Thursday Night Football
| Thursday Night Football | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Genre | Sports |
| Starring | Brad Nessler Mike Mayock Alex Flanagan Rich Eisen Deion Sanders Steve Mariucci Marshall Faulk Michael Irvin Kara Henderson Sterling Sharpe Kurt Warner Jay Glazer |
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of episodes | 48 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 180 minutes+ |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | NFL Network |
| Original run | November 23, 2006 – present |
Thursday Night Football is the brand name used by NFL Network for its schedule of live regular season telecasts of National Football League games on Thursday nights. Also included in the package are some special Saturday night telecasts.
The eight-game package debuted on November 23, 2006, with the Kansas City Chiefs handing the visiting Denver Broncos a 19–10 Thanksgiving defeat. Most games kick off at 8:20 p.m. Eastern Time (ET). Five games aired on Thursday nights, the other three on Saturday nights. Each game would be called either Thursday Night Football or Saturday Night Football, depending on the night on which it appears; the package as a whole was known as the Run to the Playoffs. This format carried over to the 2007 season. However, starting in 2008, NFL Network eliminated all but one of the Saturday night games as well as starting their Thursday night package three weeks earlier. This was to accommodate the earlier schedule and the league's antitrust exemption, which prohibits Saturday games during college football season. In the 2009 season, all references to Saturday Night Football were dropped and any games not played on Thursday were referred to as Thursday Night Football Special Editions. (The network has aired only one game thus far on a night other than Thursday or Saturday, a 2009 contest between the San Diego Chargers and Tennessee Titans played on Friday, December 25 to avoid conflicting with Christmas Eve observances the previous evening.)
As of December 22, 2011, the Thursday Night Football franchise had aired a total of 48 games.
The game package is highly controversial mainly due to the relative unavailability of NFL Network compared to other cable stations such as ESPN or over-the-air affiliates. In most markets NFL Network is only available through premium tier packages, with war of words frequently being exchanged between the NFL and cable companies to get the channel moved to basic cable. Due to anti-trust regulations the NFL is contractually obligated to offer the broadcast to a local over-the-air station. Therefore the away team and (assuming a sellout) the home team markets will see the game regardless of cable availability of the channel. This stipulation also applies to ESPN broadcasts of Monday Night Football.
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[edit] Background
The NFL Network's coverage was not the first time games were covered on Thursday or Saturday. Prior to the new contract, ESPN carried a handful of sporadic Thursday night games (usually those displaced from Sunday night) and the broadcast networks used to air several national games on Saturday afternoons (a practice which has since been discontinued). Incidentally, the only reason the league is even allowed to televise football games on Saturday night stems from a legal loophole: the league's antitrust exemption, the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961, was written when the NFL regular season ended in mid-December, and as such, it contains specific language that prohibits televising NFL games in most markets on Friday nights and all day on Saturdays between the second week of September and the second week of December, to protect high school and college football. Since most high school and college seasons have ended by mid-December, other than bowl games, there has been little desire to close this loophole, even though the regular season has expanded well beyond mid-December since the law's passage.
In 2005, when the NFL negotiated a new set of television contracts, Comcast-owned OLN (now Versus) offered to pay $450 million for an eight-year contract to carry NFL games in prime time. In exchange, Comcast planned to add NFL Network to its digital cable lineup. The channel was added, but NFLN decided to air the games itself, foregoing a rights fee.[1] The other TV deals generated $3.735 billion per year over an eight-year period for CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN, and DirecTV.
TNT and ESPN were also reportedly interested in these games before they were awarded to NFL Network.
The Thanksgiving matchup was moved from NFL Network to NBC's broadcast package as part of the new broadcast contract after the 2011 season.
[edit] Game announcers
Bryant Gumbel served as play-by-play announcer from 2006 through 2007, resigning in early 2008. He was replaced by Bob Papa. Cris Collinsworth was the color commentator until taking over for John Madden as lead analyst on NBC Sunday Night Football in 2009; Matt Millen succeeded him that year, with Joe Theismann joining as a second analyst in 2010. Brad Nessler (play-by-play) and Mike Mayock (analyst) will call Thursday night games beginning in 2011. There was no sideline reporter until 2009 when Scott Hanson assumed that role, however, Adam Schefter and Marshall Faulk of NFL Total Access contributed from the field at various times. Dick Vermeil served as color commentator for Saturday games in 2006.
[edit] Pregame, halftime and postgame coverage
Each game telecast is preceded by NFL Total Access on Location. Rich Eisen, Steve Mariucci, Deion Sanders, and Faulk report live from the site of each game. In 2008, they were joined by Warren Sapp. Schefter contributes insider information, and Kara Henderson and Michelle Beisner also contribute. The show generally begins three hours before game time (5 p.m. ET). The same Total Access team hosts the halftime and postgame shows.
