last season for ESPN's "NFL PrimeTime"

[bronco militia]

No choice for ESPN

This is the last season on Sunday nights for ESPN's "NFL PrimeTime," the most-watched highlights show on TV and the cable television's highest-rated studio show and one of cable TV's highest-rated series in the fall.

At the end of teleconference with reporters this week, ESPN senior coordinating producer Bob Rauscher disclosed an interesting fact about that program that previously had not been made clear.

"PrimeTime" is going off the air on Sunday nights not because ESPN is choosing to take it out of that slot.

It's going off Sunday nights because the new television deal between the NFL and its broadcasting partners calls for it not to air on Sunday nights starting in 2006, so as not to compete with NBC's Sunday night NFL programming.

"It's a contractual issue," Rauscher said. "We are not taking 'PrimeTime' off the air because we don't want to do 'PrimeTime,' but based on a new contract terms, things have changed in what we are allowed to do."

The NFL lets its TV partners compete against one another with three Sunday morning studio shows up against each other starting at 11 a.m., but the league does not want NBC to face that kind of competition in its Sunday night part.
http://www.jsonline.com/packer/news/aug05/351041.asp

[Pezman]

So, what praytell are they planning on doing over at NBC that will be better?

[bronco militia]

So, what praytell are they planning on doing over at NBC that will be better?


who knows, but I can't think of a whole lot of reasons to continue watching ESPN....J/c, they get worse every day

[Hogan11]

The abolute last great flavor free, no bullshat highlights show bites the dust.

One less reason to watch that miserable channel and further evidence that hardly anything ever changes for the better.

[watermock]

That totally blows.

The Swami loved that show. NBC will castrate it, or simply make some lame ass pregame show.

I loved the Swami doing highlights. Ah well.

Can you imagine how lame ass it will be with NBC? This is Brian Gumble giving you the pregame report...we have dug Jimmy the Greek up and he's got plenty of makeup. We will be telling you what Jimmy WOULD of said.

[Hercules Rockefeller]

Damn, no Berman with the same schtick and nicknames that got old over a decade ago. So sad.

[Atlas]

So, what praytell are they planning on doing over at NBC that will be better?

Nothing NBC sucks. Primetime is genius

[bronco militia]

Damn, no Berman with the same schtick and nicknames that got old over a decade ago. So sad.

yeah it got old, but you always watched....

[Hogan11]

That totally blows.

The Swami loved that show. NBC will castrate it, or simply make some lame ass pregame show.

I loved the Swami doing highlights. Ah well.

NBC will flavor it up with some non-stop slang winging goons...I'd bet my life on it. It's all about demographics you know.

[broncos love]

I would've been pissed off a couple years ago, but since I got the ticket I don't watch it that much anymore.

[watermock]

At least we won't have to deal with Michael Irvin. He makes my skin crawl.

[Hercules Rockefeller]

yeah it got old, but you always watched....

No I didn't. I don't watch ESPN if Berman, Stuart Scott or Dan Patrick are on. I couldn't tell you the last time I watched Primetime, I'll watch the Rocky Mtn Sports Report instead for their post-game stuff and catch one of the 10,000 Sportscenter re-runs of the Sunday night show.

[watermock]

NBC will flavor it up with some non-stop slang winging goons...I'd bet my life on it. It's all about demographics you know.

Maybe they can lure "lazy eye" Stewie away to tell us how Tom Brady is "cooler than the other side of the Pillow..."

[bronco militia]

No I didn't. I don't watch ESPN if Berman, Stuart Scott or Dan Patrick are on. I couldn't tell you the last time I watched Primetime, I'll watch the Rocky Mtn Sports Report instead for their post-game stuff and catch one of the 10,000 Sportscenter re-runs of the Sunday night show.

oh ok..I don't watch it that much anymore either but when I was in the military 15 years ago, ESPN and USA today were all we had for Broncos news.

[watermock]

No I didn't. I don't watch ESPN if Berman, Stuart Scott or Dan Patrick are on. I couldn't tell you the last time I watched Primetime, I'll watch the Rocky Mtn Sports Report instead for their post-game stuff and catch one of the 10,000 Sportscenter re-runs of the Sunday night show.

