The NFL RedZone Channel featured 16 sponsored elements during Sunday’s Week 13 slate, continuing the network’s measured expansion into integrated commercial inventory while maintaining its signature promise of seven hours of “non-stop football.” According to a Sports Business Journal analysis, subscribers saw a mix of double-box ads, graphic banners and branded segments across the seven-hour broadcast.
RedZone ran eight 15-second double-box ads — a total of two minutes of commercial time — evenly split between the early and late windows. The broadcast wrapped with a separate 30-second double-box ad from DraftKings, the channel’s top sponsor.
While the network has incorporated banner ads in previous seasons, the double-box format is new in 2025 as RedZone looks for ways to increase ad load without breaking its uninterrupted-action ethos.
In addition, RedZone deployed eight graphic banner ads, each appearing for roughly 20 seconds and spread across both windows of the broadcast. Combined with the two minutes of double-box units, the total commercial time remained low compared to traditional live game presentations, but the format continues to draw attention inside the industry as networks explore less intrusive ad models.
Eight brands advertised on RedZone in Week 13: DraftKings, Visa, Allstate, Mercedes-Benz, Wingstop, Lowe’s, Accenture and Progressive. Seven of those sponsors received one double-box ad and one banner ad, with DraftKings receiving an additional 30-second double-box placement to close the show.
The concept was introduced on a trial basis in 2024 on the RedZone feed. The league conducted extensive testing through focus groups and social media monitoring. The result, according to an NFL spokesperson, showed extremely limited negative feedback.
Encouraged by those findings, the league believed it found a balance that allows for increased sponsor visibility while still delivering the uninterrupted action that has made RedZone a must-watch product for fans.
For example during Week 1, RedZone featured four 15-second advertisements throughout the entire show. However, ProFootballTalk reported that the number has since increased, raising questions about whether the balance between sponsor exposure and viewer satisfaction has shifted.
Sponsors have long been a core component of the broadcast. For more than a decade, partnerships have played a role in making the channel possible. League officials emphasized the importance of maintaining strong relationships with advertisers while respecting the unique viewing experience RedZone promises.
Beyond the split-screen and banner formats, Sunday’s telecast also inserted a series of sponsored segments, all airing during the late window. Allstate received a 30-second “Good Hands” feature, while Progressive had a 30-second “Good Coverage” segment. Lowe’s sponsored the 30-second “Earn Your Sunday” highlight package, and DraftKings added a 60-second “Crowning Moments” recap. Mercedes-Benz was featured on the “Drive of the Day,” also running 60 seconds. Accenture sponsored the longest element — a three-minute Top Five Plays of the Day package.
For RedZone, the gradual increase in branded elements reflects a broader trend in the marketplace. Networks face pressure to grow revenue without adding ad breaks that could push viewers to streaming or competing platforms. Advertisers have also become more willing to invest in integrations that keep fans watching during live action, even in double-box or banner formats.
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