2008 CFL Schedule is out - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

ken0042 · 02-21-2008, 07:46 AM

http://www.cfl.ca/index.php?module=s...view&year=2008

Just going to have a look at it now. Looks like I have to sit through another cold day to watch my Bombers lose at Mcmahon.

Also looks like fewer Sunday games in the fall than previous years. Good- stop trying to compete with the NFL.

Cowboy89 · 02-21-2008, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

http://www.cfl.ca/index.php?module=s...view&year=2008

Just going to have a look at it now. Looks like I have to sit through another cold day to watch my Bombers lose at Mcmahon.

Also looks like fewer Sunday games in the fall than previous years. Good- stop trying to compete with the NFL.

Yeah except look at how many 8:00 PM local starts the Stamps, Eskies and Riders have for home games all in the name of TV. I like Summer games where it's nice and warm/hot, however in Calgary/Edmonton by the time 10 PM rolls around it's jacket weather most of the time and you've still got an extra quarter to watch if it must start at 8:00. However on the positive side I imagine there's plenty of time to go out to dinner before the game and get good and lubricated for the game.

The Stamps play the Riders in Regina at 8:00 PM local on October 3. Sask being the farthest east of that time zone and it might get unduely cold for fans just because it had to start at 8PM to show to a national audience when it's a late game for both city's local viewership, which I imagine would be larger than the rest of the country combined.

JohnnyFlame · 02-21-2008, 11:43 AM

June 26th and Aug 2nd go on my sked. Lions and Roughriders at home.

ken0042 · 02-21-2008, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

Yeah except look at how many 8:00 PM local starts the Stamps, Eskies and Riders have for home games all in the name of TV.

Didn't notice that. And most of the double header games are on Thursdays too. Which is odd considering how much TSN has made Friday Night Football a tradition for so many people.

Also makes it a late night for people who have to work on Friday. It takes me about an hour to get to my car and drive home after the game ends. That would get me home closer to midnight.

At least the Stamps only have one of those late Thursday games. (At home anyways.)

Cowboy89 · 02-21-2008, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

Didn't notice that. And most of the double header games are on Thursdays too. Which is odd considering how much TSN has made Friday Night Football a tradition for so many people.

Also makes it a late night for people who have to work on Friday. It takes me about an hour to get to my car and drive home after the game ends. That would get me home closer to midnight.

At least the Stamps only have one of those late Thursday games. (At home anyways.)

You know considering how family friendly and affordable the CFL is you'd think late night starts like this could start affecting season ticket sales. As a single guy I'll just complain but I'll still buy season's tickets and go to all the games. I can see people with children aged 5-12 that would otherwise buy season's opt for just buying single game tickets for better start times.

arloiginla · 02-21-2008, 04:14 PM

Whats with all the Thursday games

flip · 02-21-2008, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arloiginla

Whats with all the Thursday games

Ratings. Friday and Saturday nights people are usually out so it's harder to draw crowds for the CFL.

although I don't agree with avoiding Sundays. After Labour day most prairie games should be Sunday at 1 or 2pm. Screw competing with the NFL the Cfl destroys them ratings wise in Canada. (except TSN shows a lot of NFL so they might not like Sunday)

ken0042 · 02-22-2008, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flip

After Labour day most prairie games should be Sunday at 1 or 2pm. Screw competing with the NFL the Cfl destroys them ratings wise in Canada.

I would be interested to see those numbers, as I would have guessed the NFL out draws the CFL when the games are in the same time slot. I do believe that more people watch a Friday night CFL game than a Sunday afternoon NFL game. But no matter what the numbers are, the fact still remains that you will split the viewership by putting the games on at the same time as the NFL. I know I've even missed Bomber games to watch the NFL in the past; and if it's a Esks-Argos game on Sunday I might check the score after.

In my mind the CFL has really missed doing something right with the schedule. One of the things that makes the NFL so successful is you always know when the games are on. The one consistancy the CFL has is Friday nights; which is also its biggest draw. Rather than looking at those two items they seem to always be tweaking the schedule every year to try and find the right mix. They also put too much emphasis on appealing to the cottage going crowd. All they need to do is this:

Thurday Night
Friday Night Double Header
Saturday late afternoon.

Make sure that Saturday game isn't in Toronto/Hamilton/Winnipeg and air it on CBC so people at the cottage can watch it using rabbit ears.

MelBridgeman · 02-22-2008, 11:18 AM

I heard that CFL TV ratings are higher in Canada than the NFL...maybe that was spinned..but i heard it..

soulchoice · 02-22-2008, 02:18 PM

Regardless of whether the CFL has higher ratings than the NFL, they would still lose viewers if competing in the same time slot as the NFL. Hence any loss of fans/viewers is not a good thing for the league.

ken0042 · 05-21-2008, 08:22 AM

I was just having a look at the schedule, and it appears that TSN/RDS will be the exclusive TV broadcaster of the CFL this season.

I know TSN had picked up the rights, but I was under the impression that some of the games would still be on CBC. Not that I mind; I really prefer watching games on TSN.

Bench Warmer · 05-21-2008, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

I was just having a look at the schedule, and it appears that TSN/RDS will be the exclusive TV broadcaster of the CFL this season.

I know TSN had picked up the rights, but I was under the impression that some of the games would still be on CBC. Not that I mind; I really prefer watching games on TSN.

TSN got exclusive rights to the games - including the Grey Cup - starting this year.

worth · 05-22-2008, 10:50 AM

For 5 years at least. Hopefully this move works out of the CFL and the Fans. There have been fan created rumors that TNS won't show all the games, or wants to preempt games for NFL football.

We'll have to wait and see how they do this year, but as long as they broadcast all the games, i'll be happy.

I'm thinking all games need to be broadcasted regardless because the league uses those cameras for challenges on replays. If they don't broadcast the game, there are no cameras in the buildings and therefore no challenges possible.

ken0042 · 05-27-2008, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by worth

For 5 years at least. Hopefully this move works out of the CFL and the Fans. There have been fan created rumors that TSN won't show all the games, or wants to preempt games for NFL football.

Well, the CFL has mandated that all games must be broadcast- as you said the reason is to allow for video review. That was mandated prior to TSN getting the latest contract, so I cannot see that changing.

As for an NFL game pre-empting a CFL game; it's really up to the league to make sure that doesn't happen to not schedule CFL games at a time that TSN has the rights for NFL games. So in other words, no Sunday nights for now. And if TSN gets Sunday afternoon NFL rights, then no more Sunday games in the fall.

And I think this would be a good move for the CFL, as I know as much as I watch my Friday Night Football, if there's a CFL game on at the same time as an NFL game, my attention is certainly divided.