NBC Sports plans to launch about a half-dozen original series produced for digital platforms in the next year, with the group’s first entry slated to take the field next week.
The NBC Sports Digital Shorts initiative will encompass different categories, including special packages of highlights and exclusive interviews. The first project is “Sherman’s Warriors,” a six-part docu-series following former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike Sherman as he coaches the Nauset Warriors, a high school football team in Cape Cod, Mass.
“Sherman’s Warriors” (pictured above) will debut Sunday, Oct. 18, immediately following NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” telecast of the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts game, with new episodes to be released on subsequent Sundays. Each episode runs 6-8 minutes, accompanied by 1-2 minute behind-the-scenes clips.
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NBC Sports’ free, ad-supported shorts will be produced both in-house and by external production companies. “Sherman’s Warriors” is produced by MY Entertainment and Matching Baggage Prods., overseen by NBC Sports Group’s Ron Wechsler, senior VP of original programming and development, and Michael Kane, senior director of original programming and development.
Brian Gilmore, senior director of video for NBCSports.com, is heading up the original shorts initiative. “In furthering NBC Sports Group’s commitment to storytelling and NBCSports.com’s focus on video, NBC Sports Digital Shorts will help us provide users with more compelling, digital-focused content than ever before,” he said.
“Sherman’s Warriors” will be available at NBCSports.com/ShermansWarriors and other NBC Sports Digital platforms for desktops, tablets, mobile devices and connected TVs. In addition, the series and future digital shorts will be distributed via partners including Yahoo and Comcast’s new Watchable short-form video service.