In 2009, NFL Total Access on Location was replaced by Thursday Night Kickoff. The sponsors for Thursday Night Kickoff as of the 2010 NFL season are: Sears (pregame), Lexus (pre-kick) and Sprint Nextel (halftime).
[edit] Blackouts
Games are shown in approximately 45 million cable and satellite households, and on broadcast stations in the media markets of the participating teams. The home-team broadcast is technically subject to the NFL's blackout rule. However, since the games in the package generally feature top-flight teams which sell out their home games, it is unlikely that games will be blacked out. These games can also be seen in Canada on Sportsnet (except for Buffalo Bills games, which are instead seen on Citytv) and in the United Kingdom on Sky Sports.
[edit] Preseason games
NFL Network also presented two preseason games before the 2006 season, using the staff that now works on this package. Spero Dedes was the play-by-play announcer, Sterling Sharpe was the analyst, and Kara Henderson was the sideline reporter.
[edit] Radio coverage
Westwood One provides national radio broadcasts for the games, with Ian Eagle calling play-by-play, Randy Cross handling color analysis, and Hub Arkush on the sidelines for Thursday Night Football.
[edit] Game announcers
[edit] Television
[edit] Current
- Pre-game show
- Game Site
- Rich Eisen: Pre-game host (2006–present)
- Deion Sanders: Pre-game analyst (2006–present)
- Steve Mariucci: Pre-game analyst (2006–present)
- Marshall Faulk: Pre-game analyst (2006–present)
- Michael Irvin: Pre-game analyst (2011-present)
- Studio
- Kara Henderson: Pre-game host (2011–present)
- Sterling Sharpe: Pre-game analyst (2010–present)
- Kurt Warner: Pre-game analyst (2010–present)
- Jay Glazer: Pre-game analyst (2010–present)
- Game coverage
- Brad Nessler: Play-by-play (2011–present)
- Alex Flanagan: Sideline reporter (2010–present)
- Mike Mayock: Color analyst (2011–present)
[edit] Former
- Fran Charles: Pre-game host (2010)
- Cris Collinsworth: Thursday color analyst (2006–2008)
- Bryant Gumbel: Play-by-play (2006–2007)
- Tom Hammond: Substitute play-by-play (2007)
- Scott Hanson: Sideline reporter (2009)
- Harry Kalas: Sponsorship announcer (2006–2008) (Deceased)
- Matt Millen: Color analyst (2009–2010)
- Jim Mora: Pre-game analyst (2010)
- Bob Papa: Play-by-play (2008–2010)
- Warren Sapp: Pre-game analyst (2008)
- Adam Schefter: Sideline reporter (2006–2008)
- Pat Summerall: Sponsorship announcer (2009)
- Joe Theismann: Color analyst (2010)
- Dick Vermeil: Saturday color analyst (2006)
[edit] Radio
[edit] Current
- Ian Eagle: Play-by-play (Thursday night, 2008–present)
- Trent Green: Color analyst (Thursday night, 2010–present)
[edit] Former
- Bonnie Bernstein: Sideline reporter (2006–2007)
- Dick Enberg: Play-by-play (Thursday night, 2006–2007)
- Dennis Green: Color analyst (Thursday night, 2007–2008)
- John Dockery: Color analyst (Saturday night, 2007)
- Randy Cross: Color analyst (Thursday night, 2009)
- Don Criqui: Play-by-play (Saturday night, 2007)
- Joel Meyers: Play-by-play (Saturday night, 2006)
- Kevin Kiley: Color analyst (Saturday night, 2006)
- Sam Wyche: Color analyst (Thursday night, 2006)
[edit] Results
[edit] 2011 season
| Week | Day | Date | Visiting Team | Final Score | Host Team | Stadium | Game Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Thursday | November 10 | Oakland Raiders | 24–17 | San Diego Chargers | Qualcomm Stadium | |
| 11 | Thursday | November 17 | New York Jets | 13–17 | Denver Broncos | Sports Authority Field at Mile High | |
| 12 | Thursday | November 24 | San Francisco 49ers | 6–16 | Baltimore Ravens | M&T Bank Stadium | Thanksgiving Classic |
| 13 | Thursday | December 1 | Philadelphia Eagles | 14–31 | Seattle Seahawks | CenturyLink Field | |
| 14 | Thursday | December 8 | Cleveland Browns | 3–14 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Heinz Field | |
| 15 | Thursday | December 15 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 14–41 | Atlanta Falcons | Georgia Dome | |
| 15 | Saturday | December 17 | Dallas Cowboys | 31–15 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Raymond James Stadium | |
| 16 | Thursday | December 22 | Houston Texans | 16–19 | Indianapolis Colts | Lucas Oil Stadium |
[edit] Thursday Night Football all-time team standings
This list shows the National Football League teams' all-time standings in the games they played on Thursday Night Football.
