If the NFL lockout delays/cancels the 2011 season--Programming Edition

[Tim from Springfield IL]

I'm surprised no one has speculated on this, but if the ongoing lockout cancels or hopefully just delays the 2011 NFL season, what do you think could be possible programming alternatives for Sunday NFL coverage on CBS and Fox, and more interestingly Sunday Night Football on NBC (with the Peacock's ongoing ratings problems)?

Could the last three Sundays of the 2011 MLB season--which would also coincide with what would have been Weeks 1-3 of the NFL season--witness Fox airing a bonus MLB game particularly with pennant/wild card races heating up? (If possible). Could even some postseason MLB games, particularly the divisional series, that are to be played on a Sunday be moved up to daytime?

From Week 2 (after the US Open concludes) through mid-November, could CBS be forced to go retro 1994-97 when they lost the NFL rights--and be stuck with IIRC Harlequin romance dramas--or will the times that would have had games be given to the affiliates (who most likely will fill those slots with infomercials--same with Fox)? Then when college basketball begins before Thanksgiving, could CBS possibly try to schedule some Sunday early season college hoops in the regular NFL slot? (Speaking of Thanksgiving 2011--could ESPN/ABC or CBS schedule a bonus college football rivalry game on the holiday in lieu of the NFL?)

What do you think--if there is no Super Bowl on Feb. 5, 2012 due to the lockout--might be alternate "Super Bowl Sunday" program offerings on all affiliates that night? Could there be an attempt to move the Academy Awards to that Sunday for 2012 only (on ABC), or perhaps a big night of the likes of "Survivor," "Biggest Loser," and the Fox Sunday animation domination (e.g. a "very special" Simpsons).

And how might the NFL Network fill their programming void if there is a lockout?

Hopefully--but I'm not holding my breath--the NFL lockout can be resolved where at least some of the 2011 season could be salvaged, but what are your thoughts/ideas/predictions on what programming alternatives the networks may be forced to resort to if the 2011 NFL season is cancelled?

 

[1st of 5]

Maybe they will do whatever they did during the last NFL strike in the late 80s? I don't remember the fill in shows, because that was the golden age of cable TV and I rarely ever tuned into the old "big 3".

 

[KeithE4]

Maybe they will do whatever they did during the last NFL strike in the late 80s? I don't remember the fill in shows, because that was the golden age of cable TV and I rarely ever tuned into the old "big 3".

They hired replacement players after missing one week. After the players figured out that they were expendable, they started crossing the picket line and settled. It was a 15-game regular season that year (1987).

During the 9/21 to 11/16/1982 walkout, we had college football, the baseball playoffs & World Series, and the start of the NBA and NHL seasons. ABC replaced Monday Night Football with movies. The NFL season was cut to nine games.

But it's going to be a moot point. This labor dispute will be settled before even one regular-season (or possibly even one pre-season) game is missed. The judge in Minnesota ordered the owners and players back to mediation today. No football has been lost, and the draft will go on as scheduled. The off-season minicamps are at risk (but nothing prevents the players from working out on their own), but nothing else so far is in jeopardy.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

This is an interesting conundrum for the networks. For the first few weeks of what would have been the regular season, the networks will probably be stuck with taped filler programming because the NFLPA and the owners will likely be assuring all parties that a deal is close.

If, at any point, the NFLPA and League would cancel the season, more long term planning could be made, like moving MLB games or the Oscars.

MLB would not agree to a deal with FOX where the ALCS game 6 would be played at 7pm on Sunday if the NFL is playing, or 1pm Sunday if the NFL is still locked out. No way.

 

[azumanga]

During the 9/21 to 11/16/1982 walkout, we had college football, the baseball playoffs & World Series, and the start of the NBA and NHL seasons. ABC replaced Monday Night Football with movies. The NFL season was cut to nine games.

I believe NBC, which had the AFC on Sunday afternoons, tried replacing NFL games with those of the Canadian CFL league, but using NBC's own announcers -- these lasted only a couple of weeks before they were pulled.

