HBO Sports, NFL Films and Miami Dolphins join forces for “Hard Knocks: Training Camp With The Miami Dolphins” debuting August 7

HBO Sports, NFL Films and the Miami Dolphins team up for an all-access look at what it takes to make it in the National Football League when HARD KNOCKS:  TRAINING CAMP WITH THE MIAMI DOLPHINS debuts in August.  The first sports-based reality series – and one of the fastest-turnaround reality series – kicks off its five-episode seventh season, presented in HD, TUESDAY, AUG. 7 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.  Other hour-long episodes debut subsequent Tuesdays at the same time, with an encore play every Wednesday in August at 11:00 p.m., culminating in the Sept. 4 season finale.

“We are delighted that HARD KNOCKS will be returning this summer and placing the spotlight on the Miami Dolphins, a venerable franchise that had an exciting off-season activity,” says Ken Hershman, president, HBO Sports. “This marks the first time that the series has featured a first-year head coach (Joe Philbin) and we are extremely grateful to both Coach Philbin and the entire organization for agreeing to participate. As always, there will be plenty on the line for veterans, free agents and rookies.” 

“On the 40^th anniversary of the greatest season in NFL history–Don Shula’s perfect ’72 Dolphins– it is perfectly fitting that Hard Knocks is heading to Miami to capture the start of a new era for one of the league’s proudest teams,” says NFL Films president Steve Sabol. “After Hard Knocks’ hiatus last summer, I know our team at NFL Films can’t wait to get back on the field.”

The cinema verité series will focus on the daily lives and routines of players and coaches as the intriguing Miami Dolphins, who compete in the ultra-competitive AFC East, prepare for the 2012 NFL season.  HARD KNOCKS:  TRAINING CAMP WITH THE MIAMI DOLPHINS will chronicle first year head coach Joe Philbin and an intriguing mix of high-profile veterans, free agents and rookie hopefuls throughout training camp and the preseason.  Each week, players will experience drills, meetings and fun, while struggling to prove they have what it takes to make the team and make their mark in the NFL.

“We are excited that the premier company in sports filmmaking history, NFL FILMS, and HBO Sports have chosen the Miami Dolphins to appear on their award-winning series Hard Knocks,” said Joe Philbin, head coach of the Miami Dolphins.   “We are looking forward to connecting with our many fans across the country as the program chronicles our 2012 training camp.  The series will highlight the outstanding men who comprise our team and represent our organization admirably, both on and off the field, as they compete for a coveted position on our roster.

“The Miami Dolphins have long been synonymous with success on the filed as evidenced by our five Super Bowl appearances and the only perfect season in NFL history,” added Philbin.  “That heritage serves as a constant reminder to our players and staff of the great legacy that has been left for us to uphold.  Our team embraces that rich past and looks confidently to the future as we begin this journey back to the top of the NFL.

“All the decisions that have been made this off-season have had one guiding principle — will it help our players and organization reach its full potential?  This one is no different.  We are convinced that our affiliation with NFL FILMS and HBO will allow football fans everywhere an opportunity to comprehend the significant sacrifices and demands that our players endure each day along their journey in training camp as a Miami Dolphin.  We eagerly await the opening of training camp on July 26 and the 2012 NFL regular season that lies ahead of us.”
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NFL & TV partners honored by National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for Sept. 11 remembrance and salute

COMMISSIONER GOODELL ACCEPTS PRESTIGIOUS “CHAIRMAN’S AWARD” FOR “EXCELLENCE IN BROADCASTING AND OUSTANDING PUBLIC SERVICE” AT SPORTS EMMY CEREMONY

NFL MEDIA WINS TWO SPORTS EMMY AWARDS 

Commissioner ROGER GOODELL accepted on behalf of the NFL and its television partners the “Chairman’s Award” presented by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences at last night’s Sports Emmy ceremony in New York. The NFL is the first sports organization to win this prestigious award.

