Fox Sports and ESPN in major broadcasting change plans over live TV broadcasts if UFL strike goes ahead this weekend
FOX Sports and ESPN are facing a scheduling crisis surrounding the UFL.
The UFL season is set to kick off on Friday night, but players remain without a labor contract.
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The UFL is set to kickoff on Friday night but the players could go on strikeCredit: Getty
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ESPN and Fox have planned alternate programming in case of a strikeCredit: Getty
There is a growing possibility that players could strike ahead of the start of the season, leaving Fox Sports and ESPN without any programming.
Michigan Panthers safety Kai Nacua told ESPN that “all options are on the table” if the two sides cant agree on a contract.
It appears that healthcare is a holdup in negotiations right now, as players want coverage year round.
According to Front Office Sports, if UFL players strike Fox will fill its slots with shows from it’s inventory.
Shows like the Masked Singer or Gordon Ramsey could fill the time left empty by the UFL.
The Houston Roughnecks are meant to host the St. Louis Battlehawks at 8 pm ET on Friday.
The San Antonio Brahmas and Arlington Renegades play at 4 pm ET on Saturday.
ESPN has games scheduled for noon and 3 pm ET on Sunday.
The network plans to fill their air time with evergreen content like 30 for 30 documentaries.
The UFL has a lot of momentum right now, yubi, getting good viewership in its maiden season.
Ex-NFL coach who won Super Bowl slams ESPN reporter for ‘stupid question’ in awkward interview during UFL game broadcast
The league averaged 816,000 viewers per game in 2024 and the championship game averaged 1.6 million viewers.
Those numbers outdrew the NHL, which averaged 504,000 viewers in the 2023-24 season.
A strike would kill the UFL’s momentum though, and many fans aren’t happy about it.
“As a UFL community we should be celebrating and rejoicing that the UFL returns tomorrow. Instead we are still talking about player strikes because some players magically want more money to appear out of thin air,” one fan said.
All options are on the table.
Michigan Panthers safety Kai Nacua on a player’s strike
“I’m blocking out the outside stuff, I’m ready for this league to play this weekend. I’ll be here no matter what happens,” another fan said.
“Players should defend their beliefs, but they don’t understand how much this will hurt the league if they don’t take the field,” a third fan said.
“UFL player strike? That’s a thing? If they go on strike that league may never come back,” a fourth fan said.
“UFL player strike. I have now heard it all. Players: we are striking. Owners: League is cancelled” a fifth fan said.
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