Monday Night Football... to ESPN!

[jmaxlow]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2040130

Wow.

[Mad Dawg]

In a related story, ABC has announced two new shows, Desperate Housewives: Miami and Desperate Housewives: NY, for the fall '06 schedule.

[Jericho]

So who gets the Monday night game, Al Michaels and John Madden or the Mike Patrick trio that normally does Sunday nights?

[dancinns]

Hopefully we get the Mike Patrick trio. I always enjoyed how those guys called a football game.

[fujishig]

Dan Patrick and Stewart Scott...

[Red Dog]

Football shuffle: MNF to ESPN; NBC gets Sundays
By Michael Hiestand, USA TODAY
NBC has confirmed that it will return to covering NFL games for the first time since the 1997 season.

In a six-year deal starting in 2006, NBC will pay an average of $600 million per year for Sunday night games in a TV package that will also include the Super Bowl and Pro Bowl games in 2009 and 2012, as well as the NFL's annual Thursday night opening game. NBC's Sunday night games will be based on flexible scheduling, giving NBC the chance to move games from Sunday afternoons to primetime.

And Disney's ABC, which has aired Monday night NFL games since 1970, will end its coverage. Disney's ESPN will inherit Monday night games starting in 2006, in a deal worth about $1.1 billion per year. The deal will not include any Super Bowl games.

The Monday night move from network TV to basic cable had been hinted at continually by commissioner Paul Tagliabue. The league is expected to get $1.1 billion over eight years from the network, according to two sources familiar with the deals who spoke to The Associated Press under condition of anonymity.

ABC and ESPN are both subsidiaries of the Walt Disney Co. The deal with ESPN, which currently carries games every Sunday night and sometimes on Thursday, was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.

Last month, Tagliabue said during the NFL meetings in Hawaii that the Monday night move was a strong possibility. ABC, which has been losing money on the package despite high ratings, had been balking at the NFL's asking price.

CBS and Fox already have agreed to pay a total of $8 billion over six years for the Sunday AFC and NFC rights.

That has become more pressing since parity caused by the salary cap has resulted in teams moving up and down the standings annually, leaving bad teams that were strong the previous season in prime time and good teams that were bad the past season off of it.

The NFL is still considering separate packages for Thursday and late-season Saturday nights.


Never was a fan of NBC's NFL coverage. The best part is that allows for flex scheduling.

[ruk]

sad news.

[Deftones]

Wow. So wait, the ESPN Sunday night games to go NBC now? Am I interpreting that correctly?

In a related story, ABC has announced two new shows, Desperate Housewives: Miami and Desperate Housewives: NY, for the fall '06 schedule.

:lol:

[IDrinkMolson]

In a related story, ABC has announced two new shows, Desperate Housewives: Miami and Desperate Housewives: NY, for the fall '06 schedule.


And don't forget "Found".

[raven56706]

yahoooooooo.... wait.... i have them both in HD

[Deftones]

This announcement means nothing for the HD crowd. Unless you don't have ESPN and you can get your NBC local in HD, then it means one more game on Sunday, but one less game on Monday. So it's basically a wash.

I just like the Sunday night ESPN guys. Hopefully they put them somewhere.

[Lateralus]

Hopefully it starts at 8 PM EST instead of 9.

[Red Dog]

Hopefully it starts at 8 PM EST instead of 9.


Fat chance. Plus I bet NBC uses a 9 pm start time for SNF instead of 8:30.

[Shannon Nutt]

This is no big surprise - ABC and ESPN are essentially the same company, and I'm sure Disney is sick of worrying about the FCC with their ABC broadcasts. Both Al McGuire and Dan Patrick may be considering retirement by 2006, and even if Madden isn't I wouldn't be surprised to see Theisman join Michaels and Madden in the booth for a three-man team.

[Red Dog]

This is no big surprise - ABC and ESPN are essentially the same company, and I'm sure Disney is sick of worrying about the FCC with their ABC broadcasts. Both Al McGuire and Dan Patrick may be considering retirement by 2006, and even if Madden isn't I wouldn't be surprised to see Theisman join Michaels and Madden in the booth for a three-man team.


I would be very surprised. Madden has never worked in a 3-man booth and I doubt he would start doing so now.

[Quake1028]

Dan Patrick and Stewart Scott...

Would guarantee I would never see another MNF game in my entire life.

[fujishig]

This is no big surprise - ABC and ESPN are essentially the same company, and I'm sure Disney is sick of worrying about the FCC with their ABC broadcasts.

I wonder if that's a big enough reason to move MNF. I also wonder if ABC and ESPN bid against each other as separate entities, and ESPN just won.

Because taking MNF from ABC opens up a HUGE hole in their lineup, not to mention moving a staple of American television. Even with the controversy with announcers or games between poor teams, it was still a ratings juggernaut, wasn't it? And leaves ABC with no NFL at all...

I guess most people have cable now, but surely they'll lose some viewership, right? I'm still mad about when the NBA moved from NBC after I grew up watching it there, and years later when they relegated the pre-all-star game festivities to TNT.

[clemente]

I guess NBC has some time to staff up their football coverages, but who? NBC Sports has been pretty gutted since they don't really cover anything major outside of the Olympics. Would they be willing to spend some big dough to bring someone in?

I know some people don't really like him too much, and baseballs more his thing, but Costas on football might be interesting.....maybe the studio show.

[POWERBOMB]

Seems to be a lot of football to go around for everybody. And it guarantees "free" pro football at least until 2011.

[wmansir]

This AP article (http://www.variety.com/VR1117921273.html) says that ESPN's MNF will start at 8:40PM Eastern and NBC's Sunday night game will start at 8:15.

[RayChuang]

...You folks aren't talking about what NBC getting a Sunday night football game on over-air broadcast (pregame starts at 1900 hours ET, kickoff at 2015 ET) will do to Sunday night TV viewing in general, especially since Sunday nights have the highest number of viewers of any night of TV.

