NFL RedZone faces backlash for adding full commercials in 2025 season, fans say ‘golden era is over’

NFL RedZone will now have full commercial breaks added in 2025. Fans expressed their disappointment at the change.

Published on: Sep 4, 2025, 00:34:17 IST

By HT US Desk

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NFL RedZone has been a favorite of football fans since it started airing in 2009. The ESPN show, which provides upcoming scoring plays for every game once a week, has undergone a major change this year. As per Newsweek, NFL RedZone will now have full commercial breaks added in 2025.

Host Scott Hanson said that NFL RedZone's intro has changed. (Instagram/@scotthanson1)

Earlier, the program was run as a "limited commercial" show. Many fans were disappointed by the announcement. The change was hinted at when RedZone started showing commercials on half the screen near the end of the previous season. Commercials will now remain a part of the program going forward.

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NFL RedZone’s Scott Hanson on new format

Scott Hanson appeared on The Pat McAfee Show recently. He revealed that the intro was changed from "7 hours of commercial-free football" to "7 hours of RedZone Football start now."

Hanson said that he had "no control" over the commercials that will be displayed on RedZone. Hanson added that the advertisements will not interrupt big plays that could happen. He said the decision will not "sacrifice any great football for the business side of things," and that the show will not miss a first-and-goal or touchdown situation.

Despite Hanson’s assurances, fans were not impressed by the news.

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Fans react to NFL RedZone change

BetMGM wrote, “Watching a commercial at 1:25pm ET during the first RedZone Sunday of the NFL season."

Another reacted with disappointment. “Nooooooo!!! ESPN content has been very mid for a while and the streak will continue with them inserting ads into RedZone,” the comment read.

“This is unacceptable. The golden era of football is over,” a user commented.

“Immediately logged into my account and made sure to cancel. Incomprehensible decision,” another responded.

It is unclear if ESPN could change the format due to the criticism from fans.

FAQs:

What change happened in RedZone?

The show will now start having commercials.

What did host Scott Hanson say about the change?

Hanson said that the decision to air commercials will not "sacrifice” good football for business concerns.

What is the new intro of RedZone?

The new intro is "7 hours of RedZone Football start now."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT US Desk
The Hindustan Times US Desk brings you the latest news and developments from across the United States. The team covers everything from breaking news and politics to sports, business, entertainment and stories that are trending across the country. Our coverage includes the White House, Congress, US elections, immigration and visa updates, H-1B, green cards, Social Security, education, jobs, layoffs, the economy, technology and major policy changes. We also closely follow stories that matter to Indian and South Asian communities in the US. The desk covers major US sports, including the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL, along with player news, injuries, schedules, results and major events. Entertainment coverage includes Hollywood, celebrities, television, streaming, music and pop culture. We also report on breaking developments, major incidents, weather, public safety, court cases and other stories making headlines across the country. When a major policy or news development affects people's everyday lives, the team works to explain what happened, what it means and what readers need to know. Alongside breaking news, the US Desk produces explainers and practical stories on topics such as immigration, Social Security, taxes, education, employment and government programmes. The team also works on science, tech, business and AI stories analyzing the impact they may have on people. The team follows developments throughout the day, keeping an eye on official announcements, public records, reliable news sources and what people are talking about across the US.Read More

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