PBS’ production works alongside the nonprofit Athletes for Hope, which has high-profile advisors such as Stephen Curry, Katie Ledecky, Nathan Chen and Elena Delle Donne. To learn more about the series and what PBS and Athletes for Hope want to accomplish, Cynopsis Sports caught up with AFH’s Chief Wellbeing Officer Dr. Mena Mirhom.

Why was Jack’s story a fit for the ‘Out of the Dark’ series, and how does it reflect the broader mission of the Athletes for Hope Wellbeing program?
Jack’s story captures exactly what “Out of the Dark” is meant to do: illuminate the mental health struggles that often remain invisible in young people, especially athletes, and show how honesty, connection, and support can lead to real healing. His experience with anxiety and panic attacks pulled him away from the game and into isolation, a pattern we see far too often in sports. Research consistently shows that anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health conditions in young people, with nearly one in three adolescents experiencing clinically significant anxiety by early adulthood. Among college athletes, rates of anxiety and emotional distress are comparable to, and in some studies higher than, those of their non-athlete peers.

By opening up to his coach, Jack took a critical step out of the dark. That moment reflects the heart of the Athletes for Hope Wellbeing program: reducing stigma, normalizing mental health conversations and creating environments where athletes feel safe asking for help. Jack’s story reminds us that mental health challenges do not discriminate by talent, achievement or toughness, and that asking for help is not a weakness, but a necessary and courageous step forward.

How was the film designed to reach sports fans who might not actively seek out mental health-related content?
While the film centers on Jack’s mental health journey, the directors were intentional about leading with Jack the person, not just the struggle. Viewers first meet the young athlete who grew up loving soccer, earned a spot at Georgetown and delivered under pressure by converting a penalty kick in a national championship match his team went on to win. Those moments matter because sports fans connect first through identity, effort and performance.

By weaving Jack’s defining athletic experiences into the narrative, the film creates a natural entry point for audiences who may not be seeking out mental health content but deeply understand sport. His anxiety is not portrayed as separate from his athletic life, but as part of the whole human experience of being an athlete. That framing mirrors what we know clinically: mental health does not exist in a vacuum. It shapes performance, relationships and identity. The result is a story that feels familiar, honest and accessible to fans who might otherwise scroll past conversations about mental health.

What do you want viewers, coaches, athletic directors, or anyone involved in athletics to take away after watching the film?
Our hope is that this film continues to shift the culture of sports by reinforcing a simple but powerful truth: mental health deserves the same seriousness, care, and legitimacy as physical health. We would never expect an athlete to play through a torn muscle or an untreated concussion, yet too often, athletes are expected to endure anxiety, panic or emotional distress silently. The data are clear. Untreated mental health conditions impact performance, recovery, team dynamics and long-term well-being.

The film also underscores the importance of open, ongoing dialogue between athletes, teammates, coaches, and athletic leadership. Coach Brian Wiese, who is featured in the film, models what this can look like in practice. When Jack first opened up to him, that conversation became a turning point not just for Jack, but for the culture around him. By responding with support rather than judgment, Coach Wiese helped create an environment where mental health is acknowledged, supported, and never stigmatized. That kind of leadership does not just change individual lives. It reshapes entire programs and sets a new standard for what healthy, high-performing sports environments can be.

It may not be live sports, but Netflix inked a deal to grow its sports and podcast portfolio. The streaming giant announced a multi-year partnership with Barstool Sports to exclusively stream “Pardon My Take,” “The Ryen Russillo Podcast” and “Spittin’ Chiclets.” The deal kicks in early 2026 and only pertains to the video versions of the podcasts. Audio editions will remain available on other platforms.

AMC Networks is even getting into the sports realm after announcing a deal with TNA Wrestling. The multi-year pact will add TNA’s weekly flagship show “Thursday Night iMPACT!” to AMC and AMC+, beginning Jan. 15 from the Curtis Culwell Center in Dallas-Ft. Worth.

FloSports extended its media rights partnership with the NCAA Division II’s Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The deal now lasts through the 2031 season.

For NBC’s daytime coverage, Rebecca Lowe will be the host for a seventh consecutive Olympics. That’s the longest hosting streak among current NBC Olympics broadcasters, with her debut coming in 2014 for the Sochi Winter Games. Lowe will also host the “Milan Cortina Olympic Preview Show” on Feb. 5 at 8pm on NBC and Peacock. She first joined NBC Sports in 2013 as a host for Premier League coverage—a role she’s maintained since. Lowe will also be involved in another major event in 2026. More on that in “What to Watch For.”

Houston’s Space City Home Network launched a direct-to-consumer product. SCHN+ allows fans to access Rockets and Astros games at a price of $19.99 per month or $199.99 per year. It’s initially available on iOS and Android devices, as well as Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV, but more distribution platforms will be added soon.

Netflix Games is joining the World Cup fun, partnering with Delphi Interactive to release a “newly imagined FIFA football simulation game.” More details will trickle out in 2026.