This is especially since the NFL has given NBC flexibility to find the best matchup they can get, which could mean a lot of very good games being shown on NBC. That could dramatically alter viewership on Sunday nights, and as such could change the ratings on ABC, CBS, Fox, WB and UPN on Sunday night prime time in the Fall. It could even force premium pay networks like HBO and Showtime to move their original programming premieres to another night for the same reason.

[Deftones]

Actually this will help NBC the more that you think about it. They can take whatever shows they have on Sunday nights, and throw them on another night. Fans of the shows will mostly stay loyal. That way NBC doesn't have to come up with a ton of new shows.

Or, they can pull what FOX did w/ 24 and wait until football is over. Premiere the shows in January, and ride it out all the way until May/June w/o any hiatus.

[paulringodaman]

this is sad news...football will not be the same

[Bill Needle]

This announcement means nothing for the HD crowd. Unless you don't have ESPN and you can get your NBC local in HD, then it means one more game on Sunday, but one less game on Monday. So it's basically a wash.

I just like the Sunday night ESPN guys. Hopefully they put them somewhere.
That's not at all true for me. The local cable company does not carry HD ABC in my area, but does carry NBC, CBS, Fox, and ESPN. It was always aggravating not to be able to see MNF in HD (on ABC), but then switch over to see the highlights on ESPN in HD and be reminded of what I had been missing all evening.

On the other hand, this does mean one NFL game a week with no score or clock on the screen the entire game.

[Deftones]

That's not at all true for me. The local cable company does not carry HD ABC in my area, but does carry NBC, CBS, Fox, and ESPN. It was always aggravating not to be able to see MNF in HD (on ABC), but then switch over to see the highlights on ESPN in HD and be reminded of what I had been missing all evening.

On the other hand, this does mean one NFL game a week with no score or clock on the screen the entire game.

True. I was basing the fact that I can get OTA feeds of HD. I guess that's not true in all locations. Good point.

[jfoobar]

I guess NBC has some time to staff up their football coverages, but who? NBC Sports has been pretty gutted since they don't really cover anything major outside of the Olympics.

NBC's SNF crew will be Bud Collins and Chris Evert.

[Red Dog]

This AP article (http://www.variety.com/VR1117921273.html) says that ESPN's MNF will start at 8:40PM Eastern and NBC's Sunday night game will start at 8:15.


That's awesome! It will be good to have MNF regularly end before midnight. :thumbsup:

BTW, Madden's contract with ABC expires after '05, so I would expect him to jump to NBC. I could see Costas wanting to get back into play-by-play (even though he's never done NFL play-by-play) on 17 Sunday nights.

[Red Dog]

What amazes me is the disparity in price. ESPN pays $1.1B for an 8-year deal. That's $137.5M/year. NBC pays $600M for a 6-year deal so that is $100M/year.

Now NBC gets the same number of games PLUS a night with more TV viewers PLUS flex scheduling (better games) PLUS 2 Super Bowls and they pay $37M/year less? :hscratch: Am I missing something here or is this deal a touchdown for NBC?

[wildcatlh]

MNF has always been the more expensive package than SNF I believe. It's one of the reasons ABC wanted out of the game (MNF too expensive and didn't want to disrupt their Sunday Night lineup by taking on SNF)

[Red Dog]

MNF has always been the more expensive package than SNF I believe. It's one of the reasons ABC wanted out of the game (MNF too expensive and didn't want to disrupt their Sunday Night lineup by taking on SNF)


I figured that was because an OTA package would be more valuable than a cable package.

[Red Dog]

I misread the numbers. I thought is was $1.1B for 8 years and $600M for 6 years. It actually is $1.1B/year for 8 years and $600M/year for 6. That makes the disparity far larger.

[neiname]

I misread the numbers. I thought is was $1.1B for 8 years and $600M for 6 years. It actually is $1.1B/year for 8 years and $600M/year for 6. That makes the disparity far larger.

Correct except that ABC pays $550 million/year. The Journal also mentioned that ABC was losing $150 million/year at the $550 million/year cost so I see no way ESPN breaks even on this. The Journal also pointed out that this contract does not give ESPN any rights to have a superbowl or the payoffs but NBC attained the rights to a 2 1st round games as well as the Superbowl in 2009 and 2012.

This is a very bad contract for ESPN.

[Duran]

That can't be right. ABC was losing $150/million a year on a contract at $550 million/year. ESPN then decides to pay double for the same contract? Eh? Can that possibly be right? Who in their right mind would sign that contract?

[Red Dog]

Correct except that ABC pays $550 million/year. The Journal also mentioned that ABC was losing $150 million/year at the $550 million/year cost so I see no way ESPN breaks even on this. The Journal also pointed out that this contract does not give ESPN any rights to have a superbowl or the payoffs but NBC attained the rights to a 2 1st round games as well as the Superbowl in 2009 and 2012.

This is a very bad contract for ESPN.


I can see ABC willing to take a loss on MNF - it is a great way to promote their regular programming. That is basically what FOX did when they decided to jump in the NFL pool in the mid-90s.

However, I can't really see a sports network being able to do the same. People who tune to ESPN to watch football pretty much know what sports are on ESPN later in the week.

The only thing I can guess is that Turner and Fox Sports Net must have bid up the cable package and ESPN didn't want to let the NFL get away, otherwise they wouldn't be able to justify their already high cable-carry-fee and their reputation as the Worldwide Leader in Sports.

[B.A.]

That ESPN per year figure is ridiculous.

:up: to earlier starting times.

I would love to see Costas in the booth for NBC. He deserves to do more than the Olympic's studio show every two years.

