Week 15 Afternoon Start Times

[RiverDog]

This could fall into the category of useless trivia or who gives a rip, but I noticed something odd about this weekend's afternoon kickoff times, ie the 1pm PT window. First of all, there are 5 games in this time slot, which is more than usual, and secondly, they all scheduled for a 1:25pm kickoff. As a rule, they stagger the afternoon kickoff times at 1:05, 1:15, and 1:25, I assume to benefit TV networks, so all the games don't go to halftime at the same time and that they stagger the endings.

I assumed that they might be doing this to prevent teams from taking a peek at the scoreboard and making decisions to pull starters based on the scores of current games. But the following weekend has two games kicking off at 1:05 and two at 1:25.

I also wonder why they don't stagger the morning kickoffs, ie the 10am PT window, like they do with the afternoon time slot.

Any thoughts?

 

[sutz]

This could fall into the category of useless trivia or who gives a rip, but I noticed something odd about this weekend's afternoon kickoff times, ie the 1pm PT window. First of all, there are 5 games in this time slot, which is more than usual, and secondly, they all scheduled for a 1:25pm kickoff. As a rule, they stagger the afternoon kickoff times at 1:05, 1:15, and 1:25, I assume to benefit TV networks, so all the games don't go to halftime at the same time and that they stagger the endings.

I assumed that they might be doing this to prevent teams from taking a peek at the scoreboard and making decisions to pull starters based on the scores of current games. But the following weekend has two games kicking off at 1:05 and two at 1:25.

I also wonder why they don't stagger the morning kickoffs, ie the 10am PT window, like they do with the afternoon time slot.

Any thoughts?

Later time slot is adjusted when it is the 2nd game of a double header to allow for the first game to finish because most games don't fit into the 3 hr window well, plus allowing for an OT period if applicable. Doesn't apply to 10am games.

I don't remember ever seeing a 1:15 kickoff. Maybe that's just me.

 

[DTiempo81]

I don't remember ever seeing a 1:15 kickoff. Maybe that's just me.

The two afternoons time slots used to be 1:05PM and 1:15PM (PT), but the NFL adjusted that around 2012 to reduce the number of TV cutoffs.

 

[RiverDog]

Later time slot is adjusted when it is the 2nd game of a double header to allow for the first game to finish because most games don't fit into the 3 hr window well, plus allowing for an OT period if applicable. Doesn't apply to 10am games.

I don't remember ever seeing a 1:15 kickoff. Maybe that's just me.

Good point about the first game finishing before the 2nd game starts. But it still doesn't explain why they would schedule all 5 games this weekend for a 1:25pm start then next week start two at 1:05pm.

Also, I think that part of the rationale for the staggered start times is so all the games don't go to halftime at the same time, and that would apply to the 10am window just as it does the afternoon time slots. Perhaps they figure that they have so many games in the earlier time slot that the odds of all of them going to halftime is lower?

I think you're right about the 1:15pm kickoffs.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

For home games, I always want the 1:05 start time. Gets you home a little earlier, usually. For road game, I like 1:25, lets you finish the early Red Zone window.

 

[Appyhawk]

Staggering start and end times....god forbid they lose any commercial slots to simultaneous presentations.

 

[DTiempo81]

Staggering start and end times....god forbid they lose any commercial slots to simultaneous presentations.

It was less about commercial slots and more so about TV contracts and subsequently cutting off games. Stations are required to air the local broadcast, and when games run long (which they often do) they are obligated to cut off the earlier game to move to the local afternoon game. This also happens with the nationally televised game. Before they made this switch around 2012 something like 10% of the early games were being cut off for the late local markets or nationally televised game. With the switch to 1:25PM, it is down to 1% or less.

So, more football, less pissed off fans. I'll take that any day even if it means a couple more commercials.