Interesting how this is phrased, as if the NFL was the decision maker and not the networks themselves (which is obviously the case).
The NFL has decided to leave the Minnesota Vikings/Carolina Panthers as the Sunday night game on NBC Dec. 20, but will move up the 1 p.m. Green Bay vs. Pittsburgh game to the Fox 4:15 slot to give that network a game with Wild Card playoff implications.
via Broadcasting & Cable.
I’m confused as why they have spun that as “The NFL” has decided?
Given how big the ratings were Sunday night in the finals, and how well Favre has done as ratings beast this year, it’s not surprising that NBC didn’t want to punt on Favre (though that had Kurt Warner story, too, and this doesn’t).
There were a couple of games they might have wanted instead that were protected, like the Saturday night Cowboys-Saints game which would be epic if not exclusive to the NFL Network and the local markets of teams involved.
If they are still undefeated I wonder if NFL Net will syndicate it everywhere like it did with the Patriots saturday night game the year they were undefeated (though that was the last week of the season rather than week 15 out of 17 as will be the case on 12/19).
That’s a big week for NFL NET but I did just look at the schedule for that week and there isn’t a whole lot of games to flex from but Brett Favre is only a ratings beast against a team in the playoff hunt. Panthers are out of it already unless they win out.
There’s a few games they could’ve aired:
MIA @ TEN on CBS
SF @ PHI on FOX
CIN @ SD on CBS
GB @ PIT on FOX (pretty sure FOX has this game locked up)
Cincinnati @ San Diego would’ve been a really good game to showcase as those two teams will fight for home field advantage in the playoffs. Either way it goes I like watching games in HD on CBS so good thing they did keep those games.
I love the NFL on CBS too as it seems to have separated itself as the best NFL net in the last few years. I would rather watch a big game on there than FOX and NBC.
I definitely prefer games on CBS over FOX, as FOX has the loser known as Joe Buck. I don’t mind watch Sunday night games called by Chris Collensworth though.
I thought the final decision was solely that of the NFL. The rules indicate that the league “schedules all games” and “will decide (after consultation with CBS, FOX, NBC) and announce as early as possible the game being played at 8:15 p.m. ET.” So am I missing something? The NFL talks to the Sunday networks and then uses its sole authority to make a final decision. NBC may get to make suggestions, and CBS & FOX each get to protect five games against flexing (1 per week) prior to week 17.
Thoughts?
Info:
http://www.nfl.com/schedules/tv/flexible
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NFL_on_television#Flexible-scheduling
cin@sd was protected by cbs.
Yes basically the network suggests what game they want but the nfl has final say.
A good test for Brett Favre’s ratings power against a team out of the playoff picture. I would’ve prefered either Miami and Tennessee or Niners and Eagles on Sunday Night.
CBS’ football coverage is second to none its simply the best. It makes you feel like your there when your watching these games late in the 4th qtr. NBC is pretty good too but second behind CBS. FOX has horrible coverage and it used to be the best back in the mid to late 90s. The Saints-Skins game this past week would’ve been classic to see on CBS.