2022 Q4 Sports Preview

During Q4, we begin to wind down an incredible year of sports. In October, MLB’s long season will reach its crescendo with the MLB Postseason. This year, we will see a new postseason format with additional Wildcard teams being part of the action. Once again, FS1 and TBS will carry most of the Wildcard, Division Series and League Championship Series with some early Wildcard games airing on ESPN. 2022 will be a year with big viewership goals as we come off a 2021 season that was TBS’s most viewed since 2018.

Also, throughout the quarter, college football will continue to be a weekly staple for diehard fans of the game. Based on early season returns, fans were definitely missing the sport as ESPN delivered its most watched kickoff weekend since 2016! College football offers advertisers a wide menu of ad delivery options as games air weekly across several Cox Media networks such as ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, CBS Sports Network, and more!

The NFL will also be a viewership monster as we march to the end of the year. ESPN and ESPN2 will be Cox Media’s key access to viewers across Monday Night Football and the Monday Night Football “ManningCast”. NFL Network will also carry a few select games throughout the season.

On Tuesday, October 18, the NBA will top off its 76th season. Last year the Golden State Warriors returned to the top with yet another world title. In 2022-23, the Warriors will likely enter as the favorites to win it all again, but perennial contenders such as the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks will be in the mix as well as a up and coming squads like the Memphis Grizzlies and Phoenix Suns. That said, a newly retooled Los Angeles Lakers team led by LeBron James, could make a splash this season.

This November, the World Cup will make is much awaited return to television. The World Cup is by far the most viewed event globally with over 5B projected to watch the games in 2022. For Cox Media, we’ll enjoy hearty slate of games airing on FS1. This edition of the World Cup could be one to remember for American “football” fans as the US Men’s National Team is expected to make some noise in this year’s event.

As we wind down the year, College Bowl Season will return. Bowl Season is one of the most entertaining periods of time for football fans with games airing all day, every day during the month of December across ESPN, ESPN2, and CBS Sports Network. The college football season comes to an end with high-profile “NY6” games, the College Football Playoff Semi-finals, and the National Championship Game.

All in all, Q4 is a perennial exclamation point for Cox Media and the world of sports. Interested in getting your brand into the game? Reach out to your local Media Consultant today!