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NFL 2012
Preseason:
Week 1 |
Week 2 |
Week 3 |
Week 4
WEEK |
|
DH |
CBS
Early |
FOX Early |
Late |
SNF
(NBC) |
MNF
(ESPN) |
Wed/Thurs
(all Thurs on NFLN
unless indicated) |
Byes |
1
(Sept 9) |
Map Link |
FOX |
NE @ TN
IND @ CHI
BUF @ NYJ
MIA @ HOU
JAX @ MIN |
PHI @ CLE
WSH @ NO
ATL @ KC
STL @ DET |
SF @ GB
SEA @ AZ
CAR @ TB |
PIT @ DEN |
CIN @ BAL
SD @ OAK |
DAL
@ NYG
(Wed, NBC) |
|
2
(Sept 16) |
Map Link |
CBS |
BAL @ PHI
KC @ BUF
CLE @ CIN
HOU @ JAX
OAK @ MIA |
TB @ NYG
AZ @ NE
NO @ CAR
MIN @ IND |
NYJ @ PIT
TN @ SD
DAL @ SEA
WSH @ STL |
DET @ SF |
DEN @ ATL |
CHI @ GB |
|
3
(Sept 23) |
Map Link |
CBS |
NYJ @ MIA
CIN @ WSH
KC @ NO
JAX @ IND
BUF @ CLE |
TB @ DAL
SF @ MIN
STL @ CHI
DET @ TN |
HOU @ DEN
PIT @ OAK
ATL @ SD
PHI @ AZ |
NE
@ BAL |
GB
@ SEA |
NYG @ CAR |
|
4
(Sept 30) |
Map Link |
FOX |
NE @ BUF
TN @ HOU
SD @ KC |
SF @ NYJ
MIN @ DET
CAR @ ATL
SEA @ STL |
NO @ GB
WSH @ TB
OAK @ DEN
CIN @ JAX
MIA @ AZ |
NYG @ PHI |
CHI @ DAL |
CLE @ BAL |
IND, PIT |
5
(Oct 7) |
Map Link |
CBS |
CLE @ NYG
BAL @ KC
MIA @ CIN |
PHI @ PIT
ATL @ WSH
GB @ IND |
DEN @ NE
BUF @ SF
TN @ MIN
CHI @ JAX
SEA @ CAR |
SD
@ NO |
HOU @ NYJ |
AZ
@ STL |
DAL, DET, OAK, TB |
6
(Oct 14) |
Map Link |
FOX |
OAK @ ATL
IND @ NYJ
CIN @ CLE
KC @ TB |
DAL @ BAL
DET @ PHI
STL @ MIA |
NYG
@ SF
MIN @ WSH
NE @ SEA
BUF @ AZ |
GB
@ HOU |
DEN @ SD |
PIT @ TN |
CAR, CHI, JAX, NO |
7
(Oct 21) |
Map Link |
CBS |
BAL @ HOU
TN @ BUF
CLE @ IND |
WSH @ NYG
DAL @ CAR
NO @ TB
GB @ STL
AZ @ MIN |
NYJ
@ NE
JAX @ OAK |
PIT @ CIN |
DET @ CHI |
SEA @ SF |
ATL, DEN, KC,
MIA, PHI, SD |
8
(Oct 28) |
Map Link |
FOX |
NE vs STL (Ldn)
MIA @ NYJ
JAX @ GB
SD @ CLE
IND @ TN |
ATL @ PHI
WSH @ PIT
CAR @ CHI
SEA @ DET |
NYG @ DAL
OAK @ KC |
NO
@ DEN |
SF
@ AZ |
TB
@ MIN |
BAL, BUF, CIN, HOU |
9
(Nov 4) |
Map Link |
CBS |
DEN @ CIN
BAL @ CLE
BUF @ HOU
MIA @ IND |
AZ @ GB
CAR @ WSH
CHI @ TN
DET @ JAX |
PIT @ NYG
TB @ OAK
MIN @ SEA |
DAL @ ATL |
PHI @ NO |
KC
@ SD |
NE, NYJ, SF, STL |
10
(Nov 11) |
Map Link |
FOX |
BUF @ NE
OAK @ BAL
DEN @ CAR
TN @ MIA
SD @ TB |
NYG @ CIN
ATL @ NO
DET @ MIN |
DAL @ PHI
STL @ SF
NYJ @ SEA |
HOU @ CHI |
KC
@ PIT |
IND @ JAX |
AZ, CLE, GB, WSH |
11
(Nov 18) |
Map Link |
CBS |
CLE @ DAL
NYJ @ STL
JAX @ HOU
CIN @ KC |
PHI @ WSH
GB @ DET
AZ @ ATL
TB @ CAR |
IND @ NE
SD @ DEN
NO @ OAK |
BAL @ PIT |
CHI @ SF |
MIA @ BUF |
MIN, NYG, SEA, TN |
12
(Nov 25) |
Map Link |
FOX |
PIT @ CLE
DEN @ KC
OAK @ CIN
BUF @ IND
TN @ JAX |
MIN @ CHI
ATL @ TB
SEA @ MIA |
SF @ NO
