NFL on American television: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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For ESPN games, owned-and-operated stations of [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] and [[Hearst Television]] (even those Hearst stations not affiliated with ABC, and including their [[WMOR-TV|one independent station]] in the [[Tampa-St. Petersburg]] market) have first right of refusal, due to both ESPN and ABC's common ownership by [[The Walt Disney Company]] (Hearst holds a 20% stake in ESPN). In the past (until 2021), the ABC O&Os have passed on airing the game, opting instead to air the network's Monday night schedule which includes the successful ''[[Dancing with the Stars]]''.<ref name=chidal>[http://chicagoradioandmedia.com/news/2818-wgn-tv-to-carry-monday-nights-bearscowboys-game-plus-local-pre-game-show WGN-TV To Carry Monday Night's Bears/Cowboys Game, Plus Local Pre-Game Show]. ''Chicagoland Radio and Media''. Retrieved October 7, 2012.</ref>

InUnder the agreement for the 2014 season between CBS and the [[NFL Network]] for ''Thursday Night Football'' simulcasts during the first half of the season, CBS affiliates in the primary markets in question have the primary option to [[NFLcarry Network]]-onlylocal games;. if If the localCBS affiliate declinesopts theout optionof (asthe was in Cincinnati)deal, the NFL will implementoffer the samepackage syndicatedby packagesyndication, rule.typically Inwith 2016the andMonday 2017,Night withpackage.<ref thename=cbj-nflncbsgames>{{cite ''TNF'web|title=Panthers' packageblowout splitloss betweensinks CBSTV andinterest, NBCtoo|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/queen_city_agenda/2014/10/panthers-blowout-loss-sinks-tv-interest-too.html|website=Charlotte Business Journal|access-date=October 23, this2014}}</ref> dependedThe onCBS/NFL whichNetwork networkdeal produceswas extended for the game2015 season on January 18, 2015.<ref name=tnfvariety>{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/cbs-nfl-renew-deal-for-thursday-night-football-1201408283/|title=CBS, NFL Network.Renew WithDeal FoxFor taking'Thursday overNight Football'|last=Steinberg|first=Brian|date=January 18, 2015|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=January 18, 2015}}</ref> For the 2016 season, two midseason ''TNF'' packagegames inwere 2018,NFL FoxNetwork-exclusive but produced by NBC; the NBC affiliates willin havethose markets with teams competing had the primary option to carry those games in-market. With the 2018 move of simulcastingthe package to Fox, the two NFL Network-exclusive games produced by Fox actually varied between NBC and CBS affiliates, rather than being exclusive to the Fox stations in each market. Starting in 2022, the [[Amazon Prime Video]] subscription service will hold the rights to broadcast ''TNF'' and because of this, the NFL will continue to require these games to be syndicated to the team's local markets.<ref>{{Cite web|title=NFL completes long-term media distribution agreements through 2033 season|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-completes-long-term-media-distribution-agreements-through-2033-season|access-date=March 22, 2021|website=NFL.com|language=en-US}}</ref>

Under the agreement for the 2014 season between CBS and the NFL Network for ''Thursday Night Football'' simulcasts during the first half of the season, local rights to such games that are not carried by CBS are awarded to the markets' CBS affiliates, rather than syndicated. If the CBS affiliate opts out of the deal, the NFL will offer the package by syndication, typically with the Monday Night package.<ref name=cbj-nflncbsgames>{{cite web|title=Panthers' blowout loss sinks TV interest, too|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/queen_city_agenda/2014/10/panthers-blowout-loss-sinks-tv-interest-too.html|website=Charlotte Business Journal|access-date=October 23, 2014}}</ref> The CBS/NFL Network deal was extended for the 2015 season on January 18, 2015.<ref name=tnfvariety>{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/cbs-nfl-renew-deal-for-thursday-night-football-1201408283/|title=CBS, NFL Renew Deal For 'Thursday Night Football'|last=Steinberg|first=Brian|date=January 18, 2015|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=January 18, 2015}}</ref> For the 2016 season, two midseason ''TNF'' games were NFL Network-exclusive but produced by NBC; the NBC affiliates in those markets with teams competing carried those games in-market. With the 2018 move of the package to Fox, the two NFL Network-exclusive games produced by Fox actually varied between NBC and CBS affiliates rather than being exclusive to the Fox stations in each market.

In other markets, stations who are the affiliates of [[MyNetworkTV]] or [[The CW]] (and, in at least one case, an independent station<ref name=bn613>Kwiatkowski, Jane (June 13, 2012). [http://www.buffalonews.com/entertainment/gusto/television/article899632.ece Murphy leaving channel 4 for Bills]. ''The Buffalo News''. Retrieved June 13, 2012.</ref>) have out bid more established local broadcasters in some markets. However, the home team's market must be completely served by the station (as opposed to a [[low-power broadcasting|low-power station]]). With [[Media cross-ownership in the United States|increasing consolidation of local broadcasters in the United States]], larger station ownership groups (particularly [[Nexstar Media Group]]) have increasingly cornered the market for these simulcasts.