[Red Dog]

That's awesome! It will be good to have MNF regularly end before midnight. :thumbsup:

BTW, Madden's contract with ABC expires after '05, so I would expect him to jump to NBC. I could see Costas wanting to get back into play-by-play (even though he's never done NFL play-by-play) on 17 Sunday nights.


To add, Al Michaels' ABC contract expires after the 2006 NBA Finals so he would essentially be a free agent as well.

[gimmepilotwings]

I would love to see Costas in the booth for NBC. He deserves to do more than the Olympic's studio show every two years.

:thumbsup:

Agreed, Costas is one of my favorites.

[Deftones]

What Costas really deserves, to do baseball again. :(

[Red Dog]

What Costas really deserves, is to be the commissioner of baseball


Fixed.

[Deftones]

Fixed.

Well duh! That's a given. :)

[CRM114]

So, is the Sunday night game now going to be the "new" Monday night? In other words, which night is supposed to be the showcase night now? NBC gets Sunday Night and the ability to choose the best matchup (assuming that matchup isn't booked for MNF.)

Does this mean that MNF will suck ass like the ESPN game did? If thats the case, this deal sucks. I want a good game on Monday night. I see lots of football Sunday and would rather not have the marquee game be on that night.

[chrisih8u]

So, is the Sunday night game now going to be the "new" Monday night? In other words, which night is supposed to be the showcase night now? NBC gets Sunday Night and the ability to choose the best matchup (assuming that matchup isn't booked for MNF.)

Does this mean that MNF will suck ass like the ESPN game did? If thats the case, this deal sucks. I want a good game on Monday night. I see lots of football Sunday and would rather not have the marquee game be on that night.


I imagine MNF will get the marquee games, just like now. And it should get better games than MNF does now.

[Red Dog]

I imagine MNF will get the marquee games, just like now. And it should get better games than MNF does now.


I think just the opposite. NBC is the one who gets the flex schedule benefit. That tells me that they will get the more attractive games.

[chrisih8u]

I think just the opposite. NBC is the one who gets the flex schedule benefit. That tells me that they will get the more attractive games.


Oh. I assumed MNF would get flex, too. You are right then.

[kurupt]

I don't really mind this deal either way. As far as content enjoyment, I like the ESPN crew (with the exception of Maguire) much better than the ABC Monday Night Team (that includes you Mr. I make the stupidest,most obvious points possible but somehow am still considered the "top" color commentator in the business Madden (and to make it worse he's spawned this whole trend of ex-players-usually linemen-who sound just like him in the booth), but I digress. I am actually interested to see what NBC does with its games. The flex schedule doesn't matter to me due to the fact that I'm a fanatic and would happily watch any game. Hopefully, ESPN will put Hank Williams to pasture and come up with a new intro...please don't let it have anything to do with Aerosmith, or Britany Spears, or Ashley/Jessica Simpson, or Nelly...*crosses fingers*. Hell, I wouldn't mind to see the classic Helmets smashing intro again. Hopefully the will keep the bumper music though. I guess we'll see in a year or two...

[wmansir]

If that 1.1B/year number is right, that is just ridiculous. I wonder how much cable rates will have to go up to cover the increase ESPN charges carriers. If ABC could only bring in $400M/year with MNF there is no way ESPN will be able to break even with just ad revenue. I know ESPN is already one of, if not the, most expensive channels to carry. Cox had a very public showdown with them in 2003 after ESPN raised it's rates by 20% for the 5th strait year.

[Deftones]

If that 1.1B/year number is right, that is just ridiculous. I wonder how much cable rates will have to go up to cover the increase ESPN charges carriers. If ABC could only bring in $400M/year with MNF there is no way ESPN will be able to break even with just ad revenue. I know ESPN is already one of, if not the, most expensive channels to carry. Cox had a very public showdown with them in 2003 after ESPN raised it's rates by 20% for the 5th strait year.

Yeah. That's the first thing I heard today was that cable rates might go up because the bump in price to carry ESPN now.

[Scott27]

The reason ESPN can pay double than ABC did for the MNF package is because they're a cable network. The only source of revenue for the broadcast networks is ad revenue. ESPN, and all cable networks, makes money from ad revenue and also makes money off the carriage fees cable companies pay ESPN in order to carry the network. So ESPN, essentially, has 2 revenue streams as opposed to ABC's 1. And so ESPN can pay more for the rights and not lose as much money (or likely even profit from it).

[will travel]

I hope NBC doesn't hire Deion Sanders as the color analyis.
And ESPN should just hire an all-new broadcast team for the booth and pre-game show.

[raven56706]

Can someone explain to me the flex schedule. Does this mean they will show all the game or not?

[Red Dog]

Can someone explain to me the flex schedule. Does this mean they will show all the game or not?


Basically it means that if a dog-game (say a 2-9 team vs a 3-8 team) is scheduled for NBC in the last 7 weeks, NBC has the right to switch it with another game scheduled on Sunday (which would have been broadcast on CBS or FOX). I believe CBS and FOX have the right to protect one game on their schedule each week.

[raven56706]

So which other channel has sunday night games

[Red Dog]

So which other channel has sunday night games


No other channel. There is only 1 Sunday night game.

[raven56706]

but how can nbc switch games if there isnt any other games scheduled at that time

[chrisih8u]

but how can nbc switch games if there isnt any other games scheduled at that time


The time of the games are switched. If you have a ticket to a good game and the Sunday night game for that week is crap, they could move your game to Sunday night. The old Sunday night game would get switched to a day game. Not sure if they will switch exact times.

[raven56706]

oh ok


sounds confusing but hey, its the NFL, if it was 24 hours i would be in heaven

[chrisih8u]

John Madden will be the analyst for Sunday Night Football on NBC.


http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/football/nfl/06/15/bc.fbn.nbc.madden.ap/

[LorenzoL]

John Madden will be the analyst for Sunday Night Football on NBC.


http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/football/nfl/06/15/bc.fbn.nbc.madden.ap/

Thanks. Now to see who's going to be with him in the booth.

