NFL Pro Bowl

[radioguy555]

Since the NFL Pro Bowl will be played before the Super Bowl for the first time this season, it seems like networks that carry NFL games have promoted it a little more this year. But whenever they do, the announcers always say "Check local listings." The game is going to be on ESPN, so why not just say that? I know ESPN mentions the names of other networks, but it seems like nobody wants to mention ESPN.

Also, has the Pro Bowl ever been on another network besides ABC or ESPN?

 

[kenrayc]

The bigger question is why have the Pro Bowl before the Super Bowl?
The two teams in the SuperBowl are not going to have their players play in a meaningless game like the Pro Bowl to risk any injury.So the game will not represent all of the best players.
I don't recall the Pro Bowl being on any other network, At least the last 30 years.
This is the first time in 30 years the game is not in Hawaii.

 

[mnbu12]

What's the real value of the Pro Bowl for the game of football itself?

It is all about the ad money, ticket sales, and product sales that it stirs about. The NFL is driven by that, not the game.

 

[quadraphonic]

The NFL would have a game in London if they thought it would make money.
I mean, hypothetically, of course.

 

[TheBigA]

Promoting the Pro Bowl on ESPN is part of the contracts that CBS and Fox have with the NFL. They have to promote it. Don't know if they have to mention the network. But they do mention competing networks in the baseball playoffs.

One thing that might raised the fur of the CBS folks is that the Pro Bowl competes head to head with the CBS coverage of the Grammy Awards.

I have not seen any explanation for why the game was moved to the weekend before the Super Bowl or why it was moved from Hawaii to Miami. It does make the game less important because the top two teams won't take part. I've read that the game will move back to Hawaii next year. Don't know if it will follow the Super Bowl.

 

[RicoGregg]

Also, has the Pro Bowl ever been on another network besides ABC or ESPN?

From 1951 through 1970, the Pro Bowl was played at the Los Angeles Coliseum, and was televised by CBS annually from 1958 - 1970 (blacked out in LA, however).

The pre-merger American Football League (now known as the AFC) had their own seperate all-star game until the pro football merger in 1970, and was played at different sites. It was televised by ABC (1960 - 1964), and NBC (1965 - 1970).

The post-1970 Pro Bowl has alternated both sites and networks at different times. More info:

http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pro_Bowl#Television

 

[brian4]

I have not seen any explanation for why the game was moved to the weekend before the Super Bowl or why it was moved from Hawaii to Miami. It does make the game less important because the top two teams won't take part. I've read that the game will move back to Hawaii next year. Don't know if it will follow the Super Bowl.

Of course, the main reason why they do anything is money.

These are my thoughts, not fact. Once you think about it, it makes sense to have the Pro Bowl the week before the Super Bowl and off the Hawaiian islands. I know the game gets super-hyped in those 2 weeks between the Championship games and SB, but now there is "another" week of football to watch. Most people forget about the PB. This gives the event more attention. I would love to go to Hawaii once a year to watch the PB but who can afford that? It'll be much easier to take a road trip to where ever the PB will be. Also, the NFL can sell a weeks worth of fun including tickets to the Super Bowl, Pro Bowl, NFL Experience, hotel, rental car, etc. The host city will generate a lot of income.

Actually, the only negative is the SB teams won't have their players on the field.

 

[JeeperOne]

One thing that might raised the fur of the CBS folks is that the Pro Bowl competes head to head with the CBS coverage of the Grammy Awards.

Ohh.....I'm sure CBS is REALLY shakin' in their bootstraps over (Of all things!) THE PRO BOWL :

I have not seen any explanation for why the game was moved to the weekend before the Super Bowl or why it was moved from Hawaii to Miami. It does make the game less important because the top two teams won't take part. I've read that the game will move back to Hawaii next year. Don't know if it will follow the Super Bowl.

I think it should be a different venues every year (Like the Super Bowl site of either the following year or previous year for example) & have it televised by a different network each year. But thats just IMO though.....

BTW Radioguy555 - NBC ALWAYS runs the MNF promo during SNF at least once that I've seen during the course of a game. I know this because I've seen 'em. So it's not like ESPN doesn't get a little "luvvin" of its own. That said though, I have yet to see ESPN reciprocate by doing the same for the following week's SNF game.

 

[David67]

The bigger question is why have the Pro Bowl before the Super Bowl?
The two teams in the SuperBowl are not going to have their players play in a meaningless game like the Pro Bowl to risk any injury.So the game will not represent all of the best players.
I don't recall the Pro Bowl being on any other network, At least the last 30 years.
This is the first time in 30 years the game is not in Hawaii.