You didn't see Michael Irvin the other day? Throwing his hands around like he had piles of hog manure and posturing like some Pimp talking down to his whores?

[Hogan11]

I wonder if "The George Michael Sports Machine" is still around...or did that guy finally kick off?

[Pezman]

I wonder if "The George Michael Sports Machine" is still around...or did that guy finally kick off?

I always have bad dreams that one day he's gonna push one of those giant buttons on that program and accidently break his arm ROFL!

Seriously though, ESPN is officially 100% dead to me now. TheNFL channel needs to jump all over this and create a show even better than the departing Primetime and kick ESPN in the collective nads...

[Hercules Rockefeller]

oh ok..I don't watch it that much anymore either but when I was in the military 15 years ago, ESPN and USA today were all we had for Broncos news.

Thank God technology and the expansion of the number of media sources.

[bronco militia]

Thank God technology and the expansion of the number of media sources.

AMEN

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Nothing NBC sucks. Primetime is genius
I've been watching Berman and ESPN from the beginning. No one loves the game more than Berman. Things are changing there's no doubt. Use to, watching Enberg on one channel and Summerall on the other WAS NFL football. The holidays, the football season were defined by them both.
Probably all be pay TV before too long.
Yep, things are changing.

[TheManeMan]

Isnt this kinda old news?!? Or is it just 100% official now?

[Bronco9798]

So, what praytell are they planning on doing over at NBC that will be better?

Nothing that beats PrimeTime. This really sucks.

[TheManeMan]

Nothing that beats PrimeTime. This really sucks.

Inside the NFL on HBO...

[Bronco9798]

Inside the NFL on HBO...

Well it is an alternative. I really enjoyed Prime Time though.

What about Monday Night Countdown? We have to have "JACKED UP"

[Bronco9798]

Hang on. Inside the NFL on HBO is on Thursday nights. Ugh, I Need something for Sunday nights after all the games. At least I got Sunday Ticket. :-)

[Hogan11]

Inside the NFL on HBO...

Chris "Holier than thou" Collingsworth comes very close to sinking that show singlehandedly.

For me, that guy is very hard to tolerate for an entire hour.

[-Slap-]

Its weird, because Boomer retains a certain coolness despite a played out schtick and the worst combover on cable. I think its that you can tell he's a genuinely nice man in real life, in stark contrast to most of the overbearing plastic assholes employed by ESPN.

[Jetmeck]

NFL screwing us over one more time. Won't spread around the Sunday ticket and now can't get all the highlights with out all the FILLER..aka BS ! from Sportcenter.

[mattleecrew]

Chris "Holier than thou" Collingsworth comes very close to sinking that show singlehandedly.

For me, that guy is very hard to tolerate for an entire hour.


Cant stand that man at all. Hes not happy unless he's belittling every other play he sees in a game. Like the man was God's gift to the world of football.

[listopencil]

I'm not opposed to Prime Time going off of the air, I only have broadcast television. I do think it's a load of crap that the NFL is forcing a long-running successful show to go away. I heard that ESPN is taking over Monday Night Football. Anybody else hear that?

[mattleecrew]

I'm not opposed to Prime Time going off of the air, I only have broadcast television. I do think it's a load of crap that the NFL is forcing a long-running successful show to go away. I heard that ESPN is taking over Monday Night Football. Anybody else hear that?


Yeah, i believe they signed a big fat deal to steal that one away.

[maven]

Not going to miss it. Quit watching it a few years back.

[-Slap-]

Chris "Holier than thou" Collingsworth comes very close to sinking that show singlehandedly.

For me, that guy is very hard to tolerate for an entire hour.
Cris Collinsworth was the only person in the national media who gave Denver a snowball's chance in hell in SB XXXII.

[gunns]

I used to like Primetime to watch the highlights when the Broncos won. Around here it was the best highlights show. I've got the RMS news on my cable now so that is much better. I will not miss Berman's low growl announcing Primetime but I will miss Tom Jackson.

