Fox and CBS let the NFL know that they weren't happy with their decision to require them to declare which late-season games they would protect from being shown on NBC.
With the new "flex-scheduling" plan becoming operational in the 10th week of the season, CBS and Fox will be made to pick five games each to protect over the last eight weeks of the season. After their picks, NBC will be allowed to pick any game it wants to put on its Sunday night schedule.
Fox Sports President Ed Goren commented: "We’re disappointed that the league’s guidelines for the flexible schedule seem unfair to the Sunday afternoon broadcasters, we knew that the flexible schedule was part of the deal, but we were led to believe that the process wouldn’t put any network at a disadvantage. This plan almost guarantees that one or both networks will protect the wrong game on any given Sunday."
According to the networks, the problem is that they are being forced to carry games after seeing the teams only three or four times early in the season. The issue is that it is impossible to predict after that time which teams will be in playoff contention and who will draw the best ratings.
While the networks understand the NBC will be favored because of its $600 million deal with the NFL, they just don't want their success to be at the expense of CBS and Fox.
First of all, I want to mention that I am a huge NFL fan! I am going to miss the first game of my favorite team this week because of the NFL NETWORK. I absolutely hate it! Intstead of watching it in my own home, in which I subscribe to expanded cable, I have to watch THE DALLAS COWBOYS at a local bar or get digital cable and subscribe or buy into satellite and subcscribe to NFL NETWORK! I absolutely hate it! What ever happened to watching football on expanded cable? It is changeing and what will happen if this is ALLOWED to keep on going? I hope that NFL NETWORK will be discontinued on to letting them air any games for any local networks. As you might see I am very unhappy and for GOOD reason. If I want to see any NEW NFL news I can go online or check out ESPN news and I get what I want. NFL network is turning itself into a frusration and I know people are unhappy with the STOLEN' ENTERTAIN they have brought upon. I just hope this is the last year because I will no longer support this.
Posted by: juan | December 14, 2006 2:52 AM | Permalink to Comment