Fall TV is nearly back in full swing. With new shows like High Potential and Matlock making their series premieres and fan favorites like 9-1-1 and Chicago Fire returning for new seasons, now is one of the best times of the year to be glued to your screens. New stories are airing or streaming daily, and October adds several sports entertainment gems to that programming list.
Have you ever wanted to see a new side of the NHL from the comfort of your home? Do you want to get to know five of the NBA’s best players during last year’s season? How about a scripted show inspired by the novel Black Beauty? October has all of that and more in store for sports entertainment fans.
Friday, October 4: FACEOFF: Inside the NHL
A new docuseries from Box to Box and NHL Productions “gives unprecedented access to the National Hockey League’s biggest teams and most compelling players, all at different stages of their careers, as they embark throughout the season on the ultimate pursuit of glory – winning the coveted Stanley Cup,” per its logline. From key players and their rivals to those in their closest inner circle, FACEOFF: Inside the NHL promises to share “what life on-and-off the ice is really like for the league’s top players.”
The six-episode series features superstar players, including Boston Bruins teammates David Pastrnak and Jeremy Swayman; Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog; Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid and forwards Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman; Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk; Nashville Predators forward Filip Forsberg; New York Rangers captain Jacob Trouba; Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander; Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes; and Vegas Golden Knights forward Jack Eichel.
FACEOFF: Inside the NHL is the fourth original hockey program Amazon has produced with NHL Productions for Prime Video. James Gay-Rees and Paul Martin, co-founders of Box To Box, Steve Mayer and Ross Bernard for NHL Productions, and Daniel Amigone executive produce the series.
FACEOFF: Inside the NHL premieres on Prime Video on Friday, October 4.
Monday, October 9: Starting 5
Netflix’s new 10-part sports series goes behind the scenes of the 2023-24 NBA season with Jimmy Butler (Miami Heat), Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves), LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers), Domantas Sabonis (Sacramento Kings), and Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics). From showrunner Peter J. Scalettar, “Starting 5 delivers an unfiltered view of life at the pinnacle of professional basketball,” per its description.
UNINTERRUPTED, in association with Higher Ground Productions and Omaha Productions, produces the docuseries. Maverick Carter, Jamal Henderson, Philip Byron and Randy Mims (for UNINTERRUPTED); President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Vinnie Malhotra and Ethan Lewis (for Higher Ground); Peyton Manning, Jamie Horowitz and Sam Pepper (for Omaha) executive produce.
Starting 5’s co-executive producers are Sami Khan, Matt Rissmiller, and Camara Rose. Showrunner Scalettar also directs the project alongside Susan Ansman and Trishtan Williams.
Starting 5 streams on Netflix on Wednesday, October 9.
Tuesday, October 15: Beyond Black Beauty
Inspired by the novel Black Beauty, Beyond Black Beauty follows young equestrian Jolie Dumont (Kaya Coleman) after her “Olympic dreams are dashed when her mother moves them from Belgium to her family’s urban ranch in Baltimore,” per its description. Jolie is angry and wants to escape from this very different life than she envisioned – until she bonds with the spirited horse, Black Beauty. Throughout Beyond Black Beauty, “Jolie will learn to embrace her heritage while continuing toward her Olympic-hopeful future and discover the value of family and home.”
The eleven-episode series comes from Sinking Ship Entertainment, Leif Films, Saga Film, and Amazon MGM Studios. Beyond Black Beauty also stars Gina James, Sagine Sémajuste, Lisa Berry, and Gilles Marini. Pilar Golden, Carla de Jong, Blair Powers, J.J. Johnson, Leif Bristow, Agnes Bristow, Hubert Toint, and Christin Simms executive produce the series. Pilar Golden serves as the series creator, executive producer, and showrunner.
Beyond Black Beauty premieres on Tuesday, October 15, on Prime Video.
Tuesday, October 22: Game 7
Game 7 is a new, five-part anthology series unpacking the most iconic Game 7s in sports history, and it’s coming to Prime Video on Tuesday, October 22. The latest trailer features the first-hand accounts of the athletes who participated in the one-of-a-kind showdowns. Across the five episodes, Game 7 “will explore how this quintessential test of maximum pressure and extreme intensity weigh on the hearts and minds of the legendary stars at the center of them,” per its description.
Produced by Words + Pictures and directed by Daniel Amigone, the anthology series will focus on the 2003 ALCS – New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox, the 1987 Stanley Cup Finals – Edmonton Oilers vs. Philadelphia Flyers, the 2006 WCSF – Dallas Mavericks vs. San Antonio Spurs, the 2016 World Series – Chicago Cubs vs. Cleveland Indians, and the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals – New York Rangers vs. Vancouver Canucks.
Connor Schell, Aaron Cohen, and Anneka Jones of Words + Pictures; six-time Stanley Cup winner Mark Messier, Mat Vlasic, and Isaac Chera of GAME 7; and Danny DeVito, Jake DeVito, and Lucy DeVito of Jersey Films 2nd Avenue executive produce Game 7.
Game 7 premieres on Tuesday, October 22, on Prime Video.
Wednesday, October 25: Simone Biles Rising Part 2
The highly-anticipated Simone Biles Rising Part 2 premieres on Netflix in October. The first two episodes of the four-part docuseries premiered in July 2024. The final two episodes, also directed by Kate Walsh, will follow the gymnast as she takes Olympic gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics on July 30.
These episodes follow “Biles as she makes the US Olympic Team at the 2024 Trials, onward to her arrival in Paris, and continuing along her incredible blazing trail to become the most decorated gymnast in history,” per Netflix’s description. Gotham Chopra, Ameeth Sankaran, Giselle Parets, Janey Miller, JT Taylor, Yiannis Exarchos, Jérôme Parmentier, and David Herren executive produce Simone Biles Rising.
Simone Biles Rising Part 2 premieres on Wednesday, October 25, on Netflix.
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What are you most excited to watch this month? Let us know in the comments below!
