Now that the cost-cutting cull of television shows is over, Warner Bros. Discovery is looking to bring Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl to new audiences by simulcasting the annual live-action TV event across its linear networks and streaming platforms from both sides of the merged company, according to a report from Deadline. Moving forward, the Puppy Bowl will run on its home network, Animal Planet, where the fan-favorite event has been airing for the past 19 years, and on TBS, Discovery Channel, and the soon-to-be merged HBO Max and Discovery+. This is Warner Bros. Discovery’s first post-merger edition.

“The puppies are taking over, and the epic battle between Ruff and Fluff is now too big for one network,” the Deadline’s exclusive promo for the simulcast says.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

The Puppy Bowl has aired annually since its inception in 2005, opposite Super Bowl XXXIX. The event mimics an American football game and is shown opposite Super Bowl Sunday each year. Starring shelter puppies and designed to raise awareness about pet adoption, the show consists of footage of the pups of Team Ruff and Team Fluff at play inside a model stadium, with commentary on their actions from all-star hosts, like Puppy Bowl XVIII’s Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart.

Last year, before this year’s media mergers and programming change-ups, Puppy Bowl XVIII streamed on Discovery+ in addition to its Animal Planet run. However, due to the event’s popularity - which is good for all the hopeful Penny Bautista(s) waiting for adoption worldwide - the media conglomerate has decided to expand the event’s paw print.

Puppy Bowl XIX Airs Feb. 12

     Discovery

According to Deadline, “Puppy Bowl XIX will feature 122 puppies, 67 shelters, and rescues across 34 states — and for the first time will feature a Native American animal organization and a puppy player from Dominica, West Indies.” The 19th annual call-to-adoption event will feature Bleacher Report host Taylor Rooks and sports commentator Steve Levy, both of whom are returning Puppy Bowl playtime-casters to provide play-by-play commentary, and referee Dan Schachner, who returns for his 12th year. Puppy Bowl XIX will also feature Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson (Married to Real Estate), Faruq Tauheed (Battlebots), Zak Bagans (Ghost Adventures), Alex Guarnaschelli (Supermarket Stakeout), and sports personalities from Warner Bros. Discovery Sports, as well as talent from Discovery Channel’s Street Outlaws franchise and New Line Cinema’s upcoming film Shazam! Fury of the Gods.

Airing on Feb. 12, a pre-game show starts at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT with the inside scoop on the Puppy Bowl draft.