Patriots vs. Giants in Week 17

[MassMusicMan]

What are the rules in regard to over-the-air simulcasts of cable NFL games? In Boston, the Patriots vs. Giants game on Saturday December 29th will be shown on WCVB in addition to being seen on NFL Network.

However, NFL Network is on Comcast's premium tier. Will a Burlington station be able to carry the game, or will all the Comcast basic cable subscribers in B-P get screwed? This would be huge because of the fanbases of both teams that exist all across New England.

 

[KML0224]

Burlington/Plattsburgh would not get it over the air.

 

[radiodouble]

What are the rules in regard to over-the-air simulcasts of cable NFL games? In Boston, the Patriots vs. Giants game on Saturday December 29th will be shown on WCVB in addition to being seen on NFL Network.

However, NFL Network is on Comcast's premium tier. Will a Burlington station be able to carry the game, or will all the Comcast basic cable subscribers in B-P get screwed? This would be huge because of the fanbases of both teams that exist all across New England.

no other station outside of boston dma can pick up the game.

on the bright side, if the pats are 15-0 going into nj, look for the game to end up in nbc's sunday night slot. nfl has a flex tv schedule in the last two weeks of the regular season which allows the networks to move games around. there's no way chiefs-jets will be the last game of the season on nbc's sunday night game.

 

[BRNout]

Thanks to the "quirk" of the Boston market actually being "Boston/Manchester," WMUR Manchester will also be permitted to carry the Pats game. That will be good for folks in some parts of VT, though not helpful as far up as Burlington. But if you can get down to Woodstock or WRJ, or over to St. Johnsbury, then you can see the game on basic cable.

Essentially Pats fans in Providence, Hartford, Springfield, Portland, Burlington, Bangor and elsewhere in the US are indeed getting screwed. Unless the scheduling changes. The whole NFLN/Comcast issue is a great example of what's wrong with cable TV. From both sides.

 

[KML0224]

On the Giants end of it, isn't their coverage via WWOR-TV (MY) channel 9?

 

[MassMusicMan]

on the bright side, if the pats are 15-0 going into nj, look for the game to end up in nbc's sunday night slot. nfl has a flex tv schedule in the last two weeks of the regular season which allows the networks to move games around. there's no way chiefs-jets will be the last game of the season on nbc's sunday night game.

I don't believe that the league could move that game. I believe they can only choose a Sunday afternoon game.

 

[BRNout]

The NFL almost certainly WANTS the Patriots to be 15-0 and on their network. If Comcast continues to insist on it being within a higher tier, so be it. Perhaps fans will complain and the NFL will do all it can to direct that ire at Comcast.

From what I see, I think that the league would actually enjoy it if a big fan contingent misses the game. They will play victim and get the fans on their side in their ongoing feud with Comcast over the carriage of NFLN. After all, it isn't difficult to get people on your side when the "enemy" is Comcast. I'd wager that they are one of the most hated companies in America.

All in all, the 'little guy' loses once again.

 

[DToTheJ]

On the Giants end of it, isn't their coverage via WWOR-TV (MY) channel 9?

Last year, the Giants also happened to be scheduled in the final week of the season and carried on NFL Network. That game vs. the Redskins (and Tiki's last regular season game) was simulcast on WNBC/4.

Remember back in 1998 when Denver's perfect season was squashed with a loss to the Giants. Can history repeat itself this year?

 

[radiodouble]

on the bright side, if the pats are 15-0 going into nj, look for the game to end up in nbc's sunday night slot. nfl has a flex tv schedule in the last two weeks of the regular season which allows the networks to move games around. there's no way chiefs-jets will be the last game of the season on nbc's sunday night game.

I don't believe that the league could move that game. I believe they can only choose a Sunday afternoon game.

you're right. i stand corrected. no flex schedule for thu., sat. and mon. night games.

http://www.nfl.com/schedules/tv/flexible

 

[chuckydoll]

Thanks to the "quirk" of the Boston market actually being "Boston/Manchester," WMUR Manchester will also be permitted to carry the Pats game.

