Fang's Bites

The 6th Annual Fang’s Bites NFL TV Awards

It’s now time to hand out the hardware for the 6th Annual Fang’s Bites NFL TV Awards. On Christmas Day, I listed the nominees for this season’s awards. Now, we have the winners for the 2012 regular season.

Best Play-by-Play: The nominees are Ian Eagle (CBS), Kevin Harlan (CBS), Al Michaels (NBC), Brad Nessler (NFL Network) and Mike Tirico (ESPN). The winner is Mike Tirico of ESPN. Mike has called Monday Night Football since 2007. He’s dealt with different combinations in the booth throughout his tenure, first Joe Theismann and Tony Kornheiser for one season. Then Ron Jaworski and Kornheiser for two more seasons, followed by Jaworski and Jon Gruden for two and now just Gruden. Tirico has been steady throughout. He’s not afraid to call out a player or a team and he’s always prepared. A much deserved award for Tirico. And if Gruden decides to go back into coaching, Tirico could have a totally new partner next season. No matter what, Mike will be ready.

Best Game Analyst: Your nominees are Troy Aikman (Fox), Cris Collinsworth (NBC), Dan Fouts (CBS), Rich Gannon (CBS) and Mike Mayock (NFL Network). This season’s award goes to Mike Mayock of Thursday Night Football, now a two-time winner. Mike won last year’s Game Analyst Award and will win it again for his work in 2012. There are times when Mike needs to take a breath, but he always brings something to the table and I always learn something new whenever I watch him.

Best Sunday NFL Pregame Show: This season’s nominees are First on the Field (NFL Network), Fox NFL Sunday (Fox), NFL Matchup (ESPN) and the NFL Today (CBS). The hands-down winner is ESPN’s NFL Matchup. This show has been airing since the 1980′s, but the show has mostly remained the same, showing looks not normally seen on TV. Ron Jaworski and Merril Hoge explain their analysis in an intelligent manner without talking down to viewers. And Sal Paolantonio is perfect in the host’s chair. While some pregame shows are stuck in laughfests or lame attempts at comedy, NFL Matchup just sticks to basics and viewers are the beneficiaries.

Best Studio Show, Daily or Weekly: The nominees in this category are Around the League Live (NFL Network), Inside the NFL (Showtime), NFL Live (ESPN), NFL PrimeTime (ESPN) and NFL Turning Point (NBC Sports Network). I should have added Sound FX from NFL Network and I’ll make sure this will be nominated next season. All of the shows are done very well, but I’m going to go with the venerable Inside the NFL of Showtime. After moving to Showtime from HBO, the show adjusted from having Bob Costas as host to James Brown and bringing in new castmates Phil Simms, Warren Sapp (since dropped from the show) and insider Michael Lombardi to the only holdover Cris Collinsworth. NFL Films highlights remains a huge part of the show. Seeing the dynamic between Collinsworth and Simms has been fun and JB is one of the best hosts in sports television.

Best Highlight Show: The nominees are Football Night in America (NBC), NFL GameDay Final (NFL Network), NFL PrimeTime (ESPN) and The OT (Fox). It has to be NFL GameDay Final on NFL Network. While Chris Rose is an extremely weak host, the highlights are the star. In addition, an extreme weakness is having Marshall Faulk, Michael Irvin and Deion Sanders are talking over each other, but again, no other show can provide three or four minutes of highlights. The NFL has placed restrictions on Football Night in America and NFL PrimeTime on the length of their highlights, but NFL GameDay Final has no such problem and can go for as long as it wants. The show has suffered since Rich Eisen left for GameDay Morning, but what matters are the highlights.

Best Studio Host: A strong category, it was tough to leave someone out and there is a glaring omission among these nominees: Rich Eisen (NFL Network), Curt Menefee (Fox), Dan Patrick (NBC/NBC Sports Network), Melissa Stark (NFL Network), Andrew Siciliano (DirecTV) and Trey Wingo (ESPN). Tough to leave out James Brown of CBS/Showtime, but I went with six nominees. This season’s winner is first time winner Trey Wingo of ESPN. Trey hosts NFL PrimeTime and NFL Live. The man knows his stuff and deserves a bigger platform. He’s done his time on ESPN and should be given the main host role on either Sunday NFL Countdown or the NFL Draft. Yes, Chris Berman hosts both, but Wingo is a much better nuts and bolts anchor. Wingo doesn’t rely on schtick or catchphrases, he gives you the facts and as a fan, that’s exactly what you want.

Best Studio Analyst: Your nominees are Tony Dungy (NBC), Boomer Esiason (CBS), Marshall Faulk (NFL Network), Rodney Harrison (NBC), Kurt Warner (NFL Network) and Steve Young (ESPN). The winner is Steve Young of ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown. There were times I would scratch my head at Young’s statements, but over the past couple of years, he’s grown on me. His work this season has been spectacular. He and Trent Dilfer had strong words during the first part of the season when the regular officials were locked out and bad calls influenced the results of games. As the season progressed, Young’s level-headed analysis was mostly on target, especially on Mark Sanchez and the New York Jets. Excellent work by Young and he would be a candidate to replace Jon Gruden if the former Tampa Bay coach took a job on the sidelines next season.

Most Valuable Network: The nominees are Fox, ESPN, NBC and NFL Network. Thanks to picking up the final two pieces in its cable provider puzzle, Cablevision and Time Warner Cable, this season’s winner is NFL Network. The network started a new morning show, NFL AM, that is gaining popularity among football fans. In addition, it launched an early morning Sunday pregame show in First on the Field that brought back Melissa Stark to sports television. And to top it all off, Thursday Night Football had its longest schedule ever in 13 games plus its best ratings ever. NFL Network is having its best season ever. Now if can right one wrong in Chris Rose, we’d be all set.

Best NFL Insider: Our nominees are John Clayton (ESPN), Jay Glazer (Fox), Peter King (NBC), Jason La Canfora (CBS) and Chris Mortensen (ESPN). I did omit Adam Schefter and he’s having a very good season, but I’ll go with Jay Glazer of Fox. I’m simply going with Glazer over his sourcing fight with ESPN in the last week. Plus, Jay laid the smackdown on your humble blogger over a mistake I made.

Best Sideline Reporter: The nominees are Alex Flanagan (NFL Network), Jennifer Hale (Fox), Jaime Maggio (Fox), Lisa Salters (ESPN) and Michele Tafoya (NBC). Bringing back this category after a year’s absence, our winner is Michele Tafoya of NBC’s Sunday Night Football. Michele won the initial Emmy Award for Sideline Reporting in 2012 and manages to provide solid information whenever she’s called upon. And her demonstration in Seattle in Week 16 on the crowd noise was one of the most original reports I’ve seen. Quite impressed.

Best Announcing Team: The nominees in this category are Ian Eagle/Dan Fouts (CBS), Kevin Harlan/Solomon Wilcots (CBS), Al Michaels/Cris Collinsworth (NBC), Brad Nessler/Mike Mayock (NFL Network) and Mike Tirico/Jon Gruden (ESPN). The winner this season is the team of the Bird and the Beard, Ian Eagle and Dan Fouts of CBS. I hope Ian and Dan are promoted to the “B” team and will get to call a Divisional Playoff game next season. They have very good chemistry and provide humor to games. Fouts is quite good in providing analysis and spotting trends. Ian has been with CBS since 1998 after one season with the New York Jets and is fast becoming one of the better all-around announcers on sports TV. Fouts has been around for many years calling both the NFL and college for CBS and ESPN/ABC. And Dan is versatile having called play-by-play on radio and TV. They are the winners in this category for 2012.

Best Game Production: Our nominees are Monday Night Football (ESPN), NFL on CBS (CBS), NFL on Fox (Fox), Sunday Night Football (NBC) and Thursday Night Football (NFL Network). We’re going with NBC’s Sunday Night Football. Last month, John Koblin of Deadspin chronicled the evolution of Sunday Night Football’s production and the article showed how SNF focuses on the field, the action and anything the fan wants to see. SNF is the number one primetime series on TV and the way it brings fans closer to the game is a reason why. In addition, Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth carry on a conversation throughout that provides fans with a good understanding of the game.

Best Debut: The nominees are Carolyn Manno on Football Night in America (NBC), First on the Field (NFL Network), Amber Theoharis on NFL Total Access (NFL Network) and Hines Ward on Football Night in America (NBC). The winner is First on the Field from NFL Network. Airing at 7 a.m. ET on Sundays, this is America’s first live NFL pregame show. Melissa Stark has proven to be a fine host. While Sterling Sharpe talks over everyone, LaDanian Tomlinson and Michael Lombardi provide analysis and the latest information leading up to NFL GameDay Morning at 9 a.m. The show is done well and originates from the NFL Films studios in New Jersey. For early risers, it’s a decent show and gives viewers their NFL fix.

Worst Play-by-Play: These are the nominees as we have now reached our “Worst” Awards: Chris Berman (ESPN), Thom Brennaman (Fox), Chris Myers (Fox), Ron Pitts (Fox) and Dick Stockton (Fox). The “winner” is Chris Myers of Fox. Chris is a very good host. He’s also a decent interviewer. But as far as play-by-play is concerned, Myers is awful. He’s constantly misidentifying players and there were times when he was behind on the action. I’m not impressed.

Worst Game Analyst: The nominees are Dan Dierdorf (CBS), Daryl Johnston (Fox), John Lynch (Fox) and Mike Martz (Fox). Mike Martz is the “winner” of this category. There’s nothing of substance provided with Martz. He gets this award hands down.

Worst Studio Host: Just two nominees here: Chris Berman (ESPN) and Chris Rose (NFL Network). The winner of this award is Chris Rose of NFL Network. The first-ever employee of two league-owned network simultaneously, Chris Rose is proving the sucking sound you hear comes from two channel positions on your television. Rose is on the worst show on sports television, Intentional Talk on MLB Network, and now he’s trying to ruin NFL GameDay Final and the Total Access Thursday Night Football Postgame show. He can’t control his analysts (see Best Highlights Show) and there are times he tries to go into “Best Damned Sports Show” which he used to host on Fox Sports Net. Chris Rose takes the award this season.

Worst Studio Analyst: Originally two nominees, Michael Irvin (NFL Network) and Eric Mangini (ESPN), I’ll add Warren Sapp (NFL Network/Showtime) to the mix. The “winner” is Michael Irvin of NFL Network. The man yells, he doesn’t make any sense and why NFL Network continues to use him is beyond me. He’s on three shows, NFL GameDay Morning, Thursday Night Kickoff and NFL GameDay Final. All he does is yell, cackle and laugh. No need for this.

And those are your NFL TV Awards for 2012. Let me know what you think in the comments below or on my Twitter and Facebook pages.

The Big Dozen Sports Media Stories of 2012

Time for the look back at the Year in Sports Media in 2012. Lots of great stuff. The year has been very interesting and we have seen a lot of things.

Just doing a Top Ten is never enough for the Year in Review. It’s always an even dozen with some honorable mentions mixed in.

Let’s go over what were the Sports Media Stories of 2012.

12. Embrace Debate Leads To Rob Parker Suspension

One of the silliest stories in 2012 was ESPN’s commitment to debate programming. Two shows were revamped to accommodate more debate among ESPN personalities, First Take and Numbers Never Lie. Due to outrageous statements made on First Take, mostly by Skip Bayless, the show received lots of attention and increased ratings. But the pressure to stand out may have caught up with Rob Parker who questioned whether DC NFL Team quarterback Robert Griffin III’s authenticity.

It led to Parker’s suspension and allegedly more oversight over the shows. We’ll see if it leads to some more control and fewer outrageous statements.

11. Steve Sabol (1942-2012)

One of the pioneers in sports television passed away in 2012. Steve Sabol’s impact on the National Football League’s popularity through NFL Films cannot be measured. With his father Ed, the Sabols brought fans closer to the game by thinking outside the box. Games weren’t just regular contests, they became movies with Hollywood production values and full orchestrations. Instead of showing games from high in the stadium, NFL Films went to field level and made extreme closeups of the players. In addition, Ed and Steve introduced slow motion photography to sports.

In 2011, Ed Sabol was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It would behoove voters to induct Steve sometime soon to join his dad.

10. Big Media Taps Into New Media

2012 saw Turner Sports purchased the much-criticized and now-improving Bleacher Report, USA Today buying Big Lead Sports and NBC Sports aligned itself with Yahoo! Sports. This is more than getting pageviews and improving comScores, this is about expanding portfolios and attracting younger audiences. According to comScore, Yahoo! has been the most popular sports news site for several years outpacing ESPN.com. Bleacher Report may get criticized for its multiple and questionable slideshows, but its hiring of some respected editors and writers have increased the quality of the site to the point where Turner Sports purchased the site for beaucoup bucks. And I have to make this disclaimer, Fang’s Bites is an independently-owned blog that is affiliated with USA Today Media Group. We will see more purchases in 2013.

9. NASCAR Renews with Fox

Fox Sports was the first of NASCAR’s TV partners to renew its ties with the sport taking the first half of the Sprint Cup season. For an estimated pricetag of over $2.4 billion through 2022, Fox remains with NASCAR in a relationship that dates back to 2002. Fox is expected to put some of its races on its new all-sports channel, but we’ll get to that later. And expect live on-streaming in this new contract. However, NASCAR’s ratings are a question-mark, but bidding for the second half in 2013 is expected to bring even more money. It’s all going to be quite an interesting year for NASCAR.

8. NBC Steals English Premier League and Formula One From Fox

October turned out to be a good month for NBC Sports Group as far as acquisitions were concerned. It first obtained the rights to Formula 1 as Fox gave just a nominal bid. Then a couple of weeks later, it emerged as the frontrunner to the English Premier League and then won out over a concerted combined bid from ESPN/Fox. While NBC Sports Network won’t be known as a college sports destination or for MLB, perhaps it can become an international sports channel with the EPL, Formula 1 and Olympic Sports. NBC Sports Network will have some sports to watch year-round with the English Premier League, Formula 1, MLS and the NHL (when it finally returns).

7. NFL Network Picks Up Its Last Two Holdouts

Since 2010, NFL Network has been gaining momentum in picking up carriage agreements with the major cable providers. It finally was able to sign deals in 2012 with its last two remaining holdouts, first Cablevision in August and then the very last one, Time Warner Cable in September. Thanks to the increased audience, NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football package had record ratings for its new 13 game schedule. It was a struggle for NFL Network to get all eight major cable and satellite providers on board, but after eight years, it finally got it done.

6. MLB New TV Contracts For A Lot of $$$

It started in August when ESPN renewed rights for its three nights of baseball games, a return to postseason and an increased amount of games for a total of $5.6 billion over eight years. Then in October, MLB announced deals with Fox and Turner for a combined $6.8 billion through 2021, providing them with TV Everywhere rights, postseason deals and a package of regular season games. For Fox, it allows the network to put games on its anticipated all-sports cable channel, but again, more on that later.

5. CBS & NBC Announce New Sports Radio Networks

2012 brought two new national networks to the sports talk radio scene. Within two days of each other, NBC Sports Radio and CBS Sports Radio were announced by both companies and with respective partners Dial Global and Cumulus Radio. NBC Sports Radio has been airing limited weekend programming since September, however, CBS Sports Radio chose to wait until this month to begin full operation with a 24/7 lineup. Both have a long way to go to match the firepower and the reputation of ESPN Radio that has been on the scene since the early 1990′s, however, CBS has hired familiar names like Jim Rome, Doug Gottlieb, John Feinstein, Scott Ferrall and Dana Jacobson. NBC will wait until the NCAA Final Four to finalize its weekday lineup. No matter the case, ESPN Radio finds itself with some formidable competition to join Yahoo! Sports Radio and Fox Sports Radio for listeners.

4. ESPN Free Agency

We had some big names leave the ESPN nest, Erin Andrews, Steve Berthiaume, Michelle Beadle, Cindy Brunson, Doug Gottlieb, Dana Jacobson, Michael Yam to name a few, but many stayed including Scott Van Pelt. This seemed to be quite the year for free agency for ESPN. In some cases, the network chose not to renew and wave goodbye to those departing, others decided not to return for other opportunities while in others, ESPN went out of its way to make sure its desired talent stayed. For the first time, ESPN was transparent in making statements about its free agency signings or departures. In the past, it had issued terse statements when media inquiries were made.

3. Fox Spending Spree

As the year-end was approaching, Fox Sports through its parent, News Corp., went on a spending spree unlike any other in sports media. It not only set up an all-sports cable channel for operation in 2013 (again, more on this later), but it bought into the YES Network which will eventually lead into a majority share of the New York Yankees regional sports network and fully purchased Sports Time Ohio for the Cleveland MLB Team. In addition, Fox is reportedly close to signing a long-term deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers for its media rights. News Corp. had money to spend with the company splitting off its publishing holdings into a separate company and of course, the proverbial fiscal cliff where tax credits were about to change. Will we see more of Fox’s financial muscle in 2013? I think that’s a safe bet.

