Al Michaels Back On NBC

[TheBigA]

I was watching the Chargers-Jacksonville wild card game on NBC tonight, and was surprised to see it called by Al Michaels & Tony Dungy. Why is Al back on NBC? Here's what I found out:

Why Al Michaels is back on NBC calling Chargers-Jaguars wild card playoff game

Al Michaels spent this past season calling Thursday Night Football games for Amazon, but he was back in the NBC booth Saturday for Chargers-Jaguars.

www.usatoday.com

Tomorrow, it will be the regular crew: Mike Tirico & Chris Collinsworth. But I doubt the game will be as amazing. I actually tuned out in the 2nd quarter to watch hockey. Then came back to watch the thrilling 4th quarter.

 

[itsTheRolyPoly]

He called one hell of an amazing thriller of a match.

 

[KeithE4]

I believe it was part of his deal with Amazon, being allowed to continue to call playoff games on NBC when Tirico and Collinsworth aren't available (they're doing tomorrow's Ravens/Bengals game).

 

[TheBigA]

Apparently the Thursday night games have been a step down for Michaels. He says he's "not good at selling used cars." Clearly Amazon overpaid for the rights. No surprise. It's how they lost $2 billion last year.

Saturday night, Al Michaels returns to NBC

 

[Larry]

Clearly Amazon overpaid for the rights. No surprise. It's how they lost $2 billion last year.

I also heard a news report Thursday night game viewership is down 2% over last year so the NFL is probably wondering if streaming only was the right decision

 

[TheBigA]

I also heard a news report Thursday night game viewership is down 2% over last year so the NFL is probably wondering if streaming only was the right decision

It's much worse than that. Try 41%:

https://www.nexttv.com/news/streaming-off-a-cliff-thursday-night-football-audience-dropped-whopping-41-for-the-season-on-amazon

 

[PTBoardOp94]

2% was the cumulative figure for all NFL broadcasts, not just Thursday Night Football.

 

[Mediafrog+]

It's much worse than that. Try 41%:

The article states that the 2021 figures included a Saturday Christmas game which distorted the numbers. Direct comparison was 28%.

The matchup quality is the culprit behind the 2022 numbers, rather than any streaming versus broadcast considerations. And note the streaming audience is more advertiser friendly.