ESPN has banned its star analyst from joining any alternate broadcasts.
With YouTube set to broadcast its first NFL game, the platform desperately wanted Jason Kelce to join their team.
ESPN will not allow Jason Kelce to do any alternate broadcasts[/caption]
Kelce was approached by YouTube for its Friday night broadcast[/caption]
However, ESPN will not allow Kelce to join any other network’s games.
ESPN had no intention of allowing Kelce to join YouTube’s broadcast, even if his brother is playing in the game.
YouTube is airing the Brazil matchup between the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs.
That would have put Jason on the call while Travis Kelce catches passes on the field.
While it would have been fun ESPN isn’t quick to share its talent.
Many other networks follow a similar policy.
This comes as more and more one-off games are entering the NFL schedule.
YouTube and Netflix are struggling to find talent for their broadcasts amid these restrictions from other major networks.
Last year, Mina Kimes and Laura Rutledge, both ESPN talents, joined the Netflix Christmas games.
Greg Olsen, who is a Fox talent, joined the broadcast as a color commentator.
Fox, like ESPN, is expected to bar its talent from joining YouTube and Netflix this year.
According to Front Office Sports, ESPN is building exclusivity into its talents’ contracts.
YouTube is looking to add more games in the future, and ESPN doesn’t want to give them any help in establishing a foothold in the league.
Kelce isn’t the only ESPN talent who has this in their contract, and the clause was established before YouTube asked about him.
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He is on a three-year, $24 million deal with ESPN, with the network paying all that money to keep him only on their broadcasts.
Without Kelce, YouTube’s broadcast will include Rich Eisen and Kurt Warner.
Stacey Dales and influencer Deestroying will work on the sidelines.
In the studio, Kay Adams, Cam Newton, Derek Carr, Tyrann Mathieu, and Brandon Marshall will break down the game.
Social media star IShowSpeed will host an alternate cast of the game.
