NBC Sports Regional Networks will kick off a new pro football analysis-debate show next Tuesday, tapping into connectivity that will link its commentators across the miles.
Set to debut on Oct. 1, 3 and Out will air each Tuesday for the balance of the NFL season with the 30-minute show will deploy next generation fiber optics to virtually connect a panel of the programmer’s pigskin analysts, each located within a separate NFL market, to break down the three most impactful storylines impacting that week’s action.
Each week’s three selected storylines will dictate which panelists from the NBC Sports various regional sports networks will make up the 3 and Out panel on any given Tuesday, but CSN Houston’s Kelli Johnson will often serve as the virtual host. CSN Mid-Atlantic’s Brian Mitchell, CSN New England’s Mike Felger and CSN Bay Area’s Ray Ratto are also expected to play prominent roles on the show that will air at various times on the RSNs.
3 and Out’s rotating panel of analysts will contribute counterbalancing points of view to each week’s debate, mixing in perspectives from former NFL players (i.e. Mitchell), the passionate “voices of the fan” (Felger), and the analysis of seasoned journalists (Ratto). The program will also feature an “Extra Point” segment, in which each analyst will sign off with a final comment. Johnson will manage the cadence and contributions of the program’s panelists from Comcast SportsNet Houston.
Comcast SportsNet RSNs are off to a strong start this football season as several have posted triple-digit ratings increases for NFL pre- and postgame coverage in their territory, according to the programmer. The RSNs reach some 50 million homes across the country, with the services covering such NFL squads as the New England Patriots, Baltimore Ravens, Washington Redskins, Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles, Houston Texans and New York Jets.
“We feel great about the fact that there is nothing like 3 and Out among the many football shows currently available,” said , NBC Sports Regional Networks senior vice president of production and programming Tom Stathakes in announcing the show. “Our ability to feature multiple perspectives, many of which will be on the ground in the markets where these stories are unfolding, will give our discussion and debate a level of depth and texture that is hard to find. While some think that we only produce great NBA, MLB and NHL live event coverage, fans in our markets know how well we cover the NFL, and 3 and Out is our first move to expand on that area of strength.”