 

[Mainedude2007]

Could the last three Sundays of the 2011 MLB season--which would also coincide with what would have been Weeks 1-3 of the NFL season--witness Fox airing a bonus MLB game particularly with pennant/wild card races heating up? (If possible). Could even some postseason MLB games, particularly the divisional series, that are to be played on a Sunday be moved up to daytime?

MLB on Fox Sunday is unlikley...TBS has an afternoon game and ESPN has the Sunday night game, but they would have more freedom with the post season schedule

And how might the NFL Network fill their programming void if there is a lockout?

More CFL games

also the United Football League could schedule games on Sunday, if they still exist come September

 

[pab]

The difference between this year and the last strike is that it's not the players on the picket lines, it's the owners locking the players out.

 

[Firebird]

What about showing games from this football league? http://www.lflus.com/ ;D 8)

 

[KeithE4]

also the United Football League could schedule games on Sunday, if they still exist come September

If there is no NFL football come August, not only will the UFL exist, but they'll get many of the current NFL players and have a huge expansion, at least for one season (See: Players' League, 1890). That's been their business plan ever since this labor mess started. But if the players and owners work out a deal, then the UFL is toast.

 

[mgsports]

ESPN could move the MLB game to ABC.
TBS could move it's MLB Game to CBS.

 

[taylorjsdad]

I wonder if ESPN will move some college games to fill Monday Night Football. It could be good for a conference like the Big East to get more exposure (of course if their teams were better this would not be an issue.) Maybe CBS could add SEC games they would not be airing on Sunday (of course the SEC would have to agree to this). I don't see ESPN or TBS moving MLB games without Fox having something to say about it.

 

[KeithE4]

ESPN could move the MLB game to ABC.

Why would it want to? ABC already has a decent Sunday night lineup.

TBS could move it's MLB Game to CBS.

They're not co-owned. Why would Turner want to do this?

 

[Robnoxious]

ESPN could move the MLB game to ABC.
TBS could move it's MLB Game to CBS.

TBS is under no obligation to bail CBS out of their problems.

 

[mgsports]

Because more people get CBS and ABC.
NHL Hockey on CBS or Fox.

 

[KeithE4]

Because more people get CBS and ABC.

So? ??? ??? ???

Besides, MLB's broadcast contract is with Fox. ESPN probably isn't allowed to move any of their games to ABC because of the deal with Fox, even if they wanted to (which I suspect they don't).

NHL Hockey on CBS or Fox.

The NHL's broadcast contract is with NBC.

 

[JayR]

Maybe CBS could add SEC games they would not be airing on Sunday (of course the SEC would have to agree to this).

It'll never happen. CBS airs the top match-up. ESPN controls the rest (which includes the SEC Network/ESPN Plus matchup).

 

[mgsports]

Yes Fox only has a deal for Saturday Afternoon for MLB not Sunday Night only in Playoffs. ABC usly just shows reruns or just Summer shows on Sunday's.
Yes NBC Shows the NHL but the Deal for the TV Contract is up soon and NBA isn't.

 

[TheRob]

I suspect we'll have NFL as scheduled this fall. The NBA may be another matter altogether.

 

[KeithE4]

The NBA may be another matter altogether.

Will anyone notice? That league has been a joke for years.

I used to be a rabid NBA fan and a Bulls fan since Michael Jordan was potty-training, but the quality of play today isn't anywhere near what it was in the league's Golden Age (1979-98). Dr. J, Kareem, Magic, Larry, and MJ in their primes would clean up on the playground-league players of today. I rarely bother watching anymore.

 

[KeithE4]

Yes Fox only has a deal for Saturday Afternoon for MLB not Sunday Night only in Playoffs. ABC usly just shows reruns or just Summer shows on Sunday's.

Fox has the exclusive contract for over-the-air broadcasts of major league baseball at the network level. ESPN controls the national cable rights, other than those games shown on MLB Network (which are local feeds) and the Sunday TBS games. Those games cannot be moved to ABC, CBS, or anywhere else since Fox controls the OTA network rights.

The individual teams control their own local/regional broadcast rights, and always have.

Yes NBC Shows the NHL but the Deal for the TV Contract is up soon and NBA isn't.

Given the fact that both NBC and Versus are now owned by Comcast, most people expect the deal to get renewed for next year, if not longer. But nothing's been signed yet.