Bleah -- NBC flex power increasing

[QuantumMechanic]

According to Peter King's MMQB today, the new contract increases NBC's flex power:

NBC got the Thanksgiving night game, beginning in 2012, taking it from NFL Network. NBC got one of its Wild Card games changed to a divisional game, beginning in the 2014 postseason. NBC got the ability to add a two-hour pregame show on its new NBC Sports Network in 2014. And this under-the-radar add-on, which could come in handy. In the new contract, NBC will not only have the ability to flex-schedule games in Weeks 10 through 15. In Weeks 5 through 9, NBC will be able to flex out of a bad game;

 

[ctpatsfan77]

According to Peter King's MMQB today, the new contract increases NBC's flex power:

As he notes, though, it reduces the likelihood of c**p games like Saints 62, Colts 7.

 

[mgcolby]

From the Bleah I'm assuming you think this is a bad thing. I don't see how doing their best to ensure there is a competetive game on Sunday night is a bad thing?

 

[strngplyr]

From the Bleah I'm assuming you think this is a bad thing. I don't see how doing their best to ensure their is a competetive game on Sunday night is a bad thing?

It can end up flexing Patriots primetime games out of primetime where those of us not local can miss, thats the only downside I see.

Otherwise, I think it is a good thing.

 

[Tunescribe]

From the Bleah I'm assuming you think this is a bad thing. I don't see how doing their best to ensure their is a competetive game on Sunday night is a bad thing?

I think it might mean more instances of their messing with the Patriots schedule. I'm personally tired of night games and 4:15 games as it is.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

It can end up flexing Patriots primetime games out of primetime where those of us not local can miss, thats the only downside I see.

Otherwise, I think it is a good thing.

Note the part of the paragraph not quoted by the OP:

In Weeks 5 through 9, NBC will be able to flex out of a bad game; this won't be an unlimited opportunity, I'm told, and it won't be like the regular flex scheduling, when a good game can be flexed for a great one. Call this the Peyton Manning Injury Clause. In Week 7 this year, NBC was stuck with the Saints against the 0-6 Colts, and no one cared. In the future, the league will erase a game like that one and sub something more palatable.

It's designed to replace awful games, not "improve" games.

Read more: Romeo Crennel's Chiefs knock off Packers in interesting Week 15 - Peter King - SI.com

 

[cavtroop]

I think it might mean more instances of their messing with the Patriots schedule. I'm personally tired of night games and 4:15 games as it is.

Amen. Football in New England is a 1pm Sunday thing. we get what? 2 or 3 1pm games a year now? Night games SUCK, afternoon games less so. Thursday or saturday games are worse.

 

[MP-Logick]

I'm happy about this. There were some truly awful matchups on national TV this year.

I don't see the Patriots being flexed out of a slot weeks 5-9, unless it was 2008.

 

[mgcolby]

Amen. Football in New England is a 1pm Sunday thing. we get what? 2 or 3 1pm games a year now? Night games SUCK, afternoon games less so. Thursday or saturday games are worse.

Because they sucked and had little national appeal for most of their existance. I like 1pm games and would prefer that they play all 1pm games. But...having a team playing a lot of primetime games typically means they are good or atleast expected to be good.

As an NFL fan I would prefer to watch a competetive game on Sunday and Monday night as opposed to say a game that features Jacksonville vs Seattle.

 

[Mike in 333]

I don't have a problem with this, look at some of the dogs ESPN ended up with this year. What looks to be competitive in the summer may be anything but by midway through the season. The decisions on which afternoon games will get national exposure is determined close to game time with CBS & Fox having the option to feature the more meaningful games on their schedule (within local viewing requirements).
Added to that, the NFL Network is still not seen in a lot of markets and until the NFL faces reality that won't change so the Thanksgiving night game is a big change for the better.

 

[Salva135]

Amen. Football in New England is a 1pm Sunday thing. we get what? 2 or 3 1pm games a year now? Night games SUCK, afternoon games less so. Thursday or saturday games are worse.

Such is the burden of having a HoF QB that the league wants to showcase as much as possible. Boohoo.

I agree that an ideal schedule would be nothing but simple 1pm games, but alas, every other top team deals with it as well. I love the increase in flexing strength, ensuring the best products of the league get the most exposure is a no-brainer, and every major sports league does it. It might annoy CBS and Fox trying to hold onto their best games, but it is a win-win for the fans.

 

[Tunescribe]

Such is the burden of having a HoF QB that the league wants to showcase as much as possible. Boohoo.

I agree that an ideal schedule would be nothing but simple 1pm games, but alas, every other top team deals with it as well. I love the increase in flexing strength, ensuring the best products of the league get the most exposure is a no-brainer, and every major sports league does it. It might annoy CBS and Fox trying to hold onto their best games, but it is a win-win for the fans.

It's a win-win for fans who do all their football watching in front of a television. Different story for those of us who buy the tickets.

 

[mgcolby]

It's a win-win for fans who do all their football watching in front of a television. Different story for those of us who buy the tickets.

I get your point and I can see how getting home late on Sunday night or Monday night would suck, especially if you younger kids. I can appreciate that.

The other side of that is you choose to buy the tickets and there are a lot of fans on the waiting list dying to have that problem.

But as a whole this good for the majority.

 

[Tunescribe]

The other side of that is you choose to buy the tickets and there are a lot of fans on the waiting list dying to have that problem.

I'd hazard a guess that those on the waiting list "dying to have that problem" also would consider it a problem. But yes, problems are relative when we choose to pay thousands to be entertained. I happen to be happiest with daylight football.

 

[Salva135]

It's a win-win for fans who do all their football watching in front of a television. Different story for those of us who buy the tickets.

As far as I know the 12-day announcement rule is still in effect, is that not enough time for you to make arrangements? I don't care to delve into the logistics for a specific fan, suffice it to say it's a good move for the league.

 

[Wax Frog]

It's a win-win for fans who do all their football watching in front of a television. Different story for those of us who buy the tickets.

Outnumbered

 

[BTTA]

As far as I know the 12-day announcement rule is still in effect, is that not enough time for you to make arrangements? I don't care to delve into the logistics for a specific fan, suffice it to say it's a good move for the league.

In New England, having daylight games from late October through the end of the season can mean a much more comfortable game viewing experience. It is more than just scheduling inconvenience.

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

I think it might mean more instances of their messing with the Patriots schedule. I'm personally tired of night games and 4:15 games as it is.

The problem is the Patriots are the viewership bonanza.

Last Sunday's viewership was the highest since a Patriots-Colts game in 2007.

In 2007, the highest rated shows:

Patriots- Chargers
Patriots- Cowboys
Patriots- Colts
Patriots- Steelers
Patriots- Giants

Notice the common theme.

 

[Tunescribe]

The problem is the Patriots are the viewership bonanza.

Last Sunday's viewership was the highest since a Patriots-Colts game in 2007.

In 2007, the highest rated shows:

Patriots- Chargers
Patriots- Cowboys
Patriots- Colts
Patriots- Steelers
Patriots- Giants

Notice the common theme.

Teams whose names end with "s"?

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

Teams whose names end with "s"?

Maybe

It could be teams with vowels