Why can't ESPN get better Monday games ? (1 Viewer)

[The Moz]

Look I know ESPN doesn't have a " flex " option but come on many of the games that are on MOnday night this season everyone knew would likely suck last year ! Literally it is no different than the games ESPN got when they had Sunday night games.

Damn may as well just give NBC the Monday night game and Flex option and give ESPN the Sunday game - whats the difference anyway. The ESPN switch has totally greatly diminished MNF. Went from MNF trying to get the best game every week to just getting any ole game at random.

 

[hauser42]

For the last couple of years the Monday night games have been poor. Sunday is the main day for football so I could care less about Monday nighte unless I have fantasy players going or the Pack is in the game.

 

[bcr8f]

Miami wasn't seen as terrible in august.

 

[gump]

NBC certainly got the better deal...especially considering ESPN paid over $1B for MNF. I believe SNF cost NBC around $600M.

 

[Phlash]

I agree, none of these games have been much to look forward to. I don't see why they can't institute a flex game for the Monday night game the same way they have the Sunday night flex game.

 

[JPeso]

Miami wasn't seen as terrible in august.

They weren't?

 

[grabnmcbutt]

Sunday Night Football is the new Monday Night Football.

Besides it doesn't matter who is playing - Monday Night Football on ESPN will such tennis ball fuzz for as long as Tony Cornholer and Company are in the booth

 

[jurrassic]

Sunday Night Football is the new Monday Night Football.Besides it doesn't matter who is playing - Monday Night Football on ESPN will such tennis ball fuzz for as long as Tony Cornholer and Company are in the booth

Agree on the Monday night games this year, the quality has been limited. Even before the season began, I don't understand how anyone could think having Miami on in week 12 would be a good move. I don't mind the broadcast booth , but I feel for Steve Young in the halftime and postgame crew. Stuart Scott and Emmitt Smith are brutal. I would like to see Conheiser replaced with Young. ESPN is wasting this guy. He is one of the few football analysts they have who is actually good.

 

[Phurfur]

I think ESPN's production of the game and the competition are equal. I would hate to watch a great game on MNF.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Miami wasn't seen as terrible in august.

I think they were. Whole new coaching staff, no QB, Ted Ginn in round 1, completely rebuilt offensive line. I don't think any Dolphins fans went into this season with high expectations. They weren't expected to be the worst team in the league, but probably in the bottom 5 by most observers.

 

[BusterTBronco]

It's all about the Benjamins. ESPN isn't forking over the same kind of dough that CBS, Fox, and NBC are.

 

[G-Money]

ESPN is just trying to keep the level of the games on par with their announcing crew.

 

[gump]

It's all about the Benjamins. ESPN isn't forking over the same kind of dough that CBS, Fox, and NBC are.

They forked over more.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

It's all about the Benjamins. ESPN isn't forking over the same kind of dough that CBS, Fox, and NBC are.

ESPN pays $1.1 billion/year for MNF.NBC pays $600 million/year for Sunday Night Football.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?...MNGO4CB6UN1.DTL

ESPN pays almost twice as much and gets worse games with no flex options.

 

[gump]

It's all about the Benjamins. ESPN isn't forking over the same kind of dough that CBS, Fox, and NBC are.

They forked over more.

Disney paid $1.1B for an 8-year MNF deal = $137.5M / year.NBC paid about $600M for a 6-year SNF deal = $100M / year.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

It's all about the Benjamins. ESPN isn't forking over the same kind of dough that CBS, Fox, and NBC are.

They forked over more.

Disney paid $1.1B for an 8-year MNF deal = $137.5M / year.NBC paid about $600M for a 6-year SNF deal = $100M / year.

I think this is incorrect.the $1.1B and $600M are per year figures.NBC also gets the Thursday night opener each year. They are getting a great deal compared to what ESPN is getting.

 

[gump]

It's all about the Benjamins. ESPN isn't forking over the same kind of dough that CBS, Fox, and NBC are.

They forked over more.

Disney paid $1.1B for an 8-year MNF deal = $137.5M / year.NBC paid about $600M for a 6-year SNF deal = $100M / year.