The league and its TV partners were honored for “working together to remember the heroes of September 11 and mark the 10th Anniversary of that day with dignity and honor.”

NFL Media also won a pair of Sports Emmy awards last night with NFL Network and NFL Films earning honors for Men of Mettle from Ed Sabol’s Last Football Movie (Outstanding Music Composition/Direction/Lyrics), and Sound FX: All Access (Outstanding Post Produced Audio). NFL Films, the most-honored filmmaker in sports, increased its total to 107 Sports Emmys. NFL Network has won 10 Sports Emmys in its eight-year history. 

The Chairman’s Award-winning September 11 remembrance featured special tributes originating from the three locations most affected by the terrorist attacks: Flight 93 Memorial in Shanksville, PA, The Pentagon in Arlington, VA, and Ground Zero at the 9/11 Memorial in New York. 

All games in each of the broadcast windows featured an NFL Films-produced introduction narrated by Academy Award-winner ROBERT DeNIRO and followed by performances of “Taps” by representatives of the U.S. Armed Forces from or near the sites of the attacks. The ceremonies were complimented by live shots of players and coaches from each of the 13 stadiums, followed by moments of silence and the playing of the National Anthem with American flags covering the entire field at each stadium.

The project was overseen and produced for the league by NFL vice president of production & operations Glenn Adamo. The theme for the presentation of “Taps” was developed by Scott Katz, who brought the concept to the league office and served as the lead director. NFL Films director of remote operations Dave Shaw led the operations and logistics for the project.

Previous recipients of the Chairman’s Award, which recognizes organizations and individuals for “excellence in broadcasting and outstanding public service to the greater community,” include the McNeil/Lehrer News Hour, CNN, and 60 Minutes.

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Emmy-nominated “NFL Turning Point” renewed for 2012, 2013 & 2014 seasons

Dan Patrick returns as host

Show to air throughout NFL playoffs with four episodes added per season

Emmy Award-nominated NFL Turning Point, the NBC Sports Network’s program that utilizes NFL Films’ unprecedented access to examine the turning point of high-profile NFL games every week, has been renewed for the 2012, 2013 and 2014 seasons with more episodes added to allow the program to air throughout the NFL playoffs, NFL Films and the NBC Sports Group announced today.

With Football Night in America’s Dan Patrick returning as host, the 60-minute NFL Turning Point will make its 2012 season debut on Wednesday, September 12, and will air a total of 22 episodes, running weekly on Wednesday nights at 10 p.m. ET throughout the entire NFL season, including the playoffs and Super Bowl. The season finale, scheduled to air on Wednesday, February 6, 2013, will look back at the turning point of Super Bowl XLVII. During last year’s inaugural season, NFL Turning Point aired 18 times, primarily on Thursday nights and only aired one program during the playoffs, which was the week prior to the Super Bowl.

“We were so pleased with NFL Turning Point’s quality and performance during its inaugural year that we worked with our partners at NFL Films to increase the number of episodes this year, allowing fans to watch the show throughout the NFL playoffs,” said Jon Miller, president, programming, NBC Sports and NBC Sports Network. “NFL Turning Point is a cornerstone of the NBC Sports Network’s new original programming and representative of our commitment to the highest quality production standards. The Emmy Award nomination for the show’s first season is validation of that commitment and a tribute to our partners at NFL Films, who are true master storytellers.”

Said NFL Films President Steve Sabol, “Last year we had a great rookie season, but as Paul Brown once told me, ‘In the NFL, the biggest jump comes between the first and second year.’ We hope NFL Turning Point makes that type of leap this fall.”

Following its debut season, NFL Turning Point was nominated for Outstanding Edited Sports Series/Anthology in March by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. The Sports Emmys will be awarded this Monday night in New York City.

