USA Today: Prime-time negotiations stalled - Dallas Cowboys Forum

**WoodysGirl** · 03-21-2005

By Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY
KAPALUA, Hawaii — The NFL will reveal matchups Monday for the prime-time games that will christen the 2005 regular season, likely including a home-opening Thursday night game Sept. 8 for the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots.

Dallas owner Jerry Jones, a member of the NFL's broadcast committee, says ESPN's high Sunday ratings are noticed.

By L.M. Otero, AP

But the most anticipated news regarding the league's future on prime-time television — new agreements for Monday Night Football and a Sunday night package beginning with the 2006 season — remains on hold apparently because of stalled negotiations.

Industry analysts have estimated the league might command about $1 billion a year for the Monday night slice of a new TV deal, but after a 36th season on ABC, league owners are bracing for a switch to ESPN that could push the Sunday night package to network TV. The league balks at the prospect of not having at least one of its prime-time packages on over-the-air networks.

"I think we'll come up with a way to maximize the interest for the viewers," Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, a member of the league's broadcast committee, said Sunday as the league gathered for its annual meetings at a plush, secluded resort on Maui.

Although sentiment might exist within the league to keep Monday games on network TV, Jones said, "We know how successful ESPN has been with the Sunday games."

ABC has an exclusive negotiating period through the end of October to retain MNF, but losses estimated at $150 million a year and the success of other shows fuels the notion of a switch to the Disney-owned cable network. New agreements with Fox, CBS and DirecTV are already in place for the Sunday afternoon games.

The Sunday afternoon and DirecTV price tag of $11.5 billion over six years equates to a 33% increase over the existing package, undoubtedly a factor in the negotiations for the prime-time packages.

"Our discussions to renew both Monday Night Football and Sunday night football are ongoing," ABC Sports vice president Mark Mandel, en route to Maui, told USA TODAY from Los Angeles on Sunday.

Without a deal in place with either or both ESPN and ABC, it is doubtful that ABC would drop its exclusive negotiating rights.

"I know I wouldn't want to do that," said Patriots owner Robert Kraft, a broadcast committee member. A meeting scheduled for Thursday in Los Angeles between NFL and Disney officials was postponed. Kraft, though, is optimistic that negotiations will hit a fast track with Robert Iger being promoted last week to become Disney's CEO on Oct. 1. "That removes a lot of uncertainty," Kraft said.

On the other hand, many scenarios remain. Other networks, including NBC and Fox, which is planning to launch a national all-sports cable network, are apparently positioned to step in if talks with Disney don't produce new deals.

Perhaps that's why Jones suggests the prime-time issues might not be settled until the fall — after ABC's exclusive negotiating period expires.

Said Jones, "They've let the competition draw down and line up."

Contributing: Rudy Martzke

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/footb...-stalled_x.htm

Richmond Cowboy · 03-21-2005

I wonder how many MNF games we'll get this year? Other than the 1st Eags game the other two were competitive and highly entertaining.

TheSkaven · 03-21-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richmond Cowboy

I wonder how many MNF games we'll get this year? Other than the 1st Eags game the other two were competitive and highly entertaining.

If I had to venture a guess, probably only one with another Sunday night game. I'd like to see more, but in addition to this being a 6-10 team, there are not really any good marquee matchups on the docket for this year. Maybe the Rams game? Carolina? (2003 playoff rematch)

**WoodysGirl** · 03-21-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richmond Cowboy

I wonder how many MNF games we'll get this year? Other than the 1st Eags game the other two were competitive and highly entertaining.

Someone posted a projected schedule a while back and it said we were shut out. No MNF games at all. Only Nat'l game was T-Day if I'm not mistaken.

Now granted it was copied from another board by someone who was vouching for the info, but it was an interesting read nonetheless. I'd be curious to see how much if any of it turns out to be true.

calico · 03-21-2005

The Cowboys are too much of a ratings powerhouse to be shut out of MNF football. Even the lousy game a few years ago against Washington was the highest rated MNF game that season. I think Dallas will get at least 1 MNF game and Sunday Night game ontop of the Thanksgiving game.

2 MNF games and the Sunday night game against the Giants all game down to the final minute and were very exciting. They will not be shut out.

hipfake08 · 03-21-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by calico

The Cowboys are too much of a ratings powerhouse to be shut out of MNF football. Even the lousy game a few years ago against Washington was the highest rated MNF game that season. I think Dallas will get at least 1 MNF game and Sunday Night game ontop of the Thanksgiving game.

2 MNF games and the Sunday night game against the Giants all game down to the final minute and were very exciting. They will not be shut out.

For sure. Cowboys draw numbers on MNF and just about any other game.

You may see us in a matchup with the Skins or Eagles. :iggles:

Gibby! · 03-21-2005

MNF wouldn't be so bad if they loosened the requirements to get on. With this new "parity" crap there are no longer any truly "dominant" teams left (New England will find out this year what that means). A 6 - 10 team one year can easily become a 10 - 6 team next year. And those 6 - 10 teams get stuck with bad schedules and may even be bumped before the game even starts for some other "more" interesting game...

I also hope this doesn't go through and all the games remain on broadcast TV. The Sunday Night Game is bad enough, but if I have to purchase a package to watch an NFL game, I wont do it,I get ESPN for free (on my package at least) as I was grandfathered in to the new Comcast Package. Just as an example England took the premiership soccer league and gave it Sky (probably 5x's the viewers of the NFL) and thier ratings dropped like 50% the first year. The revenue lost was astounding!

Richmond Cowboy · 03-21-2005

Was there not some talk earlier in preseason about flexibility in the MNF schedule toward the end of the season based on matchups of importance?

calico · 03-21-2005

yeah, but Fox and CBS refused to give up their rights to those good matchups...why should they lose the ratings?