It's stupid to hold the Pro Bowl the week before the Super Bowl,The best players wont be able to play. It's only a two hand touch game anymore. Too bad nobody plays hard in this game,they sure did in the 50s-60s.

 

[cowboybud]

Promoting the Pro Bowl on ESPN is part of the contracts that CBS and Fox have with the NFL. They have to promote it. Don't know if they have to mention the network. But they do mention competing networks in the baseball playoffs.

One thing that might raised the fur of the CBS folks is that the Pro Bowl competes head to head with the CBS coverage of the Grammy Awards.

I have not seen any explanation for why the game was moved to the weekend before the Super Bowl or why it was moved from Hawaii to Miami. It does make the game less important because the top two teams won't take part. I've read that the game will move back to Hawaii next year. Don't know if it will follow the Super Bowl.

The game was moved to the weekend before the Super Bowl this year because the Daytona 500 and NBA All-Star game are on February 14th. The decision was made to play the game in Miami for obvious logistical reasons.

 

[justthenumbers]

BTW Radioguy555 - NBC ALWAYS runs the MNF promo during SNF at least once that I've seen during the course of a game. I know this because I've seen 'em. So it's not like ESPN doesn't get a little "luvvin" of its own. That said though, I have yet to see ESPN reciprocate by doing the same for the following week's SNF game.

I seriously doubt that NBC is airing the MNF promo out of the goodness of its heart. I have a feeling that ESPN is paying NBC a pretty penny to have that promo run.

And on the flip side, perhaps NBC doesn't feel the need to pay ESPN to promote SNF during MNF.

Also, consider that there's a 1-day gap between SNF and MNF, but a 6-day gap between MNF and SNF. Perhaps promotion is more worth it when there's the shorter gap.

 

[justthenumbers]

(no message - this was posted by mistake - moderators please delete)

 

[DToTheJ]

I seriously doubt that NBC is airing the MNF promo out of the goodness of its heart. I have a feeling that ESPN is paying NBC a pretty penny to have that promo run.

And on the flip side, perhaps NBC doesn't feel the need to pay ESPN to promote SNF during MNF.

I have yet to see ESPN reciprocate by doing the same for the following week's SNF game.

I guess ESPN picks and chooses the competing entities that may be carrying sports programming. Case in point: Around the time of the World Series, on their "Bottom Line" ticker, you will see the scheduled time of the game, but not the television network that will be showing the game... yet you will see a notice that the game is on "ESPN Radio"! Same for certain college football bowl games around New Year's. The ticker almost always never displays the network showing the game, unless it's ESPN and/or ABC.

 

[BRNout]

Yes, having the Pro Bowl on the weekend between the Championship games and the Super Bowl (a.k.a. "The Big Game") is idiotic. Somehow, I doubt that they were quaking in their boots over the Daytona 500, but the NBA All Star game is a definite conflict that would have raised PR issues at a minimum. The NFL has had issues with the All Star Game for many years and have toyed with ways to make it more relevant. This would seem to be a 'trial balloon' toward that end. Sadly, it will fail miserably because we all know that the biggest all stars come from either the two teams in the Super Bowl (who can't play) and the other two Championship runners-up (who are too banged up to play). In other words, everyone will know that the game is a farce.

When to play such a game is a huge problem, given the nature of professional football versus that of any other sport. I know it's a challenge, but this sure isn't the way. Maybe it would be better to forget the whole idea.

The NFL would have a game in London if they thought it would make money.
I mean, hypothetically, of course.

Already been done and another regular season game between the 49ers and Broncos is planned for Wembley Stadium next year.

BTW Radioguy555 - NBC ALWAYS runs the MNF promo during SNF at least once that I've seen during the course of a game. I know this because I've seen 'em. So it's not like ESPN doesn't get a little "luvvin" of its own. That said though, I have yet to see ESPN reciprocate by doing the same for the following week's SNF game.

I seriously doubt that NBC is airing the MNF promo out of the goodness of its heart. I have a feeling that ESPN is paying NBC a pretty penny to have that promo run.

And on the flip side, perhaps NBC doesn't feel the need to pay ESPN to promote SNF during MNF.

Also, consider that there's a 1-day gap between SNF and MNF, but a 6-day gap between MNF and SNF. Perhaps promotion is more worth it when there's the shorter gap.

There may also have been some NFL involvement here too. Remember that the NFL ultimately owns both broadcasts (..."the following is a presentation of the National Football League..."), even if they are on different networks. So, the NFL also has an interest in promoting MNF during the SNF broadcast.