2022 Q1 Cox Media Sports Preview

As we wrap up an incredible year in the sports world, we can start shifting our eyes to Q1’s sports opportunities that lie just a few weeks away. Live sports continue to be one of the top ways to connect you to engaged audiences of all shapes and sizes, and Cox Media offers access to a variety of live sports content across several sports networks.

We start the year in a big way with the conclusion of the 2021 NCAA Football season as the College Football Playoff National Championship kicks off in early January. The game, carried exclusively across ESPN Networks, is consistently one of the most viewed cable and sports events every year.

Along with college football, sports fans will be able to engage with the recently expanded NFL season. In addition to Monday Night Football playing games into January for the first time ever, the NFL Wild Card games available to cable advertisers will be some of the more unique opportunities one has access to. Most notably is the NFL Wildcard matchup simulcast on Nickelodeon (1/16/22) and the first ever Monday Night Wildcard Game that will be simulcast across ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2 (1/17/22). That game will feature the coveted “Manning-Cast” that has caught the NFL world by storm.

Advertisers can capitalize on the excitement and intensity of the PGA Tour every week beginning in January on the Golf Channel. With full coverage on Thursdays and Fridays and select coverage on weekends, the long season of professional golf is a gateway to the affluent golf viewer. The season kicks off in Q1 with some of the most engaging events of the year like the Farmers Insurance Open, the Waste Management Phoenix Open, and The Players Championship.

In February, the world will turn its focus to Beijing for the 2022 Winter Olympics. Taking place just months after the originally delayed Summer Olympics, fans will be excited to jump back into rooting for athletes representing dozens of countries. From snowboarding to figure skating and everything in between, Team USA will look to lead the world once again in the Gold Medal count. USA and CNBC will carry over 400 hours of coverage.

Throughout Q1, the NBA and NHL regular seasons will enter their second halves as the race for the playoffs begin. Both properties air games across ESPN and TNT, and each will look to build upon recent successes as they look ahead to new futures. In the NHL, their recent move to ESPN/TNT has brought much critical acclaim that has been earmarked by the addition of Wayne Gretzky to NHL on TNT’s panel. For the NBA, viewership has continued to rise throughout the season due to strategic scheduling and rule changes that have driven higher levels of entertainment for fans.

As we move towards the end of Q1 2022, NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball will continue to heat up as teams vie for spots in both March Madness events. The Men’s Tournament will air across TNT, TBS, TruTV, and CBS with the majority of games as well as exclusive coverage of the Final Four and Championship games airing on cable.

All in all, Cox Media will have several opportunities for advertisers to connect with their audiences across a variety of sports and networks. 2022 will be a long year of engaging sports, and Q1 kicks off the year in a very big way.