2. The Emergence of Fox Sports 1 and Fox Sports 2

While NBC Sports Network was attempting to bid for major sports properties, Fox Sports was quietly forming its cable sports strategy for 2013 and beyond. We began hearing rumblings about Fox rebranding Speed into an all-sports channel that would be named “Fox Sports 1″ then at the end of the year, the company’s Fuel channel would also be rebranded as “Fox Sports 2″.

In its new contracts with MLB, NASCAR, the Pac-12, UFC and other sports properties it signed in 2012, Fox had a provision to put games and events on Fox Sports 1. As part of its new contract with Major League Baseball, Fox Sports can place 40 regular season games on cable as well as several postseason games. We should expect a number of NASCAR Sprint Cup races on FS1 and most likely see some UFC events as well.

The strategy is in place. Let’s see how it’s enacted in 2013 and beyond.

1. NBC’s Olympics Both Fail and Succeed

Up until the London Olympics begin in late July, NBCUniversal had been downplaying both ratings and financial expectations stating that it expected to lose money and the ratings for a tape delayed event would not be as good as in 2008 when events were carried live from Communist China. Somewhere along the way, something happened. NBC broke even financially on the Olympics and they became the most watched event in US television history. That was the successful part.

The failure was the tape delayed aspect when many viewers wanted to watch events live. The #NBCFAIL hashtag on Twitter quickly spread like wildfire during the first weekend of the Olympics. In addition, online streaming was sluggish and haggard. But even with the delays and streaming problems, Americans still watched in droves. When the games were said and done, NBCUniversal could pat itself on the back.

Honorable Mentions:

Struggles of new regional sports networks to gain carriage agreements.
NHL Does Well; But Shoots Itself in the Foot with the Lockout
Tim Tebow Overload
ESPN Continues Dominance in College Sports

Nominees for 6th Annual Fang’s Bites NFL TV Awards

Merry Christmas! Happy to provide you with the nominees for this year’s NFL TV Awards. Last year’s nominees ended up this way.

And later, this was the result for the 2011 season.

Let’s take a look at the nominees in each category.

Best Play-by-Play: Ian Eagle (CBS), Kevin Harlan (CBS), Al Michaels (NBC), Brad Nessler (NFL Network), Mike Tirico (ESPN)

Best Game Analyst: Troy Aikman (Fox), Cris Collinsworth (NBC), Dan Fouts (CBS), Rich Gannon (CBS), Mike Mayock (NFL Network)

Best Sunday NFL Pregame Show: First on the Field (NFL Network), Fox NFL Sunday (Fox), NFL Matchup (ESPN), NFL Today (CBS)

Best Studio Show, Daily or Weekly: Around the League Live (NFL Network), Inside the NFL (Showtime), NFL Live (ESPN), NFL PrimeTime (ESPN), NFL Turning Point (NBC Sports Network)

Best Highlights: Football Night in America (NBC), NFL GameDay Final (NFL Network), NFL PrimeTime (ESPN), The OT (Fox)

Best Studio Host: Rich Eisen (NFL Network), Curt Menefee (Fox), Dan Patrick (NBC/NBC Sports Network), Melissa Stark (NFL Network), Andrew Siciliano (DirecTV), Trey Wingo (ESPN)

Best Studio Analyst: Tony Dungy (NBC), Boomer Esiason (CBS), Marshall Faulk (NFL Network), Rodney Harrison (NBC), Kurt Warner (NFL Network), Steve Young (ESPN)

Most Valuable Network: Fox, ESPN, NBC, NFL Network

Best NFL Insider: John Clayton (ESPN), Jay Glazer (Fox), Peter King (NBC),  Jason La Canfora (CBS), Chris Mortensen (ESPN)

Best Sideline Reporter: Alex Flanagan (NFL Network), Jennifer Hale (Fox), Jaime Maggio (Fox), Lisa Salters (ESPN), Michele Tafoya (NBC)

Best Announcing Team: Ian Eagle/Dan Fouts (CBS), Kevin Harlan/Solomon Wilcots (CBS), Al Michaels/Cris Collinsworth (NBC), Brad Nessler/Mike Mayock (NFL Network), Mike Tirico/Jon Gruden (ESPN)

Best Game Production: Monday Night Football (ESPN), NFL on CBS (CBS), NFL on Fox (Fox), Sunday Night Football (NBC), Thursday Night Football (NFL Network)

Best Debut: Carolyn Manno on Football Night in America (NBC), First on the Field (NFL Network), Amber Theoharis on NFL Total Access (NFL Network), Hines Ward on Football Night in America (NBC)

Worst Play-by-Play: Chris Berman (ESPN), Thom Brennaman (Fox), Chris Myers (Fox), Ron Pitts (Fox), Dick Stockton (Fox)

Worst Game Analyst: Dan Dierdorf (CBS), Daryl Johnston (Fox), John Lynch (Fox), Mike Martz (Fox)

Worst Studio Host: Chris Berman (ESPN), Chris Rose (NFL Network)

Worst Studio Analyst: Michael Irvin (NFL Network), Eric Mangini (ESPN)

A Record-Setting 2012 Season For NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football

This in from NFL Network. Thanks to the addition of Cablevision and Time Warner Cable this year, Thursday Night Football was accessible to all of the major cable and satellite providers for the very first time. And the series which has been building an audience since signing Comcast a couple of years ago has set a new record for ratings and viewership.

While the quality of games weren’t the best, Thursday Night Football’s expanded 13 game schedule (another record) averaged 7.3 million viewers per telecast and a rating of 4.6. Both numbers include the over the air viewership from the local markets for each game.

Let’s read the NFL Network press release together.

2012 THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL SCHEDULE SETS RATING & VIEWERSHIP RECORDS FOR NFL NETWORK

Expanded 13-game schedule produces most-watched season for Thursday Night Football with an average of 7.3 million viewers
Season rating up 8% vs. 2011 for the #1 Thursday program on cable this Fall

NFL Network’s expanded schedule of Thursday Night Football broadcasts set rating and viewership records for the network in 2012. Including the audience from over-the-air broadcasts in local markets, Thursday Night Football finished with a record-high per game average audience of 7.3 million viewers in 2012, marking the fourth consecutive year that Thursday Night Football has set an all-time high viewership mark for NFL Network.

For the season, Thursday Night Football on NFL Network averaged a 4.6 US HH rating (including OTA’s), another record for the network. The 4.6 US HH rating represents an 8% increase from the 2011 season. Each week of the 2012 Thursday Night Football schedule, NFL Network’s game telecast was the day’s most-watched program on cable television.

The Thursday Night Football opener in Week Two between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers delivered the highest Thursday Night Football audience of 2012 with 10.8 million viewers. The Bears-Packers opener is the fourth most-watched Thursday Night Football game in NFL Network’s history with the 2011 Thanksgiving Night game between the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens still holding the top mark with 12.3 million viewers.

All Thursday Night Football games were streamed live on NFL Mobile with complementary online coverage via NFL.com/LIVE Thursday Night Football.

Thursday Night Football on NFL Network was first broadcast in 2006.

(Source: Nielsen Media Research, Live + Same Day viewing)

That will do it for this post.

The Last Thursday Night Football Game For 2012 is in Philly

Tonight, it’s the season finale of Thursday Night Football for NFL Network. It’s been a successful 13 game schedule that has led to record ratings and viewership for the package. It’s been the longest schedule for the series since it began. Most likely, NFL Network will have another year of a 13 game package before the league splits it up and a cable network (ahem, TNT or NBC Sports Network) gets the first half and NFL Network keeps the second half.

So tonight, the series ends in Philadelphia as the Cincinnati Bengals, still in the thick of the playoff hunt, and the Philadelphia Eagles, playing out the string, square off at Lincoln Financial Field. Your Thursday Night Football crew of Brad Nessler, Mike Mayock and Alex Flanagan will be on hand.

The regular Thursday Night Kickoff crew of Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Michael Irvin, Steve Mariucci and Deion Sanders will be at the stadium along with Stacey Dales reporting.

Here are the details from NFL Network.

CINCINNATI BENGALS AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13 AT 8:00 PM ET ON NFL NETWORK

Coverage from Philadelphia Begins with Thursday Night Kickoff Pregame Show at 6:00 PM ET

NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football schedule concludes this week when wide receiver A.J. Green and the Cincinnati Bengals make a playoff push on the road against rookie quarterback Nick Foles and the Philadelphia Eagles Thursday, December 13 at 8:00 PM ET. Play-by-play announcer Brad Nessler and Emmy-nominated analyst Mike Mayock have the call, while Alex Flanagan provides reports from the sidelines of Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Two hours before kickoff, NFL Network’s Thursday Night Kickoff pregame show is live from the stadium starting at 6:00 PM ET, taking viewers right up to kickoff with analysis and the latest reports. Host Rich Eisen joins Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders and Michael Irvin,and former NFL head coach Steve Mariucci. Reporters Stacey Dales and Alex Flanagan provide pregame news reports from the locker rooms, as well as interviews with players and coaches.

Featured on the Thursday Night Kickoff pregame show this week:

• NFL Network’s Steve Cyphers reports on Eagles head coach Andy Reid’s legacy in Philadelphia. Features interviews with Donovan McNabb, Ray Didinger and Val Sikahema
• Deion Sanders plays Santa Claus and gives gifts to NFL players
• NFL Network’s Mark Kriegel examines Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis’ comeback
• Super Bowl preview? Thursday Night Kickoff dissects the upcoming San Francisco 49ers-New England Patriots Week 15 matchup
• Reports from Washington, Dallas and Chicago on the NFC Wild Card race

Eisen, Faulk, Sanders, Irvin and Mariucci provide additional analysis on the Halftime Show and the Postgame Show.

Following the game, hosts Chris Rose and Lindsay Rhodes as well as analysts Willie McGinest and Shaun O’Hara will deliver a postgame edition of NFL Total Access live from NFL Network’s studios in Los Angeles.

TEAMS:	BENGALS (7-6)	EAGLES (4-9)
ANNOUNCERS	Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Mike Mayock (game analyst); Alex Flanagan (sideline)
PREGAME (6:00 PM ET)	Thursday Night Kickoff In Philadelphia: Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders, Michael Irvin, Steve Mariucci, Stacey Dales, Alex Flanagan
PRE-KICK (8:00 PM ET)	Prekick Show Brad Nessler, Mike Mayock, Alex Flanagan, Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders, Michael Irvin, Steve Mariucci
HALFTIME	Halftime Show Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders, Michael Irvin, Steve Mariucci, Stacey Dales, Alex Flanagan
POSTGAME	Postgame Show Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders, Michael Irvin, Steve Mariucci, Stacey Dales, Alex Flanagan NFL Total Access Postgame Show In-studio: Chris Rose, Lindsay Rhodes, Willie McGinest, Shaun O’Hara
WHERE TO WATCH	DirecTV – Channel 212 (SD/HD), DISH Network – 154 (SD/HD) Verizon FIOS – Channel 88 (SD) 588 (HD), AT&T U-Verse – Channel 630 (SD) 1630 (HD)Check your local cable listings NFL.com LIVE – live “look-ins” at select moments of game NFL Mobile Live on Verizon Wireless
LOCAL OTA SIMULCAST*	CBS Ch. 12 (WKRC)	ABC Ch. 6 (WPVI)

That will conclude our Thursday Night Football preview posts for the 2012 season.

Thursday Night Football Travels To The Black Hole in Oakland

The Oakland Raiders may be a sad team at 3-9 and in a long rebuilding process, but the atmosphere in the Coliseum formerly known as Oakland-Alameda County is one of the more raucous in the NFL. With fans dressed as aliens and various riff-raff, the Coliseum in primetime is a wondrous spectacle.

NFL Network will be on hand for the AFC West blood rivalry game between the Denver Broncos and the Raiders. This will be the next-to-last game for Thursday Night Football in what has been a record year in both ratings and amount of games.

Brad Nessler and Mike Mayock will call the game with Alex Flanagan on the sidelines.

Rich Eisen will host the pregame, halftime and postgame shows from the Coliseum field and be joined by Marshall Faulk, Michael Irvin, Steve Mariucci and Deion Sanders on the set. Stacey Dales will have live reports from around the stadium.

Here are the particulars of the game from NFL Network.

DENVER BRONCOS AT OAKLAND RAIDERS
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6 AT 8:00 PM ET ON NFL NETWORK

Broncos QB Peyton Manning 1-on-1 Interview with Kurt Warner on Thursday Night Kickoff Pregame Show at 6:00 PM ET

NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football continues this week when quarterback Peyton Manning and the AFC West-champion Denver Broncos face quarterback Carson Palmer and the rival Oakland Raiders Thursday, December 6 at 8:00 PM ET. Play-by-play announcer Brad Nessler and Emmy-nominated analyst Mike Mayock have the call, while Alex Flanagan provides reports from the sidelines of the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California.

Two hours before kickoff, NFL Network’s Thursday Night Kickoff  pregame show is live from the stadium starting at 6:00 PM ET, taking viewers right up to kickoff with analysis and the latest reports. Host Rich Eisen joins Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders and Michael Irvin, and former NFL head coach Steve Mariucci. Reporters Stacey Dales and Alex Flanagan provide pregame news reports from the locker rooms, as well as interviews with players and coaches.

Featured on the Thursday Night Kickoff pregame show this week:

• Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning 1-on-1 interview with NFL Network analyst Kurt Warner
• NFL Network’s Mark Kriegel compares the seasons of Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning and Indianapolis Colts rookie quarterback Andrew Luck
• The Final Stop – With Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning finishing his first season in his new home, Thursday Night Kickoff examines previous players who finished their careers with different teams than the ones they are associated with. Brett Favre and Emmitt Smith discuss Manning’s first season in Denver

On the Postgame Show, NFL Network analyst Steve Mariucci learns his way around the kitchen with renowned chef Guy Fieri and Oakland Raiders running back Marcel Reece.

Eisen, Faulk, Sanders, Irvin and Mariucci provide additional analysis on the Halftime Show and the Postgame Show.

Following the game, hosts Chris Rose and Lindsay Rhodes as well as analysts Willie McGinest and Shaun O’Hara will deliver a postgame edition of NFL Total Access live from NFL Network’s studios in Los Angeles.

TEAMS:	BRONCOS (9-3)	RAIDERS (3-9)
ANNOUNCERS	Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Mike Mayock (game analyst); Alex Flanagan (sideline)
PREGAME (6:00 PM ET)	Thursday Night Kickoff In Oakland: Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders, Michael Irvin, Steve Mariucci, Stacey Dales, Alex Flanagan
PRE-KICK (8:00 PM ET)	Prekick Show Brad Nessler, Mike Mayock, Alex Flanagan, Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders, Michael Irvin, Steve Mariucci
HALFTIME	Halftime Show Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders, Michael Irvin, Steve Mariucci, Stacey Dales, Alex Flanagan
POSTGAME	Postgame Show Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders, Michael Irvin, Steve Mariucci, Stacey Dales, Alex Flanagan NFL Total Access Postgame Show In-studio: Chris Rose, Lindsay Rhodes, Willie McGinest, Shaun O’Hara
WHERE TO WATCH	DirecTV – Channel 212 (SD/HD), DISH Network – 154 (SD/HD) Verizon FIOS – Channel 88 (SD) 588 (HD), AT&T U-Verse – Channel 630 (SD) 1630 (HD)Check your local cable listings NFL.com LIVE – live “look-ins” at select moments of game NFL Mobile Live on Verizon Wireless
LOCAL OTA SIMULCAST*	CBS Ch. 4 (KCNC)	ABC Ch. 7 (KGO)

More stuff is ahead.

Time For Some Tuesday Links

Let’s do some Tuesday links. Lots of stuff to get to.

Michael Hiestand of USA Today writes that Bob Costas is receiving his share of criticism for his anti-gun commentary during halftime of Sunday Night Football.

Busted Coverage has video of Bob Costas telling Dan Patrick that he’s not backing off on his anti-gun comments.

Michael Katz of USA Today’s Game On blog recaps Vin Scully’s first and way too brief foray into Twitter on Monday.

From Yahoo’s Cagefighter, the great Maggie Hendricks tells us that Mixed Martial Arts viewing will be different in 2013.

Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News says Universal Sports will be moving its operations from Los Angeles to the Comcast Media Center in Denver.

From Advertising Age, Brian Steinberg writes that Mercedes-Benz plans to bring out some big guns for its Super Bowl ad in February.

ESPN’s Darren Rovell notes that Lincoln cars are looking to make a return to Super Bowl advertising.

Tom Conroy of Media Life Magazine reviews the new NFL Films-produced Travel Channel documentary series on the Cleveland Browns support staff.

Ed Sherman at The Sherman Report reviews two documentaries that debut this week.

The Nielsen Wire says the Los Angeles Lakers are the most marketable of all NBA teams.

Steve Burton of WBZ-TV in Boston is the only one reporting that the NHL Lockout is close to ending.