Standings are current as of December 22, 2011.
| Team | Games Played | Wins | Losses | Ties | Win Pct. | First Appearance | Most Recent Appearance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis Colts | 5 | 5 | 0 | 1.000 | November 22, 2007 defeated Atlanta 31-13 |
December 22, 2011 defeated Houston 19-16 |
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| Kansas City Chiefs | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1.000 | November 23, 2006 defeated Denver 19-10 |
December 23, 2006 defeated Oakland 20-9 |
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| Pittsburgh Steelers | 6 | 5 | 1 | .833 | December 7, 2006 defeated Cleveland 27-7 |
December 8, 2011 defeated Cleveland 14-3 |
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| New York Jets | 4 | 3 | 1 | .750 | November 13, 2008 defeated New England 34-31 |
November 17, 2011 lost to Denver 17-13 |
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| San Diego Chargers | 4 | 3 | 1 | .750 | December 4, 2008 defeated Oakland 34-7 |
November 10, 2011 lost to Oakland 24-17 |
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| Dallas Cowboys | 7 | 5 | 2 | .714 | December 16, 2006 defeated Atlanta 38-28 |
December 17, 2011 defeated Tampa Bay 31-15 |
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| Philadelphia Eagles | 3 | 2 | 1 | .667 | November 27, 2008 defeated Arizona 48-20 |
December 1, 2011 lost to Seattle 31-14 |
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| San Francisco 49ers | 5 | 3 | 2 | .600 | December 14, 2006 defeated Seattle 24-14 |
November 24, 2011 lost to Baltimore 16-6 |
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| Denver Broncos | 5 | 3 | 2 | .600 | November 23, 2006 lost to Kansas City 19-10 |
November 17, 2011 defeated N.Y. Jets 17-13 |
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| Atlanta Falcons | 4 | 2 | 2 | .500 | December 16, 2006 lost to Dallas 38-28 |
December 15, 2011 defeated Jacksonville 41-14 |
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| Baltimore Ravens | 4 | 2 | 2 | .500 | November 30, 2006 lost to Cincinnati 13-7 |
November 24, 2011 defeated San Francisco 16-6 |
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| Chicago Bears | 4 | 2 | 2 | .500 | December 6, 2007 lost to Washington 24-16 |
November 18, 2010 defeated Miami 16-0 |
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| Seattle Seahawks | 2 | 1 | 1 | .500 | December 14, 2006 lost to San Francisco 24-14 |
December 1, 2011 defeated Philadelphia 31-14 |
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| Green Bay Packers | 2 | 1 | 1 | .500 | December 21, 2006 defeated Minnesota 9-7 |
November 29, 2007 lost to Dallas 37-27 |
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| Arizona Cardinals | 2 | 1 | 1 | .500 | November 27, 2008 lost to Philadelphia 48-20 |
December 25, 2010 defeated Dallas 27-26 |
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| Washington Redskins | 2 | 1 | 1 | .500 | December 30, 2006 lost to N.Y. Giants 34-28 |
December 6, 2007 defeated Chicago 24-16 |
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| New England Patriots | 2 | 1 | 1 | .500 | December 29, 2007 defeated N.Y. Giants 38-35 |
November 13, 2008 lost to N.Y. Jets 34-31 |
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| Miami Dolphins | 2 | 1 | 1 | .500 | November 19, 2009 defeated Carolina 24-17 |
November 18, 2010 lost to Chicago 16-0 |
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| Houston Texans | 3 | 1 | 2 | .333 | December 13, 2007 defeated Denver 31-13 |
December 22, 2011 lost to Indianapolis 19-16 |
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| Oakland Raiders | 2 | 1 | 2 | .333 | December 23, 2006 lost to Kansas City 20-9 |
November 10, 2011 defeated San Diego 24-17 |
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| New York Giants | 3 | 1 | 2 | .333 | December 30, 2006 defeated Washington 34-28 |
November 26, 2009 lost to Denver 26-6 |
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| Cleveland Browns | 4 | 1 | 3 | .250 | December 7, 2006 lost to Pittsburgh 27-7 |
December 8, 2011 lost to Pittsburgh 14-3 |
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| Cincinnati Bengals | 4 | 1 | 3 | .250 | November 30, 2006 defeated Baltimore 13-7 |
November 25, 2010 lost to N.Y. Jets 26-10 |
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| Carolina Panthers | 3 | 0 | 3 | .000 | December 22, 2007 lost to Dallas 20-13 |
December 23, 2010 lost to Pittsburgh 27-3 |
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| Jacksonville Jaguars | 3 | 0 | 3 | .000 | December 18, 2008 lost to Indianapolis 31-24 |
December 15, 2011 lost to Atlanta 41-14 |
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| Tennessee Titans | 2 | 0 | 2 | .000 | December 25, 2009 lost to San Diego 42-17 |
December 9, 2010 lost to Indianapolis 30-28 |
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| New Orleans Saints | 2 | 0 | 2 | .000 | December 11, 2008 lost to Chicago 27-24 |
December 19, 2009 lost to Dallas 24-17 |
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| St. Louis Rams | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 | December 20, 2007 lost to Pittsburgh 41-24 |