[Red Dog]

Thanks. Now to see who's going to be with him in the booth.


My guess is Bob Costas or NBC brings back Marv Albert.

[chrisih8u]

Monday Night Football will have a new home in 2006, but the faces on the telecast team will be familar to prime-time football.

Al Michaels, who will be in his third decade with MNF, will retain his post as play-by-play commentator when the show moves to ESPN in 2006, the network announced in a statement Tuesday.

Michaels, who will also appear on ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown, NFL PrimeTime and SportsCenter, will be joined by analyst Joe Theisman in the booth, with Suzy Kolber and Michelle Tafoya reporting from the sidelines.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2117146

[chrisih8u]

I actually like that. I know a lot of people hate Theismann, but I actually dont mind him. The other 2 guys were the ones who annoyed me.

[LorenzoL]

No more McGuire on TV! :banana:

With Michaels being included on NFL Primetime. Is ESPN thinking of tinkering with Jackson and Bergman? Leave those two alone!

[chrisih8u]

No more McGuire on TV! :banana:



Hopefully. Or at the very least if he's hired by someone, he will be stuck with Cardinals/Bears type matchups.

[LorenzoL]

Hopefully. At the very least if he's hired by someone, he will be stuck with Cardinals/Bears type matchups.

[Bears fan]Noooooh, I take offense to that![/Bears fan] :mad:

[Red Dog]

I actually like that. I know a lot of people hate Theismann, but I actually dont mind him. The other 2 guys were the ones who annoyed me.


Same here. Funny thing is that I hated Theismann when he played. A Michaels/Theismann is a-okay with me. I still want to see Jaws get an in-game analyst gig though.

I was never a Mike Patrick fan for football. He's awesome for college hoops, but I don't think his style really suited the NFL.

[Red Dog]

I also hope that NBC doesn't just stick Tom Hammond into that SNF play-by-play spot. Go get Marv Albert.

[chrisih8u]

Marv Albert would be a good choice.

[Joeboo835]

I think heisman is one of the worst choices they could have made. THat guy is just horrible and I can't believe we have to listen to him every monday night.

[The Cow]

I think heisman is one of the worst choices they could have made. THat guy is just horrible and I can't believe we have to listen to him every monday night.
But he has cool poses...

http://www.herffjones.com/corpaward/images/heisman.JPG

[chrisih8u]

NBC will formally announce on Tuesday that Bob Costas will host its Sunday night NFL studio show when the network begins airing Sunday night games in 2006.
The move was first reported by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Costas, whose NBC duties include hosting Olympic coverage, also will get a contract extension at least through NBC's coverage of the 2012 Summer Games

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2005-07-25-costas-nbc-nfl_x.htm

So he wont be in the booth.

[Quake1028]

NBC will formally announce on Tuesday that Bob Costas will host its Sunday night NFL studio show when the network begins airing Sunday night games in 2006.
The move was first reported by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Costas, whose NBC duties include hosting Olympic coverage, also will get a contract extension at least through NBC's coverage of the 2012 Summer Games

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2005-07-25-costas-nbc-nfl_x.htm

So he wont be in the booth.

Well, that sucks.

:up: for Michaels/Joey T.

[Red Dog]

Sounds like Al Michaels has had a change of heart. The rumor is that ESPN and Al Michaels have come to an agreement to release him from his contract so he can do the NBC Sunday Night Game with Madden. From what I heard, Al wasn't happy that the MNF production team is basically going to NBC. I think he assumed that they would just move over to ESPN. Don't expect to hear an annoucement until after Super Bowl XL though.

I think ESPN would be well-served to give the play-by-play gig to Mike Tirico.

[Fokker's Feint]

Sounds like Al Michaels has had a change of heart. The rumor is that ESPN and Al Michaels have come to an agreement to release him from his contract so he can do the NBC Sunday Night Game with Madden. From what I heard, Al wasn't happy that the MNF production team is basically going to NBC. I think he assumed that they would just move over to ESPN. Don't expect to hear an annoucement until after Super Bowl XL though.

I think ESPN would be well-served to give the play-by-play gig to Mike Tirico.

:thumbsup: Michaels and Madden were a good duo and I would like to see Tirico in the booth on MNF as well. As much as I love Marv, I don't see he and Madden clicking. Now if we could somehow convince the execs to put Marv and Clyde back together for some football :D

[Clyde] Troy Polamalu has been all over the field today! Very effervescent! [Clyde]

or:

[Clyde] That play just demonstrates the omniscience of Bill Belichik! [Clyde]

[Bell65]

Great news to hear for theismann and michaels....sucks for mcguire and patrick, who i both liked a lot...

thank god no madden or stuart scott

[RJainMJ]

If Michaels is going to NBC for Sunday night, I wonder if ESPN will just put the old sunday night group for Monday Night ... BTW, Red Dog, where did you hear that rumor?

[Red Dog]

If Michaels is going to NBC for Sunday night, I wonder if ESPN will just put the old sunday night group for Monday Night ... BTW, Red Dog, where did you hear that rumor?


On Tony Kornheiser's radio show this morning and there was an article about it in NYT in the last week or 2 - you could probably do a google news search for it.

Like I said - I'd prefer they use Mike Tirico. Plus after this year, he's going to have a lot of time on his hands since ABC/ESPN is getting out of the golf business. I'm a big Mike Patrick fan, but only for college hoops. He's too hyper for NFL football.

[Mr. Cinema]

thank god no stuart scott
ESPN would be a better place if they would get rid of that clown.

[Chew]

Speaking of all these announcer teams, did anyone check out the best and worst announcers list at the CNNSI website? Plenty of interesting comments (and much too long to post here).

