Thanksgiving Day Games

[Takeuon]

Originally Posted by GMScud

Found this on PFT, and I pretty much agree:

THE HIDDEN BENEFIT OF BAD THANKSGIVING FOOTBALL

Posted by Mike Florio on November 28, 2008, 9:46 a.m.

A commenter raised a great point this morning regarding the crappy trio of football games to which we were subjected on Thanksgiving.
With a captive national audience, why waste “good” games on Thanksgiving?

It’s an intriguing point. With Giants-Redskins, Steelers-Patriots, and Bears-Vikings on the schedule for Week Thirteen, there’s no reason to play them on Thanksgiving when they can be used on Sunday afternoon and evening to pry eyeballs away from better television alternatives.
That said, we doubt that the league intentionally targets so-so games for Thanksgiving. Part of the problem, as we’ve recently explained, is that apparently compelling matchups when the schedule is determined in April can end up being overcooked turkeys after more than half the season is played.

Still, the reality that we’ll watch whatever NFL games happen to be played on Thanksgiving will likely ensure that the Lions will continue to host the early game on the fourth Thursday in November, regardless of whether the Lions ever win again, on Thanksgiving or otherwise.

I don't agree with PFT on this or understand the logic. If we are to understand that they save the "better" games to be televised on Sunday it goes against what I think the sponsors would want. Which is a NATIONAL AUDIENCE. The Sunday games are only broadcast in specific regions and don't reach anywhere near what a Nationally televised game reaches. Not to mention in most house holds on Thanksgiving there is usually some TV on somewhere and its usually on football.
Let's be honest we all know the networks want more $$$ so it seems to me it would be in their best interest to televise a STRONG game that would command a higher advertising rate.??? If the games are as bad/lop sided as they were yesterday then WE change the channel. Which I bet most of us did. Maybe I'm missing something?

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by Takeuon

I don't agree with PFT on this or understand the logic. If we are to understand that they save the "better" games to be televised on Sunday it goes against what I think the sponsors would want. Which is a NATIONAL AUDIENCE. The Sunday games are only broadcast in specific regions and don't reach anywhere near what a Nationally televised game reaches. Not to mention in most house holds on Thanksgiving there is usually some TV on somewhere and its usually on football.
Let's be honest we all know the networks want more $$$ so it seems to me it would be in their best interest to televise a STRONG game that would command a higher advertising rate.???

Well, networks also want to build their own viewership to hurt their competition as well. Putting a premium game at 4:15 on a Sunday, or "flexing" it to the night game will draw huge ratings, and as PFT says, "pry eyeballs away from better television alternatives (on Sundays)."

Like you said, on Thanksgiving in most households, some TV somewhere is on and it's usually football. So if that's the case, airing crappy games on Turkey Day doesn't matter as far as ratings, because there is no competition. People have the games on regardless of who is playing.

The 4:15/8:30 Sunday games are nationally televised anyway, so putting a stronger game in those slots and keeping the lowly Lions on Thanksgiving is smart. You'll have a big, national audience for both.