Was it a smart move for the NFL to broadcast the NE Vs NYG game all over the USA?

Question

NEW YORK (AP) -- After weeks of insisting they wouldn't cave in, NFL officials did just that Wednesday. Now all of America can see the Patriots' shot at history.

Saturday night's game between New England and the New York Giants on the NFL Network, which is available in fewer than 40 percent of the nation's homes with TVs, will be simulcast on CBS and NBC.

The Patriots could become the first NFL team to go 16-0 in the regular season.

"We have taken this extraordinary step because it is in the best interest of our fans," commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement after the league announced it was reversing course. "What we have seen for the past year is a very strong consumer demand for NFL Network. We appreciate CBS and NBC delivering the NFL Network telecast on Saturday night to the broad audience that deserves to see this potentially historic game. Our commitment to the NFL Network is stronger than ever."

NFL Network spokesman Seth Palansky said officials would have no further comment Wednesday.

The NFL had claimed that the onus of making the game widely available fell on the major cable providers with which the league has bitterly feuded. Companies such as Comcast and Time Warner have declined to carry the network as part of basic packages.

But lawmakers have pressured the NFL to ensure more viewers could see the game. Last week, two prominent members of the Senate Judiciary Committee sent a letter to Goodell threatening to reconsider the league's antitrust exemption.

Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., who co-wrote the letter with Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., said he was "delighted" by the NFL's concession.

"I think it was a smart move on their part," he said in a phone interview.

Leahy expected to speak with Goodell again next month about the ongoing question of how many fans will be able to see games on the channel. Saturday's matchup wraps up the NFL Network's second season of airing live contests, with eight per year. This one and a key Thursday night game between Green Bay and Dallas last month drew widespread complaints about the lack of availability.

"I never completely gave up hope, but I was getting a little discouraged Christmas afternoon when we still had not gotten a positive answer," said Leahy, who added that his staff members were talking with NFL officials during the holiday.

Local TV affiliates in the Boston, Manchester, N.H., and New York areas that were already set to simulcast the game under NFL policy will still air it. That means viewers in those markets will have four channels to choose from if they get NFL Network.

That did not make officials at WWOR in New York happy.

"The NFL is in clear violation of their agreement with WWOR/My9," the station said in a statement. "We fully expect the league to honor their commitment to My9 as the exclusive free over-the-air broadcaster for Saturday's telecast of the New England Patriots at New York Giants game."

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., who had urged cable and NFL executives to settle the dispute, had a much more positive reaction to the league's announcement.

"I couldn't be more thrilled that as the Patriots rush toward an historic undefeated season, football fans everywhere have won a victory of their own," Kerry said. "With today's announcement, the NFL showed their loyalty to the sports fans who made the NFL an empire in the first place.

"The best news of all is that now no die-hard Pats fans will be shut out from watching their team take aim at football history," Kerry said in a statement.

This will be the first three-network simulcast in NFL history and the first simulcast of an NFL game since the inaugural Super Bowl in 1967, when CBS and NBC televised the meeting of the champions of the newly merged National Football League and American Football League.

"We're happy to accommodate the NFL's request for a joint national simulcast of this potentially historic game to make it available to the widest possible audience," said Dick Ebersol, NBC Universal's chairman for sports and Olympics.

NBC was scheduled to air "Dateline NBC" and a repeat of "Law & Order: SVU" during the time slot. CBS was set to broadcast the movie "Good Night, and Good Luck" and "48 Hours: Mysteries."

Zombie Birdhouse · Accepted Answer

The cable licenses are under the purview of the federal government and there were Senators and Representatives bringing heat on the NFL to work out a deal to get the game over regular channels. Though it may seem like a PR move for the NFL, this was a situation that could have gotten very hot for them in Washington, D.C. 

If this is the first step to prod the league and cable outlets to have the NFL Network available in all available packages, then it a great job. If not, then this controversy will continue again next year...with the great football fans being left out in the cold.

lenny.wise · Answer

The interest is there to see the Pats break the record and win 16 games without a loss.
However, both teams won't let their stars play the full game so the fans will get cheated out of seeing the best Pats play the best Giants for a full game.
Pro Football is going toward pay for view so maybe some of the college games should be on Sunday for the guys who don't want to pay an extra fee to watch a game.

Anonymous · Answer

It was a well played game on both sides but usually that means there were some missed opportunities on both sides: #1. McQuarters muffing the punt AGAIN, and this time in a (I can't stress this enough) crucial/critical/most important juncture in the game. #2. Kasay's missed field goal: I thought it was in but one of my many prayers were answered and it was wide left. #3. Missed interceptions by both teams, I can't name them all. #4. A lot of missed tackles by the Giants and no control of the line of scrimmage by Carolina in the last 6 minutes of the game. I do agree, this is one of those games espn would call "Instant Classic", 2 good running teams slugging it out, few penalties, good playcalling and the winner is the team with the last possession. EDIT: To Codizzle, I reccomend your district file a class action suit against somebody because that Heidi Bowl crap has to stop.

gregory_dittman · Answer

Yeah, because the alternative was either one or no network to show it.  By putting it on two networks, this keeps one network from getting all the claimed mass of viewers that  the U.S. Congress (You would think they would have better things to do than dictate TV programming (just watch out next for I Love Lucy making a comeback)) thinks any one station would get.

They should have let ABC, Fox and The WB air it too.  Heck, throw it on the Food Network and the Oxygen station.

Amart · Answer

Well, being as how the game will not interrupt any good shows or new episodes of anything (WGA Strike), why not air the game on a few channels? It's history, why not give everyone a chance to see it? 

I mean, I have direct TV, so it wasn't gonna affect me, but what about the folks who don't want to pay like $80.00 a month for Direct TV? Everyone should get a chance to see this game...

Anonymous · Answer

That was an excellent decision made by the NFL although which channel would I watch the game on, CBS or NBC? Agh, I hate making these kinds of decisions!

Mississippi River · Answer

If it's a good game, it's a good thing.  If the Patriots run up the score on the Giants backups, like 65-3, it will be a bad thing.

NYC Sewers · Answer

This is a great day and things are looking up. Glory be, we were granted a wonderful treat for this next weekend. For free and let the will of god be done. Let the winner be the righteous and the Lord is good.

Anonymous · Answer

Yes It was smart. They will get more viewers and will see a team making history.

Anonymous · Answer

Yes it is a once in a lifetime oppurntunity

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Was it a smart move for the NFL to broadcast the NE Vs NYG game all over the USA?

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