WRONG! WMUR-9 cannot simulcast as its OTA signal does not reach Foxboro.

Per the Patriots' website, Pats-Giants will air on NFL Network and WCVB-5.

 

[Nizam]

Thanks to the "quirk" of the Boston market actually being "Boston/Manchester," WMUR Manchester will also be permitted to carry the Pats game. That will be good for folks in some parts of VT, though not helpful as far up as Burlington. But if you can get down to Woodstock or WRJ, or over to St. Johnsbury, then you can see the game on basic cable.

Essentially Pats fans in Providence, Hartford, Springfield, Portland, Burlington, Bangor and elsewhere in the US are indeed getting screwed. Unless the scheduling changes. The whole NFLN/Comcast issue is a great example of what's wrong with cable TV. From both sides.

As long as the Pats don't do a total nose dive and lose the next 5 games, it will be moved to the NBC Sunday Night game. Thats the wonderfull thing about flex schedule

 

[KeithE4]

As long as the Pats don't do a total nose dive and lose the next 5 games, it will be moved to the NBC Sunday Night game. Thats the wonderfull thing about flex schedule

Not a chance. The flexible scheduling doesn't affect Saturday games. It'll definitely be on Saturday December 29 at 8:15 PM EST on NFL Network, plus local stations in NYC and Boston.

Partial rules about rescheduling games from NFL.com (emphasis is mine):
# Only Sunday afternoon games are subject to being moved into the Sunday night window.
# No impact on Thursday, Saturday or Monday night games.

 

[Nizam]

As long as the Pats don't do a total nose dive and lose the next 5 games, it will be moved to the NBC Sunday Night game. Thats the wonderfull thing about flex schedule

Not a chance. The flexible scheduling doesn't affect Saturday games. It'll definitely be on Saturday December 29 at 8:15 PM EST on NFL Network, plus local stations in NYC and Boston.

Partial rules about rescheduling games from NFL.com (emphasis is mine):
# Only Sunday afternoon games are subject to being moved into the Sunday night window.
# No impact on Thursday, Saturday or Monday night games.

OOOOOOOHHHH, My apologies. I didn't pay attention to see that it was a Saturday game. My bad.

 

[MassMusicMan]

It should be noted that I was unable to find a bar in Burlington on Thanksgiving night that was both open and showing the game, which says as much about the pathetic Burlington bar community as it does about the NFL.

 

[PortlandMainer]

Any chance for devine (congressional threats) intervention on this one. Seems that the national and regional press is weighing in on this power struggle between the mega corporations. I suggest, at the least, letting the secondary markets pick up the games. I am making arrangements to watch at my brother in law's home 60 miles from here. It's cheaper and easier than switching over my Internet/cable/phone services.

 

[chuckydoll]

Patriots-Giants stays with NFL Network

Any chance for devine (congressional threats) intervention on this one.

No. The main purpose of Congress is to pour more money into the US military and prevent a collapse of the US banking system.

Seems that the national and regional press is weighing in on this power struggle between the mega corporations.

In the words of a James Brown record, "Talking Loud and Saying Nothing". A lot of Senators and Congressman get big money from the telecom industry to do their bidding.

I suggest, at the least, letting the secondary markets pick up the games.

NOT PERMITTED under the league's TV policy. Foxboro is within the Boston DMA, so Boston stations got to bid for the OTA simulcast and WCVB-5 won.

 

[KML0224]

And WWOR-TV/DT for the New York side, if I'm not mistaken, for those in Fairfield County, CT.

 

[BRNout]

And, WMUR sneaks in as a "Boston" DMA station for the Pats game on WCVB's coattails. For those in northern NH and eastern VT (like St. Johnsbury) that don't get WCVB, you still get the game. Too bad I won't be in the area then...