The NFL is talking to its teams about expanding flexible scheduling; MLB is considering major changes to its playoff format; ESPN is swapping its NBA and college hoops analysts again.
SBJ: NFL discussing expansion of flex scheduling
The NFL has reached out to its teams about “radically expanding” flexible scheduling to include Monday night games, Sports Business Journal reported Monday.
Monday Night Football broadcaster ESPN has long coveted flex scheduling rights, dating back to the years when its corporate sibling ABC aired the games. Per SBJ, ESPN has told the NFL that it would move MNF back to ABC if allowed to flex games.
While flex scheduling has traditionally involved moving an afternoon game to primetime, the NFL has begun in the past two years to flex games from one day to another. In Week 16 the past two seasons, the league has scheduled a handful of games for either Saturday or Sunday, deciding at midseason which games would take place on which day.
NBC is also said to be interested in an expansion of flex scheduling. While it already has the ability to flex games on 12 days notice, it “likely” wants to reduce that timeframe. [SBJ 2.10]
MLB considering radical changes to playoff format
Major League Baseball is considering an overhaul of its postseason format that would expand the field from ten to 14 teams and lengthen the Wild Card round from two single-elimination games to six best-of-three series starting in 2022. The potential changes were first reported by the New York Post and also by ESPN.
Three division winners and four Wild Card teams would make the playoffs in each league, with the top division winner getting a bye through the opening round. The other two division winners and the top Wild Card team would then host the three other Wild Card teams.
As part of the plan, the division winners would get their pick of the bottom three Wild Card teams in a selection show that would air on the final night of the season.
MLB is just the latest league to consider radical changes to its format. The NBA has tabled a vote on a regular season overhaul that would include a new in-season tournament. The NFL is pursuing the addition of a 17th regular season game. [NYP 2.10, ESPN 2.10]
ESPN to cross NBA, college hoops announcers again
ESPN will again mix its NBA and college basketball broadcast teams, with college analysts LaPhonso Ellis and Jimmy Dykes working NBA games on Wednesday and pro analysts Doris Burke and Mark Jackson working college games on Thursday.
On Wednesday, Ellis will work with Burke and Mark Jones on Bucks-Pacers and Dykes with Dave Pasch and Jeff Van Gundy on Lakers-Nuggets. On Thursday, Burke will work with Adam Amin and Bryce Drew on Memphis-Cincinnati and Jackson with Dave Pasch and Jeff Van Gundy on Colorado-Oregon. [ESPN PR 2.11]
