How did NBC end up with Patriots-Colts tonight?

[Reload]

I would think CBS would have clearly protected this game at the start of the season when the schedule was made.

[ZBOIZ]

NBC gets to choose before the season starts what games they want to do on primetime. Now in the 2nd half of the season they get to choose off of team records. So now in the 2nd half of the season you will start to see pivitol games on NBC

[ZBOIZ]

The only way you wont see the best pivotal game, is if ESPN scheduled the game for Monday night or if the NFL Network scheduled it for Thursday night

[yisman]

NBC gets to choose before the season starts what games they want to do on primetime. Now in the 2nd half of the season they get to choose off of team records. So now in the 2nd half of the season you will start to see pivitol games on NBC

That's not how it works. CBS and FOX get to protect games before NBC or ESPN choose which game they want.

NBC has the ability to flex out of bad games up to ten days in advance or whatever, but this does not explain why CBS did not protect the epic Patriots-Colts battle. That's the top AFC game whenever they play.

[daggerkobe]

Flexible Scheduling

Allows teams to play their way onto the Sunday night schedule
Last season, the NFL implemented for the first time in its history a primetime "flexible scheduling" element on Sundays in Weeks 10-15 and in Week 17.
Flexible scheduling ensured quality matchups on Sunday night in those weeks and gave surprise teams a chance to play their way onto primetime.
The 2007 NFL schedule will again utilize flexible scheduling in Weeks 11-17. The NBC Sunday night time slot for "flex" weeks will list the game tentatively scheduled for Sunday night.
Only Sunday afternoon games are eligible to be moved to Sunday night, in which case the tentatively scheduled Sunday night game will be moved to an afternoon start time. Flexible scheduling will not be applied to games airing on Thursday, Saturday or Monday nights.
Just as the six major college football conferences have done for many years, the NFL will have the flexibility to move the start times of games on Sundays, using a 12-day notice format.
For example, a game scheduled for a Sunday could move from a 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff to an 8:15 p.m. start, but the change would be made and announced no later than the prior Tuesday, 12 days prior.
The NFL has commonly moved games between 1:00 p.m. ET and 4:15 p.m. ET on Sunday afternoons, and the NFL now employs flexible scheduling to include one of its primetime packages of games - on Sunday evenings.
Sunday afternoon games, as in the past, can still be moved between 1:00 and 4:05 or 4:15 p.m. ET.
In Week 17, in order to ensure a Sunday night game with playoff implications, the decision to move the start time may be made on six days notice.

NFL Flexible Scheduling 101

• Begins Sunday of Week 11
• In effect during Weeks 11-17
• Only Sunday afternoon games are subject to being moved into the Sunday night window.
• The game that has been tentatively scheduled for Sunday night during flex weeks will be listed at 8:15 p.m. ET.
• The majority of games on Sundays will be listed at 1:00 p.m. ET during flex weeks except for games played in Pacific or Mountain Time zones which will be listed at 4:05 or 4:15 p.m. ET.
• No impact on Thursday, Saturday or Monday night games.
• The NFL will decide (after consultation with CBS, FOX, NBC) and announce as early as possible the game being played at 8:15 p.m. ET. The announcement will come no later than 12 days prior to the game. The NFL may also announce games moving to 4:05 p.m. ET and 4:15 p.m. ET.
• Week 17 start time changes could be decided on 6 days notice to ensure a game with playoff implications.
• The NBC Sunday night time slot in "flex" weeks will list the game that has been tentatively scheduled for Sunday night.
• Fans and ticket holders must be aware that NFL games in flex weeks are subject to change 12 days in advance (6 days in Week 17) and should plan accordingly.
• NFL schedules all games.
• Teams will be informed as soon as they are no longer under consideration or eligible for a move to Sunday night.

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

[yisman]

Can NBC Take Any Game They Want From FOX and CBS?
NO. FOX and CBS have the right to protect five games over the seven weeks of Primetime flexibility. This is a key point that is widely misunderstood. FOX and CBS will be able to protect attractive late-season games. It’s still unknown when exactly FOX and CBS will have to choose which games are protected, but the choices will be made during the season at a time when FOX and CBS can make informed choices about what games to protect.

http://www.fox23news.com/content/nflonfox/default.aspx

[JoshW]

Agree, it doesn't make sense that CBS wouldn't want it.

[DrStale]

That's not how it works. CBS and FOX get to protect games before NBC or ESPN choose which game they want. NBC has the ability to flex out of bad games up to ten days in advance or whatever, but this does not explain why CBS did not protect the epic Patriots-Colts battle. That's the top AFC game whenever they play.

Isn't it cute when Z tries to come off as an authority on a matter though? It's like watching kids play "teacher" by writing on their little chalkboard.

[tullamore]

I dont know anything about how games are protected. But if you are the NFL game you want this in primetime. This Colt, Pats game has in primetime the past two years.

[yisman]

Isn't it cute when Z tries to come off as an authority on a matter though? It's like watching kids play "teacher" by writing on their little chalkboard.