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NFL again hits TV pay dirt

By Michael Hiestand, USA TODAY

The Daddy Warbucks of the sports world got richer Monday.

The NFL finalized three TV deals that will deliver an average of $2.035 billion annually beginning in 2006. Even before it makes new TV deals for Sunday and Monday prime-time games, the league already can count on averaging more national TV money annually than the NBA, Major League Baseball, NASCAR and the NHL —combined.

Fans will find the league's new deals with CBS, Fox and DirecTV look familiar, but there still might be big changes for prime-time games.

Finalized Monday:

•Sunday afternoons through 2011, Fox will keep its NFC games as CBS its AFC games. Their start times will remain unchanged.

•DirecTV, through 2010, will keep the pay TV package for subscribers to see all Sunday afternoon games. DirecTV might add wrinkles, like a "red-zone channel" devoted to switching from game to game to focus on teams threatening to score.

•As always, the NFL got fat hikes in the money it gets from TV. Fox will pay 30% more annually ($712.5 million average), CBS' fee jumps 25% ($622.5 million) and DirecTV's payment spikes 70% ($700 million).

Still to be decided:

•The NFL has reserved the right to take eight games, four each from Fox and CBS, and use them to create a package of late-season prime-time games Thursday and Saturday nights.

Various networks might bid on such a package. Or the league could choose to air the games on its NFL Network in hopes of helping that cable channel get broader household distribution and grab more viewers.

•The future outlets and setup of Monday night and Sunday night games, now on Disney's ABC and ESPN.

The NFL could use those eight games from Fox and CBS to strengthen its late-season coverage Sunday and Monday nights. Instead of showing just one game in those time slots, it could add more games to present regionalized coverage — meant to help networks hold viewers if one game is a blowout.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello says the league and Disney aim to end talks soon.

Peter Chernin, president of Fox parent News Corp., says the network isn't worried that moving games from Sunday afternoons to prime time would weaken the appeal of Fox's Sunday afternoon action: "The legitimacy and strength of our schedule won't be compromised."

Bubba Grizz wrote:I think that is as it should be. All those other sports play a Massive amount of games (besides Nascar which is just plain boring imho unless there is an accident). Football teams play once a week and don't do series like those other games. I think that is the major draw to it. Why do you need to play 168 games in a season?