Saints-Rams in Week 12 will undergo a "'cross-flex' maneuver" that takes it out of Fox’ Sunday singleheader window and gives it to CBS as part of that net's national window on Nov. 26, according Tom Hoffarth of the L.A. DAILY NEWS. The NFL did not flex Packers-Steelers out of the Week 12 "SNF" window, as that matchup "involves two of the NFL’s marquee franchises" -- although it "lost some luster" with the season-ending injury to QB Aaron Rodgers. Bears-Packers last week "helped solidify its value to NBC." The league also announced that in Week 12, Titans-Colts would move from CBS' regional window to Fox' singleheader, and in Week 13, Panthers-Saints moves to Fox' Sunday national window. Broncos-Dolphins in Week 13 "will also move to Fox in a flex-cross move." Making a change from one game to another "isn’t as simple as factoring into the teams involved with better records or larger TV markets." Teams "may appear in a prime-time game on ESPN, NBC or NFL Network a maximum of six times." No team can be on NBC "more than four times" from Weeks 1-16. Starting with Week 11, CBS and Fox can "protect one game from flex scheduling in five of the following six weeks." No games "can be protected in Week 17" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 11/15).
EYEBALLS OVER VALUE: SI.com's Jacob Feldman writes the decision to keep the Packers-Steelers Week 12 matchup over the Rams-Saints game speaks to the "stakeholders' priorities." Ratings "feel more important for the NFL than ever before." That has put an "ever bigger spotlight on programming decisions, and this year, the choice is stark." In the NFC, all four current division leaders -- the Rams, Saints, Vikings, and Eagles -- "finished third or last in their divisions a year ago," and Saints QB Drew Brees is the "only superstar QB among the bunch." Feldman: "So, needing to lure viewers, will the league and broadcasters cling to pre-scheduled brand-name franchises, or will they try to pitch America on the upstarts?" (SI.com, 11/15).
THIRSTY FOR THURSDAYS: PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Michael David Smith noted Titans-Steelers on "TNF" tomorrow will use the SkyCam angle from behind the offense as the "primary camera angle," however, it "won't be the only camera angle." "TNF" Exec Producer Fred Gaudelli said that some plays "will be shown from the traditional camera angle, particularly when the down and distance calls for it." Gaudelli: "Once we’re inside the red zone we’re going to show it from the conventional camera. ... We want to try to be smart about it and not just say ‘Here’s SkyCam come hell or high water'" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 11/14).
