NBC Decorates New York City Subway Cars to Promote Premier League Coverage (Photos)

by NESN Staff

For years, there have been many debates about one of the most pressing issues of our time: the growing amount of advertisements in American sports.

For the most part, American sports have steered clear of the overbearing advertising found in Europe. It starts with what players wear — Americans consider the jersey sacred, and for a company to brand that jersey for some considerable amount of cash is sacrilegious.

NBC, however, is giving both European soccer and European advertising a try.

The quintessential New York experience, which includes a ride on the subway and struggling to keep up with the fast pace of city-dwellers in Times Square, is now being used by NBC to promote its coverage of England’s Premier League.

The television giant recently acquired the broadcasting rights to the Premier League for $250 million. The network plans to show all 380 games, and it wants Americans to be watching. NBC’s promotion is based around “picking a side.” Subway cars and billboards are plastered with team logos, notable faces and reminders that NBC doesn’t care if the vibrant colors are giving you an eyesore on a groggy Monday morning.