2nd TV Contract for AFL?

[AJ1070]

Has anyone heard about the AFL getting a second national TV contract for the 2004 season? It would seem to me that offering a similar contract like they have with NBC would mean for any network an affordable product that say could be televised on Saturday nights let's say. I know the XFL bombed with that time slot a few years ago but maybe a cable network like TBS, USA Network, UPN, WB Network, or BET might want to take a shot with it. Also with a second national TV partner you would than have ALL of the Playoff games nationally televised. I went through the schedule and their are games on Saturday nights every week.

[Magnum357]

If I recall, I thought I heard both the AFL and NBC where pleased with the ratings that the AFL broadcasts produced and NBC was willing to do another year of games, but I have not heard anything official.

[Sykotyk]

Yes, NBC is airing a second season of the AFL. Infact, the schedule is already up for next year on the official site.

Sykotyk

[AJ1070]

Magnum and Sykotyk, both you guys misunderstood me. My question was that did antbody know about the AFL getting a 2nd national TV contract on top of their current NBC contract. So that possibly for the 2004 season their would be TWO networks covering the AFL nationally.

[Magnum357]

I have not idea. Would be kinda neat, but I have a feeling that NBC might have wanted exclusive rights to be the only network to broadcast games Nationally. I really don't know though.

[Sykotyk]

I didn't misunderstand your question, I was just correct Magnum.

As for the issue, NBC only has exclusivity to live telecasts on Sunday. And even that was questioned as Los Angeles was able to have a live game on FSN West #2 on Sunday, but it didn't conflict with NBC.

The basis is, if a game is during an NBC timeslot, no one else is allowed to show a game. The Indiana-Detroit game last year played during the NBC timeslot was shown on tape delay immediately following the NBC telecast timeslot.

There's talk that the AFL has another network, and a place to show Friday or Saturday night telecasts would greatly help the AFL, I think, as it would give interest to those who may be home at that time more than on Sunday afternoon, and at the same time, would let diehards have at least a second game to watch a week.

Sykotyk

[woooooo]

Fox Sports Network is the other network that the league has mentioned that 'may' be carrying non-Sunday AFL events. But what wasn't mentioned is if these games would be broadcast on the national FSN / FSN2 channels or if each team would have their games played on their regional FSN channel (ie FSN Detroit, FSN West, FSN Rocky Mountain, and etc.) This is all still in the air.