NFL RedZone Experimenting with Ads, Leaving Fans Less Than Happy
For NFL fans, one of the biggest draws of RedZone is its promise of uninterrupted football action, free from the usual barrage of commercials. However, last Sunday’s broadcast had a surprise in store: four short commercial breaks, with the ads displayed alongside the live game feed and the football audio muted.
The result? A wave of frustrated fans, many of whom pointed out that Scott Hanson—usually the face of the “seven hours of commercial-free football” slogan—replaced his usual greeting with the more subdued “It’s seven hours of football.”
An NFL source told Sportico that the commercial breaks were simply a test, and there are no current plans to introduce ads regularly on RedZone. However, they did suggest that any permanent shift wouldn’t be considered until the 2025 season at the earliest.
Although RedZone’s “commercial-free” slogan is more of a marketing tagline than an official promise, it has become a core feature that sets the service apart. RedZone is a popular option for cord-cutters, available for just $15 per month or $100 annually with NFL+ Premium. This is far more affordable than NFL Sunday Ticket, which costs $479 for the entire season.