Bill Carter of the New York Times says Bob Costas put the spotlight on himself with his anti-gun Sunday Night Football halftime commentary.

The New York Daily News reports that the Jets have renewed their radio rights deal with ESPN Radio New York.

Jerry Barmash at Fishbowl NY says YES Network had its best ratings ever for a Nets game.

Pete Dougherty from the Albany Times Union says Monday night’s Giants-DC NFL Team contest hit the ratings jackpot for ESPN.

Chris Korman of the Baltimore Sun writes that the Orioles are denying yesterday’s Sports Business Journal report that Fox Sports attempted to buy MASN.

Sarah Kogod from the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog tells us that many DC-area athletes stayed up to watch Robert Griffin III on Monday Night Football.

Erik Wemple at the WaPo talks about sports networks tackling political topics.

Tom Jones at the Tampa Bay Times reviews what happened on sports television over the weekend.

The Fort Pierce (FL) Tribune reports that the local ESPN Radio affiliate will continue to produce nightly sports report for the local NBC and Fox stations.

David Barron of the Houston Chronicle says Jim Deshaies’ departure for Chicago is a big loss for the Astros.

Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer says Fox is close to purchasing Sports Time Ohio and gaining the rights to the city’s MLB team.

Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune talks about the Cubs hiring a new analyst.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News has the five things he learned from the weekend.

Joe Flint from the Los Angeles Times says NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football is eating into the ratings of the league’s other TV partners.

Sports Media Watch notes that the MLS Cup had a slight decline in its overnight ratings as the game moved from a Sunday night to late Saturday afternoon.

The Huffington Post has video of ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit giving Northern Illinois blackboard material by ripping the team’s invitation to the Orange Bowl.

That’s where I’ll end it today.

Thursday Night Football Scores For NFL Network In Week 13

In its 11th game of the season for NFL Network, Thursday Night Football performed rather decently in the ratings. In a record-setting season, NFL Network says New Orleans-Atlanta was the most watched program on cable garnering 7.1 million viewers. The game received a 4.4 rating, up 21% from last year’s Week 13 game. And the viewership was up 19% from 2011.

NFL Network says thus far, Thursday Night Football is averaging a 4.1 rating with a viewership of 6.4 million. That’s due to Time Warner Cable and Cablevision signing up for NFL Network this season, expanding the viewership across the country.

Here’s the NFL Network press release discussing the ratings on Thursday.

THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL’S SAINTS-FALCONS TOPS SEVEN MILLION VIEWERS; CONTINUES RECORD PACE

Ratings up 21% vs. Week 13 in 2011
Ranks as Thursday’s No. 1 Show on Cable

NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football broadcast of the Saints-Falcons game was watched by an average of 7.1 million viewers (not including over-the-air stations in New Orleans and Atlanta) making it the most-watched program overall on cable TV for Thursday, Nov. 29.

The Saints-Falcons game delivered the highest Thursday Night Football audience since September 27^th (Cleveland at Baltimore – 8.1 million viewers) and is the third most-watched of NFL Network’s expanded 13-game schedule in 2012. Compared to NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football game in Week 13 of 2011, the rating (4.4) for the Saints-Falcons game is up +21% and viewers +19%. (Philadelphia at Seattle 12/1/11 – 3.6 US HH rating / 5.9 million viewers)

Through 11 games, Thursday Night Football is averaging a 4.1 US HH rating and 6.4 million viewers on pace to be the highest-rated and most-watched Thursday Night Football season ever.

Thursday Night Football continues next week with one of the NFL’s fiercest rivalries when four-time NFL MVP Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos visit the Oakland Raiders on Dec. 6 at 8:00 PM ET.

And that will do it.

NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football Returns With New Orleans-Atlanta

After taking a week off for the Thanksgiving holiday, NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football returns with an NFC South blood rivalry game between the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons live from the Georgia Dome. Back in Week 11, the Saints ended the Falcons drive for an defeated season at the Superdome.

Brad Nessler and Mike Mayock will call the game live on NFL Network. Alex Flanagan will be on the sidelines throughout the broadcast.

Rich Eisen will host the pre and postgame shows from the Georgia Dome field along with analysts Marshall Faulk, Michael Irvin, Steve Mariucci, Deion Sanders and Kurt Warner.

Here are the NFL Network particulars.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AT ATLANTA FALCONS
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29 AT 8:00 PM ET ON NFL NETWORK

New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees Interview with Michael Irvin on Thursday Night Kickoff Pregame Show at 6:00 PM ET

NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football continues this week when quarterback Matt Ryan and the first-place Atlanta Falcons host quarterback Drew Brees and the division-rival New Orleans Saints in an NFC South matchup Thursday, November 29 at 8:00 PM ET. Play-by-play announcer Brad Nessler and Emmy-nominated analyst Mike Mayock have the call, while Alex Flanagan provides reports from the sidelines of the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia.

Two hours before kickoff, NFL Network’s Thursday Night Kickoff pregame show is live from the stadium starting at 6:00 PM ET, taking viewers right up to kickoff with analysis and the latest reports. Host Rich Eisen joins Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders and Michael Irvin, and former NFL head coach Steve Mariucci. Reporters Stacey Dales and Alex Flanagan provide pregame news reports from the locker rooms, as well as interviews with players and coaches.

Featured on the Thursday Night Kickoff pregame show this week:

• New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees interview with Michael Irvin
  Feature on the similarities between the Mike Smith/Matt Ryan Atlanta Falcons and the Atlanta Braves teams from the early 1990s. Includes interviews with Falcons head coach Mike Smith, quarterback Matt Ryan and general manager Thomas Dimitroff, and former Braves pitcher John Smoltz and third baseman Terry Pendleton
• Interview with Atlanta Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez on the Prekick Show
• Footage of Deion Sanders, Michael Irvin and Stacey Dales participating in the NBA Skills competition during halftime of the Atlanta Hawks-Charlotte Bobcats game. Hosted by Hall of Famer Dominque Wilkins

Eisen, Faulk, Sanders, Irvin and Mariucci provide additional analysis on the Halftime Show and the Postgame Show.

Following the game, hosts Chris Rose and Lindsay Rhodes as well as analysts Willie McGinest and Shaun O’Hara will deliver a postgame edition of NFL Total Access live from NFL Network’s studios in Los Angeles.

TEAMS:	SAINTS (5-6)	FALCONS (10-1)
ANNOUNCERS	Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Mike Mayock (game analyst); Alex Flanagan (sideline)
PREGAME (6:00 PM ET)	Thursday Night Kickoff In Atlanta: Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders, Michael Irvin, Steve Mariucci, Stacey Dales, Alex Flanagan
PRE-KICK (8:00 PM ET)	Prekick Show Brad Nessler, Mike Mayock, Alex Flanagan, Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders, Michael Irvin, Steve Mariucci
HALFTIME	Halftime Show Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders, Michael Irvin, Steve Mariucci, Stacey Dales, Alex Flanagan
POSTGAME	Postgame Show Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders, Michael Irvin, Steve Mariucci, Stacey Dales, Alex Flanagan NFL Total Access Postgame Show In-studio: Chris Rose, Lindsay Rhodes, Willie McGinest, Shaun O’Hara
WHERE TO WATCH	DirecTV – Channel 212 (SD/HD), DISH Network – 154 (SD/HD) Verizon FIOS – Channel 88 (SD) 588 (HD), AT&T U-Verse – Channel 630 (SD) 1630 (HD)Check your local cable listings NFL.com LIVE – live “look-ins” at select moments of game NFL Mobile Live on Verizon Wireless
LOCAL OTA SIMULCAST*	FOX Ch. 8 (WVUE)	CW Ch. 69 (WUPA)

That’s all.

Thursday Night Football Heads To Western New York

Back in the 1980′s when local TV stations offered five to eight minute sportscasts on weekends, all of the Providence and Boston TV stations would say the New England Patriots were “shuffling off to Buffalo.” I vowed that I would never use that phrase in any of my radio stories and here on Fang’s Bites. When I was thinking of a headline, that old cliché popped into my head and knowing that it’s an old Broadway song, I quickly remembered my vow and came up with what you see above. It’s non-descript, but it’s better than writing “Thursday Night Football Shuffles Off To Buffalo.”

Anyway, after wasting space on that last paragraph, let’s go to what this is really about, the last Thursday Night Football game before Thanksgiving and what will become a bye week for NFL Network. So, NFL Network will end a 10 week run with Thursday Night Football pitting traditional AFC East rivals, Miami taking on Buffalo.

The last few primetime games have not been up to par and this matchup on paper does not give your humble blogger confidence that the quality of play will be high, but you never know.

We have details of the game from NFL Network below.

MIAMI DOLPHINS AT BUFFALO BILLS
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15 AT 8:00 PM ET ON NFL NETWORK

Andrea Kremer Speaks with New York Jets CB Darrelle Revis LIVE on Thursday Night Kickoff Pregame Show at 6:00 PM ET
Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk Breaks Down Miami Dolphins RB Reggie Bush

NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football continues this week when running back Reggie Bush and first-round rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill lead the Miami Dolphins into Buffalo to face running back C.J. Spiller and the Bills in an AFC East matchup Thursday, November 15 at 8:00 PM ET. Play-by-play announcer Brad Nessler and Emmy-nominated analyst Mike Mayock have the call, while Alex Flanagan provides reports from the sidelines of Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, New York.

Two hours before kickoff, NFL Network’s Thursday Night Kickoff pregame show is live from the stadium starting at 6:00 PM ET, taking viewers right up to kickoff with analysis and the latest reports. Host Rich Eisen joins Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders and Michael Irvin, and former NFL head coach Steve Mariucci. Reporters Stacey Dales and Alex Flanagan provide pregame news reports from the locker rooms, as well as interviews with players and coaches.

Featured on the Thursday Night Kickoff pregame show this week:

• Part 3 of Player Health & Safety Features: Andrea Kremer’s exclusive report on New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis’ rehab
• Kremer live interview with Revis
• Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk breaks down Miami Dolphins running back Reggie Bush
• Thursday Night Kickoff plays the Wheel of Dallas Cowboys
• Who is the most dangerous team in the NFC?

The Health of the Game is a four-part series on Player Health and Safety on NFL Network airing this week (Nov. 13-16). Veteran reporter Andrea Kremer begins the series with an overview of NFL Player Health and Safety on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Steve Cyphers reports on new technology being implemented in helmets at Virginia Tech. On Thursday, NFL Network will air the first in a series of exclusive segments with New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis on his knee injury, surgery, and rehab. Finally, on Friday Kremer will look at player health and safety issues starting in youth football.

Tuesday, Nov. 13: Overview of the Player Health & Safety series

• Andrea Kremer reports
• Will air on NFL Total Access (7:00 PM ET)

Wednesday, Nov. 14: New Technology – Virginia Tech helmet technology – The “Hit System”

• Steve Cyphers reports
• Will air on NFL Total Access (7:00 PM ET)

Thursday, Nov. 15: Darrelle Revis knee injury – Part 1

• Andrea Kremer reports
• Will air during the Thursday Night Football Kickoff pregame show (6:00 PM ET). Segment will also air during Postgame Show

Friday, Nov. 16: Youth Football

• Andrea Kremer reports
• Will air on NFL Total Access (7:00 PM ET)

Eisen, Faulk, Sanders, Irvin and Mariucci provide additional analysis on the Halftime Show and the Postgame Show.

Following the game, hosts Chris Rose and Lindsay Rhodes as well as analysts Willie McGinest and Shaun O’Hara will deliver a postgame edition of NFL Total Access live from NFL Network’s studios in Los Angeles.

TEAMS:	DOLPHINS (4-5)	BILLS (3-6)
ANNOUNCERS	Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Mike Mayock (game analyst); Alex Flanagan (sideline)
PREGAME (6:00 PM ET)	Thursday Night Kickoff In Buffalo: Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders, Michael Irvin, Steve Mariucci, Stacey Dales, Alex Flanagan
PRE-KICK (8:00 PM ET)	Prekick Show Brad Nessler, Mike Mayock, Alex Flanagan, Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders, Michael Irvin, Steve Mariucci
HALFTIME	Halftime Show Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders, Michael Irvin, Steve Mariucci, Stacey Dales, Alex Flanagan
POSTGAME	Postgame Show Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders, Michael Irvin, Steve Mariucci, Stacey Dales, Alex FlanaganNFL Total Access Postgame Show In-studio: Chris Rose, Lindsay Rhodes, Willie McGinest, Shaun O’Hara
WHERE TO WATCH	DirecTV – Channel 212 (SD/HD), DISH Network – 154 (SD/HD) Verizon FIOS – Channel 88 (SD) 588 (HD), AT&T U-Verse – Channel 630 (SD) 1630 (HD)Check your local cable listings NFL.com LIVE – live “look-ins” at select moments of game NFL Mobile Live on Verizon Wireless
LOCAL OTA SIMULCAST*	MyNetworkTV Ch. 32 (WBFS)	Me-TV (WBBZ)

That is all.

Breaking Out Some Monday Linkage

The last few days, I’ve been sick which limited the number of posts between Friday and Saturday. I’m still not feeling well, but I’ll be providing linkage and posts as long I’m physically able. To the links.

Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch talks with NFL Network’s Melissa Stark about returning to sports television after leaving in 2008 to become a full-time mom.

Don Banks of SI looks at how NFL teams are adjusting to a full season of Thursday Night Football.

John Ourand & Michael Smith from Sports Business Journal report that ESPN is close to nabbing the college football playoff for many years to come.

John catches up with outgoing Fox Sports Media Group Vice Chairman Ed Goren who helped launch the company in 1994.

Eric Fisher at SBJ notes how MLB Advanced Media kept operating after Hurricane Sandy wiped out power in the company’s headquarters.

Ed Sherman of The Sherman Report looks at an unusual Comcast SportsNet Chicago documentary which went to Cambodia to tell a compelling story.

Kurt Badenhausen from Forbes explains how ESPN is the cash engine that drives Disney.

Joe Levine of SportsGrid tells us that Fox NFL Sunday had some technical issues during one of its halftime updates.

Brian Steinberg at Advertising Age says Century 21 will return to advertising in the Super Bowl in February.

Phil Mushnick of the New York Post doesn’t understand the bubble screen.

Pete Dougherty at the Albany Times Union has NBC Sports Network’s college basketball announcing teams.

Don Laible talks with former WNBC-TV sports anchor Len Berman here and here.

Dave Zoren of the Delaware County Daily Times says Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia and The Comcast Network team up for almost 70 college basketball games this season (scroll down).

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner talks about waking up with NFL AM.

The Charlotte Observer talks with CBS’ Jim Nantz.

Tom Jones of the Tampa Bay Times looks back at the weekend in sports television.

Matt Murschel of the Orlando Sentinel says a fourth sports radio station launches in the local market today.

Christine Lee of NBC Dallas says ESPN is teaming up with the Irving Chamber of Commerce to attract businesses to the local area.

David Barron from the Houston Chronicle has DirecTV’s CEO complaining about Comcast SportsNet Houston’s subscriber fees.

Mel Bracht at The Oklahoman reviews the TV productions of the Oklahoma and Oklahoma State games from Saturday.

John Vomhof, Jr. of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal says a Fox Sports North reporter is leaving for a similar position at Root Sports Pittsburgh.

Dusty Saunders of the Denver Post feels Dick Vitale is key to any college basketball season.

Patrick Finley of the Arizona Daily Star says the Pac-12 Conference will no longer have exposure issues now that with new TV contracts with ESPN, Fox, CBS and of course, the Pac-12 Network.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News has the SoCal sports calendar for this week.

Tom has the five things he learned from watching sports over the weekend.

Barry Petchesky of Deadspin notes that Minnesota Vikings QB Christan Ponder made a tongue-in-cheek comment about his girlfriend, ESPN’s Samantha Steele.

The Classic Sports TV and Media blog has a look at ABC’s Monday Night Football’s halftime highlights as narrated by the late, great Howard Cosell.

And that will do it for now.

Thursday Night Football Heads to Jacksonville in Week 10

This week, NFL Network’s traveling road show heads to Florida and Jacksonville where Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck makes his primetime debut. The Colts and Jaguars face off at EverBank Field this Thursday starting Week 10.

Brad Nessler and Mike Mayock call the game. Alex Flanagan roams the sidelines.

And NFL Network brings a two hour pregame hosted by Rich Eisen with his merry band of analysts, Marshall Faulk, Michael Irvin, Steve Mariucci, Deion Sanders and Kurt Warner.

We have the particulars of this week’s Thursday Night Football game on NFL Network. It’s all below for you in black and white. Check it out.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8 AT 8:00 PM ET ON NFL NETWORK

Former No. 1 Overall Picks Troy Aikman, Eli Manning, Michael Vick & More Give Advice to 2012 No. 1 Overall Pick, Colts QB Andrew Luck
Colts Players & Coaches Discuss Head Coach Chuck Pagano’s Battle with Leukemia

NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football continues this week when this year’s number one overall pick Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts travel to face quarterback Blaine Gabbert and the Jacksonville Jaguars in an AFC South matchup Thursday, November 8 at 8:00 PM ET. Play-by-play announcer Brad Nessler and Emmy-nominated analyst Mike Mayock have the call, while Alex Flanagan provides reports from the sidelines of EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida.