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/dr_z/01/26/announcer.grades/index.html

[Red Dog]

I concur with Dr. Z when it comes to the abominable Phil Simms.

[Chew]

I guess I didn't read it word-for-word, but I don't recall reading a comment there on "The Goose". I know he's not a booth announcer, but he sure acts like one (and is very annoying and awful while doing so).

[das Monkey]

IMO, Tirico is one of the best in the business. Theismann, on the other hand, may be the worst.

das

[ChiTownAbs, Inc]

Interesting development....


NFL to Put New TV Package
On Own Cable Channel
By STEFAN FATSIS and JOE FLINT
Staff Reporters of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
January 27, 2006 8:37 p.m.

The National Football League has decided to televise a package of games on Thursday and Saturday nights starting next season on its own cable channel, rather than selling the package to another network.

The decision Friday came after talks ended with Comcast Corp. on a joint venture that would have placed the eight late-season games on the company's OLN network or created a new sports network, people familiar with the talks said.

The games mark the first time the league has ventured outside of its traditional Sunday and Monday nights for a regular television package. Industry executives had estimated the value of the Thursday-Saturday games at about $400 million.

By keeping the games in-house, the NFL foregoes that income. But it also instantly increases the value of its NFL Network, which debuted two years ago and shows old games, highlights and other original nongame programming. An NFL spokesman declined to comment.

"Live games changes the value of the NFL Network to the cable companies because their subscribers are going to insist on it," says Marc Ganis, a sports consultant who has worked with the NFL. "You've moved it from a highlights channel to one that has must-have programming."

The NFL Network is available in about 30 million homes, mostly on a premium digital programming tier. The league now is expected to ask cable operators to make the channel part of their basic services. That could triple the number of homes in which the channel is seen. In addition to appearing on the NFL Network, the eight Thursday and Saturday games also are expected to air on broadcast television in the participating team's markets.

Instead of reaping the traditional rights fee for the games, the NFL would instead generate revenue from cable subscriber fees and advertising. The addition of the live games would enhance the value of the network for a possible sale. But the NFL also could choose to sell the games in a more traditional format down the road.

The decision on the Thursday and Saturday games completes a new round of television deals for the NFL. The league will receive more than $3.7 billion annually from 2006 through 2011 in contracts with Walt Disney Co.'s ESPN, General Electric Co.'s NBC, CBS Corp.'s CBS, and News Corp.'s Fox and DirecTV.

Comcast has been attempting to rebrand OLN from a predominantly outdoors network to one that features more traditional sports. It began televising the National Hockey League last fall, but adding the NFL would have lent a big credibility boost. A person familiar with the discussions said the NFL and Comcast had discussed giving OLN a new, more "sportsy" name.

One sticking point in the talks with Comcast, the people familiar with the negotiations said, was the NFL's desire to add games and boost the price at its discretion. But they said the NFL was torn over whether to keep the games for its own network or sell them to an outside network, so talks did not reach a final stage. The league also had discussed the Thursday-Saturday package with Fox and Time Warner Inc.'s Turner cable networks.

[das Monkey]

Wow. With regard to competitive balance, I'm not so sure I like the Thursday thing.

I suspect DirecTV can't be happy either, as the more of this that happens, the less valuable Sunday Ticket becomes.

das

[Thor Simpson]

This is really gonna screw with the Thursday night line-up.

When it comes to football, change is always hard. I don't like change. Just play football. Football should be the way football has always been. Except Monday nights are good so keep them. And I have nothing better to do on Thursday-Saturday... hmmm... this means we get to potentially watch more football? Okay, I'm in.

[LorenzoL]

I don't like the Thursday football idea either. Plus it means that I have to add the NFL Network to my cable package in order to watch the games.

[Red Dog]

Since it was taking so long for the NFL to sell the Thursday/Saturday package, I had a feeling this would happen. It really gives the NFL Network value now and now they can charge cable operators more to carry it. Plus they get to sell commercial time directly now.

Anyhow, more NFL broadcast windows is awesome. :thumbsup:

[das Monkey]

It certainly will be nice to see some new ads on the NFL Network. As much as I love that channel, the repetitiveness gets tiring.

das

[The Cow]

I'd rather have another Sunday night game, or two double games on Sunday afternoon.

What cable currently has NFL Network? I've got Time-Warner and knowing them, it'll be 2010 before they even think about carrying it. I'm not seeing any mention of an HD channel either, grrr.

[Red Dog]

Comcast has NFL Network - on their digital tier.

My Comcast does not have a full-time NFL-HD channel like some do, but I would imagine that they will at least show their games in HD on their special events HD channel.

[Mad Dawg]

I'd rather have another Sunday night game, or two double games on Sunday afternoon.

What cable currently has NFL Network? I've got Time-Warner and knowing them, it'll be 2010 before they even think about carrying it. I'm not seeing any mention of an HD channel either, grrr.

There was a nauseating story last year about the head of TWC insisting that there is no market for the NFL Network, and he had not gotten a single request from a customer. He made this claim despite the NFL Network having a form on their website for customers to fill out...and you know that they do. I won't hold my breath with a shithead like that running the show. :(

[Thor Simpson]

I don't even get ESPN so I'm still pissed about Monday nights. :mad:

I guess I may have it by next season, or I can go to a monday night party or something.

[dick_grayson]

best news I've heard all day :banana:

[Red Dog]

I don't even get ESPN so I'm still pissed about Monday nights. :mad:

I guess I may have it by next season, or I can go to a monday night party or something.


Yeah, but with NBC getting Sunday Night, it evens out.

[Quake1028]

Why is ESPN dropping golf?

[dick_grayson]

Eight-game schedule starts with Cowboys-Redskins battle on Thanksgiving

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11074327/from/RSS/

[Red Dog]

Why is ESPN dropping golf?


