Cardinals ESPN MNF Game

[VoiceofWayne]

ESPN Cardinals game on 10/17 aired locally on KUTP 45. Would have expected it on KNXV 15 (ABC affiliate) --- interesting..

 

[TheBigA]

We're seeing that ABC stations have right of first refusal, and most prefer to run the network lineup of Dancing With the Stars. So it's likely that NXV passed, and KUTP grabbed it.

 

[Sammi Brie]

We're seeing that ABC stations have right of first refusal, and most prefer to run the network lineup of Dancing With the Stars. So it's likely that NXV passed, and KUTP grabbed it.

In some cases, affiliates are obligated to air Dancing live on the East Coast, which presents this regular conflict for affiliates.

 

[KeithE4]

We're seeing that ABC stations have right of first refusal, and most prefer to run the network lineup of Dancing With the Stars. So it's likely that NXV passed, and KUTP grabbed it.

The Cardinals are a ratings winner here, which makes me surprised that Channel 15 dropped them. They'd do better than anything ABC has, including DWTS. I wonder if there's been some kind of falling out between the Bidwills and Scripps. They've been joined at the hip for the past several years with the preseason games, and IIRC, they also aired the MNF games for a few years. I'm also a bit surprised that Meredith didn't put in enough of a bid (assuming they tried in the first place) to bring those MNF games back to Channel 3. KTVK had the rights for years, even after losing ABC.

Even more surprising than Fox getting the rights at all is that they didn't air a one-hour pregame show on 45 prior to switching to ESPN coverage. Do any other Fox O&Os have MNF rights?

 

[landtuna]

I thought running the game on 45 was weird too but....

Did you catch the parody of old MNF done by anchors at the Fox O&O (10)? Hilarious. It is somewhere on Youtube but I could not find it this morning.

 

[EricStein]

KASW ran a Cardinals wild-card game that was also on ESPN back in January of last year. I recall the then-station manager saying that they were the highest bidder for the game. He had been the PD for both KTVK and KASW during the Belo years (when KTVK got most of the games), so the rights don't always go to the ABC affiliate.

KNXV must have gotten a number of calls about the "DWTS" pre-emption last year, and decided to pass this year.

 

[Sammi Brie]

Wow, that's decently well done.

Watch for some actual KOOL-TV historical footage of a guy operating a KOOL-TV camera! (They must have quite the historical archive.)

 

[VoiceofWayne]

I did see that --- very well done and very funny. Also for giggles, I looked at the Tucson stations and the game was not on OTA at all down there, assume it's not a "home" market for the Cards.

 

[Sammi Brie]

I did see that --- very well done and very funny. Also for giggles, I looked at the Tucson stations and the game was not on OTA at all down there, assume it's not a "home" market for the Cards.

OTA broadcasts of cable games are limited to the primary market in which the team is located (basically, the home DMA, though I believe Green Bay also has Milwaukee as a primary).