Connecticut Warning: Patriots preseason Week 4 Game may not air on FOX61

Every few years in Connecticut (and even parts of Southern Mass) the FOX61 affiliate does not air a Patriots game due to the Giants playing the same day.

The last time this happened was in 2015: Fox 61 Chooses Giants; Undefeated Patriots Won't Be On TV In Hartford On Sunday

Patriots/Redskins played at 1pm and Giants/Bucs played at 4:25pm. FOX61 had the rights to both games but could only show one and chose to broadcast the Giants, despite the Patriots being 7-0 at the time.

Most of the time, we're blindsided the day of because we forget this can happen. But looking at the schedule now, I see a potential conflict.

Sunday October 1st
1pm: Panthers @ Patriots (FOX)
4:05pm: Giants @ Bucs (FOX)

Good chance FOX61 favors the Giants over the Patriots again for this affiliate, so here's a 2 month heads up. Will bump topic/further inquire with the affiliate the week of.

Disco Volante said:

Every few years in Connecticut (and even parts of Southern Mass) the FOX61 affiliate does not air a Patriots game due to the Giants playing the same day.

The last time this happened was in 2015: Fox 61 Chooses Giants; Undefeated Patriots Won't Be On TV In Hartford On Sunday

Patriots/Redskins played at 1pm and Giants/Bucs played at 4:25pm. FOX61 had the rights to both games but could only show one and chose to broadcast the Giants, despite the Patriots being 7-0 at the time.

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To be fair to FOX61, I'm not sure that they "chose" the Giants.

Most teams also have a selected number of secondary markets. . . .

• All away games are aired in the primary and secondary markets. . . .

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The Giants have claimed Hartford as a secondary market. Therefore, Giants away games air on FOX61. Since CBS has the doubleheader that week, the Pats game is unlikely to air.

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New England at Detroit

Patriots preseason network broadcast:
Dan Roche, Christian Fauria, Matt Chatham
WBZ (CBS/4 - Boston)
WNAC (My/64.2 - Providence)
WTNH (ABC/8 - New Haven CT)
WWLP (NBC/22 - Springfield MA)
WMUR (ABC/9 - Manchester NH)
WMTW (ABC/8 - Portland ME)
WFVX (FOX/22 - Bangor ME)
WCAX (Movies/3.2 - Burlington VT)
KIMO (CW/13.2 - Anchorage AK)
KATN (CW/2.2 - Fairbanks AK)
KJUD (CW/11.2 - Juneau AK)
KFVE (My/5 - Honolulu)


Lions preseason network broadcast:
Matt Shepard, Chris Spielman
WJBK (FOX/2 - Detroit)
WNEM (CBS/5 - Saginaw)
WSYM (FOX/47 - Lansing)
WXMI (FOX/17 - Grand Rapids)
WFQX (FOX/32 - Traverse City MI)
WUPW (FOX/36 - Toledo OH)
WJMN (CBS/3 - Escanaba MI) [tape delay]



Jets 'at' Giants

Jets - "No Broadcast"

Giants preseason network broadcast:
Bob Papa, Carl Banks
WNBC (NBC/4 - New York)
WNYT (NBC/13 - Albany)
WSTM (NBC/3 - Syracuse)
WICZ (FOX/40 - Binghamton)
WETM (NBC/18 - Elmira)
WCCT (CW/20 - Hartford)
WFFF (FOX/44 - Burlington VT)




In the preseason each television market only gets one 'local' game. In addition, this week there is the NFLN game, a national game on CBS Friday night (KC-Sea), a national game Saturday night (LA-LA), and three national games on Sunday.

I am not so sure that the preseason is like the regular season when one network owns that week's doubleheader - I had never heard that before - though that could have something to do with it (see the number of upstate New York affiliates broadcasting the Giants-Jets, rather than the Bills).

In the preseason in Hartford, Pats games air on WTNH, ABC channel 8. Giants preseason games air on WTIC, Fox channel 61.

Since Fox owns the rights to NFC games, it makes sense that when the Fox affiliate has to make a choice then they will air the Giants rather than the Patriots - whether it be in the preseason or regular season.



Neither New York team has a true secondary market (i.e., by rule must air all of their team's road games). The Pats only true secondary market is Providence.

During the regular season the Albany and Hartford Fox affiliates are nearly always assigned the Giants game, but are free to ask for a change if they so desire. Same goes for the various New England affiliates in regards to the Pats games.

Oh Chriiiiiiiiiiist, here we go again.

Looks like Murphy's in Alexandria for me that weekend. Thanks for the heads up.

can't the Patriots just make the rest of the USA as their secondary market? I'm in Pennsylvania and my husband won't spring for Sunday Ticket

Agree that Fox is simply going with the NFC team because fans regularly tune in to see them there.

