How soon before they "flex" Thursday night games?

[Cheesehead Craig]

This is all part of a long range plan to get $ from the viewers for every game, even when you watch at home.

There was a report leaked years and years ago that concluded fans at home should pay a nominal amount for games, too. That same report discussed the advantages of the league controlling their own broadcasts through a league-owned network. How do you do it? Start small and convert gradually.

Guess what? The wheels are in motion.

The NFL gets so much money from the Networks though. It's ridiculous money that they know they will never be able to recoup. I can see an additional game each week being on the NFLN, or maybe even the MNF game being on there. But other than that, I don't think they can financially afford to not have the Networks involved on a heavy basis. They can't switch over to games only on the NFLN and Sunday Tix, the revenue simply won't be there. And if it's one thing the NFL craves more than player safety, it's money.

[gbgary]

"flexing" of any game screws any out-of-town fans that fly in to see a game. that's why i decided to come up early in the season and chose a game that wasn't high-profile...det v GB. flexing is a sorry practice.


lol...i laugh everytime i see that avatar. ^^

[Patler]

The NFL gets so much money from the Networks though. It's ridiculous money that they know they will never be able to recoup. I can see an additional game each week being on the NFLN, or maybe even the MNF game being on there. But other than that, I don't think they can financially afford to not have the Networks involved on a heavy basis. They can't switch over to games only on the NFLN and Sunday Tix, the revenue simply won't be there. And if it's one thing the NFL craves more than player safety, it's money.

Why share the advertising revenue with the regular networks when they can have it all for themselves from their own network? Then, get the equivalent of a few bucks from every viewer for every game and the $s become enormous. They could make their current income look like peanuts.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Thursday night football is an overreach by the NFL. just dump it.

And of course last night they had to go head-to-head with Carrie Underwood live in "The Sound of Music"
I got thru the first five minutes

[red]

Thursday night football is an overreach by the NFL. just dump it.

And of course last night they had to go head-to-head with Carrie Underwood live in "The Sound of Music"
I got thru the first five minutes

I watched the big bang theory, then turned off the tv and read a book

[Guiness]

Thursday night football is an overreach by the NFL. just dump it.

And of course last night they had to go head-to-head with Carrie Underwood live in "The Sound of Music"
I got thru the first five minutes

Got through the first five minutes of what?

[Harlan Huckleby]

Got through the first five minutes of what?

sound of music - horrible

[pbmax]

Thats the day the nfl dies imo

There is some kind of optimum distribution here.

If they pull everything from the other Networks, they miss out on tons of publicity, marketing and extra shows devoted to the NFL. That generates a tremendous amount of programming from TV, to websites and radio shows.

However, Patler is right, that at least in the short term, broadcasting their own product would increase the profit margin. There are two question they have to ask themselves, do they have the reach and capability to maximize revenue (just think of the ad tie-ins alone) like the Networks are experts at. Much of that expertise can probably be hired in relatively short time frames.

The second one is Congressional action if they put most of their games on pay TV. There is some distance to travel before everyone is ready for that. Right now to get the NFLN, most of the country has to shell out for an additional cable tier package. And if they moves more games to it, its going to be more expensive.

The only plus here is that if enough Leagues do this, it might finally bring an end to the career of Chris Berman.

[Pugger]

I think the shittiest games every week should be on the nlfn

The nfl isnt getting paid any money from other networks for that game, and a lot of people dont get nfln. Let them hold the crap games

Besides, according to the nfl, people will watch no matter how bad the game is

Weren't all of the games on the NFLN pretty crappy this year?