Two hours before kickoff, NFL Network’s Thursday Night Kickoff pregame show is live from the stadium starting at 6:00 PM ET, taking viewers right up to kickoff with analysis and the latest reports. This week, Kurt Warner joins host Rich Eisen, Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk and Deion Sanders, and former NFL head coach Steve Mariucci. Reporters Stacey Dales and Alex Flanagan provide pregame news reports from the locker rooms, as well as interviews with players and coaches.

Featured on the Thursday Night Kickoff pregame show this week:

• The Ones Advice for Andrew Luck – Former No. 1 overall picks Troy Aikman, Eli Manning, Michael Vick, Carson Palmer, Drew Bledsoe and Jim Plunkett give advice to this year’s first overall pick Andrew Luck. Their advice will be shown to Luck and he will provide a response to each.
• NFL Network’s Steve Cyphers sits down with Colts interim head coach Bruce Arians, wide receiver Reggie Wayne, linebacker Dwight Freeney and defensive end Cory Redding to discuss head coach Chuck Pagano, who is battling leukemia
• NFL Network’s Stacey Dales speaks with Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew

Additionally, Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders, Kurt Warner and Steve Mariucci head to TPC Sawgrass to determine who can come closest to the pin at the world famous 17th hole in a feature that will air during the Postgame Show.

Eisen, Mariucci, Sanders, Faulk and Warner provide additional analysis on the Halftime Show and the Postgame Show.

Following the game, hosts Chris Rose and Lindsay Rhodes as well as analysts Willie McGinest and Shaun O’Hara will deliver a postgame edition of NFL Total Access live from NFL Network’s studios in Los Angeles.

TEAMS:	COLTS (5-3)	JAGUARS (1-7)
ANNOUNCERS	Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Mike Mayock (game analyst); Alex Flanagan (sideline)
PREGAME (6:00 PM ET)	Thursday Night Kickoff In Jacksonville: Rich Eisen, Steve Mariucci, Deion Sanders, Marshall Faulk, Kurt Warner, Stacey Dales, Alex Flanagan
PRE-KICK (8:00 PM ET)	Brad Nessler, Mike Mayock, Alex Flanagan, Rich Eisen, Steve Mariucci, Deion Sanders, Marshall Faulk, Kurt Warner
HALFTIME	Rich Eisen, Steve Mariucci, Deion Sanders, Marshall Faulk, Kurt Warner, Stacey Dales, Alex Flanagan
POSTGAME	Rich Eisen, Steve Mariucci, Deion Sanders, Marshall Faulk, Kurt Warner, Stacey Dales, Alex Flanagan NFL Total Access Postgame Show In-studio: Chris Rose, Lindsay Rhodes, Willie McGinest, Shaun O’Hara
WHERE TO WATCH	DirecTV – Channel 212 (SD/HD), DISH Network – 154 (SD/HD) Verizon FIOS – Channel 88 (SD) 588 (HD), AT&T U-Verse – Channel 630 (SD) 1630 (HD)Check your local cable listings NFL.com LIVE – live “look-ins” at select moments of game NFL Mobile Live on Verizon Wireless
LOCAL OTA SIMULCAST*	NBC Ch. 13 (WTHR)	Ch. 4 (WJXT)

And that is it.

Thursday Night Football is in Vikings Country

Tonight, Thursday Night Football is in Minnesota for a matchup of old NFC Central Division rivals, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Minnesota Vikings. Since realignment, the two teams rarely play, but it used to be fun to see these two teams play regularly every season.

Brad Nessler and Mike Mayock call the game. Alex Flanagan reports from the sidelines.

Rich Eisen and his merry band of analysts will be on the Metrodome field for the live pregame and postgame shows. We don’t know the outcome of the game, but we do know that Michael Irvin will yell at least once or twice during the pregame.

Here are the particulars of the game.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25 AT 8:00 PM ET ON NFL NETWORK

LaDainian Tomlinson Joins Thursday Night Kickoff Pregame Show at 6:00 PM ET
Tomlinson Sits Down with Vikings RB Adrian Peterson

NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football continues this week when running back Adrian Peterson and the 5-2 Minnesota Vikings host quarterback Josh Freeman and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Thursday, October 25 at 8:00 PM ET. Play-by-play announcer Brad Nessler and Emmy-nominated analyst Mike Mayock have the call, while Alex Flanagan provides reports from the sidelines of Mall of America Field at the H.H.H. Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Two hours before kickoff, NFL Network’s Thursday Night Kickoff pregame show is live from the stadium starting at 6:00 PM ET, taking viewers right up to kickoff with analysis and the latest reports. This week, former All-Pro running back LaDainian Tomlinson joins host Rich Eisen, Hall of Famers Michael Irvin and Deion Sanders, and former head coach Steve Mariucci on the pregame show. Reporters Stacey Dales and Alex Flanagan provide pregame news reports from the locker rooms, as well as interviews with players and coaches.

Featured on the Thursday Night Kickoff pregame show this week:

• Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson speaks with LaDainian Tomlinson
• Melissa Stark interviews Washington Redskins rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III
• Preview of this week’s New York Giants-Dallas Cowboys matchup

Eisen, Mariucci, Irvin, Sanders and Tomlinson provide additional analysis on the Halftime Show and the Postgame Show.

Following the game, hosts Andrew Siciliano and Lindsay Rhodes as well as analysts Willie McGinest and Shaun O’Hara will deliver a postgame edition of NFL Total Access live from NFL Network’s studios in Los Angeles.

TEAMS:	BUCCANEERS (2-4)	VIKINGS (5-2)
ANNOUNCERS	Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Mike Mayock (game analyst); Alex Flanagan (sideline)
PREGAME (6:00 PM ET)	Thursday Night Kickoff In Minneapolis: Rich Eisen, Steve Mariucci, Michael Irvin, Deion Sanders, LaDainian Tomlinson, Stacey Dales, Alex Flanagan
PRE-KICK (8:00 PM ET)	Prekick Show Brad Nessler, Mike Mayock, Alex Flanagan, Rich Eisen, Steve Mariucci, Michael Irvin, Deion Sanders, LaDainian Tomlinson, Stacey Dales
HALFTIME	Halftime Show Rich Eisen, Steve Mariucci, Michael Irvin, Deion Sanders, LaDainian Tomlinson, Stacey Dales, Alex Flanagan
POSTGAME	Postgame Show Rich Eisen, Steve Mariucci, Michael Irvin, Deion Sanders, LaDainian Tomlinson, Stacey Dales, Alex Flanagan NFL Total Access Postgame Show In-studio: Andrew Siciliano, Lindsay Rhodes, Willie McGinest, Shaun O’Hara
WHERE TO WATCH	DirecTV – Channel 212 (SD/HD), DISH Network – 154 (SD/HD) Verizon FIOS – Channel 88 (SD) 588 (HD), AT&T U-Verse – Channel 630 (SD) 1630 (HD) Check your local cable listingsNFL.com LIVE – live “look-ins” at select moments of game NFL Mobile Live on Verizon Wireless
LOCAL OTA SIMULCAST*	Ch. 32 (WMOR)	NBC Ch. 11 (KARE)

That’s it.

Thursday Night Football Has Its Heart in San Francisco For Week 7

This Thursday, NFL Network’s traveling road show heads out of its Los Angeles studios and goes up the California coast to the Bay Area where the live game will be a NFC West Division battle between the Seattle Seawhawks and San Francisco 49ers.

Seattle comes off an epic come-from-behind win against the NFL’s Evil Empire, the New England Patriots. The 49ers are reeling after a bad loss to the New York Giants in the NFC Championship rematch.

Brad Nessler and Mike Mayock will call the game with Alex Flanagan on the sidelines. Rich Eisen hosts the pregame with the usual suspects of analysts. And Stacey Dales will also be on the case on the pregame.

Here are the particulars on this week’s Thursday Night Football game.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18 AT 8:00 PM ET ON NFL NETWORK

Deion Sanders Sits Down with Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll
Coverage Begins at 6:00 PM ET with Thursday Night Kickoff 

NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football continues this week when linebacker Patrick Willis and the San Francisco 49ers host rookie quarterback Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks in a matchup of two first-place teams in the NFC West Thursday, October 18 at 8:00 PM ET. Play-by-play announcer Brad Nessler and Emmy-nominated analyst Mike Mayock have the call, while Alex Flanagan provides reports from the sidelines of Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California.

Two hours before kickoff, NFL Network’s Thursday Night Kickoff pregame show is live from the stadium starting at 6:00 PM ET, taking viewers right up to kickoff with analysis and the latest reports. Host Rich Eisen is joined by former 49ers head coach Steve Mariucci and Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders and Michael Irvin. Reporter Stacey Dales provides pregame news reports from the locker rooms, as well as interviews with players and coaches.

Featured on the Thursday Night Kickoff pregame show this week:

• Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll sits down with Deion Sanders
• Steve Cyphers feature on the San Francisco 49ers’ Smiths: quarterback Alex Smith, defensive tackle Justin Smith and linebacker Aldon Smith
• Deion Sanders counts down the Top 10 Football Moments in Candlestick Park History
• Mark Kriegel compares the legacies of Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis and New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter

Eisen, Faulk, Sanders, Mariucci and Irvin provide additional analysis on the Halftime Show and the Pregame Show.

Following the game, hosts Chris Rose and Lindsay Rhodes as well as analysts Willie McGinest and Shaun O’Hara will deliver a postgame edition of NFL Total Access live from NFL Network’s studios in Los Angeles.

TEAMS:	SEAHAWKS (4-2)	49ERS (4-2)
ANNOUNCERS	Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Mike Mayock (game analyst); Alex Flanagan (sideline)
PREGAME (6:00 PM ET)	Thursday Night Kickoff In San Francisco: Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Steve Mariucci, Michael Irvin, Deion Sanders, Stacey Dales, Alex Flanagan
PRE-KICK (8:00 PM ET)	Brad Nessler, Mike Mayock, Alex Flanagan, Rich Eisen, Michael Irvin, Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders, Steve Mariucci, Stacey Dales
HALFTIME	Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Steve Mariucci, Michael Irvin, Deion Sanders, Stacey Dales, Alex Flanagan
POSTGAME	Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Steve Mariucci, Michael Irvin, Deion Sanders, Stacey Dales, Alex Flanagan NFL Total Access Postgame Show In-studio: Chris Rose, Lindsay Rhodes, Willie McGinest, Shaun O’Hara
WHERE TO WATCH	DirecTV – Channel 212 (SD/HD), DISH Network – 154 (SD/HD) Verizon FIOS – Channel 88 (SD) 588 (HD), AT&T U-Verse – Channel 630 (SD) 1630 (HD)Check your local cable listings NFL.com LIVE – live “look-ins” at select moments of game NFL Mobile Live on Verizon Wireless
LOCAL OTA SIMULCAST*	Ch. 16 (KONG)	ABC Ch. 7 (KGO)

That’s all.

What is Fox Sports 1? How Does It Affect You?

As we speed into the last quarter of 2012 and prepare for what’s ahead in 2013, there is one thing that is on the horizon for US sports fans and that is the expected appearance of a new all-sports cable channel. No, it’s not NBC Sports Network, although its trials and tribulations this fall will be the subject of a sports media thoughts post this week.

Sometime over the next two years, Fox Sports will announce that the sometimes all-motorsports, sometimes reality channel SPEED will be converted to an all-sports channel that will air MLB, Big 12 and Pac-12 sports, MMA, some NASCAR and anything else it can its hands on. You’re seeing a little bit of this through Fox’s increased sports programming on FX. Two Saturdays ago, FX had a college football doubleheader followed by a UFC on FX Fight Night.

Imagine that next year on the new SPEED which will in all likelihood be rebranded as Fox Sports 1. Why Fox Sports 1? Because it will be part of a company rebranding of Fox’s other sports channels, Fox Soccer and Fuel as Fox Sports 2 and Fox Sports 3, respectively. And there is precedence for this. Fox’s Australian channels are called Fox Sports 1, 2 and 3. Each channel serves to carry certain sports and big events like the Olympics or the Australian Open.

For American sports fans, expect the sports properties to line up as follows once the rebranding takes shape:

FOX SPORTS 1 (FORMERLY SPEED)

• College Basketball (Big 12 & Pac-12)
• College Football (Big 12 & Pac-12)
• English Premier League (Survival Sunday)
• Mixed Martial Arts (UFC)
• MLB
• NASCAR
• UEFA Champions League
• World Cup Soccer

FOX SPORTS 2/FOX SPORTS 2 PLUS (FORMERLY FOX SOCCER/FOX SOCCER PLUS)

• English Premier League
• Scottish Premier League
• UEFA Champions League
• UEFA Europa League
• Australian Rules Football
• Rugby

FOX SPORTS 3 (FORMERLY FUEL)

• Extreme Sports
• Australian Rules Football
• Mixed Martial Arts (UFC)

Fox has already signed for 40 MLB games on Fox Sports 1, taking 14 games away from its over the air package and another 13 away from TBS to form the new slate of games on cable. In addition, the new cable channel will air some League Division Series games starting in 2014.

Fox is about to announce a renewal of its NASCAR rights and expect part of its current schedule of 13 races in the early portion of the Sprint Cup calendar to migrate to Fox Sports 1. If Fox keeps the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, the races could be split among Fox Sports 1 and 3.

And if Fox manages to hold off Al Jazeera’s expected bid for the US rights to English Premier League games, perhaps Fox Sports 1 could gain a package of early Saturday or Sunday morning matches with the rest going to Fox Sports 2.

There are a lot of possibilities for the Fox Sports channels. It could also be in very good position to gain NBA games when the new set of packages go to bid in 2014. And let us not forget about a potential 8 game Thursday Night NFL package that could cover the first half of the regular beginning in 2014 that Fox would certainly be interested in.

It was thought that NBC was positioning itself to challenge ESPN’s supremacy, but with its acquiring of MLB, NASCAR and college sports plus the World Cup in 2015, Fox just might have leap frogged ahead of the Peacock as ESPN’s main opponent.

Thursday Night Football Kicks Off Week 6 in Nashville

NFL Network’s traveling road show with Thursday Night Kickoff and Thursday Night Football will head to Music City for a AFC matchup between two former division rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans.

Rich Eisen will host the pregame show live from LP Field and he’ll be joined by analysts Marshall Faulk, the always yelling Michael Irvin, Steve Mariucci, Deion Sanders and Kurt Warner. Stacey Dales will be the pregame reporter.

For the game, Brad Nessler and Mike Mayock will be in the booth. Alex Flanagan will be on the sidelines throughout.

Here are the particulars from NFL Network in regards to the Steelers-Titans.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS AT TENNESSEE TITANS
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11 AT 8:00 PM ET ON NFL NETWORK

Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger’s Sit-Down Interview with Kurt Warner
Coverage Begins at 6:00 PM ET with Thursday Night Kickoff

NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football continues this week when quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers face running back Chris Johnson and the Tennessee Titans Thursday, October 11 at 8:00 PM ET. Play-by-play announcer Brad Nessler and Emmy-nominated analyst Mike Mayock have the call, while Alex Flanagan provides reports from the sidelines of LP Field in Nashville, Tennessee.

Two hours before kickoff, NFL Network’s Thursday Night Kickoff pregame show is live from the stadium starting at 6:00 PM ET, taking viewers right up to kickoff with analysis and the latest reports. Host Rich Eisen is joined by Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk and Deion Sanders, former MVP Kurt Warner, and Steve Mariucci. Reporter Stacey Dales provides pregame news reports from the locker rooms, as well as interviews with players and coaches.

Featured on the Thursday Night Kickoff pregame show this week:

• Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger sits down with Kurt Warner
• Feature on the relationship between Tennessee Titans quarterbacks Matt Hasselbeck and Jake Locker
• Jeff Darlington reports from Dallas on the Cowboys
• Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk and Deion Sanders mechanical bull riding competition.

Eisen, Faulk, Sanders, Mariucci and Warner provide additional analysis on the Halftime Show and the Pregame Show.

Following the game, hosts Chris Rose and Lindsay Rhodes as well as analysts Willie McGinest and Shaun O’Hara will deliver a postgame edition of NFL Total Access live from NFL Network’s studios in Los Angeles.