CourtsApp, an AI-powered platform designed to modernize court marketing and reservations for tennis, pickleball and other racquet sports, officially soft-launched in the New York tri-state area. CourtsApp helps players find and reserve courts while helping facilities monetize unused inventory. It integrates with existing court management systems and allows operators full control over pricing and rules. The soft-launch currently encapsulates over 1,500 courts across 150 facilities, with plans to expand throughout the East Coast by 1Q26. Additional markets, including Southern California, Texas and the Pacific Northwest, will join in 2026 as well. CourtsApp also signed a deal with DUPR to enhance player progression and verified ratings data.

Yahoo Sports named Gametime its official ticketing partner. Gametime will be integrated throughout Yahoo Sports’ digital platforms. Select website and app experiences will include related ticketing offers, while Gametime will provide data and insights for Yahoo Sports’ editorial coverage.

The American Association of Professional Baseball (AAPB) is working with Home Team Network to introduce a hybrid broadcast model that leans on artificial intelligence tools and traditional production practices. The collab will begin this upcoming season as the league “aims to create a production model that is both more efficient and more consistent while also enhancing the final product for fans and national media partners.” AAPB specified that its partnership will complement the human elements that shape broadcasts, rather than replacing them. Home Team Network’s technology will be used across functions such as camera operation, graphics, advertising and sponsorship asset insertion.

One week prior, ESPN had its most-watched Week 14 audience for Monday Night Football since obtaining the rights in 2006. The Chargers’ win against the Eagles had 20.4 million viewers, up 9% compared to last year’s Week 14 duel between the Bengals and Cowboys. Chargers-Eagles also included the “Monsters Funday Football” animated telecast on ESPN2, Disney+, Disney Channel and Disney XD. Sulley and Mike Wazowski helped contribute 563,000 viewers.

ESPN finished the 2025 college football regular season with an average of 2.2 million viewers across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ABC, its highest mark since 2011 and a 16% improvement YOY. While the broadcast network ABC had its best season since 2006 with 6.9 million viewers, the cable networks improved YOY as well: ESPN was up 14%, ESPN2 up 18% and ESPNU up 23%. “College GameDay” also set a record with 2.7 million viewers, up 23% YOY.

Although ESPN is saying “so long” to Formula 1 coverage, it ended its run on a high note. The network’s final campaign set an all-time single-season record for U.S. TV with an average race audience of 1.3 million viewers. That breaks the previous record—also set by ESPN, in 2022—of 1.21 million. All but three of the 24 total races had YOY audience growth.

It was a happy Thanksgiving for CBS Sports after it posted the most-watched regular-season college basketball game in more than 32 years on any network. Duke’s win over Arkansas had 6.81 million viewers, a 32% improvement compared to last year’s Thanksgiving Classic game. That still comes short of the 7.23 million viewers who tuned into CBS’ broadcast of Purdue-Indiana in February 1993, when the Bob Knight-led Hoosiers took down their in-state rivals.

With Elle Duncan headed to Netflix, ESPN upped Christine Williamson to co-anchor the 6pm edition of “SportsCenter” with Kevin Negandhi starting in January. Williamson will also step in as the company’s lead women’s college basketball host.

Fox Sports is thinking outside the company to build its 2026 World Cup roster. Rebecca Lowe, a mainstay on NBC Sports’ Premier League coverage, will join the Fox Sports broadcast team for the tournament. Fox Sports President, Production and Operations/Executive Producer Brad Zager thanked NBC for allowing Lowe to bolster Fox’s coverage of the World Cup, which will run from June 11-July 19 in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Lowe isn’t the only star Fox Sports is bringing in on loan. Former World Cup champion and French national team star Thierry Henry will be a lead analyst for the event. Henry currently headlines CBS Sports’ coverage of the UEFA Champions League alongside Kate Scott, Jamie Carragher and Micah Richards.

Speaking of CBS Sports, it tapped three-time PGA Tour winner Johnson Wagner as an on-course reporter and contributor to CBS Sports’ digital platforms. Wagner will officially join the company in January after spending the past couple of years with NBC Sports and Golf Channel. He replaces Collin Knost, who’ll become an analyst alongside Jim Nantz, Trevor Immelman and Frank Nobilo.

Confused about the state of college sports? ESPN’s upcoming E60 special may help. “Paid to Play: Understanding College Sports in 2025” will premiere Dec. 28 at 8:30pm ET on ESPN. The one-hour program “explores and reveals the forces reshaping the billion-dollar industry” and evaluates “how schools are now paying players, the explosive rise of the NIL industry, how the transfer portal really works and what the role of the NCAA is in a landscape it no longer fully controls.”

1997: Then-Bulls head coach Phil Jackson became the fastest to reach 500 wins, doing so in 682 games. Jackson ended his career with a record of 1,155-485, winning 11 NBA championships along the way with the Bulls and Lakers.

See everyone in 2026!