STL @ AZ
BAL @ SD |
GB
@ NYG |
CAR @ PHI |
HOU @ DET (CBS)
WSH @ DAL (FOX)
NE @ NYJ (NBC) |
|
13
(Dec 2) |
Map Link |
CBS |
NE @ MIA
IND @ DET
HOU @ TN
JAX @ BUF |
MIN @ GB
SEA @ CHI
AZ @ NYJ
SF @ STL
CAR @ KC |
PIT @ BAL
CIN @ SD
CLE @ OAK
TB @ DEN |
PHI @ DAL |
NYG @ WSH |
NO
@ ATL |
|
14
(Dec 9) |
Map Link |
FOX |
BAL @ WSH
SD @ PIT
NYJ @ JAX
TN @ IND
KC @ CLE |
DAL @ CIN
CHI @ MIN
PHI @ TB
ATL @ CAR
STL @ BUF |
NO @ NYG
AZ @ SEA
MIA @ SF |
DET @ GB |
HOU @ NE |
DEN @ OAK |
|
15
(Dec 16) |
Map Link |
CBS |
DEN @ BAL
IND @ HOU
JAX @ MIA |
GB @ CHI
NYG @ ATL
WSH @ CLE
TB @ NO
MIN @ STL |
PIT @ DAL
KC @ OAK
CAR @ SD
DET @ AZ
SEA @ BUF (Tor) |
SF
@ NE |
NYJ @ TN |
CIN @ PHI |
|
16
(Dec 23) |
Map Link |
FOX |
CIN @ PIT
TN @ GB
NE @ JAX
SD @ NYJ
IND @ KC
BUF @ MIA
OAK @ CAR |
NO @ DAL
WSH @ PHI
MIN @ HOU
STL @ TB |
NYG @ BAL
CHI @ AZ
CLE @ DEN |
SF
@ SEA |
ATL @ DET
(Saturday) |
|
|
17
(Dec 30) |
Map Link |
(both) |
BAL @ CIN
HOU @ IND
NYJ @ BUF
CLE @ PIT
JAX @ TN |
PHI @ NYG
CHI @ DET
TB @ ATL
CAR @ NO |
MIA @ NE
KC @ DEN
OAK @ SD
GB @ MIN
AZ @ SF
STL @ SEA |
DAL @ WSH |
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*subject to change due to flex scheduling
Games in red to air on CBS; games in
blue to air on FOX; projected main late games in bold
Archives:
2011 |
2010 | 2009 |
2008 |
2007 |
2006 |
2005
All maps and information are unofficial and subject to
change. I am not affiliated with any network or the NFL.
NFL TV Rules at a Glance
The basics
Who airs what:
- CBS: Sunday afternoon games in
which the visiting team is in the AFC*
- FOX: Sunday afternoon games in
which the visiting team is in the NFC*
- NBC: Sunday night games, the
opening week 1 game, and a game on Thanksgiving night
- ESPN: Monday night games
- NFL Network: Thursday
night games except for week 1 and Thanksgiving
*This is no longer an iron-clad rule. A
Broncos @ Vikings game in 2011 was moved from CBS to FOX to assure a more
equitable distribution of that game. A clause allowing the NFL to move games
between networks has been written into the new TV contracts, which will take
effect in 2014.
Doubleheaders:
With the exception of week 17, only one of
CBS or FOX gets to air a doubleheader on Sunday. In most areas (see below),
one network airs 2 games on Sunday while the other only airs one.
Primary and Secondary Markets
-
A television market, in
layman's terms, is the general viewing area of a set of local
stations....i.e. the Cincinnati TV market is the area served by that
city's stations.