Not sure at all about this secondary market stuff since in the past, when there have been other conflicts (Giants home game against AFC team) the AFC station in Hartford has elected to go with the Patriots.

So, the market doesn't matter. Rather, the affiliate matters: CBS -- Patriots, Fox -- Giants.

This is Connecticut's punishment for being the world's worst left hand land drivers on 95. No passing, and intermittent slamming of the brakes for absolutely zero reason.

jmt57 said:

506sports.com - Home

I am not so sure that the preseason is like the regular season when one network owns that week's doubleheader - I had never heard that before - though that could have something to do with it (see the number of upstate New York affiliates broadcasting the Giants-Jets, rather than the Bills).

In the preseason in Hartford, Pats games air on WTNH, ABC channel 8. Giants preseason games air on WTIC, Fox channel 61.

Since Fox owns the rights to NFC games, it makes sense that when the Fox affiliate has to make a choice then they will air the Giants rather than the Patriots - whether it be in the preseason or regular season.

Neither New York team has a true secondary market (i.e., by rule must air all of their team's road games). The Pats only true secondary market is Providence.

During the regular season the Albany and Hartford Fox affiliates are nearly always assigned the Giants game, but are free to ask for a change if they so. Same goes for the various New England affiliates in regards to the Pats games.

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To be precise they generally have the rights to games with an NFC away team.

Also, I think I read a FOX61 post once claiming they had to air the Giants game.

upstater1 said:

Agree that Fox is simply going with the NFC team because fans regularly tune in to see them there.

Not sure at all about this secondary market stuff since in the past, when there have been other conflicts (Giants home game against AFC team) the AFC station in Hartford has elected to go with the Patriots.

So, the market doesn't matter. Rather, the affiliate matters: CBS -- Patriots, Fox -- Giants.

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CBS stations wouldn't be obliged to broadcast Giants games because they only get home games, and the 2ary market rules only apply to away games.

JJR4884 said:

This is Connecticut's punishment for being the world's worst left hand land drivers on 95. No passing, and intermittent slamming of the brakes for absolutely zero reason.

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its Connecticut's punishment for being 2 faced. Are you New England or are you Tri-State...pick one frauds.

Craptasticut...

Oh there is no "may not" it will not be shown. FOX is the NFC channel and Giants are an NFC and are the local market NFC team. It's no

Although there is always that slight chance if Giants and Bucs are 0-3 and Pats & Panthers are 3-0 they could opt to show the better game.

JJR4884 said:

This is Connecticut's punishment for being the world's worst left hand land drivers on 95. No passing, and intermittent slamming of the brakes for absolutely zero reason.

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Not just a Connecticut thing. I see it in pretty much every state north and east of Virginia.

But Connecticut is a North Jersey of sorts...no real city of their own, but two big markets on either side of the state. Divided loyalties happen. It is what it is. My parents come from CT, and my mother was all New York teams and my father all Boston.

BlacknGold77 said:

its Connecticut's punishment for being 2 faced. Are you New England or are you Tri-State...pick one frauds.

Craptasticut...

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Us CT residents use the CT River as the dividing line. East of it is New England. West of it is is Tri-State.

I live 5 minutes from the Rhode Island border and I actually live the same distance to Hartford as I do Gillette Stadium. So i'm comfortable in calling myself a New Englander.

JMC00 said:

Us CT residents use the CT River as the dividing line. East of it is New England. West of it is is Tri-State.

I live 5 minutes from the Rhode Island border and I actually live the same distance to Hartford as I do Gillette Stadium. So i'm comfortable in calling myself a New Englander.

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I'd say the dividing line might be a bit further west. Bristol seems to be a divided city with slight Boston leanings and Waterbury is a full NYC town. Hartford County always seemed pretty firmly Boston.

ctpatsfan77 said:

CBS stations wouldn't be obliged to broadcast Giants games because they only get home games, and the 2ary market rules only apply to away games.

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??

I thought it was the opposite. CBS gets NFC home games WHEN an AFC team is visiting. Are you sure?

EDIT: I looked it up, and I was right. CBS gets interconference games when the NFC team is at home, vice versa for Fox.

JMC00 said:

Us CT residents use the CT River as the dividing line. East of it is New England. West of it is is Tri-State.

I live 5 minutes from the Rhode Island border and I actually live the same distance to Hartford as I do Gillette Stadium. So i'm comfortable in calling myself a New Englander.

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Haha, its a weird one for sure (I've always seen it as draw a line through the state at Hartford and that's the split).

Though, it seems most of the CT plates that invade my state each summer (RI) are from west of New Haven

When your state is half New England..and half Tri-state...i guess that's what happens

God damn another reason to hate living in CT.

Stayed in New London, CT last week and their local paper sports section was front page loaded with Giants articles by local reporters. Page 3 had a generic Pats paragraph lifted from the AP.
Connecticut deserves its impending bankruptcy