[Hogan11]

Cris Collinsworth was the only person in the national media who gave Denver a snowball's chance in hell in SB XXXII.

So?

That one moment doesn't earn him any pass from me.....I question it, he was probably only picking Denver to stir the pot if the truth is known.

[-Slap-]

So?

That one moment doesn't earn him any pass from me.....I question it, he was probably only picking Denver to stir the pot if the truth is known.
I like him. He's smug sometimes, but he's usually smarter than whoever they have paired up with him, so it doesn't bother me. I really don't see him as a guy who makes a controversial statement for its own sake, but he's never reluctant to speak his mind if he does have an unpopular opinion.

[Hogan11]

I like him. He's smug sometimes, but he's usually smarter than whoever they have paired up with him, so it doesn't bother me. I really don't see him as a guy who makes a controversial statement for its own sake, but he's never reluctant to speak his mind if he does have an unpopular opinion.

I dunno about that Slap.

The guy has always bugged me with his smugness and that "holier than thou" attitude I noted earlier...paired with Marino & Costas....it's just a hard show for me to sit through.

I used to really like Inside The NFL when Dawson & Bonocotti were the guys doing the show......but the Costas Crew's era has irritated m to the point where I only catch it on occasion....it used to be no-miss TV.

No choice after this year now though I suppose....it'll be that, SC, whatever NBC puts out there or nothing....it's the less of the evils that'll get the job done.

[listopencil]

Yeah, i believe they signed a big fat deal to steal that one away.


I imagine they will just combine Prime Time with Monday Night Countdown.

[Sassy]

Cris Collinsworth was the only person in the national media who gave Denver a snowball's chance in hell in SB XXXII.
Not really...I've got most of that pre-game taped...Collingsworth was all over Favre and the Packers.

[maven]

Collingsworth was all over Favre and the Packers.

Are you sure it wasn't Madden nuttin over favre?

[mattleecrew]

I used to like Primetime to watch the highlights when the Broncos won. Around here it was the best highlights show. I've got the RMS news on my cable now so that is much better. I will not miss Berman's low growl announcing Primetime but I will miss Tom Jackson.

Only thing is you will probably get that low growl before , during and after MNF when they take it over.

[mattleecrew]

I imagine they will just combine Prime Time with Monday Night Countdown.


Probably something along those lines. Think Pete Rozelle and Roone Arledge ever imagined this when MNF was born? A show that gets an 8 year contract from espn for just over 1 bil a season.

[-Slap-]

Not really...I've got most of that pre-game taped...Collingsworth was all over Favre and the Packers.
I'm sure he was very complimentary to the defending champions and the winner of three straight MVPs, but he also had a lot of good things to say about Denver and the Duke. Most of the media thought the 12 1/2 point spread was just about right.

[TheManeMan]

Chris "Holier than thou" Collingsworth comes very close to sinking that show singlehandedly.

For me, that guy is very hard to tolerate for an entire hour.


I dont know...I dont watch the show for the announcers...I watch it for the highlights only...and they do a great job showing the highlights in a NFL Films type of way...

[Hogan11]

I dont know...I dont watch the show for the announcers...I watch it for the highlights only...and they do a great job showing the highlights in a NFL Films type of way...

The problem is the highlights are only taking up half the show....the announcers and their "anaylsis", "Where Are They Now" sob story and FF stuff take up the other collective half hour.

I don't watch it for them either, but they are unavoidable.

[listopencil]

Probably something along those lines. Think Pete Rozelle and Roone Arledge ever imagined this when MNF was born? A show that gets an 8 year contract from espn for just over 1 bil a season.


No kidding. I think Cosell really sold it with his highlights and with his abrasive personality. Now it's a big show. I have to admit I'm slightly annoyed that they keep special Monday night stats just to fluff it up. One Bil a season is some serious freaking cash. Kind of weird considering that ABC and ESPN have the same parent company, that Disney would allow them to directly compete. Unless it was planned out that way.

