Tribune Broadcasting announced that it has reached an agreement with the National Football League for the over-the-air local broadcast rights to six late-season NFL Network games, beginning with the Chicago Bears vs. Miami Dolphins on Thursday, November 18. The agreement enables Tribune television stations in eight NFL markets to carry the NFL Network telecast of the local team’s “Thursday Night Football” game.
There’s no math error. The deal covers six games, but eight Tribune TV stations, since two of the games pit teams in two Tribune TV markets against each other.
By NFL policy, ESPN and NFL Network games are carried on free, over-the-air television in the city of the visiting team and in the city where the game is played if it is sold out 72 hours in advance of kickoff. The Tribune deal is for six NFL Network games.
“In keeping with our commitment to offer the best programming, Tribune Broadcasting is extremely happy to be partnering with NFL Network to make these games available locally over-the-air to football fans and advertisers in the markets we serve,” said Jerry Kersting, President of Tribune Broadcasting. “There are some great match-ups here, with the potential to really affect who makes the playoffs — these games will draw a lot of interest,” he added.
Here is the lineup of games and the Tribune stations to air them:
Chicago Bears v. Miami Dolphins November 18, 2010 – WGN-TV Chicago, WSFL-TV Miami
Cincinnati Bengals v. New York Jets November 25, 2010 – WPIX-TV New York
Houston Texans v. Philadelphia Eagles December 2, 2010 – KIAH-TV Houston, WPHL-TV Philadelphia
Indianapolis Colts v. Tennessee Titans December 9, 2010 – WXIN-TV Indianapolis
San Francisco 49ers v. San Diego Chargers December 16, 2010 – KSWB-TV San Diego
Dallas Cowboys v. Arizona Cardinals December 25, 2010 – KDAF-TV Dallas