It's not that their dropping it; it's that Disney (ABC/ESPN) got outbid by other outlets on the new contract: CBS, NBC, and Golf Channel. Also, they got back into NASCAR so that will occupy a lot of the slots that currently are devoted to golf.

[Red Dog]

Eight-game schedule starts with Cowboys-Redskins battle on Thanksgiving

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11074327/from/RSS/


That's interesting. So I assume that means that some other team besides Detroit and Dallas will be hosting a Thanksgiving afternoon game. A Turkey Day tripleheader is great, although I can't say I like the idea of the Skins playing the Cowboys that day - they always lose to Dallas on Turkey Day.

[Red Dog]

Hmmm - reading some of the articles about this, it sounds like some of these 8 games are coming from the late season Saturday games that were airing on CBS and FOX, so there may not actually be more broadcast slots. That would suck, particularly if you don't get NFL Network.

[The Cow]

I wonder if travel distance will come into play at all when scheduling these games. I assume the Monday night participants are a given to not play in the next Thursday game.

[Daryl]

I figured it was probably only a matter of time before the NFL started using their channel for games, but certainly not this soon. Those greedy dicks at DirecTv better not throw the NFL Network into some new "specially priced" tier of channels. BTW, the Detroit Thanksgiving game in reportedly Miami/Detroit on CBS

Also, from a fantasy standpoint only, this kind of hurts a little. Late in the season, as the injuries pile up and "day-to-day" and "gametime decision" is heard more and more, these Thursday games will cause even more starting line-up hassles.

[dick_grayson]

so does anyone know if these will be extra games or just the Thurs/Sat games from before on a different channel. I'd be pretty disappointed to realize we'll be getting the same number of total games.

[Chew]

The "Game of the Week" on NFL Network is played on Channel 98 in HD (normally only first run). I hope that's the channel DirecTV uses for these games and not make it part of some other package.

[Red Dog]

I figured it was probably only a matter of time before the NFL started using their channel for games, but certainly not this soon. Those greedy dicks at DirecTv better not throw the NFL Network into some new "specially priced" tier of channels. BTW, the Detroit Thanksgiving game in reportedly Miami/Detroit on CBS

Also, from a fantasy standpoint only, this kind of hurts a little. Late in the season, as the injuries pile up and "day-to-day" and "gametime decision" is heard more and more, these Thursday games will cause even more starting line-up hassles.

Not only that but many leagues do their weekly add/drops on Fridays. Both of mine do.

[Mad Dawg]

On Tony Kornheiser's radio show this morning and there was an article about it in NYT in the last week or 2 - you could probably do a google news search for it.

Like I said - I'd prefer they use Mike Tirico. Plus after this year, he's going to have a lot of time on his hands since ABC/ESPN is getting out of the golf business. I'm a big Mike Patrick fan, but only for college hoops. He's too hyper for NFL football.

Very interesting from the NY Post:

January 30, 2006 -- With Al Michael's future on Monday Night Football in doubt, ESPN is strongly considering putting talk show host/columnist Tony Kornheiser on its telecast next year, The Post has learned.

While ESPN is expected to decide after the Super Bowl if it will force Michaels to honor the eight-year $32 million contract he signed this summer, sources say the network has devised a Plan B around Kornheiser.

If the network allows Michaels out of his contract then the new team is expected to be led by Mike Tirico. Tirico will be joined by Joe Theismann and Kornheiser, if Kornheiser agrees to ESPN's offer that is believed to be for around $1 million.

http://www.nypost.com/sports/61194.htm

[Aphex Twin]

WOW! Al Michaels makes $4 million a year for MNL!?

[Red Dog]

That would be awesome! The question is: will Tony be able to stay up past halftime?

Can't wait to see PTI today.

[Mad Dawg]

That would be awesome! The question is: will Tony be able to stay up past halftime?

:lol: That was my first thought.

[dick_grayson]

so does anyone know if these will be extra games or just the Thurs/Sat games from before on a different channel. I'd be pretty disappointed to realize we'll be getting the same number of total games.


bump anyone know for certain?


:up: great news about Kornheiser. I hope this actually works out.

[Red Dog]

so does anyone know if these will be extra games or just the Thurs/Sat games from before on a different channel. I'd be pretty disappointed to realize we'll be getting the same number of total games.


From the wording of some of the articles I've read, it sounds like the same. In other words, I wouldn't count on there being any late season Saturday CBS or FOX games like we've seen in the past.

We probably won't really know until the game date schedule is released in April.

[das Monkey]

Holy shit, that would rock. Tirico and Kornheiser together? I wonder if Tony would tell Theismann "you're an idiot" 30 times a game. As long as he doesn't bail on <i>PTI</i>, I'm all for it. The big question is: who will read the mail if Tony is gone on Mondays?

das

[Red Dog]

Holy shit, that would rock. Tirico and Kornheiser together? I wonder if Tony would tell Theismann "you're an idiot" 30 times a game. As long as he doesn't bail on <i>PTI</i>, I'm all for it. The big question is: who will read the mail if Tony is gone on Mondays?

das


I just want to hear "I WIN!" throughout the telecast. It should happen quite frequently.

[Red Dog]

Article in today's WP:

X's and a Lot of O's: Media Giants Seek Kornheiser

By Paul Farhi
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, February 2, 2006; C08



All of a sudden, the hottest, most sought-after franchise player in the sports world may be a guy who describes himself as "fat, bald and old."

Tony Kornheiser, the Washington Post columnist and ESPN yakker, has become the object of a bidding war among media companies, with deals worth millions of dollars -- and the lineups of newspapers, TV and radio stations -- hanging in the balance.

The list of Kornheiser's suitors includes ESPN, XM and Sirius radio, Bonneville International Corp., The Washington Post and Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder, who wants Kornheiser as a host for his newly purchased string of radio stations.

