NESN Nation Takes Different Swing at Sports FAST Channel
New England sports outlet NESN thinks it can tackle new viewers with a free, ad-supported outlet that shows more than just clips, archived studio shows and old games.
The primary broadcaster of games from the Boston Red Sox and Boston Bruins, NESN is launching NESN Nation, a FAST channel that CEO David Wisnia believes will lure viewers to its telecasts by providing something other outlets don't: original programming.
More from Variety
Netflix's Red Sox Docuseries 'The Clubhouse' Sets Release Date, Teaser
Neil Diamond Sings 'Sweet Caroline' at Boston Red Sox Game in Rare Post-Retirement Appearance
NESN Launches Digital Subscription Service With Red Sox, Bruins
'We are launching this initiative as another way to create unique storytelling about what matters to our fans and our viewers,' he says in a recent interview. 'We are looking to reach viewers not only inside the region we cover, but also nationwide.'
NESN, backed by both Fenway Sports Group and Delaware North, is grappling with new disruption in the world of regional sports coverage. So-called regional sports networks have long commanded top affiliate fees from cable and satellite systems, but as more consumers choose streaming venues and even direct-subscription options, economic support for those linear assets has eroded. Last year, for example, YES Network and MSG Networks, both of which showcase New York sports, launched a digital joint venture that streams games from the New York Knicks, New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres, Brooklyn Nets and New York Yankees.
NESN Nation will sport more than 30 hours of live and original programming each week, including live games, live gameday content, live press conferences, interviews, game and sports betting analysis, features, documentaries and video podcasts, as well as content from NESN's library. The FAST channel will serve up four live Red Sox games from Spring Training in February and March, as well as live streams of the 'Morning Skates' and 'Pregame Skates' studio shows. 'Unobstructed Views,' a commentary-driven game coverage alternative will also appear on NESN Nation, as will a weekly three-hour block of Livepool FC coverage that features match highlights, recaps, and analysis plus behind the scenes content produced by the team.
'We are going to have a wide variety of stuff distinguishing us from the rest of the FAST channels,' says Wisnia, who joined NESN as president and CEO in September after working at Alvarez & Marsal, a global management consulting firm, where he was a managing director, specializing in media and entertainment operations and strategy. He succeeded Sean McGrail, who is retiring after 40 years at NESN.
Best of Variety
New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week
Grammy Predictions, From Beyoncé to Kendrick Lamar: Who Will Win? Who Should Win?
What's Coming to Netflix in February 2025
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


CBS News
2 hours ago
- CBS News
Roman Anthony gets thumbs up from Red Sox legend Fred Lynn over new jersey number
Roman Anthony was rocking a new number on the back of his Red Sox jersey on Tuesday night, much to the delight of former Boston legend Fred Lynn. Anthony made his debut Monday night at Fenway Park sporting the No. 48 he wore in the minor leagues last season. He went 0-for-4 at the plate with a walk and an RBI in his debut, and many Red Sox fans were worried he was suffering from "The Curse of Pablo Sandoval." Ahead of Tuesday's game, Anthony was able to swap out those digits for the No. 19, which he had on his back as he was tearing the cover off the ball for Triple-A Worcester this season. The switch paid off immediately, as Anthony went opposite field for a two-run double in his first at-bat Tuesday night against the Tampa Bay Rays. It was the first Major League hit for the top prospect in baseball and gave Boston an early 2-0 lead. That was Anthony's only hit on the night, as he went 1-for-4 in the 3-1 Boston victory. But the right fielder later showed off some fine leather with a sliding catch in the sixth inning, giving fans an excellent view of that No. 19. The number brought Anthony some good mojo Tuesday, making him the latest Boston player to enjoy some success in the No. 19. The most famous player of them all was Fred Lynn, who was a superstar for the Red Sox for 10 seasons. Lynn broke onto the scene in 1975 and won both Rookie of the Year and MVP, and was a nine-time All-Star over his 17-year career. He's also a big fan of Anthony's, and is A-OK with the rookie taking over the famous number. "The #19 was good for me. Hoping it's good for Roman, too," Lynn posed on X. Red Sox and the No. 19 No. 19 belonged to Lynn from 1974-80. After a bit of a lull, it's been a pretty good number for the Red Sox over the last 20 years. Josh Beckett was Boston's No. 19 from 2006-12, when he won 89 games, made three All-Star teams, and helped the Red Sox win a World Series in 2007. After Beckett, the number went to Koji Uehara, who saved 79 games for Boston from 2013-16. He closed the door on seven wins during the 2013 postseason when he had a 0.66 ERA for the Red Sox, en route to a World Series title. Jackie Bradley Jr. also rocked the No. 19 for Boston from 2017-20 and 2022. In 2018, Bradley Jr. won a Gold Glove in centerfield and was the MVP of Boston's ALCS win over the Houston Astros, leading up to the team's last World Series title. Pitcher Sean Newcomb was the last Red Sox player to wear No. 19 for Boston this season, before he was DFA'd and traded to the Athletics. The number should be on Anthony's back for a while, and we'll see if the phenom can enjoy the same level of success as some of the other No. 19s in Red Sox history.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Why is Red Sox rookie Roman Anthony such a big deal? And what type of player could he become?