-
A primary market is the one in which the team is
physically located....for instance, the Bengals' only primary market is
Cincinnati.
-
Most teams also designate secondary markets. In order to
be designated as a secondary market, a portion of it must be located
within 75 miles of the stadium. Not all teams designate all markets
within 75 miles as secondary markets. For instance, the Bengals
designate Dayton, Ohio and Lexington, Kentucky as their secondary
markets, although not Louisville even though Louisville stations reach
within 75 miles of Cincinnati.
-
Primary and secondary markets are required to air all
road games of the team in question, and are not allowed to air blacked
out home games (see below).
-
Just because all (or most) games of a given team air in a
given market
does not
necessarily mean it is a designated secondary market. Again, the ONLY
markets that can be designated secondary are those whose stations reach
within 75 miles of the stadium. For instance, all stations in Texas air
Cowboys games whenever possible, but only those whose signals reach
within 75 miles of Cowboys Stadium are officially secondary markets.
-
If the local team is playing at home and the game is sold out,
it is the only game allowed to be televised in that primary market at
that time,
even if the opposite network has a doubleheader. That means if the
Cardinals are playing at home on FOX while Patriots-Colts is on CBS at
the same time, Patriots-Colts does not air in Phoenix. There are
occasional exceptions, such as in selected markets during week 17, or in
Washington DC, which is also a Ravens secondary market and airs their
road games whenever possible.
-
Milwaukee is also designated a "primary market" for the Green Bay
Packers, but only in the sense that ESPN and NFL Network games are
broadcast on an over-the-air station in that city.
-
There are occasions, such as in Orlando with the Jaguars or in
Harrisburg PA with the Ravens, where the team that claims secondary
market status is not the most popular in the area, leading to viewer
frustration when their road games air over those of the more popular
team. The NFL does not take fan support into account when enforcing
secondary market rules, only geography.
Blackouts
-
If a game is not declared a sellout within 72 hours of
kickoff, it is declared "blacked out" and cannot be shown in the home
team's primary or secondary markets.
-
In addition, the affiliate of the doubleheader in the
primary market is only allowed to air one game. The doubleheader network
first determines which game of theirs will air in the market, forcing
the singleheader network to air a game in the opposite timeslot. In
effect, this means there are two games aired in a market of a
blacked-out game -
one
early game on one network and
one
late game on the other, regardless of which one has the doubleheader.
-
In secondary markets, stations simply air another game in
place of the blacked out game, and both games of the doubleheader are
still shown.
To make sense of all these rules above, here's an example:
Detroit:
primary market for the Lions
Lansing:
secondary market for the Lions as Lansing stations can be
seen within 75 miles of Ford Field
Grand Rapids:
not a primary or a secondary market, but one with a strong
Lions following.
Imagine this is a partial game schedule on a
hypothetical Sunday in which FOX has the doubleheader:
EARLY GAMES
Arizona @ Detroit (FOX)
Seattle @ Green Bay (FOX)
NY Jets @ New England (CBS)
LATE GAMES
Dallas @ NY Giants (FOX)
Denver @ Oakland (CBS)
If the Lions game is blacked out:
|
FOX early |
FOX late |
CBS |
Detroit |
NO GAME |
Dal @ NYG |
NYJ @ NE |
Lansing |
Sea @ GB |
Dal @ NYG |
NYJ @ NE |
Grand Rapids |
Az @ Det |
Dal @ NYG |
NYJ @ NE |
Since the Lions were blacked out, FOX could
only air one game in Detroit. Since they feel Giants-Cowboys is a major
matchup that would garner large ratings, they decided that would be the one
game that would air in Detroit. CBS is then forced to air an early game.
Lansing is still allowed to air two games on FOX, the only caveat is that
one of them cannot be the Lions game. Grand Rapids has no restrictions and
thus can air the Lions game.
If the Lions game sells out:
|
FOX early |
FOX late |
CBS |
Detroit |
Az @ Det |
Dal @ NYG |
Den @ Oak |
Lansing |
Az @ Det |
Dal @ NYG |
either game |
Grand Rapids |
Az @ Det |
Dal @ NYG |
either game |
CBS is not allowed to compete with a sold-out
Lions home game in Detroit, meaning they have to air the Denver-Oakland
game. CBS is not bound by that restriction in Lansing (let alone Grand
Rapids), meaning they pick whichever game they feel will get the best
ratings.