TEAMS:	STEELERS (2-2)	TITANS (1-4)
ANNOUNCERS	Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Mike Mayock (game analyst); Alex Flanagan (sideline)
PREGAME (6:00 PM ET)	Thursday Night Kickoff In Nashville: Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Steve Mariucci, Kurt Warner, Deion Sanders, Stacey Dales, Alex Flanagan
PRE-KICK (8:00 PM ET)	Brad Nessler, Mike Mayock, Alex Flanagan, Rich Eisen, Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders, Steve Mariucci, Stacey Dales
HALFTIME	Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Steve Mariucci, Kurt Warner, Deion Sanders, Stacey Dales, Alex Flanagan
POSTGAME	Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Steve Mariucci, Kurt Warner, Deion Sanders, Stacey Dales, Alex Flanagan NFL Total Access Postgame Show In-studio: Chris Rose, Lindsay Rhodes, Willie McGinest, Shaun O’Hara
WHERE TO WATCH	DirecTV – Channel 212 (SD/HD), DISH Network – 154 (SD/HD) Verizon FIOS – Channel 88 (SD) 588 (HD), AT&T U-Verse – Channel 630 (SD) 1630 (HD) Check your local cable listings NFL.com LIVE – live “look-ins” at select moments of game NFL Mobile Live on Verizon Wireless
LOCAL OTA SIMULCAST*	CW Ch. 19 (WPCW)	FOX Ch. 17 (WZTV)

That’s going to do it.

Thursday Night Football Airs An NFC West Battle

The start of Week 5 in the NFL means the second quarter of the 2012 season is about to begin. Thursday Night Football heads to the Dome in St. Louis to air the red hot and undefeated Arizona Cardinals taking on the Rams in an NFC West division rivalry game.

Brad Nessler and Mike Mayock will be in the booth while Alex Flanagan reports from the sidelines.

Rich Eisen along with analysts Marshall Faulk, Michael Irvin, Steve Mariucci, Deion Sanders and Kurt Warner will be on Thursday Night Kickoff and the Thursday Night Football postgame show live from the Edward Jones Dome.

Here’s what NFL Network is saying about this week’s Thursday Night Football game.

ARIZONA CARDINALS AT ST. LOUIS RAMS
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4 AT 8:00 PM ET ON NFL NETWORK

Former Cardinals QB Kurt Warner Sits Down with Current Arizona QB Kevin Kolb
Coverage Begins at 6:00 PM ET with Thursday Night Kickoff

NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football continues this week when wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and the undefeated Arizona Cardinals face running back Steven Jackson and the St. Louis Rams in a NFC West divisional matchup Thursday, October 4 at 8:00 PM ET. Play-by-play announcer Brad Nessler and Emmy-nominated analyst Mike Mayock have the call, while Alex Flanagan provides reports from the sidelines of the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, Missouri.

Two hours before kickoff, NFL Network’s Thursday Night Kickoff pregame show is live from the stadium starting at 6:00 PM ET, taking viewers right up to kickoff with analysis and the latest reports. Host Rich Eisen is joined by Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders and Michael Irvin, and former MVP Kurt Warner. Reporter Stacey Dales provides pregame news reports from the locker rooms, as well as interviews with players and coaches.

Featured on the Thursday Night Kickoff pregame show this week:

• Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb sits down with Kurt Warner
• Breast Cancer Awareness feature in which Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald discusses the loss of his mother to breast cancer, why he continues to be vocal in his support of the cause, and his connection with breast cancer survivor, Maureen Hanna
• Who is the best 4-0 team – Cardinals, Houston Texans or Atlanta Falcons?
• Deion Sanders’ top 10 plays of September
• Kurt Warner and Marshall Faulk, who were both members of the Rams team that won Super Bowl XXXIV, evaluate the St. Louis Rams’ rebuilding process
• Is it time for quarterback Tim Tebow to start for the New York Jets?
• Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning – can Manning outduel Brady?

Eisen, Faulk, Sanders, Irvin and Warner provide additional analysis on the Halftime Show and the Pregame Show.

Following the game, hosts Chris Rose and Lindsay Rhodes as well as analysts Willie McGinest and Shaun O’Hara will deliver a postgame edition of NFL Total Access live from NFL Network’s studios in Los Angeles.

TEAMS:	CARDINALS (4-0)	RAMS (2-2)
ANNOUNCERS	Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Mike Mayock (game analyst); Alex Flanagan (sideline)
PREGAME (6:00 PM ET)	Thursday Night Kickoff In St. Louis: Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Michael Irvin, Kurt Warner, Deion Sanders, Stacey Dales, Alex Flanagan
PRE-KICK (8:00 PM ET)	Brad Nessler, Mike Mayock, Alex Flanagan, Rich Eisen, Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders, Michael Irvin, Stacey Dales
HALFTIME	Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Michael Irvin, Kurt Warner, Deion Sanders, Stacey Dales, Alex Flanagan
POSTGAME	Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Michael Irvin, Kurt Warner, Deion Sanders, Stacey Dales, Alex Flanagan NFL Total Access Postgame Show In-studio: Chris Rose, Lindsay Rhodes, Willie McGinest, Shaun O’Hara
WHERE TO WATCH	DirecTV – Channel 212 (SD/HD), DISH Network – 154 (SD/HD) Verizon FIOS – Channel 88 (SD) 588 (HD), AT&T U-Verse – Channel 630 (SD) 1630 (HD)Check your local cable listings NFL.com LIVE – live “look-ins” at select moments of game NFL Mobile Live on Verizon Wireless
LOCAL OTA SIMULCAST*	CBS Ch. 5 (KPHO)	CW Ch. 11 (KPLR)

That is all.

Thursday Night Football With An Increased Audience Tops 8 Million Viewers

Thanks to having all of the major cable and satellite providers on board for the first time, NFL Network had access to all of the subscribers for Thursday night’s game between the Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Ravens. It paid off with an average of over eight million viewers, the fifth highest audience for a Thursday Night Football game. Not counting the over the air stations, the game saw an average of 8.1 million viewers.

Thanks to the over eight million viewers, Thursday’s game was the most watched program on cable.

NFL Network says this season is on a pace to be the most watched in Thursday Night Football history.

Here’s the statement.

THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL’S BROWNS-RAVENS TOPS EIGHT MILLION VIEWERS; CONTINUES PACE TO BE MOST-WATCHED SEASON EVER ON NFL NETWORK

8.1 Million Viewers Watch Baltimore Defeat Cleveland 23-16
NFL Digital Media Platforms Deliver over 1 Million Streams

NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football continues to deliver strong viewership numbers in 2012. The Browns-Ravens game was watched by an average of 8.1 million viewers (not including over-the-air stations in Baltimore and Cleveland) – ranking as the fifth most-watched game in the seven seasons of Thursday Night Football and making it the No. 1 program on cable television for Thursday, September 27.

Through three games of its expanded 13-game schedule, Thursday Night Football is averaging a 5.0 US HH rating (+39% vs. 2011 average) and 7.9 million viewers (+28% vs. 2011 average) – on pace to be the highest-rated and most-watched Thursday Night Football season ever.

On the interactive front, coverage and features around the Browns/Ravens game across NFL Digital Media platforms – NFL.com/LIVE, NFL Mobile, and the NFL 12 tablet app – delivered 520k unique viewers (+17% vs. 2011 average) and one million video streams (+15% vs. 2011 average).

Thursday Night Football continues next week with the Arizona Cardinals visiting the St. Louis Rams on Oct. 4 at 8:00 PM ET. The Thursday Night Kickoff pregame show begins at 6:00 PM ET. All Thursday Night Football games are streamed live on NFL Mobile with complementary online coverage via NFL.com/LIVE Thursday Night Football.

That’s all.

Thusday Night Football Goes to Baltimore

So the Baltimore Ravens get another primetime game? They were on Sunday Night Football hosting the New England Patriots on NBC. They opened the season on ESPN’s Monday Night Football in Week 1. And to open Week 4, they host the Cleveland Browns on Thursday Night Football. So three primetime games in four weeks and two within five days. Crazy schedule.

NFL Network will air this Thursday’s game with Brad Nessler and Mike Mayock on the call. Alex Flanagan will be on the sidelines.

We have the particulars of what you’ll see on NFL Network this Thursday from Baltimore as the Ravens host the Browns.

CLEVELAND BROWNS AT BALTIMORE RAVENS
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 AT 8:00 PM ET ON NFL NETWORK

Coverage Begins at 6:00 PM ET with Thursday Night Kickoff
Deion Sanders Sitdown Interview with Ravens QB Joe Flacco

NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football continues this week when quarterback Joe Flacco and the Baltimore Ravens host rookie running back Trent Richardson and the Cleveland Browns in an AFC North divisional matchup Thursday, September 27 at 8:00 PM ET. Play-by-play announcer Brad Nessler and Emmy-nominated analyst Mike Mayock have the call, while Alex Flanagan provides reports from the sidelines of M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland.

Two hours before kickoff, NFL Network’s Thursday Night Kickoff pregame show is live from the stadium starting at 6:00 PM ET, taking viewers right up to kickoff with analysis and the latest reports. Host Rich Eisen is joined by Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders and Michael Irvin, and former head coach Steve Mariucci. Reporter Stacey Dales provides pregame news reports from the locker rooms, as well as interviews with players and coaches.

Featured on the Thursday Night Kickoff pregame show this week:

• Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco sitdown interview with Deion Sanders
• Exclusive wired sound and behind-the-scenes footage of Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis
• Deion Sanders takes batting practice with the Baltimore Orioles. Orioles manager Buck Showalter was on the New York Yankees coaching staff when Sanders played for the team in 1990
• Kurt Warner grades the performance of Browns rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden through the first three games of the season
• Kimberly Jones reports from New York with the Jets on playing the rest of the season without cornerback Darrelle Revis

Bollywood superstar and 2101 Records/Desi Hits!/ Interscope Records recording artist Priyanka Chopra will be the featured artist for NFL Network’s Thursday Night Kickoff pregame show. Priyanka’s debut single “In My City,’ featuring will.i.am and produced by RedOne (Lady Gaga) and Brian Kennedy, will be the music bed for the intro to Thursday Night Kickoff. The release of the full song and accompanying video for “In My City” are expected later this fall. For more information on Priyanka Chopra, please visit www.priyankachopramusic.com.

Leading in to every Thursday Night Football game, Grammy Award-winning artist CeeLo Green will sing the anthem entitled “Blitzkrieg Bop (I Love Football),” set to The Ramones’ “Blitzkrieg Bop.” The 90-second show open for each Thursday Night Football game will feature fan-sourced videos uploaded by fans. To submit videos, please visit www.nfl.com/fanchise.

Eisen, Faulk, Sanders, Irvin and Mariucci provide additional analysis on the Halftime Show and the Pregame Show.

Following the game, hosts Chris Rose and Lindsay Rhodes as well as analysts Willie McGinest and Shaun O’Hara will deliver a postgame edition of NFL Total Access live from NFL Network’s studios in Los Angeles.

TEAMS:	BROWNS (0-3)	RAVENS (2-1)
ANNOUNCERS	Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Mike Mayock (game analyst); Alex Flanagan (sideline)
PREGAME (6:00 PM ET)	Thursday Night Kickoff In Baltimore: Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Michael Irvin, Steve Mariucci, Deion Sanders, Stacey Dales, Alex Flanagan
PRE-KICK (8:00 PM ET)	Brad Nessler, Mike Mayock, Alex Flanagan, Rich Eisen, Steve Mariucci, Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders, Michael Irvin, Stacey Dales
HALFTIME	Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Michael Irvin, Steve Mariucci, Deion Sanders, Stacey Dales, Alex Flanagan
POSTGAME	Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Michael Irvin, Steve Mariucci, Deion Sanders, Stacey Dales, Alex Flanagan NFL Total Access Postgame Show In-studio: Chris Rose, Lindsay Rhodes, Willie McGinest, Shaun O’Hara
WHERE TO WATCH	DirecTV – Channel 212 (SD/HD), DISH Network – 154 (SD/HD) Verizon FIOS – Channel 88 (SD) 588 (HD), AT&T U-Verse – Channel 630 (SD) 1630 (HD) Check your local cable listings NFL.com LIVE – live “look-ins” at select moments of game NFL Mobile Live on Verizon Wireless
LOCAL OTA SIMULCAST*	NBC Ch. 3 (WKYC)	NBC Ch. 11 (WBAL)

That will do it.

Thursday Night Football Heads to Charlotte

This week, NFL Network’s increasingly popular Thursday Night Football will head to Charlotte as the defending Super Bowl Champion New York Giants take on the Carolina Panthers. Both teams are coming off wins on Sunday so this Thursday’s game is a pivotal contest.

Brad Nessler, Mike Mayock and Alex Flanagan will be your game announcers. Rich Eisen along with the yelling cast of thousands will be on the pregame show live from Bank of America Stadium.

We have the particulars of the Thursday Night Football broadcast from NFL Network. The game will be broadcast locally on WPIX in NYC and WSOC in Charlotte. Everything you need to know is below.

NEW YORK GIANTS AT CAROLINA PANTHERS
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 AT 8:00 PM ET ON NFL NETWORK

Coverage Begins at 6:00 PM ET with Thursday Night Kickoff
“Eli is truly unflappable…Yes, he is [one of the five best quarterbacks].” – Deion Sanders on Giants QB Eli Manning

NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football continues this week when Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning and the New York Giants travel to face the 2011 Offensive Rookie of the Year Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers Thursday, September 20 at 8:00 PM ET. Play-by-play announcer Brad Nessler and Emmy-nominated analyst Mike Mayock have the call, while Alex Flanagan provides reports from the sidelines of Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Two hours before kickoff, NFL Network’s Thursday Night Kickoff pregame show is live from the stadium starting at 6:00 PM ET, taking viewers right up to kickoff with analysis and the latest reports. Host Rich Eisen is joined by Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders and Michael Irvin, and former head coach Steve Mariucci. Reporter Stacey Dales provides pregame news reports from the locker rooms, as well as interviews with players and coaches.

Bollywood superstar and 2101 Records/Desi Hits!/ Interscope Records recording artist Priyanka Chopra will be the featured artist for NFL Network’s Thursday Night Kickoff pregame show. Priyanka’s debut single “In My City,’ featuring will.i.am and produced by RedOne (Lady Gaga) and Brian Kennedy, will be the music bed for the intro to Thursday Night Kickoff. The release of the full song and accompanying video for “In My City” are expected later this fall. For more information on Priyanka Chopra, please visit iampriyankachopra.com.

Leading in to every Thursday Night Football game, Grammy Award-winning artist CeeLo Green will sing the anthem entitled “I Love Football,” set to The Ramones’ “Blitzkrieg Bop.” The 90-second show open for each Thursday Night Football game will feature fan-sourced videos uploaded by fans. To submit videos, please visit www.nfl.com/fanchise.

Eisen, Faulk, Sanders, Irvin and Mariucci provide additional analysis on the Halftime Show and the Pregame Show.

Following the game, hosts Chris Rose and Lindsay Rhodes as well as analysts Willie McGinest and Shaun O’Hara will deliver a postgame edition of NFL Total Access live from NFL Network’s studios in Los Angeles.

QUOTABLE:

- “Eli is truly unflappable; he rarely shows emotion on the field. I don’t care how many interceptions he has thrown. Yes, he is [one of the five best quarterbacks].” – Deion Sanders on New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning

TEAMS:	GIANTS (1-1)	PANTHERS (1-1)
ANNOUNCERS	Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Mike Mayock (game analyst); Alex Flanagan (sideline)
PREGAME (6:00 PM ET)	Thursday Night Kickoff In Charlotte: Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Michael Irvin, Steve Mariucci, Deion Sanders, Stacey Dales, Alex Flanagan
PRE-KICK (8:00 PM ET)	Brad Nessler, Mike Mayock, Alex Flanagan, Rich Eisen, Steve Mariucci, Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders, Michael Irvin, Stacey Dales
HALFTIME	Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Michael Irvin, Steve Mariucci, Deion Sanders, Stacey Dales, Alex Flanagan
POSTGAME	Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Michael Irvin, Steve Mariucci, Deion Sanders, Stacey Dales, Alex Flanagan  NFL Total Access Postgame Show In-studio: Chris Rose, Lindsay Rhodes, Willie McGinest, Shaun O’Hara
WHERE TO WATCH	DirecTV – Channel 212 (SD/HD), DISH Network – 154 (SD/HD) Verizon FIOS – Channel 88 (SD) 588 (HD), AT&T U-Verse – Channel 630 (SD) 1630 (HD), Cablevision – Channel 150 (SD/HD)Check your local cable listings NFL.com LIVE – live “look-ins” at select moments of game NFL Mobile Live on Verizon Wireless
LOCAL OTA SIMULCAST*	CW Ch. 11 (WPIX)	ABC Ch. 9 (WSOC)

That is it.

Your Week 2 NFL Viewing Picks

Let’s go over what’s coming up on the next NFL Sunday.

Our NFL Week actually began on Thursday? – Yup. First of 13 Thursday Night Football games on NFL Network this season.

So I won’t hear a disclaimer for “60 Minutes” on CBS at 7 p.m.? – Not when the Tiffany Network has the NFL doubleheader. With the late games now starting at 4:25 p.m. ET, both CBS and Fox have to make adjustments. When CBS has the doubleheader, primetime will start at 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT. In the Mountain and Pacific time zones, the Sunday primetime lineup won’t change. The entire CBS lineup will be pushed back a half-hour and there won’t be any shows that will be preempted.