Each week, NFL Films utilizes its unprecedented access to cover games in its traditional behind-the-scenes, award-winning style. The crucial moment in each game — its turning point — is examined in-depth and from all angles using NFL Films’ unmatched cinematography, sideline and on-field audio as well as postgame access to players and coaches.

Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning makes his debut — “The Top 100: Players of 2012″ premieres Saturday, April 28 at 8:00 PM ET on NFL Network

Weekly Series Counts Down Top Players in Today’s Game as Voted on by Current NFL Players — Airs Every Wednesday at 8:00 PM ET Following April 28 Debut

‘The Top 100: Players of 2012 – Reactions’ Follows Each Episode at 9:00 PM ET, Featuring Commentary from NFL Network Analysts, NFL Players & Fans

39 New Players Crack the 2012 List

The votes are in and the players have spoken. For the second year, current NFL players have weighed in to determine the top players in today’s game on the new season of the returning series, The Top 100: Players of 2012 Presented by Buffalo Wild Wings debuting Saturday, April 28 at 8:00 PM ET immediately following NFL Network’s live coverage of the 2012 NFL Draft. After the season debut, the NFL Films-produced series continues at its regular time on Wednesdays at 8:00 PM ET, beginning May 2.

Immediately following each episode LIVE at 9:00 PM ET will be The Top 100: Players of 2012 – Reactions Presented by Buffalo Wild Wings. Host Lindsay Rhodes and a rotating roster of NFL Network analysts and current NFL players discuss and debate the latest group of players to be unveiled from NFL Network’s Los Angeles studios. Fans have the opportunity to join in the debate and voice their own opinions and reactions on Facebook and Twitter, and vote for their own Top 100 on NFL.com/Top100.

After failing to make the Top 100 last year, where does Super Bowl XLVI MVP quarterback Eli Manning debut? Will new Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning make this year’s list? New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow was named today to Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World” list…will he rank among the NFL’s Top 100? Which player fell more than 80 spots this year from last? The answers to these questions and more will be answered in the 11-part series which counts down from 100 to 1, unveiling 10 players in each one-hour episode. The season-finale unveiling the top 10 is split into two special one-hour episodes on Wednesday, June 27 at 8:00 PM & 9:00 PM ET.

A wide range of current NFL players present each selection and discuss the qualities which makes each player deserving of his ranking.

Tonight at 8:00 PM ET, The Top 100: Players of 2012 Preview Show offers a sneak preview of this year’s list.

For the complete press release, click here.

NFL shield featured in new logos for NFL Network, NFL Films & NFL.com

The NFL will unveil new logos on April 26 for all of its media properties, it was announced today by Steve Bornstein, Executive Vice President of NFL Media.

The new logo system for the league’s media properties – which includes NFL Network, NFL Films, NFL.com, NFL RedZone and NFL Mobile – prominently features the NFL shield, uniform typography and design and provides for a more streamlined look across all platforms.

The new logos will debut on Day 1 of the 2012 NFL Draft (April 26), which kicks off at 8:00 PM ET with live pick-by-pick coverage on NFL Network and NFL.com.

NFL Media Scores 14 Sports Emmy Nominations

TWO NOMINATIONS FOR “A FOOTBALL LIFE”  

TWO NFL FILMS’ PRODUCED SHOWS NOMINATED FOR OUTSTANDING SPORTS SERIES

ANALYST MIKE MAYOCK NOMINATED FOR FIRST SEASON ON “THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL” 

NFL Media, comprised of NFL Network, NFL Films and NFL.com, recorded 14 Sports Emmy Award nominations, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences announced today.

The critically acclaimed NFL Network/NFL Films A Football Life series was recognized in its debut season with two nominations — in the Outstanding Sports Anthology Series category as well as for the “Meet Bill Belichick” promotional announcement/commercial.

NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock was nominated as Outstanding Event Analyst for his first season in the Thursday Night Football booth.