Now, if CBS had the doubleheader:
EARLY GAMES
Arizona @ Detroit (FOX)
Seattle @ Green Bay (FOX)
NY Jets @ New England (CBS)
LATE GAMES
St. Louis @ San Francisco (FOX)
Denver @ San Diego (CBS)
If the Lions game is blacked out:
|
FOX |
CBS early |
CBS late |
Detroit |
StL @ SF |
NYJ @ NE |
NO GAME |
Lansing |
Sea @ GB |
NYJ @ NE |
Den @ SD |
Grand Rapids |
Az @ Det |
NYJ @ NE |
Den @ SD |
CBS, with the doubleheader and the first
pick, decides to air the Jets-Patriots game in Detroit. This forces FOX to
air a late game, as unappealing as it is to a Detroit audience. Lansing
still gets its full complement of 3 games (none of which are the Lions),
while Grand Rapids still gets the Lions game.
If the Lions game sells out:
|
FOX |
CBS early |
CBS late |
Detroit |
Az @ Det |
NO GAME |
Den @ SD |
Lansing |
Az @ Det |
NYJ @ NE |
Den @ SD |
Grand Rapids |
Az @ Det |
NYJ @ NE |
Den @ SD |
In-Game Switches
- In the case a national game becomes a
blowout, CBS and FOX have the right to switch audiences to a more
competitive game. It must be in the second half and the lead must be 18
points or more. The decision to switch is solely at the network's
discretion.
- Due to technical limitations and
satellite capacity at FOX control in Los Angeles, FOX designates one
game beforehand in a timeslot (usually their most widely distributed
game) that can be switched in case of a blowout. CBS has more capacity
at its disposal and can designate more games, but rarely more than two
at a time. If the game you are receiving is not one of the designated
games, you will receive it to the end regardless of how (un)competitive
it is.
- All stations in a team's primary and
secondary markets, as well as other stations that are nearby or
otherwise have an interest in a given team, can receive a "constant"
feed of that team's games, which remains with a game if the national
audience is switched.
- If the local team is playing in
the second game of a doubleheader, the affiliates in primary and
secondary markets, as well as a small number of other markets that
request it, must switch out of the early game if it goes past 4:10 PM
ET, in order to get to the kickoff of the local game. This is known as a
"mandatory pullout".
National Broadcasts
- NBC, ESPN and NFL Network are
deemed the national primetime broadcasters for NFL games, as all their
games air to 100% of the country. (The NFL Network's cable carriage woes
are irrelevant to this discussion.) Although CBS and FOX sometimes air
games that also go to the entire country (such as Thanksgiving), they do
not play into this section.
- Most teams can air in primetime a
maximum of 5 times a year, a maximum of 3 of which can be on NBC. The
Thursday Night game in Week 1 with the defending Super Bowl champion
counts toward this total.
- Three teams can air 6 times a year.
These teams are not pre-determined, they just depend on how the schedule
is drawn up.
- ESPN and NFL Network games are also
simulcast on an over-the-air station in the primary markets of
the two teams only. Stations in secondary and other markets are
not allowed to air these games, even if the NFL Network is not widely
available in the market.
- There is no restriction on having
both games of a divisional rivalry air on NBC, although it is rare. The
only modern example is Cowboys-Giants in 2011.
Flex Scheduling
- Between weeks 11 and 16, the scheduled
(or "pencilled-in") NBC Sunday Night game may be replaced with a "flex"
game, depending on competitiveness or ratings concerns. It is the NFL
and not NBC that makes the decision to flex a game. The decision is made
at least 12 days in advance, and the limits on national broadcasts
described above are still in effect. The NFL may also simply decide to
make the originally scheduled game official. (Note: in 2011, as
Christmas falls on a Sunday and most games are on Christmas Eve instead,
flex scheduling does not apply to week 16.)
- In week 17, the NBC game is determined
only one week in advance (and usually first announced during the week 16
Sunday Night game), and no game is pencilled in on the original
schedule.
- CBS and FOX can each protect five games
between weeks 11 and 16 from being flexed to Sunday night. Their
decisions are made after week 6. They cannot protect any week 17 games.
- CBS and FOX games may also switch
timeslots with 12 days notice (or 6 in week 17) for ratings concerns.
These may or may not be called a "flex" depending on who you talk to.
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