What’s with Fox showing this soccer documentary? – On five Sundays, Fox will run programming either before or after its single NFL game depending on when your contest will air in your region. This week, Fox airs the premiere of its Fox Soccer documentary series called “Being: Liverpool”. On three other Sundays, Fox will air tape delayed coverage of English Premier League action. And on the other Sunday being programmed by Fox, it will have a UFC special previewing that weekend’s MMA card on the network.

Blackouts? Tell me about the blackouts? – None this week. The San Diego Chargers narrowly avoided embarrassment by having its home opener and tribute to the late Junior Seau blacked out. An extension to sell the last remaining tickets worked. The Dolphins did not sell out their home opener, but the team bought all of the remaining tickets and the game against the Raiders on Sunday will be seen in South Florida. Finally, the Cincinnati Bengals sold out their home opener after problems selling out last season.

What are your Games of the Week, compadre? – On CBS, I’ll choose Baltimore at Philadelphia (Greg Gumbel/Dan Dierdorf). Ravens look really good. Philadelphia has to show something after barely defeating my Browns last week. The other for CBS is Tennessee at San Diego (Ian Eagle/Dan Fouts). It should be a rather emotional scene as the Chargers pay tribute to the late Junior Seau before the game.

For Fox, I choose New Orleans at Carolina (Ron Pitts/Mike Martz/Kristina Pink) as both teams have to show something after lackluster performances last week. And Dallas at Seattle (Kenny Albert/Daryl Johnston/Tony Siragusa) as we need to know if both teams were really what we saw in Week 1. Was Dallas really as good as it showed in the NFL Kickoff Game against the New York Giants? And what about Seattle? Questions abound after its loss to Arizona.

Anything else? – Sunday Night Football with a decent game as the Detroit Lions take on the San Francisco 49ers (Al Michaels/Cris Collinsworth/Michele Tafoya). I wonder what “Get Off My Lawn” commentary Bob Costas will make on Sunday.

That concludes the Viewing Guide for Week 2 in the League Where They Play for Pay.

Bears-Packers Sets A Thursday Night Football Season Opening Record For NFL Network

Been out all day. Time to catch up on a few things.

NFL Network tells us its season opening game, the earliest ever for Thursday Night Football, saw its highest audience ever for its season premiere. An average of 8.6 million people watched the Green Bay Backers dismantle the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field on Thursday. That’s up from last year’s season opener in Week 10 between the San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders by a whopping 62%. Again, a lot of this is due to increased distribution across the country.

NFL Network is crowing about Thursday Night Football being the most watched program on cable outdistancing all other shows by a wide margin.

Let’s look at the NFL Network press release.

BEARS-PACKERS ON THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL MOST-WATCHED NFL NETWORK OPENER WITH 8.6 MILLION VIEWERS

Ranks as Thursday’s No. 1 Show on Cable
NFL online & mobile traffic jumps 85 percent

Last night’s Chicago Bears-Green Bay Packers game on NFL Network was watched by an average of 8.6 million viewers (not including over-the-air stations in Chicago and Green Bay/Milwaukee) – ranking as the most-watched opener in the seven seasons of Thursday Night Football.

The telecast of the 185th meeting between the teams – the most-played rivalry in NFL history – topped by 62 percent last year’s NFL Network opener between the Raiders and Chargers (5.3 million viewers). Bears-Packers was also Thursday’s most-watched program among all shows on cable doubling the viewership of the second-ranked show (“The O’Reilly Factor” on Fox News Channel, 3.4 million viewers).

In addition, the Thursday Night Kickoff pregame show and Postgame Show live from the stadium, featuring host Rich Eisen and analysts Steve Mariucci, Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders and Michael Irvin drew the best-ever averages for a TNF opener with a respective 805,000 average viewers (up 42 percent from last year’s opener) and 2.5 million average viewers (up 39 percent).

Complementary coverage of Bears-Packers online and via mobile devices drew an 85 percent jump in unique viewers and a 100 percent increase in live streams viewed over last year’s season average.

Thursday Night Football continues next week with the Super Bowl Champion New York Giants visiting the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 20 at 8:00 PM ET. The Thursday Night Kickoff pregame show begins at 6:00 PM ET. All Thursday Night Football games are available in their entirety on NFL Mobile with complementary online coverage via NFL.com/LIVE Thursday Night Football.

This year marks the seventh season of live regular season primetime games on NFL Network. Last year’s edition of Thursday Night Football was the most-watched in the network’s history with a record average of 7.3 million viewers per game (including OTAs).

That’s it for this post.

Bears-Packers Receives Best Overnight Rating Ever For Thursday Night Football

The season premiere of Thursday Night Football did really well for NFL Network. Thanks to increased distribution, especially in the New York area through Cablevision, NFL Network received a 6.3 overnight rating according to NFL spokesman Dan Masonson.

NEW RATINGS RECORD: 6.3 overnight for Bears-Packers best ever for @nflnetwork‘s Thursday Night Football (cont.)

— Dan Masonson (@NFLMase) September 14, 2012

Previous NFLN best: 6.0 overnight for 49ers-Ravens for 2011 Thanksgiving night game

— Dan Masonson (@NFLMase) September 14, 2012

Rather impressive numbers for NFL Network which has had to struggle since its inception.

Thursday Night Football Returns in Week 2. Week 2? That’s Right, Week 2

After starting in Week 12 in the beginning of the series back in 2006, then in Week 9 since 2008, Thursday Night Football now encompasses an entire season running 13 weeks on NFL Network. After being an 8 game series, TNF now begins in Week 2 and will run through Week 15 with a one week break for Thanksgiving which will be an NBC game from now on.

So Brad Nessler and Mike Mayock return for their second season together. Alex Flanagan also returns to roam the sidelines.

This Thursday, the crew heads to Lambeau Field in Green Bay to call the NFL’s oldest rivalry, the Chicago Bears against the Packers. The game will begin 8:15 p.m. ET. Pregame coverage hosted by Rich Eisen live from Lambeau airs starting at 6 p.m.

We have the particulars plus the pregame show features below.

CHICAGO BEARS AT GREEN BAY PACKERS
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 AT 8:00 PM ET ON NFL NETWORK

Expanded 13-Game Thursday Night Football Schedule Kicks off with Most-Played Rivalry in NFL History
Deion Sanders Sitdown Interview with Packers Quarterback Aaron Rodgers on Thursday Night Football Kickoff Pregame Show at 6:00 PM ET

NFL Network kicks off its expanded 13-game Thursday Night Football schedule Thursday, September 13 at 8:00 PM ET when the Green Bay Packers host the division-rival Chicago Bears. This marks the 185th meeting including Playoffs between the two teams – the most-played rivalry in NFL history.

Play-by-play announcer Brad Nessler and Emmy-nominated analyst Mike Mayock return to the Thursday Night Football broadcast booth for the second season and are joined by Alex Flanagan, who enters her third year as the sideline reporter.

Two hours before kickoff, NFL Network’s Thursday Night Kickoff pregame show is live from the stadium starting at 6:00 PM ET, taking viewers right up to kickoff with analysis and the latest reports. Host Rich Eisen is joined by Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders and Michael Irvin, and former head coach Steve Mariucci. Reporter Stacey Dales provides pregame news reports from the locker rooms, as well as interviews with players and coaches.

Featured on the pregame show this week:

• Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers sitdown interview with Deion Sanders
• The top 10 NFL rivalries of all time
• NFL Network analysts Kurt Warner and Donovan McNabb discuss Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler’s leadership
• Preview of the remaining Week 2 matchups, including Jets-Steelers, Ravens-Eagles and Lions-49ers

Bollywood superstar and 2101 Records/Desi Hits!/ Interscope Records recording artist Priyanka Chopra will be the featured artist for NFL Network’s Thursday Night Kickoff pregame show. Priyanka’s debut single “In My City,’ featuring will.i.am and produced by RedOne (Lady Gaga) and Brian Kennedy, will be the music bed for the intro to Thursday Night Kickoff Presented by Craftsman. The release of the full song and accompanying video for “In My City” are expected later this fall. For more information on Priyanka Chopra, please visit iampriyankachopra.com.

Leading in to every Thursday Night Football game, Grammy Award-winning artist CeeLo Green will sing the anthem entitled “I Love Football,” set to The Ramones’ “Blitzkrieg Bop.” The 90-second show open for each Thursday Night Football game will feature fan-sourced videos uploaded by fans. To submit videos, please visit www.nfl.com/fanchise.

Eisen, Faulk, Sanders, Irvin and Mariucci provide additional analysis on the Halftime Show and the Pregame Show.

Following the game, hosts Chris Rose and Lindsay Rhodes as well as analysts Willie McGinest and Shaun O’Hara will deliver a postgame edition of NFL Total Access live from NFL Network’s studios in Los Angeles.

QUOTABLE:

- “He’s a complete back. Nowadays you have backs go out on third down – he is an every down back and he blocks well.” – Deion Sanders on Bears running back Matt Forte who rushed for 80 yards and one touchdown in Chicago’s 41-21 win over the Indianapolis Colts

- “You add him with Brandon Marshall and all of a sudden this Bears team has a receiving corps.” – Steve Mariucci on Bears rookie wide receiver Alshon Jeffrey

- “It’s what makes the Green Bay Packers so tough. You have Jordy Nelson, Greg Jennings and then you have James Jones who looks like he’s a number one receiver when he’s playing.” – Michael Irvin on the Green Bay Packers wide receivers

TEAMS:	BEARS (1-0)	PACKERS (0-1)
ANNOUNCERS	Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Mike Mayock (game analyst); Alex Flanagan (sideline)
PREGAME (6:00 PM ET)	Thursday Night Kickoff In Green Bay: Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Michael Irvin, Steve Mariucci, Deion Sanders, Stacey Dales, Alex Flanagan
PRE-KICK (8:00 PM ET)	Brad Nessler, Mike Mayock, Alex Flanagan, Rich Eisen, Steve Mariucci, Deion Sanders, Michael Irvin, Stacey Dales
HALFTIME	Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Michael Irvin, Steve Mariucci, Deion Sanders, Stacey Dales, Alex Flanagan
POSTGAME	Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Michael Irvin, Steve Mariucci, Deion Sanders, Stacey Dales, Alex Flanagan NFL Total Access Postgame Show In-studio: Chris Rose, Lindsay Rhodes, Willie McGinest, Shaun O’Hara
WHERE TO WATCH	DirecTV – Channel 212 (SD/HD), DISH Network – 154 (SD/HD) Verizon FIOS – Channel 88 (SD) 588 (HD), AT&T U-Verse – Channel 630 (SD) 1630 (HD), Cablevision – Channel 150 (SD/HD)Check your local cable listings NFL.com LIVE – live “look-ins” at select moments of game NFL Mobile Live on Verizon Wireless
LOCAL OTA SIMULCAST*	My50 Chicago (WPWR)	Green Bay: NBC Ch. 26 (WGBA) Milwaukee: FOX Ch. 6 (WITI)

That will do it.

Thursday Night Football Local TV Stations For 2012 Season

As mandated by the National Football League ever since cable networks began airing games in 1987, one TV station in the home markets is allowed to pick up the telecast to give fans the opprtunity to see the contests on both broadcast and pay TV.

So before each season, both ESPN and NFL Network put their games out to bid in the local markets for their entire schedules. For ESPN, they go to ABC affiliates first and if they pass, other stations in the market can bid. In the case of NFL Network, they allow all stations to bid and the one that agrees to pay the price will get the game.

Of course, each game is subject to the silly NFL TV blackout rules and if the game is not sold out 72 hours in advance, then it will be blacked out in the home market.

We have the over the air stations in the local markets that will carry the games throughout the 13 week Thursday Night Football schedule. If your cable provider does not carry NFL Network, this will give you a heads up in case your favorite team is playing on a Thursday night. This is for Weeks 2-11 and 13-15. In Week 12, the primetime game falls on Thanksgiving and the contest, New England at New York Jets is being aired by NBC.

Here’s the list as compiled by NFL Network.

THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL LOCAL OVER-THE-AIR SYNDICATION

NFL Network games will be carried on over-the-air television in the city of the visiting team and in the city where the game is played if it is sold out 72 hours in advance of kickoff.

All telecasts will use NFL Network announcers, graphics and full production elements. Games are syndicated on an over-the-air station per the NFL’s long-standing policy dating back to 1987.

Brad Nessler (Play-by-Play); Mike Mayock (Analyst); Alex Flanagan (Sideline)

Week 2:  Chicago Bears (My50 Chicago, WPWR) @ Green Bay Packers (NBC Ch. 26 Green Bay; FOX Ch.6 Milwaukee)

Week 3:  New York Giants (CW Ch. 11, WPIX) @ Carolina Panthers (ABC Ch. 9, WSOC)

Week 4:  Cleveland Browns (NBC Ch. 3, WKYC) @ Baltimore Ravens (NBC Ch. 11, WBAL)

Week 5:  Arizona Cardinals (CBS Ch. 5, KPHO) @ St. Louis Rams (CW Ch. 11, KPLR)

Week 6:  Pittsburgh Steelers (CW Ch. 19, WPCW) @ Tennessee Titans (FOX Ch. 17, WZTV)

Week 7:  Seattle Seahawks (Independent Ch. 16, KONG) @ San Francisco 49ers (ABC Ch. 7, KGO)

Week 8:  Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Independent Ch. 32, WMOR) @ Minnesota Vikings (NBC Ch. 11, KARE)

Week 9:  Kansas City Chiefs (MyNetworkTV, KSMO) @ San Diego Chargers (CBS Ch. 8, KFMB)

Week 10:  Indianapolis Colts (NBC Ch. 13, WTHR) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (Independent Ch. 4, WJXT)

Week 11:  Miami Dolphins (MyNetworkTV Ch. 32, WBFS) @ Buffalo Bills (Me-TV, WBBZ)

Week 13:  New Orleans Saints (FOX Ch. 8, WVUE) @ Atlanta Falcons (CW Ch. 69, WUPA)

Week 14:  Denver Broncos (CBS Ch. 4, KCNC) @ Oakland Raiders (ABC Ch. 7, KGO)

Week 15:  Cincinnati Bengals (CBS Ch. 12, WKRC) @ Philadelphia Eagles (ABC Ch. 6, WPVI)

That will do it.

NFL Network’s New Fall Programming

With the NFL now in full swing, well, as close to full swing as we can get, NFL Network will go into football mode big time. You know about its full NFL GameDay shows with Morning, GameCenter, Scoreboard, Highlights and Final. It adds “First on the Field” at 7 a.m. to be hosted by Melissa Stark.

In addition, you have mainstays like The Coaches Show this year with Brian Billick and Dennis Green, NFL Replay, Sound FX and A Football Life.

NFL Network also has 13 Thursday Night Football games that will last from Weeks 2-11 and 13-15.

In this press release, NFL Network announces talent additions like former New York Giants offensive lineman Shaun O’Hara and former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Dononvan McNabb. Also former Minnesota Vikings and Arizona Cardinals coach Dennis Green is an addition.

Replacing NFL Network original Kara Henderson on NFL Total Access as co-anchor with Scott Hanson on Fridays and Saturdays is former MASN anchor and reporter Amber Theoharis.

Take a look at what NFL Network has in store for you this season.

NFL NETWORK GETS ‘BACK TO FOOTBALL’ WITH EXTENSIVE 2012 FALL PROGRAMMING LINEUP

From the Field to the Studio – LaDainian Tomlinson, Donovan McNabb, Shaun O’Hara & Darren Sharper Join as Analysts
Expanded 13-Game ‘Thursday Night Football’ Schedule – Starts September 13 at 8:00 PM ET
Sunday is ‘GameDay’ Beginning LIVE at 7:00 AM ET with the new ‘First on the Field’
‘NFL Fantasy Live’ Airs Monday-Friday at 2:00 PM ET
‘NFL Total Access,’ ‘NFL AM,’ ‘Around the League Live,’ ‘The Coaches Show,’ ‘NFL Replay,’ ‘Sound FX’ & Emmy Award-Nominated ‘A Football Life’ Round Out Fall Programming

The 2012 NFL preseason is officially in the books and it’s time to kick off the regular season. With comprehensive news shows such as NFL Total Access, NFL AM and Around the League Live, extensive “GameDay” coverage starting at 7:00 AM ET every Sunday, and the expanded 13-game Thursday Night Football schedule, NFL Network remains the ultimate destination for football fans across the country.

This season, NFL Network bolsters its on-air talent roster with the additions of four former NFL players who enjoyed established and prestigious careers: 2006 NFL MVP and five-time Pro Bowl running back LaDainian Tomlinson; six-time Pro Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb; three-time Pro Bowl center and Super Bowl champion with the New York Giants Shaun O’Hara; and 14-year veteran and Super Bowl champion safety with the New Orleans Saints Darren Sharper.

