Scott Hanson has become a fixture of the NFL Sunday game day experience for football fans across the country. Since his arrival at NFL Media in 2006, he has served as both reporter and host, helping launch NFL RedZone in 2008. Hanson has not missed a single NFL Sunday, delivering the biggest highlights from around the league in real time as the expanding interest in fantasy and sports wagering continues to make every score worth so much more.
This past spring, Hanson found himself in limbo. His contract with the NFL had expired following the Super Bowl, leaving the 54-year-old host contemplating what’s next. Thankfully, in July, Hanson came to an agreement with the NFL to return on a multi-year extension. Keeping him in the role he has best served since 2008: the host of RedZone on NFL game day Sundays.
“We began initial talks about extending my deal as the host of RedZone back in August 2024,” said Hanson. “The negotiation took a while, and I’m very thankful that I’m staying with RedZone for a four-year deal. It’s great to still be in the captain’s chair for the show that everybody loves.”
Hanson is a passionately devout fan of the game of football. He graduated cum laude from the prestigious Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and found a career covering the game he once played. Now entering his 17th season as the host of the flagship fast-paced, real-time highlight NFL program, Hanson understands how blessed he is to have found a vessel for sharing his love for the game.
“It’s like being an actor that lands that one role that people love and don’t ever want to see you move away from,” said Hanson. “It’s an incredible honor, a privilege, but also a big responsibility. People trust me with their NFL Sundays, and I do not take that lightly.”
Explaining RedZone Commercials
With a new four-year extension in his rearview, Hanson prepared for this upcoming season like any other. Each week, he studies the league from the view of what the fan should know about. Storylines, key stats, matchup implications, and more. The goal is accuracy through a fun and entertaining presentation. Captivating the viewer to enjoy every second of “seven hours of commercial-free football.”
This year, a change is coming from the NFL. Following a trial run last year of commercial insertion in the broadcast, the NFL conducted extensive testing through focus groups and social media monitoring to analyze viewing habits of RedZone with the strategically placed advertisements. This year, following the results of the trial run, RedZone will feature a limited number of advertisements strategically placed across the show’s more than seven hours of continuous football coverage each Sunday.
“I’m the host of the show. I try to use all my powers to be the best host I can possibly be. The fans have been overwhelmingly positive to my career and whatever bonus I bring to RedZone. My enthusiasm is one hundred percent real, but I’m the host,” explained Hanson regarding the commercial insertion in RedZone this season. “The business folks handle the business side of things. I am not involved with that. There is no one on planet Earth who wants to show you more football than I do.”
ESPN Potential Influence on Redzone
The news of the added commercial load, albeit small in nature compared to a network broadcast of an NFL game, came with much dismay and speculation as to other changes that could be coming to RedZone. With the NFL acquiring a 10% stake in ESPN, the sports network also acquired the NFL Network and the licensing to distribute the RedZone product. This means while ESPN owns and operates the NFL Network programming, RedZone will still be produced and operated by the NFL.
With ESPN being not only a partner but also with the league owning a percentage of the network, there has been speculation that the sports network could have influence on how the RedZone product could be presented when fully ratified, likely sometime next year.
Hanson says he hopes that good partners do have conversations about improving products together. However, he still knows that at the end of the day the NFL will make the call.
“Everyone has an opinion when it comes to sports television—the way we should do this versus the way we should do that,” said Hanson. “To the extent that Disney [ESPN] was interested in the RedZone aspect of this, they’re interested in it because it’s a galactic success. In show business, you don’t mess with a success. Or at least, most people don’t mess with a success in show business. But that’s on a different pay grade than what I’m on.”
Why RedZone Is A Success
RedZone is undoubtedly, as Hanson termed it, a “galactic success.” It is available in more than 50 million homes through TV, satellite, and streaming providers. The channel has become an important destination for football fans who prefer highlight reels in real time. Hanson reasons that people watch RedZone not because of short attention spans preferring scoring plays over the traditional broadcast style. In fact, he questions those who say the RedZone product is curated for those with short attention spans.
“People say this generation has tiny attention spans. That’s true, but it’s also not entirely true,” explained Hanson. “A TikTok video might be 15 seconds, but someone that likes TikTok videos will watch them for three straight hours. Do they have a short attention span or a long attention span? They’re watching 15-second snippets for four hours of scrolling. That’s a common ritual among not only the young generation, but I think the current generation of adults.”
Hanson explained the goal of RedZone has always been to offer the most comprehensive look at NFL football. He believes the moments are what allow football fans to dedicate hours each Sunday to stay tuned in to RedZone. They’ve done so for sixteen seasons.
With his 17th season hosting RedZone officially underway, Hanson said it was the smart thing to do to find an agreement this offseason to remain at his home. With a new extension that will carry his legacy through the 20-year anniversary of the program, and a new partner in Disney/ESPN to work alongside in the future, the vision is bright for Hanson and the outlook of the country’s obsession with RedZone.
“If you loved RedZone last year, you’re going to love it again this year. You’re going to find it in the same place that you found it last year,” said Hanson. “I have no intention of going anywhere anytime soon. The touchdowns are going to be there, and it’s not changing in a material way.”
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John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.
