If someone asked me to describe NFL RedZone in one sentence I would say it’s like watching SportsCenter highlights, except live. Host Scott Hanson does a great job switching gears, and the coverage looks great in HD, but the show cannot help being anything but chaotic.
What’s missing from RedZone is suspense. Just like in a movie, there is always a bit of suspense to keep you watching. In football, there is suspense in the waiting to get into the red zone. There is suspense in the failed possessions. There is even suspense in the annoying commercials we are forced to sit through at every chance (and there are many).
RedZone covers eight games at once on Sunday afternoons. There is so much switching going on it’s like your receiver has ADD. Hence, you never really have a chance to “get into” the game itself.
And because you are also listening to the announcers of each game, more than occasionally they will be in the middle of saying something important when the game is switched. That can get frustrating for the viewer, who is also a listener.
Yes, it’s virtually impossible to “get into” a specific game when you are jumping from stadium to stadium. RedZone gives you the “best of” each game — close-to-the-goal possessions, highlights, replays, etc. Since this is exactly what RedZone aspires to do, how can it be faulted for this?
The show may not be for everyone. However, for anyone betting on the games NFL RedZone is the perfect companion. Suspense isn’t important when you’ve got a spread to cover. Only points are.
