NBC reveals exciting changes for Premier League 2016/17 season

Pierre Moossa, coordinating producer of NBC Sports Group’s Premier League coverage, is in Rio where he’s responsible for the production of the Olympics gymnastics as well as the closing ceremony. But while Moossa’s time is consumed for the next few weeks by the Olympics in South America, he took time out of his busy day for a phone interview with World Soccer Talk to update soccer aficionados about the details for the 2016/17 season of the Premier League that kicks off this weekend.

Even though Moossa is 4,800 miles away from NBC’s broadcast center in Stamford, Connecticut, he’s left the production of NBC’s Premier League coverage in capable hands.

“We’ve split up the production teams,” reassured Moossa. “We did all the prep and rehearsals in the summer, so now the team is in place. Everything is done, so it’s just a matter of reacting to storylines.”

SEE MORE: Steve Bower to host NBC’s Premier League coverage for first weeks of season

Preparing for the new Premier League season, two of the biggest changes for NBC Sports and TV broadcasters worldwide are the addition of the occasional Friday matches as well as an earlier kick-off time for Saturday broadcasts (7:30am ET instead of 7:45am ET).

The new scheduling opens up new opportunities for NBC Sports as well as slight changes for TV viewers.

“The early kickoff is now moved up to 7:30am (ET),” said Moossa. “For many of the big [Saturday] games, we’ll start with a 6:30am (ET) pregame instead of a 7am (ET) pregame. You get an extra 15 minutes pre-game versus a 45-minute buildup. We always find that an hour build-up is better because you get more time to develop the stories, longer manager audio sound, longer setup, more breakdowns.

“But you also get a benefit of the 7:30am (ET) fixture ending at 9:30am (ET), and then you have the 10 o’clock window, so you have half an hour between those two games. Now with half an hour between fixtures, you can give proper wrap-up and better and more time to set up the 10 o’clock fixture.”

The addition of the occasional Friday fixtures as well as the Saturday early kickoff starting sooner has helped NBC Sports change their philosophy slightly regarding how the matches are covered.

“The talent will have more time to delve into the topics,” said Moossa. “Each day has a different focus, feel and energy. Each Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday will all have different feels on purpose based on what the most important thing is. On Friday, the focus will be a lot on building up to one match as well as a build-up to previewing the weekend. Saturday, there are so many matches, you’re really covering the instant reactions to the matches. Sunday, you’re building up to two massive matches. On Monday, you’re often wrapping up in time to cover the key storylines before you cover the one match.”

But NBC’s focus continues to be on what the most important thing is at that very moment, which means all of the planning can change in an instant. It’s something that both Steve Bower and Rebecca Lowe are pros at adapting to.

Asked about what area NBC Sports is focused on raising the bar on, Moossa discussed the success of the shoulder programming.

“People really seem to enjoy the Behind The Badge and Premier League Download series,” said Moossa. “There’s been a huge focus for that. Myself and a few other people have really made a huge pitch to the clubs directly about how this can benefit them.

“If you go to our statistics and numbers, about 25% of our audience has only been watching the Premier League the last 3 years. In the US, we’re trying to help viewers create a connection with the club and [for them] to have a reason to continue wanting to watch it, and rooting for a club.

“There will be a huge focus on that programming to help people create a deeper appreciation for the Premier League and the clubs themselves. We’ve already had sit-down interviews with Arsene Wenger and Claudio Ranieri. There’s a huge push to have more Behind The Badges, and I certainly expect to be doing that in the fall and the beginning of next year.

“We’ve found it real interesting that it’s the youth that has been furthering the trend (of growing soccer in the US). So many people say to me that their Saturday and Sunday morning weekends are spent sitting with the family and watching Premier League soccer with the kids and really enjoying it. And a lot of the adults are saying that ‘Well, I’m not really a big soccer fan, but I really enjoy it because I’m watching it with the kids.’ We’ve found that the kids are bringing the adults to help and appreciate the sport, and it’s becoming a new day part.

“And then you get, ‘I want to really know more about that club. Explain to me more about that club.’ And then you do a Behind The Badge or a Premier League Download on them and people start to create that connection.”

SEE MORE: Olympics can help NBC expand Premier League to wider audience, says exec

Moossa also added that the security of a 6-year TV contract with the Premier League helps NBC Sports develop longer lasting relationships with the Premier League clubs, which helps them build trust and do more fly-on-the-wall Behind The Badge-type programs. “With a 3-year cycle, you could spend three years building a relationship, but then the relationship is gone because you no longer have the rights.”

The Premier League returns to NBC Sports this weekend with all 20 teams in action.