Roman Anthony, baseball's No. 1 prospect, is officially a big leaguer. After two months of speculation, fan base frustration and Triple-A moon shots, the Red Sox called up the 21-year-old outfielder on Monday. Anthony, born on May 13, 2004, is now the youngest player in The Show, taking that title away from fellow 2004 baby and Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio. Advertisement Through his first two games, Anthony has already offered a tantalizing glimpse of what made him such a highly touted prospect. That includes blistering a ball at 111.2 mph, which signaled that from a skill standpoint, Anthony is ready to compete at the highest level. Why is he a big the biggest deal? Anthony is MLB's top prospect because his offensive ceiling is stratospheric. Drafted 79th overall in 2022 but given a signing bonus commensurate with a late-first-round slot, Anthony was well-known as a high schooler, but he wasn't a 'can't-miss' prospect. Evaluators worried that the young Floridian might be something of a tweener — an outfielder who doesn't hit enough to start in a corner but doesn't have an elite glove in center field. Think Hunter Renfroe, Will Benson, late-career Jason Heyward or the current scuffling version of Brandon Marsh. But upon entering pro ball, Anthony shed the tweener label almost immediately. His power potential, contact ability and swing decisions were all well beyond expectations. He shined in 2023, carving up High-A pitchers despite being 3.3 years younger than the average player. And the real breakout came a year later, when Anthony slashed .291/.396/.498 between Double-A and Triple-A. That propelled him to the top of prospect lists this past winter, with nearly every public prognosticator having the Boston basher slotted in at No. 2 behind the older and more professionally established Roki Sasaki. Advertisement Anthony is by no means a butcher in the grass or a plodder on the bases; he remains passable in center field and recorded an 82nd percentile run time in his MLB debut. But the value here is tied up in the bat, which has a chance to be special. He's a supreme in-box athlete, with a wonderful combination of looseness and power. That juice comes more from his arms, wrists and hands than from his lower half, but Anthony's far from pushy. He's able to generate amazing pop without selling out completely. And the numbers back up the eye test. Just last week, while still a member of the Worcester Red Sox, Anthony launched a 497-foot grand slam, the longest home run in pro baseball this year. Earlier in the season, he smoked one 116 mph, something that only 19 players have done in the bigs this season. Through his first two MLB games, Anthony's tracked bat speed already ranks in the 87th percentile, alongside guys such as Elly De La Cruz, Bryce Harper and Bobby Witt Jr. What type of player could he become? The ceiling is somewhere around Kyle Tucker or peak Christian Yelich. Both of those players were active on the bases, something Anthony has been during his time in the minors. Advertisement Like Yelich, Anthony occasionally struggles to lift the baseball. In Triple-A this year, he posted a 52.2% ground ball rate, a mark that would be eighth-highest among qualified MLB hitters this year (Yelich, at 58.3%, ranks first). There are a number of successful players in this range — Fernando Tatis Jr., Elly De La Cruz, Jacob Wilson, James Wood and Gunnar Henderson are all over 50% — but bashing the ball into the turf so often gives Anthony a much smaller margin for error. Thankfully, Anthony, like that group, hits the ball hard enough to have success while running such a high ground ball rate. If Anthony hits the ground running — no pun intended — it might look a lot like Detroit's Riley Greene. If it takes a bit more time for his average to stabilize and the contact ability to show, it could be more along the lines of Yankees outfielder Jasson Dominguez. If Anthony fills out more than expected, loses a step or two and doesn't hit for as much average as is anticipated, Jay Bruce or the older version Brandon Nimmo might be reasonable comparisons. One last note about Anthony's offensive profile: He rarely swings. His swing rate the past three seasons has hovered between 35% and 38%, an incredibly low figure that would place him in MLB's bottom five. The only player with a lower swing rate than the 35.6% Anthony posted in Triple-A this year? Juan Soto. How does he fit on the current Red Sox roster? That it took so long for Boston to call upon its top prospect says more about the state of the team's big-league roster than it does about Anthony. The Sox entered the season with all three outfield positions spoken for: Jarren Duran in left, Ceddanne Rafaela in center, Wilyer Abreu in right. An oblique issue for Abreu was the catalyst for Anthony's promotion. Advertisement How Anthony fits in once Abreu, who is also a left-handed-swinging right fielder, returns from the IL depends on a number of factors. How long will Abreu be sidelined? How does Anthony look in his absence? Do the Red Sox move Rafaela to the infield and send scuffling rookie second baseman Kristian Campbell to Triple-A for a refresh? Does another club construct an appealing trade package for Rafaela or Duran, opening a spot in the grass? The immediate future for Boston's much maligned defensive alignment remains murky and complicated. But with Anthony in the fold, the long-run dreaming begins to feel more tangible.


USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Junior Caminero Player Props: June 11, Rays vs. Red Sox
Junior Caminero Player Props: June 11, Rays vs. Red Sox Junior Caminero is trying to get back on track following a hitless showing in his most recent game (0 for 4). His Tampa Bay Rays face Walker Buehler and the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday at 7:10 p.m. ET on NESN and FDSSUN. Find odds, stats, and more below to make your Junior Caminero player prop bets. Caminero leads the Rays in home runs (15) and runs batted in (41). Caminero ranks 13th in home runs and 23rd in RBI among all hitters in baseball. Watch tonight's Rays game on Fubo! Junior Caminero Prop Bets and Odds Hits Prop: 1.5 hits (Over odds: +190) 1.5 hits (Over odds: +190) Home Runs Prop: 0.5 home runs (Over odds: +360) 0.5 home runs (Over odds: +360) RBI Prop: 0.5 RBI (Over odds: +125) 0.5 RBI (Over odds: +125) Runs Prop: 0.5 runs (Over odds: +105) 0.5 runs (Over odds: +105) Total Bases Prop: 1.5 total bases (Over odds: -110) 1.5 total bases (Over odds: -110) Stolen Bases Prop: 0.5 stolen bases (Over odds: +825) How to Watch Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox Matchup: Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox Time: 7:10 p.m. ET 7:10 p.m. ET Date: Wednesday, June 11, 2025 Wednesday, June 11, 2025 TV Channel: NESN and FDSSUN NESN and FDSSUN Live Stream: Fubo (Watch now! - Regional restrictions may apply) Junior Caminero vs. Walker Buehler Caminero is 0 for 2 in his career versus Walker Buehler. Caminero is 0 for 2 when facing off against Walker Buehler this season. Junior Caminero prop bet insights Caminero has a hit in 65.1% of his games this year (41 of 63), with multiple base hits in 15 of them (23.8%). He has hit a long ball in 22.2% of his games this season (63 contests), going deep in 5.7% of his chances at the plate. In 29 of 63 games this year (46.0%), Caminero has touched home plate, and six of those games (9.5%) included a performance that produced more than one run scored. He has produced at least one run in 20 of 63 games this season (31.7%), with more than one RBI in 10 of them (15.9%). Caminero has struck out in 65.1% of his 63 games this year, with two or more strikeouts in 11.1% of those contests (seven). MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Wednesday at 1:25 p.m. ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub. Junior Caminero stats against the Red Sox Date Opp. SP H/AB XBH HR RBI R K/BB SB 6/10/2025 Lucas Giolito 0-for-4 0 0 0 0 0/0 0 6/9/2025 Brayan Bello 0-for-5 0 0 1 1 0/1 0 4/16/2025 Sean Newcomb 1-for-4 0 0 0 0 1/0 0 4/15/2025 Walker Buehler 0-for-3 0 0 0 1 1/1 0 4/14/2025 Tanner Houck 2-for-5 1 1 2 2 1/0 0 9/29/2024 Quinn Priester 0-for-4 0 0 0 0 1/0 0 9/28/2024 Kutter Crawford 3-for-5 1 1 3 2 0/0 0 9/27/2024 Nick Pivetta 1-for-4 0 0 0 0 1/0 0 9/18/2024 Tanner Houck 0-for-4 0 0 0 0 3/0 0 9/17/2024 Nick Pivetta 2-for-4 2 1 1 1 0/0 0 Red Sox starter: Walker Buehler Buehler makes the start for the Red Sox in his 11th of the season. He holds a record of 4-4 with a 5.18 ERA and 44 Ks in 48 2/3 innings pitched. When he last got the call on Friday, the right-hander went two innings against the New York Yankees, allowing five earned runs while surrendering seven hits. The 30-year-old has put up an ERA of 5.18, with 8.1 strikeouts per nine innings in 10 contests this year. Opposing hitters have a .277 batting average against him. Buehler is attempting to register his fourth quality start in this game.