Friday nights are traditionally the realm of high school football in the United States. One of the best football movies ever made – Friday Night Lights – tells the true story of high school football in Texas and how a town galvanized on Friday nights, watching their local team. A television series of the same name grew popular in North America.
So Sweden’s top sports channel – TV4 Sport – is latching onto that concept and scheduling American football games every Friday night.
Under the name Friday Night Football, TV4 Sport and TV4 Play Premium, will broadcast a game from the Swedish Superseries live every Friday night, starting April 8 when the Superseries, the top American football league in the country, kicks off.
This coverage will continue into the postseason as both the semi-finals and final at the Stockholm Olympic Stadium on Saturday 9 July will be broadcast on the TV4 channels. Martin Söderberg, vice president of the Swedish American Football Federation:
“We are very pleased that TV4 Sport will be broadcasting a total of 15 games from the Super Series and playoffs. This is a huge step in the growth and development of American football in Sweden. The number of practitioners is growing, especially on the youth side, and we hope that the TV broadcasts will increase interest both to play and watch the sport.”
Hans Pekkari, Channel Manager TV12 and TV4 Sport:
“Interest in football in Sweden is on the rise and Friday Night Football will be an exciting and valuable addition to TV4 Sports portfolio of strong Swedish league sports.”
The historic first live game from the Super Series will feature the Tyresö Royal Crowns and six-time and reigning champion Carlstad Crusaders.
For more information contact:
Martin Söderberg, vice president of the Swedish American Football Federation, (martin.soderberg@amerikanskfotboll.com)
Martin Nersing, Press Officer, TV4 Sport, (martin.nersing@tv4.se)
Watch the original trailer from “Friday Night Lights” which came out in 2004.
