ESPN will kick off ESPN Goal Line, a new college football highligts service, to Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks sports tier subscribers this Saturday.
Starting on Sept. 4, the ad hoc service, airing from noon (ET) until about 11:30 p.m. during each Saturday of the college football season, will feature unlimited live cut-ins and highlights from numerous games to which ABC and ESPN properties hold the rights, as well as other top contests. It will also include up-to-the-minute commentary from ESPN analysts and experts. ESPNews anchor Anish Shroff will serve as the primary host, while Rod Gilmore is the main analyst.
The launch of Goal Line, akin to DirecTV's Red Zone and NFL Network's NFL RedZone scoring/highlight channels for pro football's Sunday afternoon games, is part of the comprehensive carriage renewal pact reached by The Walt Disney Co. and Time Warner Cable on Sept. 2.
ESPN officials indicated that Goal Line has been cleared in a number of Time Warner Cable and Bright House markers, while a spokeswoman for the No. 2 cable operator anticipated it would bow in the majority of its systems for Saturday's opener. The service will be available for sports tier customers at no additional charge.
Goal Line will also be made available to other carriers, with additional rollouts expected in the weeks ahead. "We're talking to other providers," said an ESPN spokeswoman.
A similar service for college hoops, Buzzer Beater, is planned for the upcoming season.
