NFL set to add Black Friday game in '23

CHICAGO, IL - AUGUST 21: A detail view of the NFL crst logo is seen on a Chicago Bears jersey during a preseason game between the Chicago Bears and the Buffalo Bills on August 21, 2021 at Soldier Field in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire)

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Jon Lewis

Jon Lewis has been covering the sports media industry on a daily basis since 2006 as the founder and main writer of Sports Media Watch. You can contact him here or on the social media websites X (Twitter) or Bluesky.

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Comments 9

Dale Moog says:

4 years ago

With all these national games Why would anyone choose to pay for the rights to “Sunday Ticket” and why would anyone buy it. with 19 Thursday games at least 8 Saturday games a new Black Friday game and 18 Monday night games as well as 18 Sunday night games and at least 4 exclusive early Sunday (Europe games) this is over 25% of the entire inventory of games on in national windows with many weeks having as many as 4 or 5 national games
- Football Fan says:
  
  4 years ago
  
  You did the math and came up with 25%….Stjll you ask? So e p3ople want to see all the games. Or at least have the option. What 8s so difficult to understand about that?
Michael says:

4 years ago

pigs get fat hogs get slaughtered
- Paulsen says:
  
  4 years ago
  
  Cuban said this about the NFL years and years ago, and the hog has only grown larger and larger and larger. Nothing is going to stop the NFL except for concussions drying up the pipeline of new players (just read an article about a HS cancelling its varsity season because of not enough players). But even that fate is many years down the line (and far from inevitable).
Patrick says:

4 years ago

How much longer before the NFL starts scheduling a Saturday night game of the week? I’m talking about September into November and not just December when the regular College Football season is over.

D-1 FBS needs to go to a playoff system that makes their major Bowls relevant. It never occurred to me that the Sugar Bowl would have to make way for an NFL game. Since the SUGAR Bowl is not part of the CFP, it has been greatly diminished this season.
- Josua says:
  
  4 years ago
  
  NFL can’t broadcast games on Saturdays until the 2nd Saturday of December due to Antitrust law.
Nate Johnson says:

4 years ago

Three thoughts:

1.) I have to give Pro Football Talk credit on mentioning that the Black Friday game won’t be in Primetime because of the antitrust exemption (aka the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961). I contended that the Act was in response to television and not necessarily digital streaming, eliminating any reasons on why the NFL initially was uninterested in a Black Friday game 6 months ago. Perhaps now, it’s possible that there were concerns from the NFL because of the Act since they know a Primetime Friday game is a wash unless they make the game out to be fully exclusive streaming (similar to MLB’s Friday Primetime games on AppleTV+ and Sunday Morning on Peacock). I’m sure the NFL pushed back on that idea and perhaps had no interest.

2.) $100M speaks loud volume. From the same PFT article, it was reported that Amazon would pay $100M to the NFL for one Black Friday game which is absolutely astonishing. That would give reasons for the NFL to back their thoughts, but also become creative on what to do now that the Primetime option is lost.

3.) It’s possible that the Black Friday could be a long-term success for the NFL and Amazon, but at the same time it could be a short lived program. We have to keep a close eye on College Football (specifically the SEC and B1G Ten). I don’t believe they will lay down for the NFL as they’re growing and will be stronger 1-3 years from now. Let’s remember that the SEC played their Conference Championship game in 2020 vs. a NFLN telecast of the Panthers/Packers Saturday special that same night. Sure the SEC had to play on that day because of what went down that year, and maybe the NFL understood with no disappointment. However, it is a business and whatever works best for both conference what will be done and when discussing the final week of November, College Football does has a stronger grip vs. NFL in regards to games that has postseason implications. The B1G Ten, on the other hand, is growing and they have Friday Night game package that could expand once USC, UCLA, and as much as 4-6 other schools comes along. Also, there’s belief that we might see more games on Black Friday from that conference throughout the day because of their growth and for Michigan/Ohio St to have their day and full attention the day after Black Friday. That would really shorten the NFL’s option on which team can play on Black Friday due to the Act and attention to their product. However, if both the B1G Ten and SEC decides to move Conference Championship to the final Saturday in November to accommodate Army/Navy having their own day the first Saturday of December, and the expanded CFP in weeks to follow then victory for the NFL and Amazon on Black Friday. Could the same be said for NFLN’s Saturday coverage? That’s another discussion for another day.

My final conclusion is this. I’m not all the way 100% in this being a successful event. I’m definitely not 100% on rather this ends up being a good move for the NFL long term because the college game was once their competition and moves like this is what will make the college football unit retaliate and that would end up putting networks in awkward positions and maybe even having to choose one or the other if it gets out of hand before the end of this current decade. I’m not projecting it will, but it seems like NFL is saying we’ll handle that when it comes, but for now let’s cash in $100M. Final point, I’m not 100% sure if this move completely protects them from the Act. In a way this kind of goes to my argument of the college football unit retaliating. Sure, the NFL will figure the best decision overall and that includes what decision they have to make that would lessen their odds on not facing a lawsuit. With that said, it’s hard to wonder rather there could be local/state political figures willing to challenge the NFL for personal political gain and considering how many institutions in the SEC and B1G Ten are public it’s very and highly possible for anyone to catch the NFL napping and pretty much it comes in full circle on how Black Friday NFL game can become short lived if everything stacks against them from their oppsotions and competitons.
esl says:

4 years ago

This is crazy. As noted, NFL will take over every single holiday. Paulsen, do you think NFL will schedule the game in prime time? Or, do you think it may be early in the day to take advantage of the Amazon shopping?
- Paulsen says:
  
  4 years ago
  
  I was wondering the same thing. By primetime, the shopping day is largely done. I could see a 3 PM ET start or something similar.