News: NFL Considers Splitting Thursday Night Football Among Multiple Networks

[WoodysGirl]

Posted by Sean Keeley on Jan 12, 2016 15:00

John Ourand of Sports Business Daily is reporting that the NFL is currently shopping the 2016 rights for Thursday Night Football and would be willing to split them between two or even three networks.

The league has to keep at least eight games exclusive to NFL Network so that the channel can meet its minimum number of games needed to maintain an affiliate rate above $1 per cable subscriber per month. That leaves nine games open for simulcast across the major networks.

The NFL has asked CBS, Fox and NBC to submit bids at various levels, as high as eight-to-10 games and as low as three-to-five games,

More: http://awfulannouncing.com/nfl/nfl-...y-night-football-among-multiple-networks.html

 

[big dog cowboy]

I understand the league is a business and is trying to bring in as money as possible. But I'd like to see it put forth a plan to ensure those Thursday night games were more relevant by flex scheduling winning teams or playoff teams. The last four Thursday night games only involved one such team in the Commanders. While most Thursday games were competitive they involved teams going no where. That isn't smart scheduling for December games.

 

[DandyDon1722]

I understand the league is a business and is trying to bring in as money as possible. But I'd like to see it put forth a plan to ensure those Thursday night games were more relevant by flex scheduling winning teams or playoff teams. The last four Thursday night games only involved one such team in the Commanders. While most Thursday games were competitive they involved teams going no where. That isn't smart scheduling for December games.

I agree Dog. Flexing is the way to go late in the season. It's an inconvenience to fans but if your team is in the hunt you're still going to find a way to go and if you can't - somebody will.

 

[DogFace]

How about ending them besides thanksgiving? I'd like that.

 

[Super_Kazuya]

I understand the league is a business and is trying to bring in as money as possible. But I'd like to see it put forth a plan to ensure those Thursday night games were more relevant by flex scheduling winning teams or playoff teams. The last four Thursday night games only involved one such team in the Commanders. While most Thursday games were competitive they involved teams going no where. That isn't smart scheduling for December games.

They can't... every team has to play at least once on Thursday. It's a "fairness" thing. While some teams will have to play on Thursday more than once because of the opener, no team will have to play more than one short week Thursday game.

 

[Alexander]

I understand the league is a business and is trying to bring in as money as possible. But I'd like to see it put forth a plan to ensure those Thursday night games were more relevant by flex scheduling winning teams or playoff teams. The last four Thursday night games only involved one such team in the Commanders. While most Thursday games were competitive they involved teams going no where. That isn't smart scheduling for December games.

Not a good idea and it will never happen. As noted by SK above, it is a scheduling nightmare and defeats the "fairness" rule too.

But who, besides fans, wants important games to be played on a short week?

Imagine it is the last four weeks of the season, you are a team and you play a grueling game on Sunday, then you are asked to play a marquee matchup with playoff/division implications on a couple of days practice?

Players and coaches HATE the Thursday setup. It disrupts a normal week, it puts stress on the ability to get players healed from the previous week.

I know I would find it upsetting if I were a "winning or playoff team" forced to start a backup QB in a flexed Thursday game because my starter couldn't make it out of concussion protocol in three days.

 

[hutch1254]

I hate the Thursday night slate. I was fine with it back when it was on NFL Network for like 5 or 6 games towards the end of the season. It was OK. But frankly I don't find myself going out of my way to catch the Thursday night game. The product is not that great regardless of what network you put it on so spreading it around across multiple networks is not going to sell me. I want guys to have the full week, be rested and ready to go so I, the fan, have a chance at receiving a better quality game. I would rather have Sunday morning games over the Thursday night game. I'm not crazy about that either but I would take it over the Thursday night gave every time if given that choice.

 

[Alexander]

I hate the Thursday night slate. I was fine with it back when it was on NFL Network for like 5 or 6 games towards the end of the season. It was OK. But frankly I don't find myself going out of my way to catch the Thursday night game. The product is not that great regardless of what network you put it on so spreading it around across multiple networks is not going to sell me. I want guys to have the full week, be rested and ready to go so I, the fan, have a chance at receiving a better quality game. I would rather have Sunday morning games over the Thursday night game. I'm not crazy about that either but I would take it over the Thursday night gave every time if given that choice.

I don't really care for it all that much either and especially when it is a "color rush" game with two bad small market teams.

The Thursday package is simply to get pocket change for the NFL. It affords teams that they would never in their right minds schedule for prime time to get a game. I understand that approach.

If I am manipulating things in regards to nationally televised games, I go full old school and put the "best matchup" on Monday nights like it used to be.

 

[big dog cowboy]

They can't... every team has to play at least once on Thursday. It's a "fairness" thing.

Not a good idea and it will never happen. As noted by SK above, it is a scheduling nightmare and defeats the "fairness" rule too.

I'd be fine with them killing it altogether but we all know they won't cut the cord on that revenue stream.

 

[hutch1254]

I don't really care for it all that much either and especially when it is a "color rush" game with two bad small market teams.