Kornheiser, suddenly the prettiest girl at the prom, says he's unsure whom he'll dance with next. "It's causing me a lot of anxiety," he said yesterday. "There aren't enough stomach pills in America to calm me. Does Pepto-Bismol make industrial-strength tablets?"

He calls the attention "incredibly flattering" and "an embarrassment of riches."

ESPN is talking with Kornheiser about taking over one of the color-commentary chairs on "Monday Night Football" next season, when the games will move from Disney-owned ABC to Disney-owned ESPN. Kornheiser is under contract to ESPN for "Pardon the Interruption," the daily sports talk show he hosts with fellow Post columnist Michael Wilbon. The "MNF" job -- which Kornheiser tried out for five years ago before ABC picked comedian Dennis Miller -- would more than double Kornheiser's reported $900,000-a-year "PTI" contract, according to sources.

The hitch: It's unclear whether Al Michaels, "MNF's" play-by-play man, will return to the booth next season. Michaels reportedly wants to join NBC, which will carry NFL games next season. If ESPN lets Michaels out of his contract, he would be replaced by ESPN's Mike Tirico, with Kornheiser and former Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann as commentators, sources said. If Michaels stays, however, ESPN plans to use only Theismann for color.

Kornheiser also is being sought by the two rival satellite radio services, Sirius and XM, which want him to host a daily sports talk show. Sirius is allied with Snyder, who last month bought three small radio stations in the Washington area and plans to convert them into outlets that will broadcast Redskins games and other sports programs.

Those deliberations, in turn, affect Kornheiser's involvement with four local media outlets: WTEM-AM; the new WTWP-AM and FM; The Post; and WRC-TV.

Kornheiser hosts a weekday program on WTEM (980) and each week writes three Post sports columns (or "columnettes," as he calls the short pieces that appear on Page 2 of the Sports section).

Kornheiser said it's possible that because of time constraints, he would take a leave from his Post column if he landed the "MNF" job. His fear of flying would put him on the road (in a specially outfitted bus) five days a week, he said, leaving limited time to write for the paper, which he joined in 1979. But Kornheiser and the newspaper want to continue the relationship.

"We want Tony to be a big part of this newspaper for years to come, and we'll work with him on a new schedule to see that it happens," said Emilio Garcia-Ruiz, The Post's assistant managing editor for sports.

Bonneville, the owner of radio station WTOP, is seeking Kornheiser's services for its new station, WTWP, which it will launch next month in conjunction with The Post.

Separately, Kornheiser works intermittently for WRC-Channel 4 as a panelist (and substitute host) on "Redskins Report." It's unclear whether he could continue on the show given his other commitments.

Why all the attention now for the 57-year-old Kornheiser?

"He's got an established name, whether in The Post, on radio, or on TV with 'PTI,' " said Joel Oxley, Bonneville's senior vice president. "He's proven to be successful. The guy pulls in an audience. He has marquee value. Plus, he's local. You've got a very interesting combination of factors. If you can get someone like him, and get him at the right price, you do it."

Said John Walsh, executive editor of ESPN: "I love Tony. I love everything Tony does. I've loved him from the day I met him in 1970 when he walked into Newsday. He's the most talented guy in the history of sports media, a multimedia guy in the Dick Schaap tradition."

The biggest loser in the Kornheiser sweepstakes could be WTEM, the sports talk station. Kornheiser so thoroughly dominates the station's weekday programming that the station could almost be renamed WTK. His two-hour show at 9 a.m. is repeated at 11 a.m., giving him four consecutive hours on the air daily. In addition, he participates in the station's "Sports Reporters" program and is heard on tape at other times. The station also has rebroadcast the audio portion of "Pardon the Interruption" during the evening (XM rebroadcasts Kornheiser's WTEM show, as well).

Snyder has direct connections to Kornheiser via WTEM's former managers, Bennett Zier and Tod Castleberry. Zier, who oversaw WTEM and seven other Washington area stations owned by Clear Channel Communications, left the company last month to run Snyder's Red Zebra Broadcasting, a new company that will operate Snyder's media ventures. Zier was joined a week later by Castleberry, who was program director of WTEM and three other Clear Channel stations.

Kornheiser would be prohibited from writing for The Post if he accepted a position with a Snyder-owned company. Under the newspaper's conflict-of-interest rules, a sportswriter cannot write about a team while accepting payment from it.

[das Monkey]

I got to thinking about the fear-of-flying thing earlier and realized <i>PTI</i> is dead if he goes to <i>MNF</i> (unless they do <i>PTI</i> On The Road). It's not worth it.

das

[StrTrkker]

That's interesting. So I assume that means that some other team besides Detroit and Dallas will be hosting a Thanksgiving afternoon game. A Turkey Day tripleheader is great, although I can't say I like the idea of the Skins playing the Cowboys that day - they always lose to Dallas on Turkey Day.

I always thought the NFL should branch out on Turkey Day with a nite game. I would guess that the game would be at a AFC Stadium making it a home game. Possibly a indoor stadium or a warm weather site.

Kool.

[Mad Dawg]

I didn't realize just how much movement in the booths will happen beyond the probable Michaels to NBC.

-James Brown is leaving Fox to go to CBS's pre-game show.

-Terry Bradshaw likely takes over for Brown.

-CBS's Greg Gumbel gets demoted to play-by-play with Dan Dierdorf.

-Dick Enberg is out of a job.

-Suzy Kolber and Michelle Tafoya will both work sidelines on ESPN's Monday night game.

-Andrea Kremer leaves ESPN to work the sidelines on NBC's broadcast.

-Bonnie Berstein is out at CBS, and Armen Keteyian leaves for CBS News.

Almost as entertaining as the player movement.

