5 suggestions to improve the NFL
By John Buhler
The NFL mostly gets it right, but here are five suggestions the league should consider to make its on-the-field product better overall.
Some people love to nitpick minute issues with how the NFL conducts its business. The truth is that it has done a phenomenal job of making it a 365 day a year league by staying relevant nationally year round.
Obviously, there is still room for growth both internationally and domestic for the product we enjoy on fall Sundays. Here are five minor tweaks the NFL could do make its product even better.
5. Ensure four 4:00 p.m. ET games every week
Even on weeks when six teams are on byes, there is no reason for the NFL to not have four games in the 4:00 p.m. ET slot. This will help football fans that paid to for the Red Zone Channel get the most out of their purchase.
By doing this, it makes West Coast football fans feel more included as viewers than they are right now. Having four 1:00 p.m. PT start times would allow people on the West Coast to still enjoy football on a Sunday, even if they happen to sleep in or have other stuff going on in the morning.
Not every 4:00 p.m. ET game has to be on the West Coast. Because it is a later start time, it makes fans of East Coast and Midwest teams feel like their game is more special than it probably is. It’s a perception thing. Frankly, it will get more eyes on a television set than a 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff would.
Both CBS and FOX will still get their 4:00 p.m. ET game of the weeks. Maybe the NFL Network could simulcast a game at that time to further boost ratings?
Red Zone Channel folks would get the four games at the same time they covet. People that enjoy football on cable would have seemingly three of the four games to choose from. Having four 4:00 p.m. ET games makes the NFL even more accessible than it already is.