December 20, 2007 lost to Pittsburgh 41-24 |
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| Buffalo Bills | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 | December 3, 2009 lost to N.Y. Jets 19-13 |
December 3, 2009 lost to N.Y. Jets 19-13 |
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| Minnesota Vikings | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 | December 21, 2006 lost to Green Bay 9-7 |
December 21, 2006 lost to Green Bay 9-7 |
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| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 | December 17, 2011 lost to Dallas 31-15 |
December 17, 2011 lost to Dallas 31-15 |
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| Detroit Lions | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | To be announced |
[edit] Digital on-screen graphics
When the games started showing on NFL Network in 2006, a red score banner that spanned the top of the TV screen was used. The team logos were in oval shapes, like most NFL Network programs used since the start of the 2006 NFL season, and with their respective scores next to the ovals. During the Texas Bowl, and the Insight Bowl, the score banner was gold, instead of red.
In 2007, the on-screen graphics went to a complete overhaul. The scoreboard is located at the middle of the top of the screen. The team logos in ovals were kept; with the visiting team's logo and their respective score or on the left side, and the home team's logo and score are on the opposite side. In the middle, there is a red background, with the game clock in white, yellow bars to indicate quarter, and the NFL Network logo at the bottom. When a touchdown is scored, the scoring teams side opens, and a light goes through, revealing "TOUCHDOWN" in white in the team's color background. The side closes, and what appears to be a black graphic "wipes" away the score, thus changing it. Like in 2006, the scoreboard got a change in color, during bowl coverage, except that the red area was light orange.
In 2008, the on-screen graphics had minor changes, including listing the quarter underneath the game clock instead of using the yellow bars from 2007.
On Thanksgiving in 2009, NFL Network introduced timeout indicators above the team logos and their respective scores.
In 2010, the on-screen graphics underwent a complete overhaul, including the scoreboard being moved to the bottom of the screen and timeout indicators below the team abbrevations and logos.
[edit] Controversies
The move to air games on the NFL Network has been criticized for various reasons
[edit] Scheduling
Moving Thursday and Saturday night games to NFL Network has caused problems in the scheduling of other night games. In the past, Thursday and Saturday were used as overflow nights in the event that playing a Sunday night or Monday night game was not possible or desirable (for instance, during the World Series, the final week of the season, or Christmas Eve) so that the respective broadcaster could be compensated. The new television contract with NFL Network eliminated that leeway, which has especially impacted Monday night. In 2007, not only did ESPN have to air a doubleheader on Week 1 to compensate for the lack of a game in Week 17, but the league also had to play a game on Christmas Eve, a day when the league has historically avoided playing in prime time.
[edit] Carriage
Upon the original launch of the Thursday and Saturday night games, few television service providers have carried the NFL Network due to disputes over carriage contracts for the network. These disputes were magnified throughout the 2007 season, as two high profile matchups were to be broadcast by the network. The match up between the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers, both 10-1 at the time, drew large attention to the issue; the fact that such a high profile matchup would be unavailable to a majority of the country was seen as unacceptable to fans. This controversy was surpassed when NBC and CBS both bought the broadcast rights from the NFL Network to air the New England Patriots' season finale against the New York Giants, as they were 15–0 and vying to be the first team to finish the regular season with a perfect 16–0 record; the controversy was centered around the networks' actions denying exclusive over-the-air rights to local stations WWOR-TV and WCVB, who were the Giants' and Patriots' local broadcast homes for games on cable (the game aired on these stations, as well as on WCBS, WNBC, WBZ, and WHDH in the teams' market areas). The game was the first ever three-network simulcast in NFL history, and first simulcast since NBC and CBS both aired Super Bowl I in 1967.[2]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ John Ourand (2009-01-25). "Why NFL Network is on the sidelines". Sports Business Journal. http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/article/61332. Retrieved 2009-01-27.
- ^ Associated Press. Pats-Giants to be first three-network simulcast in NFL history ESPN.com, 26 December 2007.
[edit] External links
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