CBS/NFL - How Can This Be?

[DToTheJ]

How is that the game between the 6-0 Denver Broncos and the Baltimore Ravens, getting cleared in half the country, gets their "B" team of Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf, yet the Dolphins @ Jets game, which is only being show on the East Coast and Hawaii, winds up with Jim Nantz and Phil Simms calling the plays? Does Nantzie have a clause in his contract or something? I'm baffled by this move.

http://the506.com/nflmaps/2009/08-CBS.html

 

[BRice16]

Could be related to travel or events that CBS has the talent doing in certain markets. It could also be that the travel schedules were set, but CBS changed the plans for the distribution.

Besides, the Gumbel/Dierdorf team is more like 1A than B.

 

[KeithE4]

How is that the game between the 6-0 Denver Broncos and the Baltimore Ravens, getting cleared in half the country, gets their "B" team of Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf, yet the Dolphins @ Jets game, which is only being show on the East Coast and Hawaii, winds up with Jim Nantz and Phil Simms calling the plays? Does Nantzie have a clause in his contract or something? I'm baffled by this move.

http://the506.com/nflmaps/2009/08-CBS.html

There are more top markets carrying the Dolphins/Jets game than the Broncos/Ravens. In fact, Oakland/San Diego & Cleveland/Chicago have as many, if not more, potential viewers than Denver/Baltimore. Much of that huge Broncos/Ravens physical territory is Bottom 100-land.

Big Markets Lineup (Top 10 in bold)
Dolphins/Jets: NYC, Boston, Atlanta, Miami, Tampa
Broncos/Ravens: Washington, Phoenix, Denver, Pittsburgh, Baltimore
Raiders/Chargers: LA, Philly, DFW, SF/Oakland, Seattle, San Diego
Browns/Bears: Chicago, Detroit, Mpls/St. Paul, Cleveland
Texans/Bills: Houston
Jaguars/Titans: Orlando, St. Louis, Indianapolis

 

[DToTheJ]

Browns/Bears: Chicago, Detroit, Mpls/St. Paul, Cleveland

Note that Detroit is only carrying this game due to the Rams-Lions blackout...

 

[searadiofreak]

This has always been an interesting subject to me. Who decides? Is it a panel, or one person?

Do local affiliates have any say?

Do decisions change based on how individual teams are doing?

As referenced above, again, this is a great site:

http://the506.com/nflmaps/

 

[ShawnHill1]

This has always been an interesting subject to me. Who decides? Is it a panel, or one person?

Do local affiliates have any say?

Do decisions change based on how individual teams are doing?

As referenced above, again, this is a great site:

http://the506.com/nflmaps/

The local affiliates do have a say, but the networks (in this case on Sunday afternoons, CBS and Fox) have the final say on what games air where. Obviously, the primary and secondary markets are obligated to air the home team's away games, but the secondary markets don't have to air the home games if they're sold out. The secondary market, depending if the CBS or Fox station's signal comes within the 75-mile radius of the home stadium, can't air the home game if it isn't sold out. This, of course for example, affect the viewers in Los Angeles (Chargers), Sacramento (49ers & Raiders), Milwaukee (Packers)...although the 49ers and Packers normally sell out at home.

 

[nathannah]

This, of course for example, affect the viewers in Los Angeles (Chargers), Sacramento (49ers & Raiders), Milwaukee (Packers)...although the 49ers and Packers normally sell out at home.

Milwaukee is considered a primary market for the Packers due to the team formerly playing games in County Stadium until the early 90s; they also get all ESPN and NFLNet games on local TV.

 

[ShawnHill1]

This, of course for example, affect the viewers in Los Angeles (Chargers), Sacramento (49ers & Raiders), Milwaukee (Packers)...although the 49ers and Packers normally sell out at home.

Milwaukee is considered a primary market for the Packers due to the team formerly playing games in County Stadium until the early 90s; they also get all ESPN and NFLNet games on local TV.

I'm was aware of that...I probably shouldn't used them as an example, and you're absolutely right. I should have used practically all of Arizona as another example, because of the Tucson market's proximity to the 75-mile radius of University of Phoenix Stadium and the mutliple translator and satellite stations for the Phoenix channels throughout the rest of the state.

 

[gr8oldies]

I worked in Lafayette, IN and we had to get special permission from CBS to air the Bears instead of the "southwestern feed" that WISH in Indy carried.

 

[radioguy555]

On a related note, I know Fox's second broadcast team of Kenny Albert and Goose and Moose (cheesiest nicknames ever) did three Tampa Bay Bucs games in a row to start off this season. And the Bucs haven't even won a game! So based on this, I don't think the top broadcast teams always do the biggest games. Seems like more of a regional thing.

 

[DToTheJ]

On a related note, I know Fox's second broadcast team of Kenny Albert and Goose and Moose... did three Tampa Bay Bucs games in a row to start off this season. And the Bucs haven't even won a game! ... Seems like more of a regional thing.

Likewise with Joe Buck calling a large number of Giants games, even when they weren't contenders. I guess being a top market has its privileges (or disadvantages, for those not fond of Buck)...