For the second time in the show’s two seasons, the NFL Network/NFL.com production The NFL Season: A Biography received a nomination in the Outstanding New Approaches Sports Programming category. NFL Network/NFL.com received a second nomination in the category for the new Football Freakonomics series.

NFL Network earned recognition in the writing category for the “Lombardi Returns” feature on NFL GameDay Morning and for Outstanding Edited Sports Special for “Sharpe Focus: Journey to Canton.” In addition, the NFL GameDay Morning “Carpool” commercial was nominated.

NFL Films, which has won 105 Sports Emmy awards, is the only company to produce two shows nominated in the Outstanding Sports Anthology Series category and is the only with nominated programs produced for three TV networks. In addition to A Football Life, NFL Films earned a nomination in the anthology series category for the new NFL Turning Point show, which it produces with VERSUS, which was rebranded NBC Sports Network earlier this year. NFL Films also was nominated in the Outstanding Studio Show/Weekly category for Inside the NFL, which it produces along with Showtime and CBS.

NFL Network and NFL Films also gained recognition for NFL Films Presents: Shots of the Season (Outstanding Camera Work), Men of Mettle – Ed Sabol’s Last Football Movie (Outstanding Music Composition/Direction/Lyrics), and NFL Films Presents: Super Bowl XLV and Sound FX: All Access in the Outstanding Post Produced Audio category.

The 33nd Annual Sports Emmys Awards will be presented on Monday, April 30 in New York City at the Frederick P. Rose Hall, Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center.

For the complete release, click here

NFL Films’ “Road to the Super Bowl” debuts on NBC at 12 Noon ET on Super Bowl Sunday

42^nd Year of TV’s Longest-Running, Most-Honored Annual Sports Special

One-Hour Special Culled From 1.7 Million Feet of Game Film & 400 Hours of Game Audio from 133 Coaches & Players

How did the New York Giants and New England Patriots advance to Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis?  Re-live the journey as only NFL Films can present it on “Road to the Super Bowl” on Super Bowl Sunday, February 5 at 12:00 Noon ET on NBC.

“Road to the Super Bowl” begins with Kickoff Weekend and chronicles the 2011 NFL season utilizing NFL Films’ signature captivating video and sound from on the field and in the locker room from exclusive player and coach wirings.

“For those who love football, this show is red meat,” said NFL Films president Steve Sabol. “No interviews, no talking heads, all action.”

“Road to the Super Bowl” is the longest-running (42 years) and most honored (28 Sports Emmys) annual sports special. “Road to the Super Bowl,” which debuted following the 1969 season, was culled by NFL Films producers from more than 1.7 million feet of game footage to 980 feet for the one-hour special.  In addition, more than 400 hours of audio were captured from 133 exclusive coach and player on-field wirings.  Original orchestral music, including a 60-person choir, was used in producing the show.

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HBO Sports and NFL Films examine the life of “Broadway Joe” Namath in a documentary debuting Jan. 28

The Emmy^®-winning combination of HBO Sports and NFL Films will explore the fascinating life and career of one of pro football’s biggest stars in a documentary on New York Jets icon Joe Namath, it was announced today by Rick Bernstein, executive producer, HBO Sports.  NAMATH debuts SATURDAY, JAN. 28 (8:00-9:30 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.

“Joe Namath is one of the most compelling sports figures of the last 50 years and we are delighted to tell his story,” said Bernstein.  “We will retrace his life not only from Joe’s perspective, but also from the viewpoints of many others who are familiar with Joe’s extraordinary football career, following his journey from Beaver Falls to today.  We hope to present the definitive film on an NFL icon and a trailblazing free spirit.”

