Sunday will see an "unprecedented doubleheader of daytime NFL action on network television ... with CBS and Fox each showing two games nationally," beginning with Lions-Falcons from London at 9:30am ET on Fox, according to Dan Caesar of the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH. The NFL is "experimenting with an early kickoff in U.S. time," which will "provide an aspect for the NFL similar to the 'Breakfast at Wimbledon' telecasts." The game in London "will be the 10th regular-season contest the NFL has staged there ... but the first to start in the afternoon local time and early morning in North America." The London kickoffs had previously been at 6:00pm there "to coincide with the usual starting time of the first batch of games in the U.S." (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 10/24). THE MMQB's Peter King writes there "is no doubt that this is an interesting TV chemistry experiment." Not only is the NFL "watching closely, but also FOX and CBS." Sunday morning "is a potential fourth Sunday window, and you can be sure if viewers flock to this game that at least one game a year from London will start at this insane hour." The NFL is "eyeing the massive TV audience east of the Mississippi" to see if it "has an appetite for an early game." A half-hour edition of Fox' pregame show will start at 9:00am ET previewing the Lions-Falcons game "and not much else." After the game from London, an "abbreviated Fox pregame show happens before the early-window games" (MMQB.SI.com, 10/24).
CHANGING THE PREGAME PLAN: CBS, ESPN and NFL Network plan to make slight tweaks to their NFL pregame shows Sunday, as they will run up against a live NFL game for the first time. "This is unique," ESPN Senior Coordinating Producer Seth Markman said. "This is the first time I can remember this happening." NFL Network Exec Producer Eric Weinberger said his network is planning a halftime show that will coincide with halftime of Lions-Falcons. NFL Network also will have a postgame-style show when it ends. "I told our guys to make sure we are on the air with something every time that game goes into commercial," Weinberger said. "When commercials hit during the game, we want fans to come over and tune into us." Markman said ESPN also will try to schedule halftime and postgame shows around the game. But he added, "It's hard to predict when that game will be in commercial. We don't want to get everyone in our studio so crazy following that. We're still going to have a dedicated, loyal audience who aren't fans of the Falcons or Lions." Still, Markman acknowledged that ratings would be lower this Sunday, as did CBS Sports Chair Sean McManus. "Our pregame ratings this week will take a turn for the worse this Sunday," McManus said. "But for our guys in the studio, it will be exactly the same as every other Sunday" (John Ourand, Staff Writer).
STREAK SNAPPED: In Detroit, Angelique Chengelis notes Lions radio play-by-play announcer Jim Brandstatter "has not missed working a game" in 28 years, but that streak will end Sunday. Brandstatter, who also calls Univ. of Michigan football games, will call UM's game "from Michigan State on Saturday afternoon, but will not be able to pull off the doubleheader as he always has done." With the Lions "playing early Sunday in London, he logistically can't make the trip." Rob Rubick "will fill in for Brandstatter as the analyst" on WXYT-FM for the Lions game "with Dan Miller on the play-by-play" (DETROIT NEWS, 10/24).
