🏈 Hypothetical: If there is no college season, but the NFL plays, do you see them taking their games to Saturday afternoons?

[TerryP]

A huge void for the networks would be filled and the NFL would likely get more viewers.

I do wonder...if that were to happen, would the gentlemen's agreement for college football on Saturday's and the NFL on Sunday's be something of the past? In 2021, do we have both fighting for viewers on Saturday?

 

[rocknthefreeworld]

It is a little more than a gentlemen's agreement though. The Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 carves out the times the NFL can't broadcast. Friday after 6 PM or any Saturday starting the second Friday in September until the second Friday in December are pretty much out legally if colleges are playing (that 75 mile broadcast loophole would allow it if no college teams are playing on TV).

https://uscode.house.gov/statutes/pl/87/331.pdf

 

[TerryP]

Nice find, but I have doubts a 50 year old agreement would stand with the loss of revenue sports broadcasting companies have endured.

 

[rocknthefreeworld]

Congress has already looked at changing that law. It would probably be very easy to get them to do so in this environment. Not sure the NFL wants that though. It allows the NFL to basically own Sunday-Thursday in their contracting without having any questions raised about anti-trust over their broadcast contracts. The NFL may be salivating at NCAA football not being on TV for a year though because that gives them a lot of ways to schedule this year and get even more money.

 

[#80]

They already have Sunday, Monday and Thursday nights I would hope they would not make a move on Saturday.

 

[rick4bama]

Nice find, but I have doubts a 50 year old agreement would stand with the loss of revenue sports broadcasting companies have endured.

The FCC sometime around the 1950's? Put two counties in Alabama in the Atlanta TV market! For the last 20's years have been fighting to get these two counties in the B'ham TV area. But then again we are talking about the NFL and people in DC.

 

[OldPlayer]

The FCC sometime around the 1950's? Put two counties in Alabama in the Atlanta TV market! For the last 20's years have been fighting to get these two counties in the B'ham TV area. But then again we are talking about the NFL and people in DC.

The government doesn't define the TV markets (DMAs or designated market areas). These are defined by Nielsen for viewer measurement and the subsequent pricing of advertising by the media.

 

[TerryP]

The government doesn't define the TV markets (DMAs or designated market areas). These are defined by Nielsen for viewer measurement and the subsequent pricing of advertising by the media.

I don't think you guys are talking about the same thing here. If there are counties in Alabama that are receiving their signal from ATL, versus, BHM, they are part of the ATL market. That is determined by the individual station owners.

 

[bama alum]

I think that's a fair question considering as soon as the college season is over, the NFL has games scheduled on Saturdays. There will be a bigger TV contract for them for owning both days of the weekend; sure Goodell will.

 

[Tidestalker]

Great question... I'm assuming they would, if they played. Which I see as highly unlikely!

Another hypothetical question (soon to not be...):

-What happens to the Seniors who don't get to play? The NCAA allowed Spring athletes to have another year last season... But when I look at football teams, I just can't see any way to basically keep 5 classes on scholarship. Of course Alabama & many big programs could do it, but the idea of having like 100+ scholarship dudes following a season of 0 revenue seems crazy for a ton of athletics programs.

IMO the only way to do it is to push those Seniors along into the real world... Extremely unfortunate... But I don't know how else to make the #'s work.

 

[TerryP]

Great question... I'm assuming they would, if they played. Which I see as highly unlikely!

You see it highly unlikely the NFL plays when we're seeing professional sports open up across the globe?

 

[50+yeartidefan]

Do u guys really believe the nfl will play if colleges don't?

Probably start the season but how can it move forward? The V aint fixed yet

Plus. Who would watch those disrespectful assholes anyway

 

[Tidestalker]

You see it highly unlikely the NFL plays when we're seeing professional sports open up across the globe?

Grand opening, Grand closing....

 

[rocknthefreeworld]

Do u guys really believe the nfl will play if colleges don't?

Yes. Completely different dynamic. Fewer teams. Easy enough to ensure everyone has the same testing and quarantine rules. The only question is if fans will be in the stands or not.

 

[OldPlayer]

Do u guys really believe the nfl will play if colleges don't?

Probably start the season but how can it move forward? The V aint fixed yet

Plus. Who would watch those disrespectful assholes anyway

The NFL is a business. Without the business, there is no revenue. No sponsorship revenue, no TV revenue.

College football, while some call it a business, is only a part of the revenue generation for a school. It is not the primary focus of any school.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

The NFL is a business. Without the business, there is no revenue. No sponsorship revenue, no TV revenue.

College football, while some call it a business, is only a part of the revenue generation for a school. It is not the primary focus of any school.

Obviously....true!

But still...if its not safe.....it ain’t gonna happen.....

And ..other than the economics....the dynamics are the same....
Players get it...players are around other players...those players get it...no players to be the players...no players..no game... simple truths

 

[OldPlayer]

Obviously....true!

But still...if its not safe.....it ain’t gonna happen.....

And ..other than the economics....the dynamics are the same....
Players get it...players are around other players...those players get it...no players to be the players...no players..no game... simple truths

IMO, the dynamics are not the same. If a pro player doesn't play, he doesn't get paid. These players have significant income (when they play) but have also created significant liabilities. Bills need to be paid. If a college player doesn't play, he's still on scholarship earning a degree. His liabilities are small.

Many of the pros will want to play for the financial reasons. Many of the college players will want to play to position themselves for a pro future after college.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

IMO, the dynamics are not the same. If a pro player doesn't play, he doesn't get paid. These players have significant income (when they play) but have also created significant liabilities. Bills need to be paid. If a college player doesn't play, he's still on scholarship earning a degree. His liabilities are small.

Many of the pros will want to play for the financial reasons. Many of the college players will want to play to position themselves for a pro future after college.

Most professional players have guaranteed money. Maybe in clause a way out but I doubt it.

Some... not all I know...Scholarships are year to year.

Still quarentins will happen
Changes the playing field

But i see the same thing as i stated which makes the dynamics same with some different aspects

But the virus spreads with close contact. That's football

 

[BamaFan334]

The NFL is a business. Without the business, there is no revenue. No sponsorship revenue, no TV revenue.

College football, while some call it a business, is only a part of the revenue generation for a school. It is not the primary focus of any school.

Some may argue this, because think of the money football has brought to Alabama? Sure, this may only be the story for

IMO, the dynamics are not the same. If a pro player doesn't play, he doesn't get paid. These players have significant income (when they play) but have also created significant liabilities. Bills need to be paid. If a college player doesn't play, he's still on scholarship earning a degree. His liabilities are small.

Many of the pros will want to play for the financial reasons. Many of the college players will want to play to position themselves for a pro future after college.

Has to be a huge liability losing years from an already tiny window to profit from. I see the college kids potentially losing more. The pros already have jobs, the college guys don't. They are interviewing, and without an interview they are jobless.

 

[It Takes Eleven]

A huge void for the networks would be filled and the NFL would likely get more viewers.

I do wonder...if that were to happen, would the gentlemen's agreement for college football on Saturday's and the NFL on Sunday's be something of the past? In 2021, do we have both fighting for viewers on Saturday?

From my standpoint, it wouldn't be a fight. Just send me the highlights of Bama players in the NFL and that will continue to be the sum total of my NFL viewing.