Television programs
Virtual slime cannons go off in the end zone after a touchdown during Nickelodeon's kid-focused broadcast of the NFL wild-card playoff game between the Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints at the Superdome, Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021 in New Orleans. The positive reviews for Nickelodeon's kids-focused broadcast of last Sunday's NFL playoff game showed the potential of alternate broadcasts of sporting events. The success of that broadcast has led to many wondering what other sports it could expand to and when we might see it again in the NFL? (CBS/Viacom via AP)
NFL wild-card games show potential for alternate broadcasts

By Joe Reedy Jan. 14, 2021 03:17 AM EST

Extra wild-card games lead to diluted ratings for NFL

Jan. 12, 2021 09:18 PM EST
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Two additional games on wild-card weekend resulted in somewhat diluted ratings for the NFL. The six games averaged 25.1...

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) reacts after throwing a touchdown pass to Michael Thomas in the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Chicago Bears in New Orleans, Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Brett Duke)
The Latest: Browns open 28-0 lead over Steelers

By The Associated Press Jan. 10, 2021 12:22 PM EST

The seats in the end zone are empty at Lambeau Field during the national anthem before an NFL football game between the Green Bay Packers and the Tennessee Titans Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
NFL increasing inventory for ad sales during playoff games

By Joe Reedy Jan. 08, 2021 05:22 PM EST

A worker cleans seats in Arrowhead Stadium before an NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Even with empty stadiums, NFL still a ratings monster

By Joe Reedy Jan. 07, 2021 07:01 PM EST

ESPN using MegaCast treatment for Sunday's NFL playoff game

Jan. 04, 2021 11:55 AM EST
BRISTOL, Conn. (AP) — ESPN's broadcast of Sunday's NFL wild-card playoff game between the Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans will receive the MegaCast...

FILE - In this Nov. 5, 2017, file photo, CBS football analyst Tony Romo walks across the field during warmups before an NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas. Romo will not be in the broadcast booth on the final day of the NFL regular season Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, after being sidelined by due to “COVID-19 protocols,” the network said. CBS Sports posted the news with a short tweet on its “CBS Sports PR” Twitter feed on Saturday. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth, File)
Romo out of broadcast booth due to COVID-19 protocols

Jan. 02, 2021 09:43 PM EST

FILE - Vanderbilt kicker Sarah Fuller walks along the sideline during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Tennessee in Nashville, in this Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, file photo. (AP Photo/Wade Payne, File)
Breakthroughs come on, off field in 2020 for women's sports

By Eric Olson Dec. 31, 2020 04:08 PM EST

Charissa Thompson, left, Tony Gonzalez, center, and Michael Vick discuss NFL topics on the set of Fox NFL Kickoff during a 2019 show. The pregame show, like those on other networks, have had their challenges this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.(Lily Hernandez/FOX NFL Kickoff via AP)
'Fox NFL Kickoff' weathers challenges faced by pregame shows

By Joe Reedy Dec. 31, 2020 02:47 AM EST

FILE - This is a 1970 file photo showing Chicago Bears football player Gale Sayers. Sports in 2020 was an unending state of mourning. Football lost a big piece of its heart: Don Shula, Gale Sayers, Paul Hornung, Bobby Mitchell.(AP Photo/File)
From Kobe to Maradona, a year of staggering losses in sports

By Fred Lief Dec. 29, 2020 12:54 PM EST

FILE - In this Sept. 5, 2019, file photo, NBC sportscaster Mike Tirico works the sidelines during an NFL football game between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears in Chicago. Despite last-minute schedule changes, pregame features being done remotely and announcers being separated by more than six feet and plexiglass, networks have been able to weather the challenges of airing games during a pandemic. (AP Photo/Jeff Haynes, File)
Behind the screen: How networks have adjusted to airing NFL

By Joe Reedy Dec. 23, 2020 02:40 AM EST

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott, center, is brought down by a host of Baltimore Ravens defenders during the second half of an NFL football game, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Twin football games leads Fox to ratings win

By David Bauder Dec. 15, 2020 06:05 PM EST

Steve Kornacki provides a look at possibilities for the NFL playoffs during NBC's Football Night in America on Dec. 6, 2020, in New York. Kornacki, who was become a breakout star for his work on analyzing during the presidential election on MSNBC, will be on NBC's pregame show during the rest of the season. (NBC Sports via AP)
NBC's Kornacki brings expertise to NFL playoff picture

By Joe Reedy Dec. 11, 2020 06:23 PM EST

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws a pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
On Football: Big games ahead on the NFL schedule -- maybe

By Barry Wilner Dec. 04, 2020 02:24 PM EST

ABC will air 2 'Monday Night Football' games in December

Nov. 30, 2020 02:49 PM EST
BRISTOL, Conn. (AP) — ESPN has announced that two “Monday Night Football” games in December will be simulcast on ABC. ABC will air the...

FILE - In this May 3, 2017, file photo, Los Angeles Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully speaks during his induction into the team's Ring of Honor prior to a baseball game between the Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants, in Los Angeles. Retired Baseball Hall of Fame broadcaster Scully turned 93 on Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, and marked the day by watching football. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully turns 93

Nov. 29, 2020 09:12 PM EST

CBS weighs options in case of Masters/NFL conflict Sunday

By Joe Reedy Nov. 13, 2020 10:26 AM EST
In a year in which few things are normal, CBS has been weighing contingencies if the Masters isn’t over by 4 p.m. EST on Sunday. The...

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) looks for a receiver during an NFL game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020 in Tampa, Fla. The Saints defeated the Buccaneers 38-3. (Margaret Bowles via AP)
NFL television ratings see 6% decline at midseason point

By Joe Reedy Nov. 12, 2020 01:46 PM EST

Dallas Cowboys' Garrett Gilbert (3) warms up before an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020, in Philadelphia. The Cowboys will have their fourth different starting quarterback of the season against undefeated Pittsburgh with Andy Dalton unavailable because of COVID-19 protocols. Coach Mike McCarthy said Wednesday he was benching rookie Ben DiNucci in favor of either Garrett Gilbert or Cooper Rush. Gilbert and Rush will compete for the job in practice, and one will start Sunday at home against the Steelers (7-0).(AP Photo/Rich Schultz)
Cowboys' Gilbert appears set for 1st NFL start vs. Steelers

Nov. 07, 2020 05:57 PM EST

FILE - In this Oct. 25, 2020, file photo, Detroit Lions linebacker Jamie Collins signals touchdown as Atlanta Falcons running back Todd Gurley tries to stop short of the end zone to control the final minutes of the clock in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Atlanta. Against a conceding opponent, whose only hope was to take advantage of a ballcarrier's natural inclination to find the end zone, Penn State and the Falcons inadvertently took the bait and ended up losing games they pretty much had wrapped up. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, File)
Do Not Score! How to avoid touchdowns defenses celebrate

By Ralph D. Russo Oct. 30, 2020 02:06 AM EDT