The landscape of college football broadcasting is shifting. The Holiday Bowl suddenly needs a new broadcast partner.
Fox Sports, which has aired the game since 2017, announced it won’t bid for the rights this season. ESPN, which had the game from 1986 to 2016, has also said no thanks, so now the field is wide open.
It’s a bit of a head-scratcher. What does this mean for non-College Football Playoff (CFP) bowl games?
The Departure of Fox Sports
Fox Sports has been the Holiday Bowl’s home since 2017. This year, though, things change.
College football insider Brett McMurphy of On3 reports Fox has officially decided not to bid on the rights for this season’s game. Fox is apparently shifting its focus toward the CFP, especially as talk of a 24-team playoff heats up.
Fox Sports CEO Eric Shanks recently threw his support behind the expanded playoff format. The network seems ready to chase a bigger piece of the postseason pie.
Impact on Fox’s College Football Coverage
With Fox stepping away from the Holiday Bowl, its college football season will now end with the last week of the regular season. That’s a pretty clear sign Fox wants the high-stakes, high-viewership games the CFP expansion could bring.
Honestly, it feels like a strategic shift—putting their chips on the games that matter most to fans and advertisers.
ESPN’s Stance
ESPN, which used to broadcast the Holiday Bowl for decades, is also out. That’s surprising, considering how much college football ESPN already covers.
But maybe not that surprising. Networks are getting picky about which games they want, and not every bowl is worth the hassle anymore.
Reasons Behind ESPN’s Decision
So why is ESPN passing?
- Viewership Trends: Non-CFP bowls aren’t pulling the numbers they used to, especially with players opting out or jumping into the transfer portal.
- Resource Allocation: ESPN might just want to focus on bigger games and events with better returns.
- Market Saturation: There are already so many bowl games on ESPN, maybe they’re trimming the fat a bit.
Potential New Broadcast Partners
With Fox and ESPN out, the Holiday Bowl needs a new home. Who steps up?
CBS
CBS could make sense. They’ve aired the Sun Bowl every year since 1968 and have plenty of college football experience.
Adding the Holiday Bowl wouldn’t be a stretch for them, and it might fit nicely into their lineup.
TNT Sports
TNT Sports is another option. They’ve been ramping up their college football presence, picking up some CFP games and Big 12/Mountain West matchups.
The Holiday Bowl could help them grow their sports brand even more—if they want it.
The CW
Don’t count out The CW, either. They’ve aired the Arizona Bowl for three seasons and seem interested in branching out.
The Holiday Bowl could give them a little extra juice during bowl season.
The Future of Non-CFP Bowl Games
The search for a new Holiday Bowl broadcaster isn’t just about TV rights. It’s a bit of a litmus test for the health of non-CFP bowl games in general.
These games used to be reliable draws in December and January. Lately, though, interest seems to be slipping.
Player opt-outs and the transfer portal have made some bowls feel less important. Fans notice when big names sit out.
Viewership Challenges
So what’s hurting non-CFP bowl viewership?
- Player Participation: More players are sitting out to prep for the NFL Draft or transfer, which hurts the quality of the games.
- Competing Entertainment Options: There’s just so much to watch these days—streaming, movies, you name it. Sports have to fight for attention.
- Changing Fan Preferences: Younger fans want drama and high stakes, and many bowls just don’t offer that anymore.
Conclusion
The Holiday Bowl’s search for a new broadcast partner says a lot about how college football broadcasting keeps shifting. Fox and ESPN are out, so now there’s a chance for other networks to jump in and maybe shake things up a bit.
It’s hard to predict exactly how this will play out. The next few months should reveal something about where non-CFP bowl games fit in the bigger sports media picture.
If you’re curious and want more details, check out the full article on Awful Announcing.
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