MGB01 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 12, 2023 3:20 pm
Tank55 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 12, 2023 9:05 am
The July 3rd game is on CBS? I'm not following what parts of this stuff is confirmed, rumor, or just your speculation.
Very not sure that being talked about on CBSSN is better than not being talked on ESPN+, but if they get some games on the real network, that would definitely be something.
CBS ran the SRX series the last two years on Saturday nights, which this year moves over to ESPN Thursdays. So that leaves a vacancy, but would "Saturday night CFL" be a thing for a few weeks?
I mean getting on US network TV, which hasn't been done in ages (IIRC CBS did have some conversations with them after they lost the NFL in the mid 90s) would be the one thing that sweetens the pot, but the majority of games would be CBSSN. After all, I don't really see CBS rushing to put the CFL on the weekend that NBC has the British Open (plus they'd have to move the game up to the afternoon anyway). Plus they have all three PGA tour playoff events this year so it's not like they have all these openings.
"CFL Saturday Nights" would work in the US during the Summer months. Stock Car Racing has more older demographics than Baseball. CFL Football on CBSSN would still bring more viewers over from ESPN's SRX Series on Thursday night because America loves Football.
The CFL is hoping to expand to ten teams(Halifax or Quebec City perhaps?). Once they get that tenth team for a balance schedule and dropping a bye week, it shortens the league schedule by one week. Then it looks to US markets for expansions, three, but no more than four US teams(Chi., Det. and Buff.) in Northern US states near the Canadian Border. US expansion brings in new fans and gambling money to CFL and CBS's gambling partners.
CBS can still market CFL games in Primetime Sunday night timeslots since Golf Tournaments finish up in late afternoons. In fact CBS could use those Majors as a lead in for CFL Football
A lot of options for CBS to utilize than what ESPN ignored