I think this is incorrect.the $1.1B and $600M are per year figures.NBC also gets the Thursday night opener each year. They are getting a great deal compared to what ESPN is getting.

You're right...and I knew that. It's amazing what perspective this puts on other things...for instance, NFL apparel sales are roughly $500 M a year...not even half of 1 TV deal!!

 

[TheLimeChicken]

Am I wrong in remembering a "rule" requiring each NFL team to have at least one prime-time game each season? Not that it would explain an entire seasons worth of carp games, but I seem to remember that being a key reason as to why there were so many wonderful Cardinals-Browns matchups and such in the days of ESPN Sunday Night Football.

Like I said, if there are two primetime games a week and one is devoted to the "Game of the Week" and the other is keyed towards making sure every team gets to play at night then obviously the OTA network is going to get the better games as they're more visible (believe it or not, there are still people out there without cable and ESPN).

 

[Drunken Cowboy]

Miami wasn't seen as terrible in august.

They should have been.I suspect ESPN thought Porter vs his old team would be a good story.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Am I wrong in remembering a "rule" requiring each NFL team to have at least one prime-time game each season?

I don't believe there is such a rule. The Bills did not play a single prime time game last season.

 

[TheLimeChicken]

You seem to be correct, disregard my previous post. I can't be sure why I was so certain such an arrangement existed, but I guess I was wrong.

 

[teamroc]

It's all about the Benjamins. ESPN isn't forking over the same kind of dough that CBS, Fox, and NBC are.

They forked over more.

Disney paid $1.1B for an 8-year MNF deal = $137.5M / year.NBC paid about $600M for a 6-year SNF deal = $100M / year.

I think this is incorrect.the $1.1B and $600M are per year figures.NBC also gets the Thursday night opener each year. They are getting a great deal compared to what ESPN is getting.

NBC is also an over the air network channel. ESPN is cable. From what I remember, the difference is 15% ish, but that's 20 million homes. Which is why ESPN is paying more, with less perks. NBAs move to cable has been more or less a disaster. You can blame the quality of the NBA, but the major sports want to be on the big 4 networks, and cable is less attractive.

 

[videoguy505]

"Flex" only works for Sundays. You cannot have "flex" for MNF. The hotels, planes, crews, and the venues are booked too far in advance. Let alone 50,000 people who had tickets for a weekend game finding out they now have a Monday night game to attend instead on short notice.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

"Flex" only works for Sundays. You cannot have "flex" for MNF. The hotels, planes, crews, and the venues are booked too far in advance. Let alone 50,000 people who had tickets for a weekend game finding out they now have a Monday night game to attend instead on short notice.

I think most, if not all, people realize this.they could still schedule better games than this dog. although NBC requested the Pats/Bills game last week so maybe the networks don't care much about having close competitive games that will draw viewers in.

 

[videoguy505]

NBC also gets the Thursday night opener each year. They are getting a great deal compared to what ESPN is getting.

NBC is getting a fantastic deal. Unparalleled in all of sports and broadcasting. They got flex scheduling and marquee games, with national coverage without competing games on at the same time, for free. The money they shelled out for the rights is a wash, because the parent company (General Electric) got the same amount back from the NFL in an exclusivity arrangement--GE Financial took over the NFL pension and salary plans and GE is the exclusive vendor for every product in the stadium that they make, lightbulbs, electronics, anything.

 

[videoguy505]

"Flex" only works for Sundays. You cannot have "flex" for MNF. The hotels, planes, crews, and the venues are booked too far in advance. Let alone 50,000 people who had tickets for a weekend game finding out they now have a Monday night game to attend instead on short notice.

I think most, if not all, people realize this.they could still schedule better games than this dog. although NBC requested the Pats/Bills game last week so maybe the networks don't care much about having close competitive games that will draw viewers in.

Just responding to the OP's suggestion that Flex be given to MNF.

 

[BigTuna]

in a word parody.

Seriously though, if they let me choose they'd be much better.