After a storied 11-year NFL career with the San Diego Chargers and New York Jets, Tomlinson joins NFL Network, appearing every Sunday during the NFL season at 7:00 AM ET on the new pregame show First on the Field. Tomlinson, who ranks second all-time in rushing touchdowns and fifth all-time in rushing yards, joins co-hosts Melissa Stark and five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Sterling Sharpe, and analyst Michael Lombardi from NFL Films in Mt. Laurel, NJ, to provide the first analysis of the day’s games.

McNabb, fresh off the field after a 13-year NFL career, joins NFL Network as an analyst on Playbook, which airs Friday at 8:00 PM ET (NFC edition) and 9:00 PM ET (AFC edition). The former signal-caller for the Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins and Minnesota Vikings joins analysts Sharpe and Brian Baldinger on the ultimate X’s-and-O’s show, which utilizes the game film used by coaches and players to break down each week’s matchups.

Former Super Bowl-winners O’Hara and Sharper, with a combined 25 years of NFL experience, will provide insight Monday-Saturday on NFL Total Access at 7:00 PM ET. O’Hara and Sharper join fellow Super Bowl champions Willie McGinest and Heath Evans, and hosts Andrew Siciliano, Lindsay Rhodes, Scott Hanson and Amber Theoharis to make the NFL’s show of record the go-to destination for fans to get unmatched analysis and opinion about the National Football League.

NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football kicks off its expanded 13-game primetime schedule Week 2 on September 13 at 8:00 PM ET with the Green Bay Packers hosting the Chicago Bears in a matchup of the NFL’s most-played rivalry. Emmy-nominated analyst Mike Mayock and play-by-play announcer Brad Nessler return for their second season in the Thursday Night Football broadcast booth, while Alex Flanagan returns for her third season as sideline reporter. Coverage for all 13 games begins at 6:00 PM ET with the Thursday Night Kickoff pregame show live from the stadium. The Halftime Show and the Postgame Show provide additional analysis live from inside the stadium each week on Thursday Night Football.

Sunday is GameDay, and NFL Network has it covered from every angle. Following NFL Network’s new First on the Field show, NFL GameDay Morning continues to set the table for the day’s action four hours prior to kickoff at 9:00 AM ET. Host Rich Eisen and analysts Steve Mariucci, Marshall Faulk, Kurt Warner, Warren Sapp and Michael Irvin get you ready for kickoff with expert commentary, the latest news reports and insight on each matchup.

NFL GameDay Scoreboard with Paul Burmeister, Darren Sharper and Tom Waddle airs at 4:00 PM ET, followed by NFL GameDay Highlights at 7:30 PM ET with host Chris Rose, Deion Sanders and Mariucci. At 11:30 PM ET, Rose and analysts Faulk, Sanders and Irvin recap all of the day’s action on NFL GameDay Final with game highlights, player and coach press conferences, post-game interviews and analysis of every game.

Wake up every weekday morning with everything NFL during the four-hour morning show, NFL AM. Hosts Brian Webber and Nicole Zaloumis, and analysts Eric Davis, Mark Kriegel and Steve Wyche jump start the football conversation for the day beginning at 6:00 AM ET Monday-Friday with interviews featuring players and coaches, live reports from team facilities and debates about all of the stories making news across the league. NFL AM re-airs at 7:00 AM PT.

NFL Network is your home for all of Monday’s news and press conferences with a three-hour edition of Around the League Live on Mondays at 3:00 PM ET, hosted by Paul Burmeister. Fran Charles hosts a two-hour edition of Around the League Live Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday beginning at 5:00 PM ET, and Thursday at 4:00 PM ET. Featuring insight from NFL Network’s team of analysts, interviews with players and coaches via exclusive Team Cams, press conferences and news reports, Around the League Live gives fans inside access to all 32 teams.

Gain the upper hand in your fantasy football league each week with NFL Fantasy Live Monday-Friday at 2:00 PM ET. Former NFL defensive end Akbar Gbaja-Biamila and veteran sports broadcaster Jaime Maggio join analysts Michael Fabiano, Elliot Harrison, Adam Rank, Dave Dameshek, Jason Smith and Matt “Money” Smith to provide the analysis and advice you need to dominate your league. NFL Fantasy Live also airs every Sunday during the season at 11:30 AM ET on NFL.com and the NFL RedZone channel. NFL Fantasy Live airs on NFL.com Monday-Friday at 1:00 PM ET.

The Emmy Award-nominated series A Football Life produced by NFL Films returns with an expanded 13-episode season, airing Wednesday at 8:00 PM ET throughout the NFL season. Premiering September 12 with The Faces of Tim Tebow, the documentary series examines the people and subjects that have had a profound and lasting impact on the sport of professional football.

Additional programs returning this season include The Coaches Show featuring Brian Billick and Dennis Green on Mondays at 6:30 PM ET, NFL Replay on Tuesdays at 8:00 PM ET and Wednesdays at 9:00 PM ET, and Sound FX on Wednesdays at 10:30 PM ET.

Below is a complete listing of NFL Network’s 2012 Fall Programming lineup, complete with air times, talent and show descriptions.

NFL Network’s 2012 Fall Programming Lineup

First on the Field
When: Sunday, 7:00 AM ET
Talent: LaDainian Tomlinson, Melissa Stark, Sterling Sharpe, Michael Lombardi
What: Every Sunday during the NFL season, NFL Network is there when you wake up with First on the Field. Former NFL MVP and five-time Pro Bowl running back LaDainian Tomlinson joins Melissa Stark, Sterling Sharpe and Michael Lombardi on the two-hour show that will become the first live pregame show to originate from NFL Films in Mt. Laurel, NJ. Featuring live reports from game sites and previews of the week’s games, First on the Field establishes the storylines that will be covered and expanded upon on NFL GameDay Morning.

NFL GameDay Morning
When: Sunday, 9:00 AM ET
Talent: Rich Eisen, Steve Mariucci, Marshall Faulk, Kurt Warner, Warren Sapp, Michael Irvin
Game Reporters: Albert Breer, Stacey Dales, Jeff Darlington, Kimberly Jones, Ian Rapoport, Aditi Kinkhabwala, Michelle Beisner, Steve Cyphers
What: The most comprehensive pregame show on television, NFL GameDay Morning takes viewers right up to kickoff. Host Rich Eisen and analysts Steve Mariucci, Marshall Faulk, Kurt Warner, Warren Sapp and Michael Irvin discuss the upcoming games four hours prior to kickoff, while NFL Network reporters stationed around the league provide up-to-the-minute reports and interviews from the game sites. Fans can interact with the show and send in their questions on Twitter (@NFLN_GameDay).

NFL GameDay Scoreboard
When: Sunday, 4:00 PM ET
Talent: Paul Burmeister, Tom Waddle, Darren Sharper
What: NFL GameDay Scoreboard takes viewers around the league for post-game press conferences and game highlights, in addition to up-to-the-minute scores, statistics, and news during the late afternoon matchups.

NFL GameDay Highlights
When: Sunday, 7:30 PM ET
Talent: Chris Rose, Steve Mariucci, Deion Sanders
What: Analysts Steve Mariucci and Deion Sanders join host Chris Rose to recap all of the day’s action on NFL GameDay Highlights, with game highlights, post-game press conferences and commentary. 

NFL GameDay Final
When: Sunday, 11:30 PM ET
Talent: Chris Rose, Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders, Michael Irvin
What: Join host Chris Rose and analysts Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders and Michael Irvin to get the final word on Sunday’s games. With postgame press conferences, game highlights, player/coach interviews, expert analysis, a preview of Monday’s game and more, NFL GameDay Final provides everything viewers need to know about the week in the NFL.

NFL AM
When: Monday – Friday, 6:00 – 10:00 AM ET (Re-airs 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM ET)
Hosts: Brian Webber, Nicole Zaloumis
Analysts: Eric Davis, Mark Kriegel, Steve Wyche
What: Fans can now start their day with the NFL like never before with NFL AM, a four-hour weekday morning show on NFL Network. Hosts Brian Webber and Nicole Zaloumis are joined by analysts Eric Davis, Mark Kriegel and Steve Wyche to set the NFL news and discussion for the day. Featuring live reports from NFL Network reporters stationed throughout the league, interviews with players and coaches as they begin their workday, and discussion and debate on a number of NFL-related topics emphasizing the talent’s personalities, NFL AM is the perfect complement to every NFL fan’s breakfast and morning coffee.

Around the League Live
When: Monday, 3:00 – 6:00 PM ET; Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday, 5:00 – 7:00 PM ET; Thursday, 4:00 – 6:00 PM ET
Hosts: Paul Burmeister (Monday); Fran Charles (Tuesday – Friday)
Analysts: Heath Evans and Darren Sharper (Monday – Wednesday); Willie McGinest and Shaun O’Hara (Thursday & Friday); Michael Lombardi, Charley Casserly, Jamie Dukes, Brian Baldinger, Solomon Wilcots, Tom Waddle, Dennis Green (various)
What: Around the League Live gives fans inside access to their favorite teams with interviews with players and coaches, press conferences, live reports from team facilities, analysis of the previous week’s games and previews of the upcoming matchups.

NFL Total Access
When: Monday & Saturday, 7:00 – 8:30 PM ET; Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday, 7:00 – 8:00 PM ET; Thursday, 12 Midnight – 1:00 AM ET
Hosts: Andrew Siciliano and Lindsay Rhodes (Monday – Wednesday); Chris Rose (Thursday); Scott Hanson and Amber Theoharis (Friday – Saturday)
Analysts: Willie McGinest, Heath Evans, Shaun O’Hara, Darren Sharper
Reporters: Albert Breer, Aditi Kinkhabwala, Ian Rapoport, Jeff Darlington, Kim Jones, Stacey Dales, Michelle Beisner
What: The NFL’s show of record is the go-to destination for the most comprehensive Championship-analysis of the National Football League. Super Bowl champions Willie McGinest, Heath Evans, Shaun O’Hara and Darren Sharper provide authoritative and respected analysis gained from years of NFL playing experience at a Super Bowl level. Each show will include contributions from a number of NFL Network’s stable of analysts and reporters stationed at team facilities across the league. Additionally, NFL Total Access features interviews with a number of players and coaches each week as they prepare for their upcoming game. Hosted by Andrew Siciliano and Lindsay Rhodes Monday through Wednesday, Chris Rose on Thursday, and Scott Hanson and Amber Theoharis Friday and Saturday, NFL Total Access offers unprecedented football news and information.

The Coaches Show
When: Monday, 6:30 PM ET
Talent: Brian Billick and Dennis Green
What: With more than 30 years of combined NFL coaching experience, Brian Billick and Dennis Green provide the view of the game from the perspective of the sideline. The former Minnesota Vikings coaching pair are reunited to offer opinions on various coaching decisions made during the week’s games, put themselves into real-life situations, answer quick-fire questions and respond to fan comments via Twitter and Facebook in this 30-minute show.

NFL Fantasy Live
When: Monday – Friday, 2:00 – 3:00 PM ET; Sunday, 11:30 AM – 12:58 PM ET (on NFL RedZone)
Talent: Michael Fabiano, Elliot Harrison, Adam Rank, Dave Dameshek, Jason Smith, Matt “Money” Smith, Akbar Gbaja-Biamila, Jamie Maggio
What: Each week, NFL Fantasy Live airs Monday – Friday at 2:00 PM ET on NFL Network, providing fantasy football fans with all of the information and analysis they need to dominate their leagues. Former NFL defensive end Akbar Gbaja-Biamila and veteran sports broadcaster Jaime Maggio join NFL Fantasy Live’s talent roster of Michael Fabiano, Elliot Harrison, Adam Rank, Dave Dameshek, Jason Smith and Matt “Money” Smith. Additionally, NFL Fantasy Live airs on Sundays of the regular season on the NFL RedZone channel at 11:30 AM ET to provide last-minute fantasy advice and the latest injury reports. NFL Fantasy Live is the ultimate home for all of the latest fantasy news, rankings and advice.

NFL Replay
When: Tuesday, 8:00 PM ET & 9:30 PM ET; Wednesday, 9:00 PM ET
What: Re-live three games with NFL Films enhancements from the previous week on Tuesday and Wednesday nights throughout the NFL season. On Tuesday at 8:00 PM ET and 9:30 PM ET, and Wednesday at 9:00 PM ET, catch a 90-minute replay of one of the best games from the past weekend, complete with postgame interviews and exclusive on-field sights and sounds.

Sound FX
When: Wednesday, 10:30 PM ET
What: Every Wednesday at 10:30 PM ET, Sound FX provides viewers inside access into the previous week’s games with a compilation of the best on-field sights and sounds captured by NFL Films.

A Football Life
When: Wednesday, 8:00 PM ET
What: The Emmy-nominated series produced by NFL Films, A Football Life, returns for a second year with an expanded 13-episode season. Premiering on September 12 with a profile on the immensely popular backup quarterback for the New York Jets Tim Tebow, A Football Life airs every Wednesday night at 8:00 PM ET throughout the NFL season, examining the people and subjects that have had a profound and lasting impact on the sport of professional football. Subjects profiled this season also include Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis; Super Bowl-winning head coaches Tom Coughlin and Jimmy Johnson; the late Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair; former owner of the San Francisco 49ers Eddie DeBartolo, Jr.; and the 40th anniversary of “The Immaculate Reception.”

Thursday Night Kickoff
When: Thursday, 6:00 PM ET
Talent: Rich Eisen, Steve Mariucci, Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders, Michael Irvin, Stacey Dales
What: Two hours prior to every Thursday Night Football game on NFL Network, host Rich Eisen and analysts Steve Mariucci, Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders and Michael Irvin are live from the stadium on Thursday Night Kickoff. The two-hour pregame show covers all of the storylines surrounding each matchup, plus the latest news and information from around the league. NFL Network reporter Stacey Dales provides the latest up-to-the-minute reports from the locker room. The Halftime Show and the Postgame Show provide additional analysis live from inside the stadium each week on Thursday Night Football.

Thursday Night Football
When: Thursday, 8:00 PM ET (Weeks 2 – 15)
Talent: Brad Nessler (play-by-play); Mike Mayock (analyst); Alex Flanagan (sidelines)
What: NFL Network’s expanded 13-game Thursday Night Football schedule kicks off September 13 at 8:00 PM ET when the Green Bay Packers host the Chicago Bears in the NFL’s most-played rivalry. Emmy-nominated game analyst Mike Mayock is joined in the broadcast booth by play-by-play announcer Brad Nessler, while Alex Flanagan provides reports from the sidelines.

Playbook
When: Friday, 8:00 PM ET (NFC), 9:00 PM ET (AFC)
Talent: Donovan McNabb, Brian Baldinger, Sterling Sharpe
What: See the game the way the pros do each week on Playbook, the ultimate X’s and O’s football show on television. Former Pro Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb joins Brian Baldinger and Sterling Sharpe each week on Friday night to breakdown each week’s games and detail how each team will have success in the upcoming week with exclusive access to game film used by players and coaches. Fans can interact with the show through Twitter (@NFLN_Playbook) or email (playbook@nfl.com).

NFL Network Weekly Programming Schedule (all shows in HD; all times ET)

Sunday
7:00 AM – First on the Field
9:00 AM – NFL GameDay Morning
1:00 PM – NFL GameDay GameCenter
4:00 PM – NFL GameDay Scoreboard
7:30 PM – NFL GameDay Highlights
11:30 PM – NFL GameDay Final

Monday
6:00 AM – NFL AM – LIVE
10:00 AM – NFL AM – Re-Air
2:00 PM – NFL Fantasy Live
3:00 PM – Around the League Live
6:00 PM – Up to the Minute
6:30 PM – The Coaches Show
7:00 PM – NFL Total Access
8:30 PM – The Coaches Show – Re-Air
9:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10
10:00 PM – The Coaches Show – Re-Air
10:30 PM – NFL’s Top 10
11:30 PM – NFL Total Access: MNF Presser
12 MIDNIGHT – NFL Total Access: MNF Review 

Tuesday
6:00 AM – NFL AM – LIVE
10:00 AM – NFL AM – Re-Air
2:00 PM – NFL Fantasy Live
3:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10
4:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10
5:00 PM – Around the League Live
7:00 PM – NFL Total Access
8:00 PM – NFL Replay – Game #1 – PREMIERE
9:30 PM – NFL Replay – Game #2 – PREMIERE

Wednesday
6:00 AM – NFL AM – LIVE
10:00 AM – NFL AM – Re-Air
2:00 PM – NFL Fantasy Live
3:00 PM – NFL Replay – Game #1
4:30 PM – Sound FX: Best Of – PREMIERE
5:00 PM – Around the League Live
7:00 PM – NFL Total Access
8:00 PM – A Football Life – PREMIERE
9:00 PM – NFL Replay – Game #3 – PREMIERE
10:30 PM – Sound FX – PREMIERE

Thursday
6:00 AM – NFL AM – LIVE
10:00 AM – NFL AM – Re-Air
2:00 PM – NFL Fantasy Live
3:00 PM – A Football Life (Episode from Previous Night)
4:00 PM – Around the League Live
6:00 PM – Thursday Night Kickoff
8:00 PM – Thursday Night Football
11:30 PM – Postgame Show
12 MIDNIGHT – NFL Total Access

Friday
6:00 AM – NFL AM – LIVE
10:00 AM – NFL AM – Re-Air
2:00 PM – NFL Fantasy Live
3:00 PM – Sound FX: Best Of
3:30 PM – Sound FX: Best Of
4:00 PM – Sound FX
4:30 PM – NFL Films Presents – PREMIERE
5:00 PM – Around the League Live
7:00 PM – NFL Total Access
8:00 PM – Playbook – NFC
9:00 PM – Playbook – AFC
10:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10 – PREMIERE

Saturday
5:00 PM – Playbook – NFC
6:00 PM – Playbook – AFC
7:00 PM – NFL Total Access
8:30 PM – Sound FX
9:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10
10:00 PM – A Football Life

That’s all. Pretty extensive lineup.

