Start times of AFC/NFC Conf games (1 Viewer)

[Nemesis]

Was looking at this Sunday's lineup

SD @ NE - 3:00pm EST on CBS

NYG @ GB - 6:30pm EST on FOX

...and was wonderin:

1-Why the crazy start times?.......3pm?

(ok, I admit, I know the answer to this one....."For the West Coast fans" )

2-Only 3.5 hours between the 2 games?

Does this seem like enough time to give to pre-game, play the game, all the commercials, AND post-game on field interviews as well as in-studio analysis by the talking heads?

BTW: I was curious to see what occurred last yr in the conf championships (played 1/21/07) and found:

N.O. @ CHI......official start time: 3:06pm EST

NE @ INDY.......official start time: 6:44pm EST

(I'm guessing that the schedule also had 3pm and 6:30pm TV start times, but that the NE/INDY game was delayed a bit)

Doesn't make much sense to me.

 

[Anarchy99]

I believe that they alternate each year. AFC would get the early game one year and late game the next.

 

[Ack88]

Easy Answer: Late Sunday afternoon and early Sunday evening=largest potential audience.

It's about maximizing revenue and generating the greatest possible exposure.

 

[Bri]

Easy Answer: Late Sunday afternoon and early Sunday evening=largest potential audience.It's about maximizing revenue and generating the greatest possible exposure.

And they put it on at just the right time so if the last game's a blow out, we can still watch The Wire and not feel like we're missing good football

 

[Mik789fl]

Easy Answer: Late Sunday afternoon and early Sunday evening=largest potential audience.It's about maximizing revenue and generating the greatest possible exposure.

Exactly. And the larger market will always play the late or prime time game regardless of conference,hence any game involving a NY team gets top billing.(see Dallas/Giants last week)

 

[BelichicksRevenge]

Was looking at this Sunday's lineup

SD @ NE - 3:00pm EST on CBS

NYG @ GB - 6:30pm EST on FOX

...and was wonderin:

1-Why the crazy start times?.......3pm?

(ok, I admit, I know the answer to this one....."For the West Coast fans" )

2-Only 3.5 hours between the 2 games?

Does this seem like enough time to give to pre-game, play the game, all the commercials, AND post-game on field interviews as well as in-studio analysis by the talking heads?

BTW: I was curious to see what occurred last yr in the conf championships (played 1/21/07) and found:

N.O. @ CHI......official start time: 3:06pm EST

NE @ INDY.......official start time: 6:44pm EST

(I'm guessing that the schedule also had 3pm and 6:30pm TV start times, but that the NE/INDY game was delayed a bit)

Doesn't make much sense to me.

Do you really miss the pre game and post game stuff? I'd love it if they just kicked off the second game the instant the first one got over. You can catch enough pre and post game stuff on espn and Nfl network.

 

[Nemesis]

Was looking at this Sunday's lineup

SD @ NE - 3:00pm EST on CBS

NYG @ GB - 6:30pm EST on FOX

...and was wonderin:

1-Why the crazy start times?.......3pm?

(ok, I admit, I know the answer to this one....."For the West Coast fans" )

2-Only 3.5 hours between the 2 games?

Does this seem like enough time to give to pre-game, play the game, all the commercials, AND post-game on field interviews as well as in-studio analysis by the talking heads?

BTW: I was curious to see what occurred last yr in the conf championships (played 1/21/07) and found:

N.O. @ CHI......official start time: 3:06pm EST

NE @ INDY.......official start time: 6:44pm EST

(I'm guessing that the schedule also had 3pm and 6:30pm TV start times, but that the NE/INDY game was delayed a bit)

Doesn't make much sense to me.

Do you really miss the pre game and post game stuff? I'd love it if they just kicked off the second game the instant the first one got over. You can catch enough pre and post game stuff on espn and Nfl network.

I don't really pay much attention to the pre-game, etc....but everyone's missing my point/question.I guess I'm just a little surprised that the NFL doesn't schedule the games a little > 3.5 hrs apart.......knowing that they drag it out for the Superbowl and can increase exposure and TV revenue.

(not saying that I WANT them to....just saying that I'm surprised they don't already)

 

[pats3in4]

I believe that they alternate each year. AFC would get the early game one year and late game the next.

This is why. Since they alternate each year, the AFC had the early game this year. When the time was set months ago, they had to account for the possibility of a team like San Diego hosting the early game.For whatever reason, likely ratings, the playoff game times are set long before the matchups are known.