Scott Hanson On NFL RedZone's Future And The Disney Deal

Key Concepts

NFL RedZone, short-form viewing, fantasy football, sports betting, live television production, multitasking, NFL-ESPN deal, college football RedZone, Olympics Gold Zone, NFL's challenges (youth engagement, international expansion), Super Bowl predictions.

Evolution of RedZone and Viewing Habits

• Historical Context: The desire for a comprehensive NFL view existed long before RedZone. Howard Cosell's halftime highlights and Chris Berman's NFL Primetime served this purpose, but RedZone offers immediate, instant access.
• Cultural Shift: RedZone's rise aligns with the trend of short-form viewing, online betting, and fantasy football.
• Impact of Fantasy and Betting: Hosting is subtly influenced by fantasy football and betting interests. The show aims to serve a mass audience with varying interests, acknowledging the importance of individual player performances and over/under bets.
• Promise to the Audience: RedZone guarantees showing every touchdown, regardless of the score, catering to fantasy players and bettors.
• Host's Viewing Habits: Scott Hansen's brain is conditioned to multitask, watching five things simultaneously on his home media wall (five big screen televisions) to relax.

Behind the Scenes of RedZone Production

• Crew and Roles: A crew of roughly 30 people, described as "an orchestra playing jazz music," collaborates to deliver the show. Each member has a specific role but reacts to the unfolding football action.
• Studio Setup: Hansen is in a studio with a wall of monitors, a stage manager, a camera operator, and two assistants (Tim Galanis and Brian Laravee) who provide real-time stats and player information.
• Control Room: The control room has 15-20 people, and tape operations has additional people, with individuals watching every game simultaneously. They alert the director and producer to key plays and moments.
• Communication: The communication is rapid and shorthand, similar to coach-quarterback communication.
• Pace: The show operates at a frenetic pace, especially during the early game window, requiring quick decision-making and execution.
• Collaboration: Hansen suggests content and directs the flow based on game situations (timeouts, hurry-up offenses).

Scott Hansen's Preparation and In-Show Routine

• Preparation: Hansen receives a 100-200 page research packet from the NFL Media research department each week. He condenses this into short crib notes with coded information.
• Resources: He uses packets with overall league stats, quarterback stats, kicker stats, defense stats, touchdown scores, fantasy football stats, and injuries. He also has packets for early and late window games.
• In-Show Flexibility: Hansen uses stats if they are relevant to the game, otherwise he ignores them. He relies on his assistants for information on obscure players, especially late in the season.
• Bathroom Breaks: Hansen dehydrates himself before the show and avoids bathroom breaks for the entire seven hours. He consumes dense proteins and salty foods to retain water. He fears missing a great play if he takes a break.

NFL-ESPN Deal and the Future of RedZone

• Ownership: The NFL retains ownership of RedZone, while ESPN owns the NFL Network linear channel.
• Distribution: RedZone will be bundled with ESPN's direct-to-consumer service.
• Hansen's Contract: Hansen's contract includes a clause ensuring he remains the host regardless of ownership.
• Continuity: RedZone will remain largely the same, with Hansen as the host and the same studio setup.
• Disney Influence: Disney will likely introduce some tweaks and suggestions, but RedZone will remain an NFL property.
• Complexity: The RedZone component of the Disney-NFL deal is the most complex part.

Potential Changes and Future Projects

• Minor Tweaks: Changes to RedZone will be minor, focusing on shaving "one or two strokes" off the existing product.
• Kickoff Rule Changes: More kickoffs may be shown due to rule changes promoting returns.
• First Down Technology: The use of technology to determine first downs will require new camera angles and adjustments to the show's production. Referees will use the jumbotron to determine first downs.
• College Football RedZone: Hansen is interested in hosting a college football version of RedZone, but rights issues would need to be addressed.
• Olympics Gold Zone: Hansen hosts the Olympics Gold Zone for NBC, a RedZone-style broadcast showing the best of the Olympics. He has signed on for the next two Olympics (Milan Cortina and Los Angeles).
• Netflix and YouTube: Hansen has done international broadcasts for Netflix NFL games and had discussions with YouTube about studio hosting.

Challenges Facing the NFL

• Competition for Eyeballs: The biggest challenge is competing for the attention of the next generation, who have access to a vast array of content on their cell phones.
• Flag Football: The NFL is promoting flag football to engage young people and expand the league internationally.
• International Expansion: The NFL is focused on international growth and competing with soccer as the world's sport.

Personal Perspective and Super Bowl Prediction

• Evolved Fandom: Hansen's profession has changed the way he watches football. He roots for outcomes, scoring, and high-level play rather than specific teams.
• Rooting for Drama: On RedZone, Hansen roots for drama, knowing that it will elicit strong reactions from the audience.
• Super Bowl 60 Prediction: Hansen predicts a Super Bowl 60 matchup between the Detroit Lions and the Buffalo Bills.

Synthesis/Conclusion

Scott Hansen's insights reveal the evolution of NFL RedZone from a novel concept to a cultural phenomenon, driven by the demand for instant access and the rise of fantasy football and sports betting. The show's success hinges on a highly collaborative and adaptable production team, Hansen's extensive preparation, and a commitment to serving the diverse interests of the audience. While the NFL-ESPN deal brings changes, RedZone's core identity and Hansen's role remain secure. Looking ahead, Hansen is open to expanding the RedZone concept to college football and other sports, while the NFL faces the challenge of engaging the next generation and expanding its international reach.