Some NFL TV Changes For 2012

This being the last Sunday of 2012 without the NFL, let’s go over a few tweaks to the television experience this season.

SUNDAY LATE AFTERNOON GAMES START AT 4:25 P.M. ET

After numerous complaints about breaking away from NFL cut-ins in between the early and late afternoon games, the league has mandated that the late Sunday afternoon games begin at 4:25 p.m. ET ten minutes later than last year. This only applies to the network carrying the national doubleheader each week. If CBS or Fox is scheduled to show just one game in your region, then the late game will begin at 4:05 p.m. as usual.

Too often, fans would complain about being shown a game heading towards a fantastic finish only to be told as a game winning or tying score was about to happen, that NFL rules would not allow the network to show the finish and they would be taken to the start of the late game. With the 4:25 p.m. starts, the league hopes to show all of the finishes of the early game without having to break away. We’ll see if this eases the complaints.

This will also wreak havoc on CBS’ primetime schedule and possibly to NBC’s Football Night in America show as to when it can begin airing highlights.

NFL NETWORK GETS AN EXPANDED THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Starting in Week 2, NFL Network will air a total of 13 games beginning with the Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers. This means one game a week taken away from the Sunday afternoon TV partners, CBS and Fox. Overall, there will be 14 Thursday Night games this season, NFL Network gets to air all but one of them.

NBC AIRS THE THANKSGIVING NIGHT GAME STARTING THIS SEASON

In Week 12, the Thanksgiving Night Game which began in 2006 on NFL Network, now moves to NBC as part of its Sunday Night Football package. It means that all three Thanksgiving holiday games will be on network television. This year’s Thanksgiving Night game will involve the blood AFC East rivalry between the New England Patriots and the New York Jets at Met Life Stadium.

It was a very good move by NBC to buy into the Thanksgiving Day games. This marks the first time NBC will air an NFL Thanksgiving game since 1997 when Tennessee beat Dallas, 27-14.

Get ready for Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya, Bob Costas, Dan Patrick, Tony Dungy, Rodney Harrison and Hines Ward to be part of your Thanksgiving evening.

CBS SPORTS NETWORK AIRS ITS FIRST-EVER NFL PROGRAMMING

Starting in Week 1, CBS Sports Network will air its first ever NFL-related show, NFL Monday QB featuring NFL on CBS analysts Phil Simms, Rich Gannon and Steve Beuerlein. It will start airing on Monday, September 10 and every Monday throughout the NFL season. Adam Schein will be the moderator.

CHRIS ROSE IS THE NEW HOST OF NFL GAMEDAY HIGHLIGHTS AND NFL GAMEDAY FINAL

Also starting in Week 1, Chris Rose, co-host of the Abortion Known as Intentional Talk on MLB Network, will join NFL Network to host its Sunday highlights shows, NFL GameDay Highlights and NFL GameDay Final. He replaces Fran Charles. Rose will also be the host of the Thursday Night Football postgame edition of NFL Total Access. He becomes the first on-air talent to be employed on two league-owned networks simultaneously.

ESPN’s LAST MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL GAME OF THE 2012 SEASON AIRS ON A SATURDAY … WHAT?

To avoid airing an NFL game on Christmas Night (although this hasn’t stopped the NFL before), ESPN will air its final contest of the 2012 season on Saturday, December 22. That game will be Atlanta at Detroit so for two consecutive weeks, NBC’s Sunday Night Football will be the last game of the weekend.

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL MAKES ANOTHER BOOTH ADJUSTMENT

It seems since ESPN obtained the Monday Night Football package in 2006, it can’t stay consistent for too long. First, there was Mike Tirico, Joe Theismann and Tony Kornheiser. Then in 2007,  it was Tirico, Ron Jaworski and Kornheiser. Two years later, Mr. Tony left and Jon Gruden was hired  to join Tirico and Jaworksi. For 2012, Jaws has been jettisoned out of the booth and it’s Tirico and Gruden.

Oh and let’s not forget after last season’s sideline reporter rotation including the failed John Sutcliffe experiment, ESPN has brought in Lisa Salters to be the permanent sideline reporter. Let’s hope ESPN can keep the talent lineup constant for the next few seasons.

ERIN ANDREWS MAKES HER NFL DEBUT

Erin Andrews will join the NFL this season as part of the Fox NFL Sunday pregame show as she will have features every week. She’ll also be on the sidelines for the Thanksgiving Day game between Washington and Dallas joining Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and the always intimidating Pam Oliver. Erin will also join Joe, Troy and Pam for the NFL Playoffs.

NEW ENGLAND-ST. LOUIS IS YOUR LONDON GAME THIS SEASON

CBS will air this season’s game in the UK in Week 8 (October 28), the last game in which the St. Louis Rams will be the designated “home” team. After 2012, the Jacksonville Jaguars will become London’s “home” team for the next few seasons.

CBS AIRS SUPER BOWL XLVII IN NEW ORLEANS

On Sunday, February 3, CBS will air Super Bowl XLVII live from the Louisiana Superdome. In August, Adweek’s Anthony Crupi reported that the Tiffany Network was already 80% sold for the Big Game. Expect the usual hoopla, hype and hysteria surrounding the game. And expect another ratings record as long as the game remains close.

That’s what you can expect watching the NFL on CBS, ESPN, Fox, NBC and the NFL Network this season.

NFL Online and Tablet Streaming For 2012

As we approach the 2012 NFL regular season, let’s take a look at the online streaming plans for the League’s TV partners. Believe it or not, online real-time streaming of games began back in 2007 when DirecTV released its Supercast app for computers (for Internet Explorer only!) and allowed subscribers to its NFL Sunday Ticket service to watch the Sunday afternoon games online. At that time, streaming to mobiles was just in its infancy and the quality on a 3G network was horrible.

The following year, NBC announced it would stream its entire Sunday Night Football schedule online.

Since then, the NFL has taken baby steps in streaming. DirecTV’s Sunday NFL Ticket has expanded to mobiles and tablets as well as a gaming platforms. ESPN’s Monday Night Football now streams on the WatchESPN service, but only for authenticated subscribers of Bright House, Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Verizon Fios systems. And the NFL has provided mobile streaming rights to Verizon meaning only customers of the cell phone provider can watch Sunday, Monday and Thursday Night Football on their devices.

With the new TV contracts signed at the end of last year, the NFL’s broadcast and cable partners have limited streaming rights. I’ve asked several networks about their streaming plans and I’ll provide answers, where applicable, on how this season shapes up online, on mobiles and on tablets.

• CBS — No streaming plans.
• DirecTV — NFL Sunday Ticket streamed online, mobiles and on tablets. Also on participating gaming consoles.
• ESPN — Monday Night Football streamed online and on tablets at WatchESPN only for authenticated cable customers (Bright House, Comcast, Time Warner, Verizon Fios)
• Fox — No streaming plans.
• NBC — Sunday Night Football streamed online at NBCSports.com also available on tablets through browsers. Not available through the NBC Sports Live Extra app.
• NFL Network — Thursday Night Football streamed on mobiles through NFL Live on Verizon devices only. Awaiting word if there will be streaming on tablets this season.

Sunday and Monday Night Football are streamed on mobiles through NFL Live on Verizon devices only.

While Super Bowl XLVI was streamed through NBCSports.com only on computers, there’s no word yet whether CBS will receive permission to stream Super Bowl XLVII. It had sought to stream Super Bowl XLIV in 2010, but was turned down by the league. We’ll see if the NFL decides to allow CBS to show the Super Bowl online in 2013.

Let’s Do Some Wednesday Links

Lots of stuff to get to. Let’s not waste time.

Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch reports on ESPN’s signing of four of its NFL insiders to long-term contracts.

SI’s Tom Verducci gives us some myths and truths about the MLB All-Star Game.

Tim Kenneally of The Wrap says the All-Star Game won the night for Fox in overall ratings and younger demographics.

At the Biz of Baseball, Maury Brown notes how surprised he is about the MLB All-Star Game’s overnight ratings seeing an increase from last year despite being a blowout.

Michael Hiestand of USA Today writes about the All-Star Game’s increased overnight ratings from last year.

To the Daily Beast where Howard Kurtz says NBC is betting that you’ll watch the Olympics despite not knowing anything about the sports inside the Games.

Andy Fixmer and Alex Sherman at Bloomberg Businessweek note that NBC expects to draw many cable viewers to watch the Olympics online.

Meg Carter at Co-Create notes how BBC is attempting to build the very first social Olympic Games.

Radio World says Fox Sports Radio will have a big presence at the London Olympics.

The Big Lead continues to break sports media stories this year. First, it breaks news that Fox and possibly NBC are interested in hiring ESPN Sunday Night Baseball voice Dan Shulman.

And then Jason McIntyre of TBL reports that CBS is making overtures at ESPN Radio’s Doug Gottlieb to work on its new radio network, become a college basketball analyst and host a show on its cable network.

Brian Clapp at Sports TV Jobs wonders if the competition is out for blood in poaching ESPN’s talent.

Barstool Sports in Boston somehow got its hands on a video featuring New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft making an audition tape with his 30 year old aspiring actress girlfriend, Ricki Noel Linder.

The video has gone viral and Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio says Kraft has issued a statement on that video going public.

Isaac Rauch of Deadspin has an interesting story on how ESPN.com entertainment writer Lynn Hoppes has apparently lifted several passages from Wikipedia either verbatim or with very few changes and inserted them into his features.

Patrick Burns of Deadspin sees what subjects ESPN is devoting its time covering on SportsCenter.

Glenn Davis from SportsGrid has video of Fox & Friends criticizing the U.S. Olympic team’s Opening Ceremony attire as looking too French. Seriously?

Ed Sherman at The Sherman Report is still suffering from Ozzie Guillen Fatigue and isn’t enthused about tonight’s Showtime premiere of “The Franchise: A Season with the Miami Marlins.”

Ken Kerschbaumer of Sports Video Group looks at MLB International delivering the All-Star Game to a worldwide audience.

Brian Stelter of the New York Times reports on the NBC and Facebook partnership for the 2012 Olympics.

Jerry Barmash at Fishbowl NY says WPIX in New York will pick up an NFL Network Thursday Night Football game involving the defending Super Bowl champs, the New York Football Giants, in September.

Bob’s Blitz notes that ESPN Radio NY despite a new powerful FM signal fell further behind WFAN in the June Arbitron ratings period.

Ken Schott at the Schenectady Gazette looks at Fox’s ratings increase for this year’s MLB All-Star Game.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union says a local college will be part of ESPN’s College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon in November.

Keith Groller from the Allentown (PA) Morning Call says a local cable sports channel will be all over a Minor League Baseball All-Star Game this week.

David Barron at the Houston Chronicle says a former Texas native is coming home to work in the local market as a TV sportscaster.

Mel Bracht of The Oklahoman looks at the local weekend ratings.

Mark Alesia and Phil Richards of the Indianapolis Star write that the Colts will adhere to the old NFL TV blackout rules and will not have games air in the local market unless a game is totally sold out. The NFL relaxed the rules to 85% this season.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes that CBS’ Lesley Visser gets her chance to run in the Miller Park Sausage Race on Friday.

Jordan Kobritz of the Prescott (AZ) Daily Courier looks at the MLB TV rights negotiations.

Bruce Dowbiggin from the Toronto Globe and Mail explores a popular English-language sports radio station in Montreal flipping to French leaving many fans in the cold.

Pat Hickey of the Montreal Gazette says English speaking sports fans have lost a voice to vent.

The Canadian Sports Media Blog says the Home Run Derby had a big audience in Canada.

Sports Media Watch notes that the MLB All-Star Game had its second lowest overnight rating ever.

Joe Favorito looks at a very unique way a New York soccer team found a sponsor.

At the Broadcast Booth, Dave Kohl explores the reasons why the NFL slightly relaxed its TV blackout rules.

And that’s going to do it for today.

Bringing Out The Thursday Linkage

Here to provide some links for you today. Looks like I’ll be out on Friday so posting may be scarce, but we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.

In the meantime, I have some links for you now.

This week, CBSSports.com Deputy Managing Editor Craig Stanke passed away at the age of 56. He joined the site as a deputy editor when it was known as SportslineUSA.com. During his time, he helped to attract a number of writers and build CBSSports.com’s stable to a point where it challenges the best sports news websites. Stanke worked at a number of newspapers including the Los Angeles Times, the Palm Beach Post among others.

We have a number of links.

First, CBSSports.com’s Mark Swanson writes Stanke’s obituary.

Scott Miller, CBS Sports’ Senior Baseball Columnist mourns Stanke’s passing.

CBS Sports’ national columnist Gregg Doyel says Stanke continued to teach him even after his death.

Stanke’s good friend, T.J. Simers at the Los Angeles Times, the man who hired Stanke for his first job, says he can’t believe his friend is gone.

To other stories now.

Dennis Dodd of CBSSports.com notes that no matter how much the Big 12 expands, the TV payout money will remain the same. And Dodd tells us that the league’s TV deal with ESPN and Fox will be announced any day now.

Brian Steinberg at Advertising Age reports that CBS is 50% sold for Super Bowl XLVII and could reach 80% soon.

Michael Hiestand of USA Today says despite CBS/Showtime dropping Warren Sapp from Inside the NFL this season, NFL Network has signed the controversial snitch for another year.

Reid Cherner at USA Today writes that many feel last night’s NBA Draft Lottery on ESPN was fixed in New Orleans’ favor.

Patrick Burns of Deadspin notes that almost a quarter of all of SportsCenter’s editions last week was devoted to the Miami Heat.

Richard Deitsch from Sports Illustrated has his monthly Media Power List.

Mike Reynolds at Multichannel News says the 2012 NHL postseason has had the most viewers in ten years.

Steve Lepore of Puck The Media has the viewership of all of the completed 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs to date.

Steve tweets the overnight ratings for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final were down significantly from last year.

And Steve has a story on the overnights at Puck The Media.

Tim Nudd of Adweek reviews the NHL’s newest Stanley Cup spot. It’s a winner, but still doesn’t hold up to last year’s “No Words” promo.

Michael Bradley at the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center writes that newspapers are dropping the printed word for digital content.

Eric Goldschein of SportsGrid has the video of Chicago White Sox announcer Hawk Harrelson going nuts.

In the Sherman Report, Ed Sherman talks about Hawk’s homerism and his love of all things White Sox.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell says talk about concussions may affect youth football participation.

Mike Florio at Pro Football Talk writes that the Miami Dolphins were the first pick of NFL Films for this year’s Hard Knocks and if you believe that, I have a bridge to sell you in Brooklyn.

Pete Dougherty at the Albany Times Union tells us that Sunday’s motorsports races finished in a ratings dead heat.

Ken McMillan of the Middletown (NY) Times Herald-Record writes that the Anaheim Angels Radio Network is now being nationally syndicated.

Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog notes that a colleague, Tarik El-Bashir, is leaving the paper to join Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic.

At the Miami Herald, David J. Neal says NFL Films won’t have a problem finding story lines for Hard Knocks with the Miami Dolphins.

Mel Bracht of The Oklahoman talks with ESPN softball analyst Michele Smith about the Women’s College World Series which starts today.

Daniel Dorfman at Chicago Side Sports talks with unabashed White Sox homer Hawk Harrelson.

Brent Schrotenboer of the San Diego Union-Tribune writes that San Diego State stands to get more TV money when it enters the Big East than from the Mountain West.

The Toronto Star’s Cathal Kelly rips CBC’s online attempt at satire of last night’s Stanley Cup Final Game 1.

To the Canadian Sports Media Blog which notes that Sportsnet has signed a deal to remain the home of the NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football package which even includes NBC’s Thanksgiving Night game.

Sports Media Watch notes that ESPN received a good overnight number for Game 2 of the Celtics-Heat NBA Eastern Conference Finals.

I Am A GM notes that 10 NBA players are crying conspiracy over last night’s Draft Lottery.

At Awful Announcing, the Brothers Yoder list their favorite NBA announcers.

And that’s going to do it.