With the NFL Network already controlling eight of those, it gives the league a new eight-game package to sell. According to the Sports Business Journal, it's already making sales calls.
The league is shopping the early-season package to interested networks. Sources said the league currently has the rights to take enough games from CBS and Fox's Sunday afternoon schedules to fill the new eight-game package and does not have to wait for those contracts to expire after the 2013 season.
Who are the contenders? Well, the SBJ says there are already two bidders more serious than the others. Turner Broadcasting would love to have it, and could put the package on TBS, TNT or truTV, while Comcast would like to buy it and put it on Versus.
Also in the mix could be FX, Spike TV and ESPN.
TNT's been down this road before. In the '90s, it did Sunday night games for the first half of the season, with ESPN handling them during the second half. I'm not in love with the idea of Thursday night games year-round, but if someone's got to have them, I'm pulling for TNT. Its NBA work, both in the studio and during games, is as good as anything else on TV.
I'm not sure how the NFL can start selling this before the new CBA even exists, but I guess I'll take SBJ's word for it. If nothing else, it seems like it's a pretty solid indication that this is going to happen.
Amerie Rachel Bilson Karen Carreno Bijou Phillips Marika Dominczyk
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