FANS TO BE FEATURED IN SHOW OPEN OF
NFL NETWORK’S THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
CeeLo Green Stars in Thursday Night Football “Fanthem”
Show Open Debuting Sept. 13
Entertainers have long been synonymous with the opening montage for NFL games. This season, fans will take center stage in the primetime television pageantry, joined by Grammy Award-winning artist CeeLo Green who will sing NFL Network’s new Thursday Night Football anthem with the fans.
The 90-second show open for each Thursday night game will feature fan-sourced videos uploaded by fans performing CeeLo’s new “Fanthem” (fan anthem) entitled “I Love Football,” set to The Ramones’ “Blitzkrieg Bop.”
“It’s finally that time again…and I really love my football,” CeeLo said. “The NFL always brings us the biggest and brightest entertainment spectacle in sports and now with ‘Fanthem,’ NFL Network gives loyal fans the chance to participate! I’m honored to help create such a historic, pop-culture moment and interactive fan experience.”
Each Thursday Night Football game will feature fan videos specific to that night’s matchup, starting with Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers fans singing the chorus along with CeeLo for the first TNF game on September 13 (Chicago at Green Bay, 8:00 PM ET).
“We are excited to introduce ‘Fanthem,’ which will increase our interaction and engagement with Thursday Night Football viewers far beyond the game telecast,” said Mark Quenzel, NFL Network senior vice president of programming and production. “Our fans come first and we expect the incredible passion for their teams to show in their ‘Fanthem’ submissions via NFL.com, NFL Mobile, and social media.”
Fans who want to submit their videos to be considered for the opening montage can go to www.nfl.com/fanthem. Fans whose videos are included in the final show open will automatically be notified by email so they can share the news with fellow fans and tune into the broadcast.
Produced by New York’s @radical.media, “Fanthem” is part of NFL Network’s overall mission to make the 2013 season, “for the fans, by the fans.”
“This project for NFL Network represents what @radical.media is all about,” said Justin Wilkes, President of Media and Entertainment at @radical.media. “Integrating fan-sourced videos into live television reinvents the standard show opening we’re used to watching before every football game and gives fans the attention they deserve for their team dedication.”
All NFL Network programming, including Thursday Night Football, is live around the clock on NFL Mobile from Verizon.