The Thursday package is simply to get pocket change for the NFL. It affords teams that they would never in their right minds schedule for prime time to get a game. I understand that approach.

If I am manipulating things in regards to nationally televised games, I go full old school and put the "best matchup" on Monday nights like it used to be.

Yup, I understand the concept the logic as well. I live in Buffalo and fans are thirsty for primetime games here. Thursdays do offer that chance but putting a team on the field that is going to compete consistently and not be league fodder to fill the conference would be better. Totally agree with the Monday night matchup. Sunday night and Monday night should be your showcase games. Kind of like the Hateful Eight 70mm roadshow. There were no previews, nothing from the outside. It was an event singularly focused on the movie itself. The Monday night game should be like that with quality.

 

[cowboyblue22]

most of the Thursday night games were unwatchable and a lot of the sunday games are getting that way I have direct tv so I can watch all the cowboys games but also watch the best games on sunday.

 

[Venger]

How do you "flex" a Thursday night game? "Hi guys, I know you were expecting to play Sunday, and have stadium arrangements and 60,000 people have travel and schedule arrangements to attend, but NOPE we're going to move you up 3 *DAYS*. Hope you folks traveling to see your team on the road don't mind sleeping in the gutter at the stadium and paying the $250 per ticket airline change fee. Also hope your starters are rested by then."

Terrible idea. Just terrible. And I've read alot of them on this forum...

 

[Direwolf63]

How do you "flex" a Thursday night game? "Hi guys, I know you were expecting to play Sunday, and have stadium arrangements and 60,000 people have travel and schedule arrangements to attend, but NOPE we're going to move you up 3 *DAYS*. Hope you folks traveling to see your team on the road don't mind sleeping in the gutter at the stadium and paying the $250 per ticket airline change fee. Also hope your starters are rested by then."

Terrible idea. Just terrible. And I've read alot of them on this forum...

This is why it would never happen. As someone who has to fly to see any game, I would never risk paying up front only to have the game moved.

A few years ago, I had a game flexed from Sunday afternoon to Sunday night and that caused plenty of scheduling headaches for me, including an extra night at a hotel. Having a game moved to Thursday night after my schedule was set? Forget it.

 

[erod]

Thursday night games are stupid. Teams that have to play on Thursdays aren't healed and ready yet to play again. It makes for ugly football and changes the results of what the games would normally be.

Teams that play on Thanksgiving should all have byes the Sunday prior. And that should be the only Thursday games of the year.

Romo is always awful on Thanksgiving these days because he's not physically ready to play following the Sunday before.

 

[Seven]

Dump the Thursday night games and take away MNF from that suck monster espn.

JMO..............

 

[dogunwo]

I understand the league is a business and is trying to bring in as money as possible. But I'd like to see it put forth a plan to ensure those Thursday night games were more relevant by flex scheduling winning teams or playoff teams. The last four Thursday night games only involved one such team in the Commanders. While most Thursday games were competitive they involved teams going no where. That isn't smart scheduling for December games.

I don't think the networks should have to simulcast the game.

 

[erod]

This is an admission that this hasn't gone as well as the NFL Network had hoped. Ratings aren't as projected.

I watch so little of it anymore. Just a bunch of fanboys and former players talking over each other and saying absolutely nothing of substance, with a semi-hot chick anchor with big cans. And those super dorks they roll out for Fantasy Football shows......LOL.

 

[jazzcat22]

I don't mind the Thursday night games overall. Maybe not every week though. I am ok with it, what ever they do, keep it the same, or reduce games.
But I doubt they ever take it away from a weekly game. It is entrenched there, and they will keep it this way.

Week 17 is a good format though, every team plays their final game on that last Sunday. Or may have a few on Saturday nights the last few weeks, like a double header. weeks 15 & 16, but none on week 17, all on Sunday.

 

[jazzcat22]

What the NFL really needs to also do, is get with the FCC and relax the blackouts rules, and the double header rules, home team market rules.
allow 4 games to be broadcast on Sunday. no AFC / NFC ties to networks.
Or bring in a 3rd network to show Sunday daytime games. Give more options to marketing, instead of gearing teams to certain markets.
Why should a small area in Arkansas / Oklahoma / Missouri borders, get the Titans and Texans, as opposed not having an option to view the Chiefs and Broncos on another channel, and the Cowboys and Packers on a 3rd channel. Or Bears / Packers or Bears / Vikings or whoever.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

What the NFL really needs to also do, is get with the FCC and relax the blackouts rules, and the double header rules, home team market rules.
allow 4 games to be broadcast on Sunday. no AFC / NFC ties to networks.
Or bring in a 3rd network to show Sunday daytime games. Give more options to marketing, instead of gearing teams to certain markets.
Why should a small area in Arkansas / Oklahoma / Missouri borders, get the Titans and Texans, as opposed not having an option to view the Chiefs and Broncos on another channel, and the Cowboys and Packers on a 3rd channel. Or Bears / Packers or Bears / Vikings or whoever.

You have that option, it is called Sunday Ticket,,,,,,