Chicago Bears extend with local rights partner

NFL American football franchise the Chicago Bears has extended its deal with local broadcast rights partner Fox32.

The broadcaster, which is controlled by US media group 21st Century Fox, first partnered with the Bears in 2008 and has agreed a new five-year contract with the team.

Under the deal, Fox32 will continue to air the team-produced preseason game broadcasts, along with the in-season weekly shows Bears Gameday Live, Bears Gamenight Live and Inside the Bears.

The Bears said they intend to expand this content by adding a postgame show and a 30-minute Bears weekly show scheduled for Friday evenings, along with three to four special programmes connected to events such as the NFL Draft, the opening of the regular season and a review of the season at its completion.