Q&A: Mina Kimes’ ‘Christmas gift’ is talking NFL all day on Netflix — and hopefully no glitching
As a die-hard sports enthusiast and a longtime fan of both ESPN and The Simpsons, I find myself utterly captivated by this fascinating array of events unfolding in the world of sports journalism.
Mina Kimes has a lot going on this week.
Similar to numerous individuals during this season, the analyst on ESPN’s “NFL Live” has been occupied with gift-wrapping and arranging for the visit of relatives from outside town, in celebration of the upcoming holidays.
Besides engaging in the usual holiday festivities, Kimes additionally needs to analyze films and participate in a Christmas Eve rehearsal prior to her unique role as a studio analyst for the Kansas City Chiefs vs Pittsburgh Steelers, and Baltimore Ravens vs Houston Texans games, which will be streamed live on Netflix during Christmas Day.
Kimes remarked on Monday, “It’s been quite a whirlwind,” expressing his enthusiasm instead. Normally, he only hosts studio shows during the week, but there’s an electric atmosphere when broadcasting just before kickoff, as well as during and after the game. It’s like being part of the action in real-time, getting to assess players like Joey Porter Jr., George Pickens, or any injured players, and learning about their readiness for play and availability.
Additionally, this introduces an unique aspect that I’m deeply thrilled about on a personal level. However, discussing sports on TV is something I genuinely cherish, and being granted the chance to do so with such a large audience feels like an exceptional holiday present.
The final live sports event broadcast on Netflix was a significant triumph, attracting approximately 108 million viewers globally on November 15, as they tuned in to witness the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul fight. However, this success came with its share of problems for numerous consumers, who voiced their frustrations on social media about encountering buffering issues and even losing the broadcast entirely.
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Jake Paul, following his sensational boxing match against Mike Tyson (streamed on Netflix), finds himself sought after by numerous opponents. In an interview, co-founder of MVP, Nakisa Bidarian, discusses the potential future steps.
As a movie buff keeping up with the latest news, I’m excited to share that Netflix has shared some insights with The Times, stating they’ve learned from the challenges encountered during the Tyson-Paul live stream and have been working diligently to improve their systems for handling live events ever since. Fingers crossed, these issues are now squarely in the past as we approach the upcoming NFL games, both of which hold significant importance for AFC playoff seedings. One of these matches (Ravens-Texans) even boasts a spectacular halftime show by none other than Beyoncé! Can’t wait to see how it all unfolds!
She mentioned that the technical details are beyond her expertise, yet everyone appears assured about it. Given the massive audience these games will attract, she’s hoping for a smooth and flawless experience, not only in terms of technology and streaming but also production. So far, it looks like they’ve got a team of seasoned professionals handling this.
Netflix’s debut into NFL games introduces a diverse pool of talent from multiple broadcasting platforms. Kimes, Kay Adams from FanDuel TV, Manti Te’o (NFL Network), Robert Griffin III (previously with ESPN), and Drew Brees (formerly of NBC Sports) will be part of the Los Angeles studio show. Meanwhile, a separate studio show in Pittsburgh will feature Laura Rutledge (ESPN) as anchor, along with analysts Devin McCourty (NBC Sports) and Jason McCourty (CBS Sports and ESPN).
Kimes explained it was similar to a special event, “almost like a Pro Bowl.” While he acknowledged the statement might sound boastful, his point was that he gets to collaborate with people he doesn’t often work with, which is exciting. What makes it unusual is the variety of individuals from numerous networks involved.
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Netflix has plans to expand its sports offerings, confirming that they intend to broadcast the FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments in 2027 and 2031.
Here’s more from Kimes’ conversation with The Times.
(The questions and answers have been edited for length and clarity)
How did this all come about for you?
It wasn’t exactly clear when I first learned about this possibility, whether it was a few months ago or so, but as soon as my representative mentioned it, I became extremely enthusiastic for numerous reasons. One major reason was the prospect of working on such enormously influential games that would undoubtedly attract a large audience. Needless to say, these are exceptional games, and discussing them during the holidays will be even more enjoyable. Plus, it’s advantageous for me since it means I get to talk about fantastic games like the ones we’re going to discuss on Christmas.
Was there any hesitation to do this during the holidays? I know you have a little one at home …
It’s great news that he’s 14 months old, which means I can easily tell him Christmas is tomorrow without him understanding the discrepancy. In fact, my family will be arriving today, and even if I weren’t on this show, they would still be tuning in. They are avid football fans, so they’d likely have Netflix running all day anyway. I suspect they’re almost as thrilled about watching me for extended periods, perhaps even more so than if we were spending quality time together, since they see a lot of me in person regularly.
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In a remarkable feat, Cameron Dicker of the Chargers kicked a long-range field goal of 57 yards during a fair catch, setting a new record for the longest successful free kick in NFL history. So far, only seven such attempts have proven successful within the league.
So your studio show is going to be on all day, before, during and after both games?
Indeed, that’s the reason everyone tunes in during halftime, isn’t it? It’s to catch our performance. In other words, ‘Alright, Beyoncé has been great, but one more song would be enough. Let’s get back to the game analysis now.’
Have you found this past month particularly hectic? Given your role as a color commentator for a special broadcast of “The Simpsons Funday Football” during the Cincinnati Bengals-Dallas Cowboys match on December 9. Could you share your thoughts about that experience?
It was awesome. It was an absolute dream. I’m a crazy Simpsons fan and I think we realized early on — me, Drew [Carter] and Dan [Orlovsky] — just to lean all the way into all the Simpsons jokes and references. It seems like fans of the show really enjoyed that.
How would you describe your feelings when you found out that “Around the Horn” on ESPN is going to cease production next year?
That program has been instrumental to my career growth, serving as the stepping stone into television at ESPN. I believe I wouldn’t be where I am today without ‘Around the Horn.’ It made me pause and consider its impact on my journey. I will miss it dearly because I’ve transitioned to an NFL analyst, but for me, it was a unique opportunity to discuss various sports and topics, which I truly enjoyed. It holds a special place in my heart.
Sports
ESPN has decided to discontinue ‘Around the Horn,’ a program that frequently includes Times columnist Bill Plaschke as part of its journalist panel. The series’ last episode is set to air in the coming summer.
What are your predictions for the Christmas games?
It’s boring — I got both of the favorites winning, the Ravens and Chiefs. The Steelers’ defensive injuries are very concerning.
What about a Beyonce prediction? Any special guests you think might join her?
It seems there could be an unexpected visitor from Houston. I’m not sure who that will be, but I have a feeling that whatever it is, everyone will be hoping for more of it rather than listening to me chatter on.
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2024-12-24 21:32