[Red Dog]

Wouldn't Dick Enberg just slide down to the #3 team? Also, he does college hoops for CBS. If he is out of a job, I could easily see NBC bringing him back (since he used to be their signature voice) if the Al Michaels rumor isn't true.

[Mad Dawg]

Wouldn't Dick Enberg just slide down to the #3 team? Also, he does college hoops for CBS. If he is out of a job, I could easily see NBC bringing him back (since he used to be their signature voice) if the Al Michaels rumor isn't true.

Sorry. After reading the full NY Times story, it simply says that Enberg will work with a different partner, meaning a slide to #3 or another spot in a CBS booth. The blurb I had read speculated that he would possibly end up on another network.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/04/sports/football/04nfl.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

[dick_grayson]

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/football/stories/MYSA020306.cowboys.en.692967ef.html


NFL Commissioner says Cowboys' Thanksgiving game won't move to prime time

Web Posted: 02/03/2006 03:03 PM CST

By Tom Orsborn
Express-News

DETROIT – The Dallas Cowboys’ annual Thanksgiving game will remain in its traditional late -afternoon time slot rather than move to prime time for broadcast on the NFL Network, league commissioner Paul Tagliabue said Friday.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones lobbied Tagliabue to keep the game in the afternoon after learning the league planned to make the Cowboys-Redskins on Thanksgiving night the first of eight NFL Network games next season, a Cowboys spokesman said.

Games on the NFL Network will be simulcast on free television only in the teams’ markets, leaving San Antonio fans in the dark unless they subscribe to cable/satellite providers DirecTV, Dish Network and San Marcos-based Grande Communications Inc.

Time Warner Cable, San Antonio-area’s largest cable provider, does not carry the two-year-old NFL Network.

“Jerry understands how strong the following is for the Cowboys in major markets outside of the Dallas area, with San Antonio being a prime example,” the Cowboys spokesman Rich Dalrymple said. “He felt it was very important that as many people see the Cowboys play as possible, and us being in our normal (Thanksgiving) time slot on an over-the-air broadcast accomplishes that.” Tagliabue said broadcasting games on the NFL Network would allow the league to have a Thanksgiving triple-header. “Although the package on some years will kick off on Thanksgiving night, we will continue to have the traditional Dallas and Detroit games on CBS and Fox,” Tagliabue said during his annual state-of-the-league news conference. “We will have another game in a different city as the third game on Thanksgiving. The goal there would be to start a new tradition, that is to have a third game on Thanksgiving that would rotate around to different cities in the league who have been anxious for many years to host games.”

[Red Dog]

I didn't realize just how much movement in the booths will happen beyond the probable Michaels to NBC.

-James Brown is leaving Fox to go to CBS's pre-game show.

-Terry Bradshaw likely takes over for Brown.




The rumor is that Primetime will enter to fill the void.

[kenbuzz]

Source: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2323121

ESPN's MNF lineup is Mike Tirico, Joe Theismann and Tony Kornheiser.Monday Night Football will have a new broadcast team when it debuts on ESPN in 2006.

Mike Tirico, Joe Theismann and Tony Kornheiser will be part of a three-man booth calling the games on Monday nights next season and Suzy Kolber and Michelle Tafoya will be sideline reporters. Kolber and Tafoya both reported from the sidelines for ABC during Super Bowl XL.

Al Michaels, the play-by-play voice of Monday Night Football on ABC from 1986 through Sunday's Super Bowl in Detroit, will not return to either broadcast.

[kenbuzz]

So counting rumor and innuendo, here's where we seem to stand at present:

Regular Schedule
----------------
Sunday Afternoon (AFC): CBS (1:00 and 4:00 ET)
Sunday Afternoon (NFC): FOX (1:00 and 4:00 ET)
Sunday Night: NBC (8:15 ET) Madden-???
Monday Night: ESPN (8:40 ET) Tirico-Thiesman-Kornheiser

Exceptions
----------
NFL Kickoff Thursday: NBC (8:15 ET)
Select Thursday/Saturday Games: NFL Network (8:00 ET, beginning Thanksgiving)

Super Bowl Rotation:
--------------------
<strike>XL (2/5/06) Detroit: ABC</strike>
XLI (2/4/07) Miami: CBS
XLII (2/3/08) Phoenix: FOX
XLIII (2/1/09) Tampa: NBC
XLIV (2/7/10) Miami: CBS
XLV (2/6/11) TBD: FOX
XLVI (2/5/12) TBD: NBC

[chrisih8u]

On Apr. 26, the NFL Network is expected to announce at its programming presentation to advertisers that it has hired TV veteran Bryant Gumbel and former wide receiver-turned-commentator Cris Collinsworth to call its new package of NFL games, BusinessWeek has learned.


I dont like it. I already hate Collinsworth and Gumbel is a pompous ass.

[Red Dog]

I prefer Collinsworth in the booth rather than in the studio. What's really going to suck is NBC having the hour-long Sunday highlights show rather than ESPN. I don't know why ESPN doesn't continue NFL Primetime on Sunday night.

[das Monkey]

I don't mind Collinsworth in the booth. I just hope he keeps picking games for HBO or somewhere else, because the guy is money.

das

[B.A.]

I think Collinsworth has improved by leaps and bounds from where he was several years ago.

[Cusm]

I wonder if INHD on my cable will show the NFL Network game in HD. I noticed in the past month that they showed some NFLN game of the week on INHD and it would be sweet to get another game in HD.

[BKenn01]

:grumble: All I can say is WTF is up with the new Monday Night Schedule? The Super Bowl Champs play once.

[Red Dog]

:grumble: All I can say is WTF is up with the new Monday Night Schedule? The Super Bowl Champs play once.


MNF is no longer the marquee slot. SNF (on NBC) is. They have at least 2 appearances (including the Thursday night opener) with possibly more in the 2nd half of the season with the new flex scheduling.