Pats-Giants to be first three-network simulcast game in NFL history

[abomb]

Yikes.

NEW YORK -- The New England Patriots' shot at history Saturday night will be available for every household in the country with a television after months of wrangling.

The game against the New York Giants, in which the Patriots could become the first NFL team to go 16-0 in the regular season, was originally scheduled to be shown only on the NFL Network, which is available in fewer than 40 percent of the nation's homes with TVs.

But the league announced Wednesday that the NFL Network feed will be simulcast on NBC and CBS. It's a major concession by league officials, who repeatedly said they would not show the game anywhere but the NFL Network. The NFL had faced mounting pressure from politicians in recent weeks to make the game available to more viewers.

This will be the first three-network simulcast in NFL history and the first simulcast of any kind of an NFL game since the first Super Bowl in 1967, when CBS and NBC both televised the first meeting of the champions of the newly merged National Football League and American Football League.

"We have taken this extraordinary step because it is in the best interest of our fans," commissioner Roger Goodell said. "What we have seen for the past year is a very strong consumer demand for NFL Network. We appreciate CBS and NBC delivering the NFL Network telecast on Saturday night to the broad audience that deserves to see this potentially historic game. Our commitment to the NFL Network is stronger than ever."

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Go Giants !!

 

[Kel Varnsen]

That seems like overkill, but whatever.

Who are the broadcasters gonna be?

 

[Renz]

Who are the broadcasters gonna be?

Cris Collinsworth and Bryant Gumbel.

 

[freebyrd]

the pats are gonna win,as much as i don't want them too, and these bastards got a top ten pick to boot, wonder what its like to be a fan of a competent winning franchise? maybe we'll find out some day

 

[Kel Varnsen]

Cris Collinsworth and Bryant Gumbel.

Thanks.

Here's hoping for a quick blowout, then.

 

[ajcardfan]

I just don't find this game to be all that intriguing. First of all, the Pats have been about as exciting, IMO, as watching a really good dentist work. Yeah, I admire their work, but it hasn't been great TV for the most part. Second, the Giants are tanking it, which just sucks. I know it's historic, but so was NAFTA and that didn't keep me glued to CSPAN.

No thanks. Unless a miracle happens and the Gaints are close in the second half, I'll be watching the Alamo Bowl almost exclusively.

 

[D-Dogg]

Not interested.

I am interested though, in which team is going to beat them in the playoffs...SD or Indy? Running game will be their death in their cold home field disadvantage.

 

[SoCal Cardfan]

Cris Collinsworth and Bryant Gumbel.

Not exactly the dream-team announcers you want, when your hounding cable operators to carry your network as a basic package station.

 

[Shane]

Not interested.

I am interested though, in which team is going to beat them in the playoffs...SD or Indy? Running game will be their death in their cold home field disadvantage.

Wanna bet? Neither will beat them in Boston!

 

[jw7]

Wanna bet? Neither will beat them in Boston!

Must...resist...smart-ass...comment.

Lips sealed.

 

[Shane]

Must...resist...smart-ass...comment.

Lips sealed.

I'll bet you too

 

[D-Dogg]

Wanna bet? Neither will beat them in Boston!

Dude, the J-E-T-S, Jets Jets Jets almost beat them in the snow.

Besides, they don't play in Boston. They play just outside of that craphole.

 

[Shane]

Dude, the J-E-T-S, Jets Jets Jets almost beat them in the snow.
Besides, they don't play in Boston. They play just outside of that craphole.

So. So are we betting or not?

 

[D-Dogg]

So. So are we betting or not?

Yep, one of us will owe the other a beer at the opener next year.

I say the Patriots do NOT make it to the Superbowl. You say they do.

virtual handshake?

 

[Shane]

Yep, one of us will owe the other a beer at the opener next year.

I say the Patriots do NOT make it to the Superbowl. You say they do.

virtual handshake?

Done deal!

 

[TheHopToad]

Not exactly the dream-team announcers you want, when your hounding cable operators to carry your network as a basic package station.

If they were smart, they would let each network put up their own announcing team and see who draws the best ratings. Throw FOX in there as well.

CBS - Jim Nantz/Phil Simms
NBC - Al Michaels/John Madden
FOX - Joe Buck/Troy Aikman
NFL - Bryant Gumbal/Chris Collinsworth

Heck, this is how the Superbowl ought to be. They should give us consumers the choice.

Or they could have each do a quarter on a four way simulcast.

 

[Shane]

If they were smart, they would let each network put up their own announcing team and see who draws the best ratings. Throw FOX in there as well.

CBS - Jim Nantz/Phil Simms
NBC - Al Michaels/John Madden
FOX - Joe Buck/Troy Aikman
NFL - Bryant Gumbal/Chris Collinsworth

Heck, this is how the Superbowl ought to be. They should give us consumers the choice.

Or they could have each do a quarter on a four way simulcast.

Cant. Networks bid billions for the SB. If they could all air it that revenue woudlnt be near as high. They get the networks in a bidding war for a reason.

 

[jmt]

Not interested.

I am interested though, in which team is going to beat them in the playoffs...SD or Indy? Running game will be their death in their cold home field disadvantage.

Hahahahaha - San Diego is not going to win a playoff game and Pats will beat the Colts if they get that far.

 

[moklerman]

I'll take some of that action. Pat's will go 16-0 and lose a home playoff game.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

If they were smart, they would let each network put up their own announcing team and see who draws the best ratings. Throw FOX in there as well.

CBS - Jim Nantz/Phil Simms
NBC - Al Michaels/John Madden
FOX - Joe Buck/Troy Aikman
NFL - Bryant Gumbal/Chris Collinsworth

Heck, this is how the Superbowl ought to be. They should give us consumers the choice.

Or they could have each do a quarter on a four way simulcast.

That would have been pretty cool. It will be interesting to see the ratings anyway, though.

 

[abomb]

If they were smart, they would let each network put up their own announcing team and see who draws the best ratings. Throw FOX in there as well.

CBS - Jim Nantz/Phil Simms
NBC - Al Michaels/John Madden
FOX - Joe Buck/Troy Aikman
NFL - Bryant Gumbal/Chris Collinsworth

Heck, this is how the Superbowl ought to be. They should give us consumers the choice.

Or they could have each do a quarter on a four way simulcast.

This would have been the greatest thing ever.

 

[Cardinal Bob]

My Dad, who is from Boston and is a big Pats fan, was originally going to come to our house in NJ to watch the game on NFL Network (since he doesn't have it and we do). But thanks to my brother-in-law, my Dad & I are now going to the game and sitting in seats compliments of a family member of the owners of the NY Giants (he couldn't get us in the owner's box because of the fact that my Dad is a Pats fan...bummer!).

So since I can't watch the broadcast, someone please tell me how long it takes Gumbel to refer to Tom Brady as either "Mike", "Greg", "Peter", or "Bobby".

Thanks.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

So since I can't watch the broadcast, someone please tell me how long it takes Gumbel to refer to Tom Brady as either "Mike", "Greg", "Peter", or "Bobby".

Thanks.

 

[ajcardfan]

Hahahahaha - San Diego is not going to win a playoff game and Pats will beat the Colts if they get that far.

I love the Colts position. It's just amazing that the defending Super Bowl champs can be 15-2 (if they play in the AFC championship) and be a thorough underdog.