"He gets asked more about CBS now than Arsenal" - Radovich on Thierry Henry

In an interview with 'The Athletic', Peter Radovich - coordinating producer of the Champions League coverage on 'CBS Sports' - talked about the rapid growth in popularity of the network's program 'Champions League Today'. The show - hosted by Kate Abdo, Thierry Henry, Micah Richards and Jamie Carragher - airs during major nights of European football, and has seen quickly seen itself grow into a hit globally. So much so, that host Thierry Henry is recognised for it over his glorious footballing career. 

“Thierry Henry, in no uncertain terms, says he gets asked more about CBS now than Arsenal. He will tell you that straight up. That to me is wild," Radovich revealed. "This summer, I was in a taxi in Croatia. The driver asked me where I’m from. I told him New York. He’s like, ‘Oh, you’re into sports?’. I said yes and he said ‘My favourite sports show is in the US....I don’t know if you’ve ever seen it; Thierry Henry, Kate Abdo, Micah Richards. It’s hilarious. I love that show. Have you ever seen it?’. And you just sit there and you’re like, ‘How in God’s name…?" he said, underlining his disbelief. “Four years ago, if you told me people outside of America would know our show, that is truly bigger than we could have ever dreamt. That’s the fun part. The hard part is staying relevant and getting better.”

As well as anecdotes, the program's popularity is equally reflected in numbers. 'Champions League Today' counts for majority of the 'CBS' Champions League coverage's views - 3.5 billion views in total across social media last season. The show has been commended by spectators for its ability to merge playfulness and wittiness with insightful tactical analysis. Moreover, powerful interventions are also common to the studio, as in 2023 the hosts spoke out in support of Romelu Lukaku following racial abuse, with Henry and Richards leading a conversation about racism in European football as a whole.

Having secured rights to the EFL, NWSL, Serie A, 'CBS' aims to extend viewership beyond the Champions League, thus becoming a point of reference for football fans in the United States. 'The Athletic' suggests the network may also have set sight on the World Cup or the Premier League for more premium content. 

 

September 17, 2024