• Loading stock data...
Saturday, September 6, 2025
Fox Analyst and Media Entrepreneur Greg Olsen to Speak at Tuned In Get your ticket now!

Disney’s NFL Draft Strategy

  • Kirk Herbstreit outlines what will be different about ABC’s draft coverage.
  • Predicts Todd McShay will be the ‘MVP’ of ABC’s broadcast.
NFL/Design: Alex Brooks

The Walt Disney Co.’s creation of a separate NFL Draft broadcast on ABC helped ESPN fight off rival Fox Sports. It’s not about to mess with success. 

For the third year in a row, Kirk Herbstreit’s “College GameDay” crew will lead ABC’s inside-out coverage of the draft. Herbstreit outlined some of the differences between ABC and ESPN’s coverage, and how their complementary approaches will help Disney dominate the draft.

More NFL insight: ABC’s coverage focuses on the journeys of top draft picks; ESPN focuses on the needs of NFL GMs. This year, viewers will still get the collegiate “storytelling,” per Herbstreit. But ABC won’t hesitate to dissect the needs of NFL clubs. 

More female viewers: ABC helps the NFL attract more women and casual viewers. Last year, ABC drew more women than ESPN for both Round 1 (2.4 million vs. 2.1 million) and Rounds 2-3 (1.4 million vs. 1 million).

New show: Leading into Draft Day in Cleveland, Herbstreit will interview six top prospects on his new “QB21 with Kirk Herbstreit” show premiering April 17.

“Our Mel”: ESPN draft guru Todd McShay couldn’t contribute last year due to COVID-19. Herbstreit predicts McShay will be the “MVP” of ABC’s coverage. “Todd lives it like Mel [Kiper Jr.]. Todd is going to be our Mel.”

The 2020 “virtual draft” was the most-watched draft ever, reaching over 55 million viewers over three days across ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and NFL Network. There will still be virtual elements this year. Projected No. 1 pick Trevor Lawrence, for example, won’t attend in person.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

opinion

Brady Still Has Conflict of Interest. NFL Is Clearly Unconcerned

The league doesn’t see an issue with Brady being a minority owner.
opinion

NFL RedZone Changes Have Nothing to Do With ESPN Deal

Four 15-second spots will air over RedZone’s seven hours in Week 1.
Dec 21, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) gets ready to take the field prior to a game against the Houston Texans at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

How Brazil Game Fits Into NFL’s Plans for World Domination

Friday night’s Chiefs-Chargers game in São Paulo is big by design.

3 ABC Games Top 10M Viewers Each in ESPN’s Record CFB Weekend

Miami–Notre Dame led the way with 10.8 million viewers.

Featured Today

Oct 13, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) and wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) celebrate their touchdown pass during the second quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Lincoln Financial Field.

TV Ratings Just Changed Again. The NFL Will Be the Big Winner

Nielsen’s new viewership system will have a big impact on sports.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) celebrates with offensive lineman Donovan Jackson (74) after a touchdown catch against Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first quarter during the College Football Playoff National Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on January 20, 2025.
August 30, 2025

The Most Expensive Roster Year in College Football History

The House settlement created revenue-sharing—and a big NIL loophole.
August 26, 2025

‘You’re Going to Get Beat Up’: The Liberty’s All-Male Practice Squad

A select group suits up weekly to take on the defending champs.
August 24, 2025

The Honey Deuce Effect: How Tennis Perfected the Signature Cocktail

Sold every 1.5 seconds, they total more than $12 million in sales.

NFL’s Expected Early-Season Ratings Boost Gets Off to a Stormy Start

The kickoff game somewhat resembles the delays last year in an SNF game.
Eagles
September 4, 2025

The Death of Streameast Has Been Greatly Exaggerated

Mirror sites began popping up Thursday, the day the NFL season begins.
September 4, 2025

TNT Sports to Try Its Own Streaming App After WBD Split

TNT Sports will have its own app as a corporate split approaches.
Sponsored

Trailblazer Cal Calamia Is Racing for ‘Advocacy, Storytelling, and Performance’

The marathoner wants excellence—not just inclusion—to be the goal for non-binary athletes.
September 4, 2025

Bill Belichick’s UNC Debut Draws More Than 6M Viewers on ESPN

TCU-UNC was the fifth-most-watched college football game of Week 1.
September 3, 2025

Ohio State–Texas Showdown Was Most-Watched Week 1 CFB Game Ever

Fox drew 16.62 million viewers on Saturday afternoon.
September 2, 2025

NFL on Nielsen’s Latest Measurement Upgrade: ‘More Work to Be Done’

The league calls its relationship with the agency a “protracted journey.”
September 1, 2025

Lee Corso’s Farewell Delivers Record ‘College GameDay’ Viewership

ESPN averaged 3.5 million viewers, per preliminary figures.