Week 1 Seattle @ Arizona

Week 2 Seattle VS SF

Week 3 Seattle @ Denver

etc,

etc,

They could let fantasy football champions donate their winnings to the nfl. In return they get to participate in a mail in vote to schelude the monday night games.

Or maybe they can have the BCS committe take care of it!!!

 

[coolnerd]

Am I wrong in remembering a "rule" requiring each NFL team to have at least one prime-time game each season?

I don't believe there is such a rule. The Bills did not play a single prime time game last season.

I think it was a rule in the early years of ESPN Sunday night, but went away after a few years. Honestly, I think a rule with every team getting a national game would be a benefit not a hinderance. There are always this year's versions of the Browns, and sometime multiple. Good match-ups are somewhat a guessing game. And seriously even thought they are both great teams, do we really have to see the Cowboys and Patriots with national coverage every week? Also, there are some weeks where there is not a great schedule. Going into the weekend, not a bunch of great match-ups (based on how the season played out), even though we ended up with great Philly/NE game and a couple of overtimers.PackersLions Jets CowboysColts FalconsTitansBengalsTexansBrownsBillsJaguarsRaidersChiefsVikingsGiantsRedskinsBuccaneersSaintsPanthers Seahawks Rams 49ers CardinalsRavensChargersBroncosBearsEagles PatriotsDolphins Steelers

 

[J R]

Miami wasn't seen as terrible in august.

They should have been.I suspect ESPN thought Porter vs his old team would be a good story.

agreed. on espn, the game itself is secondary.

 

[Chickenskin]

The games have blown on Monday night.

I must say the NBC pregame show is quite possibly the worst NFL show ever. It is 100% unwatchable.

Remember the good old days of NFL Primetime on ESPN? That was almost better than watching the games.

 

[BLOX]

Every NFL team has to have one primetime game. This is why there will always be some poor games on Monday nights, or on Sunday nights before the flex begins.

I do believe that an approach will be made towards getting flex Monday night games in a couple of years though. No way the network pays even more money without having an option of getting huge ratings at the end of the year. I could also see flex scheduling happening for Thursday night football on NFLN.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Every NFL team has to have one primetime game.

this is incorrect. see: Bills 06 season.

 

[BLOX]

Interesting. Maybe they were switched out due to flex scheduling.

The Eagles-Pats game wasn't moved because it was the original scheduled game for Sunday night last week, maybe Buffalo got moved out by a better matchup.

Or, it could be possible that a late game on Sunday afternoon during the bye weeks could have been alone on the schedule for that afternoon or just shown to a majority of the markets.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Interesting. Maybe they were switched out due to flex scheduling.The Eagles-Pats game wasn't moved because it was the original scheduled game for Sunday night last week, maybe Buffalo got moved out by a better matchup.Or, it could be possible that a late game on Sunday afternoon during the bye weeks could have been alone on the schedule for that afternoon or just shown to a majority of the markets.

you're reaching here. the simple fact is that there is no rule requiring all teams to play a game in primetime hours.the Bills played every single game of the 2006 season on Sunday afternoons.in 2006, I believe there were 4 teams that did not play a single game in primetime: Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, and Tennessee Titans.

 

[02025]

Some facts:

ESPN is paying a billion dollars - but that includes a hell of alot more than rights fees. It includes use of NFL highlights in it's shows across all platforms - something other networks generally don't have a need for.

NBC is over the air network which you judge not only in terms of being more widely distributed, but more people tune in because of where it is located on the dial. Casual tv watchers come across a game and tune it. With ESPN you have to want to go looking for sports.

FOX and CBS has typically out drawn NBC this season during their 4 oclock window. Less competition(ie. no desperate housewives) and better games - indy-pats, pats-cowboys etc.

NFL wants to have it's best games on Sunday night they consider it the old MNF package. All networks get whatever the NFL gives them. FOX is pissed that the Cowboys are on the NFLN twice and NBC, ESPN the other 4 times(teams can only appear 6 times in primtetime and standalone).

 

[Illegal Pants Downfield]

Miami wasn't seen as terrible in august.

If you're talking about the 2006 season, then I agree with you.