Toronto -- For the first time ever, the National Football League has reached a radio agreement that will deliver games via Canadian radio to NFL fans beyond Southern Ontario.
The NFL and priszm brandz, owner of the majority of Pizza Hut, KFC and Taco Bell restaurants in Canada, today announced a one-year partnership in which national radio rights for the NFL in Canada - including playoffs, Super Bowl and Pro Bowl - will be dedicated to Pizza Hut. The games will be titled "Pizza Hut NFL Football".
Pizza Hut NFL Football consists of official NFL Westwood 1/CBS Radio national broadcasts (Sunday night, Monday night and playoffs). Marv Albert and Boomer Esiason, with John Dockery serving as sideline reporter, will broadcast Monday night games. Joel Meyers and Bob Trumpy will call the Sunday night games. The Fan 590 in Toronto distributes the broadcasts to participating stations in Canada.
"As a sports station, the Super Bowl is the crowning glory of what we can offer our listeners," said KELLY KIRSCH, Program Director, The Fan 960 in Calgary. "Broadcasting NFL games helps us improve our position as the sports leader in Calgary."
Canada is one of 226 countries and territories in virtually every corner of the globe that is receiving NFL programming - approximately 71,890 hours worth - this season. NFL programming will stretch across 24 time zones and be broadcast in 32 languages.
"There is nothing better than enjoying a great pizza, while enjoying a great football game," said JOHN BITOVE, Chairman priszm brandz. "Pizza and football have been partners for many years in thousands of Canadian homes, today we've formalized that relationship between Pizza Hut and the NFL."
Participating radio stations, include:
Toronto - The Fan 590
Montreal - The Team 990
Vancouver - The Team 1040
Calgary - The Fan 960
Edmonton - The Team 1260
St. Catharines - 610 CKTB
London - AM 980
"We've been reviewing a variety of ways to meet the demands of our growing Canadian fan base," said GORDON SMEATON, Vice President, NFL International. "Our long-time relationship with Pizza Hut gave us a great opportunity to expand. Pizza Hut NFL Football is an evolution of this successful partnership."
priszm brandz is the largest operator of restaurants in the country and is a privately owned company that currently operates more than 760 KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell restaurants and employs 16,000 people in 450 communities in Canada. Visit www.priszm.com.
NFL Canada, a division of NFL International, services the marketing, licensing, retail, broadcast, media and developmental requirements of the National Football League in Canada. The NFL and CFL work together to build the game of football in Canada. Joint initiatives include: NFL/CFL Flag Football, NFL/CFL Practice with the Pros, NFL/CFL High School Coach of the Year Program and NFL/CFL Test to be the Best cross-country skills combines for Canadian high school football players. Visit us on the web at www.NFLCanada.com.