As it looks to further serve the growing sports betting market, MSG Networks today announced an expanded lineup of original sports betting programming. The expansive content push signifies the network’s continued foray into sports betting as it aims to engage fans in a fun and informative way.
The lineup will feature “Odds With Ends,” a new Sunday morning show that will air from 11:00am-12:00pm ET during the football season, with former Giants defensive end and 2x Super Bowl Champion Mathias Kiwanuka and former Giants wide receiver and Super Bowl Champion David Tyree. The one-hour program will serve as the premier sports betting show on game days, providing fans with in-depth player analysis, game breakdowns and top picks and betting predictions in the lead-up to kickoff. Drafted in the first round in 2006, Kiwanuka went on to record 38.5 sacks during his nine seasons with the Giants, finishing ninth on the franchise’s all-time list. Tyree earned All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors as a special teams player with the Giants in 2005, although is most known for his iconic late game catch against his helmet in Super Bowl XLII that helped propel the Giants to victory.
As former NFL players and teammates with the Giants, Kiwanuka and Tyree will provide valuable insight and bring a unique betting perspective to the broadcast. A mix of other former New York athletes will also regularly join the show to lean into all the football betting action that day and discuss the latest betting lines and point spreads across the league. The first episode will air on Sunday, October 24th.
“As I go from the defensive line to now breaking down betting lines, I’m looking forward to connecting with the fans again every Sunday morning on MSG Networks,” said Kiwanuka. “David and I will provide fans with a unique perspective around sports betting that only former players can give. We will chop it up and deliver analysis that will be helpful for NFL fans betting on games each week.”
MSG Networks will also premiere “The Bettor Half *Hour,” a fast-paced, energetic show that will give an inside look at the sports betting landscape. Hosted by sports betting host Alex Monaco, the show will entertain, yet educate viewers on how to approach sports betting. Monaco will break down effective betting strategies, analyze the latest storylines and react to the latest odds and betting action each night. The half-hour program will include interviews with industry leaders and expert voices in the betting field that will present the viewer with even more tips, news and information. “The Bettor Half *Hour” will air at 5:00pm ET every Monday through Thursday, beginning tonight, Wednesday, October 20th.
MSG Networks’ recently launched “The Betting Exchange,” a dynamic roundtable style show that dives into the latest betting trends across the sports world. Hosted by sports betting on-air personalities Katie Mox and Jeff Johnson, the half-hour show delivers news and analysis through the sports betting lens, while also exploring and providing insight into the nuances of betting. After initially debuting as a weekly program in September, the show will now expand to four nights a week, airing Monday through Thursday at 5:30pm ET, starting tonight, Wednesday, October 20th.
A rotating mix of New York athletes, such as Tyree and former Jets safety Erik Coleman, and sports betting experts including Minty Bets, Alex Glaze and Sean Little, will regularly join Mox and Johnson each night, where they will take part in spirited and entertaining debates on everything from upcoming game lines, player props, over/under totals, future bets and more.
“With the rapid rise in sports betting interest around the country, we are excited to expand the reach of the MSG Networks brand and further immerse our fans in the sports betting culture,” said Kevin Marotta, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Content Strategy, MSG Networks. “We will significantly increase our sports betting presence with the launch of these fun and energetic shows, which will uniquely position us to become one of the premium destinations for sports betting content.”
The sports betting programming airing on MSG Networks will also be available to watch on MSG GO, the network’s live streaming and video on demand platform.
To coincide with the programming launch, MSG Networks is also significantly expanding its online presence by debuting a new social media handle on both Twitter and Instagram tied to sports betting, @MSGPlusMinus. The new handle will serve as the dedicated social media home for the network’s sports betting initiatives. The @MSGPlusMinus channels, along with MSGNetworks.com and the network’s YouTube page, will feature exclusive content, highlight top picks and drive the overall betting conversation amongst bettors each day.
MSG Networks’ expansive push into sports betting is the latest example of its commitment to innovation. In 2017, MSG Networks became the first network to offer a live fantasy/gaming infused broadcast of a live game (Knicks), in partnership with DraftKings. In 2018, MSG Networks was the first regional sports network to integrate live stats and interactive games on its MSG GO streaming app, which the network will continue to expand and build on going forward. And last year, MSG Networks became the first regional sports network to announce a standalone app, MSG Networks Pick ‘Em, for free-to-play pick ‘em-style contests. The prediction gaming app will now include new football contests for fans this season, in addition to its existing basketball, hockey, baseball and soccer offerings.
