After taking the World Cup by storm, the Men in Blazers will be taking their talents to NBC Sports where they will take part in NBCSN’s coverage. Michael Davies and Roger Bennett will not only take part in the soccer coverage, but they’ll get weekly shows on NBCSN on Monday’s and on NBCSports.com on Fridays.
In addition, Bennett will make monthly appearances during EPL studio coverage joining host Rebecca Lowe.
Will Connors of the Wall Street Journal reports that the Panic Room that was so popular in Brazil, will be the basis of the new NBCSN show.
Here’s the NBC announcement.
“MEN IN BLAZERS” JOIN NBC SPORTS GROUP IN NEW CROSS PLATFORM OFFERING
NBCSN to Televise Weekly Men in Blazers Show on Mondays, Debuting In First Month of Premier League Season
Exclusive Weekly Preview Each Friday on NBCSports.com
Men in Blazers Co-Host Roger Bennett to Contribute to Studio Shows & NBCSports.com EditorialSTAMFORD, Conn. – August 11, 2014 – Men in Blazers, featuring popular soccer personalities Michael Davies and Roger Bennett, are joining NBC Sports Group across television and digital platforms, it was announced today.
Men in Blazers is a live and on-demand multi-platform soccer program that will air on NBCSN and will stream on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports Live Extra app weekly on Mondays beginning in the first month of the Premier League season. The show will follow NBC Sports Group’s weekend Premier League coverage, allowing Davies and Bennett to break down all of the action for American soccer fans. In addition, Bennett will serve as a special contributor on television, providing on-site features from the U.K. and making monthly studio appearances alongside Premier League Live host Rebecca Lowe. He will also contribute long-form features to NBCSports.com.
A special, digital-only version of Men in Blazers will be available on Friday of every Premier League match week. The videos, along with their weekly podcast, will be housed in a Men in Blazers section on NBCSports.com. The videos will be distributed on the web and via mobile devices through ProSoccerTalk, and various content alliance partners including Yahoo! Sports and Soccerly. All weekly video previews will be accompanied by short-form written content from Bennett, who will also provide long-form pieces to NBCSports.com.
“We are excited to add Men in Blazers to NBC Sports Group’s talented on-air soccer roster,” said Jon Miller, President, Programming, NBC Sports Group. “The unique and fresh perspective that Roger and Michael provide will be an entertaining addition to NBC Sports Group’s robust Premier League coverage.”
“We could not be more thrilled to be joining NBC Sports. Their team has set the gold standard for coverage of the Premier League and frankly, we have no idea why they would want to sully that with our suboptimal content offerings,” said Michael Davies, co-host, Men in Blazers.
“NBC Sports has crafted a remarkably talented team whom we admire — from Rebecca Lowe, Arlo White and Kyle Martino to Tim Howard and the two Robbies, Earle and Mustoe. Every team has a weak point, and we are honored to have the chance to be that weak point,” added Roger Bennett, co-host, Men in Blazers.
Most recently, Men in Blazers was featured on ESPN’s coverage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, where Davies and Bennett received critical acclaim for their wit and rapport discussing international soccer for an American audience. Over the past three years, Davies and Bennett have reached cult status with their weekly podcast on Grantland.com. Their show, which has hosted guests including Drake, Billy Beane, and Dirk Nowitzki, is a passionate, wide-ranging conversation about football and life, with a particular focus on the Premier League and the U.S. Men’s National Team.
All Men in Blazers content will be produced at Embassy Row, a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment, where Michael Davies continues to serve as president
That’s it.
