NFL Media Notes: 16-Game Slate A Possibility For NFL Network?

With the NFL Network still looking for carriage on major cable systems, Cowboys Owner and NFL Network Committee Chair Jerry Jones said the eight regular-season games per season on the channel "are a very definitive attempt to say the NFL Network is here to stay. It’s long term, and if it’s not eight games, it could be 16” (N.Y. TIMES, 11/14).

FCC: FCC Chair Kevin Martin said yesterday that the FCC’s annual video competition report “determines that cable has ‘just over 70%’ penetration in cable homes passed.” Martin is reportedly “planning to use the so-called 70/70 test to re-regulate the cable industry,” which could help networks like NFL Network and Big Ten Network gain carriage.  However, while cable is available to more than 70% of U.S. homes, there is “a lot of doubt surrounding whether 70% of those homes actually have cable” (CABLEFAX DAILY, 11/14).

WATCH IT HERE: USA TODAY's Michael Hiestand notes starting with the NFL Network’s Colts-Falcons on Thanksgiving, coverage of the last eight games on the league’s channel will appear “live online at NFL.com and on Sprint subscribers’ video-enabled cellphones.” Coverage will “consist of look-ins rather than continuous action” (USA TODAY, 11/14).

Writer Discusses Young's Appearance In "MNF" Booth

CLOCK MANAGEMENT: In Dallas, Rick Gosselin noted NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell wants to “shorten NFL games so they squeeze into the three-hour window the television networks allow them,” but he “doesn’t appear to be winning that battle.” Season-to-date, 43 of 144 games have been played in under three hours, 95 have lasted between three and three-and-a-half hours, and six have run over three-and-a-half hours (DALLASNEWS.com, 11/13).

 YOUNG & RESTLESS: ESPN brought analyst Steve Young into the “MNF” booth for the fourth quarter of its 49ers-Seahawks broadcast this week, and in San Jose, John Ryan writes, “Only then, did the show get good.” Young and analyst Ron Jaworski had an “interesting discussion about finding and developing a quarterback.” Ryan: “This is the kind of discussion football fans … [beg] for on a weekly basis.” Instead, ESPN “gives us segments like Drew Carey’s stilted interview with brief six- to eight-second interludes for the actual game” (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 11/14).