun.
  10. ^ Crawford, Dan (August 20, 2001). "National Lacrosse League strikes TV deal". Columbus Business First.
  11. ^ 1994 MILL Championship Game - Philadelphia Wings at Buffalo Bandits on YouTube
  12. ^ NLL MILL Era 1995 ESPN Regular Season Summary on YouTube
  13. ^ Kessenich, Quint (May 11, 202). "Quint: True To Yourself". Inside Lacrosse.
  14. ^ 1999 NLL Championship game: Rochester Knighthawks at Toronto Rock on YouTube
  15. ^ Fatsis, Stefan (March 9, 2001). "Trainer to the Stars Plans Launch of Lacrosse League". The Wall Street Journal.
  16. ^ "Passion, energy was driving force of former commissioner Jim Jennings". Inside Lacrosse. December 8, 2014.
  17. ^ Umstead, R. Thomas (September 23, 2001). "CNN/SI Shifts Focus From News to Events".
  18. ^ "CNN/SI to televise NLL games". OurSports Central. August 20, 2001.
  19. ^ "NLL ONLY SHAKEN BY TRAGEDY IN NEW YORK". The Buffalo News. September 15, 2001.
  20. ^ NLL 2002 ALL STAR GAME on YouTube
  21. ^ NLL 2002 ALL STAR GAME on YouTube
  22. ^ "NLL Champion's Cup Playoffs Games on TV this weekend". Our Sports Central. April 15, 2004.
  23. ^ NLL 2004 ALL STAR GAME on YouTube
  24. ^ "Mike Emrick, Brian Shanahan and Mark Morgan to announce the NLL All-Star Game on NBC". Our Sports Central. February 23, 2005.
  25. ^ Houston, William (May 13, 2005). "Lacrosse league pays dearly to get shot on U.S. TV". The Global and Mail.
  26. ^ "Reminder, NLL Championship Game tonight at 6PM EDT, live on ESPN2 and FSWC". Our Sports Central. May 13, 2006.
  27. ^ NLL 2005 ALL-STAR Game on YouTube
  28. ^ NLL: NY Titans at Chicago Shamrox 1/6/2007 on YouTube
  29. ^ Craig Johnson (11 October 2007). "NLL: Saturday night Game of the Week on VERSUS a no-go". InsideLacrosse.com. Archived from the original on May 27, 2011. Retrieved 12 October 2007.
  30. ^ "2008 Edge NLL Championship Broadcast Schedule". Our Sports Central. May 13, 2008.
  31. ^ "2010 National Lacrosse League Championship Game to". Inside Lacrosse. April 27, 2010.
  32. ^ "2011 NLL TV Schedule with VERSUS features 2 playoff games, plus VERSUS name change?". ILOnline.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2011. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  33. ^ Bailey, Budd (November 14, 2011). "Bandits notebook: New TV package". The Buffalo News. Berkshire Hathaway. Archived from the original on January 11, 2012. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
  34. ^ "NLL to broadcast live on YouTube". Calgary Roughnecks website. November 12, 2012. Archived from the original on August 7, 2016. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  35. ^ "Watch NLL games on Fox Sports GO". NLL website. January 9, 2016. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  36. ^ "Fox Sports Go to stream 50-plus NLL games". Inside Lacrosse. December 28, 2015.
  37. ^ "2016 NLL Division Finals live on NLLTV.com". NLL website. May 16, 2016. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  38. ^ Spangler, Todd (2017-03-15). "Why Twitter Is Adding Pro Lacrosse to Its Live-Streaming Lineup". Variety. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
  39. ^ "NLL Partners with CBS Sports Digital to Stream NLL Regular Season and Playoff Games". NLL. 2017-12-05. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
  40. ^ Eri_Barrister (2017-12-05). "The NLL Partners With CBS Sports Digital To Stream Live & On-Demand Regular Season & Playoff Games On SportsLive". College Crosse. Retrieved 2021-12-12.
  41. ^ Staff, S. V. G. (2019-12-13). "National Lacrosse League Collaborates With B/R Live for Free NLL Game of the Week". Sports Video Group. Retrieved 2021-12-12.
  42. ^ "NLL INTRODUCES TWO NEW BROADCAST INITIATIVES AHEAD OF PLAYOFFS". National Lacrosse League. April 11, 2019.
  43. ^ "National Lacrosse League Heads to ESPN Under New Broadcast Deal". Sportico.com. 2021-10-26. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
  44. ^ a b Costa, Brandon (2022-03-30). "Punching Above Its Weight: How the National Lacrosse League's Centralized Production Elevates Live Game Broadcast". Sports Video Group. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
  45. ^ "National Lacrosse League secures Canadian rights deal with TSN". SportsPro. 2021-07-12. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
  46. ^ Staff, S. V. G. (2023-11-30). "National Lacrosse League Opens Friday with NLL Faceoff Weekend". Sports Video Group. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
  47. ^ Dachman, Jason (13 January 2021). "NHL Puck Drop 2021: Sportsnet Looks To Limit Travel, Enhance Safety, Maintain Quality". Sports Video Group. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  48. ^ "In Brief: Saturday's Saskatchewan Rush game on TV; Bowling Silver". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  49. ^ "Saskatchewan Rush Partner With Saskatoon Media Group". nll.com.
  50. ^ "From Big Macs to the big mic: Meet the voice of the Riders — Dave Thomas". Saskatchewan Roughriders. 2024-04-10. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  51. ^ nurun.com. "Waiting game for Casey Guerin". Peterborough Examiner. Retrieved 2016-06-07.
  52. ^ "Saskatchewan Rush returning to FM radio". www.saskrush.com. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
  53. ^ "Welcome to the Team, Daniella!". Saskatchewan Rush Lacrosse. 18 October 2018.
  54. ^ "GLOBAL TV TO AIR RUSH GAMES! - The Rod Pedersen Show". 2019-12-19. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
  55. ^ "Saskatchewan Rush returning to FM radio". www.saskrush.com. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
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