“In the mythology of pro football, Joe Namath is Arthur,” says Steve Sabol, president of NFL Films.  “He pulled the proverbial sword from the stone and the NFL became the Camelot of American sports.  His story is timeless, authentic and also very human.  It is a privilege for NFL Films to partner with HBO Sports once again in documenting the life of ‘Broadway Joe.’ ”
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Al Davis, Ed Sabol, Mike Ditka & Tom Landry profiled on NFL Network’s “A Football Life” series

Documentary on the Legendary Al Davis Debuts Friday, November 11 at 10:00 PM ET – A Day After Raiders Open 2011 ‘Thursday Night Football’ Schedule Against Chargers

 ‘Ed Sabol: A Football Life’ Premieres Thursday, October 20 at 10:00 PM ET

 Hall of Famers & Super Bowl-Winning Coaches Mike Ditka (October 27) & Tom Landry (November 3) Are Also Featured

Legendary NFL icon Al Davis, NFL Films founder Ed Sabol and Super Bowl-winning head coaches Mike Ditka and Tom Landry are the subjects of this season’s final four episodes of NFL Network’s critically-acclaimed documentary series A Football Life, beginning with Sabol on Thursday, October 20 at 10:00 PM ET. All four men are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The life and legacy of the late Al Davis is explored in Al Davis: A Football Life on Friday, November 11 at 10:00 PM ET, offering an in-depth look into his six decades in professional football. A Football Life, produced by NFL Films, looks at all aspects of his career and features previously unseen interviews with Davis and those who knew him best.

The one-hour documentary on Davis debuts the night after the Raiders play the San Diego Chargers to kickoff NFL Network’s 2011 Thursday Night Football schedule on November 10 at 8:00 PM ET.

This week on Thursday, October 20 at 10:00 PM ET, Ed Sabol: A Football Life chronicles the profound and enduring impact that Sabol and NFL Films have had on the NFL, and how they revolutionized the way the game of football is viewed and remembered. In addition to interviews with Sabol, his son Steve and daughter Blair, A Football Life follows Ed throughout his entire Hall of Fame experience, capturing footage from the Enshrinees Dinner and behind-the-scenes of his induction speech.

To view the trailer of Ed Sabol: A Football Life, please click on the following link: http://nflfilms.nfl.com/2011/10/14/ed-sabol-first-look/
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NFL Films partners with Vivendi Entertainment for U.S. and Canada home entertainment distribution

NFL Films distribution agreement features “Green Bay Packers: Road to Super Bowl XLV” as first release

NFL Films, the most honored filmmaker in sports, has selected Vivendi Entertainment (VE) as the exclusive distributor for NFL Films home entertainment programming in the US and Canada. The agreement marks a significant expansion by NFL Films as this is the first time that the company has granted both digital and physical (DVD/Blu-ray) rights for its home entertainment business.  The announcement was made today by Barry Wolper, Chief Financial Officer, NFL Films, and Tom O’Malley, President of VE.

As part of the multi-year agreement, VE will now assume the exclusive US and Canadian marketing and distribution of NFL titles, leveraging their highly-anticipated programming across multiple physical and digital platforms. The release schedule will include at least 7-10 new DVD releases each year, the first of which features last year’s Super Bowl winners in “Green Bay Packers: Road to Super Bowl XLV (4 Disc Set).”  VE will also distribute the existing NFL Films DVD catalog, which features more than 115 dynamic titles including such fan-favorite collections as the Super Bowls, team histories, the Emmy Award-winning America’s Game: The Super Bowl Champions and Complete Game Sets, which show historically beloved games in their entirety.

“The NFL brand stands for innovative, high-quality entertainment production,” stated Yolanda Macias, Executive Vice President of Acquisitions & Business Development, VE. “And through our extensive distribution network, we are able to offer compelling programming choices to NFL fans – everywhere and however they want to enjoy the content.

“We are proud to begin a new partnership with Vivendi that will make more of NFL Films’ videos available to our fans in more places,” Wolper said.

As part of the exclusive distribution agreement, consumers will be able to find NFL Films DVD titles at retail outlets across the country.  Online, NFL Films product can be purchased through iTunes, Best Buy CinemaNow and Vudu.
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