The NFL will expand its schedule to include a Black Friday game, most likely starting with the 2023 season, several sources told SBJ. Amazon will stream the game. Neither the NFL nor Amazon would comment on this story. The NFL has considered expanding its schedule to include a game on the Friday after Thanksgiving for years -- though the idea has had some opposition inside the NFL. Those concerns have been addressed and the league is moving forward with plans to hold a Black Friday game in 2023. It’s possible that the league will wait until 2024 to schedule that first game, but all signs point to 2023 for the first one. |
If you read the article you find out those concerns that stopped the NFL from doing Friday games was federal anti-trust policies but it doesn't appear those mattered to amazon.
Link - (
New Window )
I haven't been the biggest fans of more game days/times but I actually don't mind this. It's a holiday weekend and can't say i hate having a game on that Friday night. Will be a light Sunday slate.
I haven't been the biggest fans of more game days/times but I actually don't mind this. It's a holiday weekend and can't say i hate having a game on that Friday night. Will be a light Sunday slate.
it will be a day game on Friday. The law still prohibits the NFL play broadcasting any games on Friday night.
I'm not a lawyer, but as I understand the policy, which is from the 1950s, Friday night is for high school football only, Saturday used to be college only, and Sunday's we're for the NFL.
Shabbat Shalom Y’all ;)
High school football.
Quote:
be an anti-trust issue?
I'm not a lawyer, but as I understand the policy, which is from the 1950s, Friday night is for high school football only, Saturday used to be college only, and Sunday's we're for the NFL.
The pertinent statute is the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961.
The statue gives professional sports league a general exemption from the application of antitrust laws to joint agreements by member teams regarding the broadcast rights to games.
One provision of the statute states that the exemption "shall not apply to any joint agreement . . . which permits the telecasting of all or a substantial part of any professional football game on any Friday after six o’clock [p.m.]"
The Black Friday game will have to be scheduled to comply with this provision. The language "or a substantial part" does leave somewhat vague how late in the afternoon the game could be scheduled.
SBA of 1961 - ( New Window )
Quote:
In comment 15776502 Section331 said:
Quote:
be an anti-trust issue?
I'm not a lawyer, but as I understand the policy, which is from the 1950s, Friday night is for high school football only, Saturday used to be college only, and Sunday's we're for the NFL.
The pertinent statute is the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961.
The statue gives professional sports league a general exemption from the application of antitrust laws to joint agreements by member teams regarding the broadcast rights to games.
One provision of the statute states that the exemption "shall not apply to any joint agreement . . . which permits the telecasting of all or a substantial part of any professional football game on any Friday after six o’clock [p.m.]"
The Black Friday game will have to be scheduled to comply with this provision. The language "or a substantial part" does leave somewhat vague how late in the afternoon the game could be scheduled. SBA of 1961 - ( New Window )
Something tells me that significant portions of that Act are now irrelevant from a technology standpoint.
As an aside, it won't be long before we'll have to pay a special fee to view any pro football game. The days of watching football as part of your cable package will soon come to an end.
That's why we don't see Saturday NFL games until the college football season is over.
High school and college but that rule ends in mid Nov.
Quote:
be an anti-trust issue?
High school and college but that rule ends in mid Nov.
Exactly. I'd guess 90% of the country is finished with High School football by Thanksgiving
High school and college but that rule ends in mid Nov.
Not true. I provided a link to the statute above. The rule applies
the second Friday in September and ending on the second Saturday in December
for both college and high school.