[mattleecrew]

No kidding. I think Cosell really sold it with his highlights and with his abrasive personality. Now it's a big show. I have to admit I'm slightly annoyed that they keep special Monday night stats just to fluff it up. One Bil a season is some serious freaking cash. Kind of weird considering that ABC and ESPN have the same parent company, that Disney would allow them to directly compete. Unless it was planned out that way.

Well unless it was more cost effective for ESPN to handle production and filming than having a separate group at abc handle it.

[watermock]

NFL Prime time may be heading into the sunset but we still have Stephen A. Smith and Lazy Eye cooler than the other side of the pillow Stewie along with the other assorted morons. It's literally becoming comedic.

[rbackfactory80]

Everything about prime time ruled, even the music. I will be upset now there is officially no other place to get in depth highlights of all sundays games.

[Hogan11]

NFL Prime time may be heading into the sunset but we still have Stephen A. Smith and Lazy Eye cooler than the other side of the pillow Stewie along with the other assorted morons. It's literally becoming comedic.

Not to mention Sharpe, Irvin and that hick Bradshaw to "liven" up each of the network pregame shows.

It's more "entertainment" than analysis.....sub-comedy store catch phrases over substance.

[Breck Bronc]

At least we won't have to deal with Michael Irvin. He makes my skin crawl.Irvin wasn't on NFL Primetime, squirt.

[Bronco9798]

Irvin wasn't on NFL Primetime, squirt.

Irvin was on Monday Night Countdown.

Berman and TJ did Primetime.

[gunns]

Only thing is you will probably get that low growl before , during and after MNF when they take it over.

I can handle almost anything after Madden being on there.

[Clockwork Orange]

They'll probably let Tom Jackson go and give Terrell Owens a weekly spot to talk about himself for an hour.

[ro_50]

Great, this is BS. That was a Sunday tradition for me since the early 90's when I was about 10. I'm 25 now. I always looked forward to the highlights on Sunday nights.

It was part of my traditional Sundays. Thanks Paul Tag.

[NW Bolt Fan]

Hang on. Inside the NFL on HBO is on Thursday nights. Ugh, I Need something for Sunday nights after all the games. At least I got Sunday Ticket. :-)
I wonder how calculated this move was by the NFL. During Primetime, they aired a show called "Football in America" which was, like high school football stories, etc. Then, they ran their own version of replay, so as not to 'compete' with ESPN, I'm sure. Now, they'll be free and clear to run their own gig.

NFL is becoming a little too big for their own britches. Competition is a good thing. Hope they don't meddle too much, and screw a good thing up.

[-Slap-]

NFL is becoming a little too big for their own britches. Competition is a good thing. Hope they don't meddle too much, and screw a good thing up.

http://www.orangemane.com/BB/showthread.php?t=28758&highlight=arrogance

[NW Bolt Fan]

http://www.orangemane.com/BB/showthread.php?t=28758&highlight=arrogance Tags is a complete idiot. Total puppet man, who's pimping out "the show" to who ever bids highest. I can only hope the game is a semblance of what it's been in the past, at the end of his tenure. It's already an absolute joke attending games for all the commercial breaks. Well Slap, I guess we can always hope ownership listens to the likes of The Rooneys...

[kent156]

no more primetime that sucks

[wabbit]

...It's already an absolute joke attending games for all the commercial breaks...

I recently played a VHS tape I had of that incredible play-off win over Houston back in...what...1990-91(?).

What struck me more than the game itself for some reason was the fact that the break-aways were limited to 'natural' breaks in the action...change of possession, end of quarter, end of half.

Breaks into the game itself did happen...a time-out called by Elway sent us off to a mind numbing stream of ads, but, there were only occasional ads between KO's, Punts & X-tra Points.

Anyone else notice now how we are bombarded with 3-4 minute breaks between kick-offs, punts & X-Tra Points for cryin' out loud...not to mention the 'REALLY' great network opportunity when there is a change of possession.

Locally, this last week, I noticed the local broadcast broke for commercials after a failed third down pass (2-3 minutes), then again after the punt & fair catch (4-5 minutes).

It is absolutely nuts, and I bet the wait alone kills momentum of one yteam or another.