Tribune Adds NFL to Station Slates in Eight Markets

Stations to share local rights with NFL Network

By Paige Albiniak -- Broadcasting & Cable, 6/3/2010 2:00:00 PM

Tribune Broadcasting has picked up the local broadcast rights to six late-season NFL Network football games, beginning with the Chicago Bears vs. Miami Dolphins on Thursday, Nov. 18. The agreement allows Tribune TV stations in eight NFL markets to carry the NFL Network telecast of the local team's Thursday Night Football game.

"In keeping with our commitment to offer the best programming, Tribune Broadcasting is extremely happy to be partnering with NFL Network to make these games available locally over-the-air to football fans and advertisers in the markets we serve," said Jerry Kersting, president of Tribune Broadcasting, in a statement. "There are some great match-ups here, with the potential to really affect who makes the playoffs -- these games will draw a lot of interest."

This is the third year that Tribune has partnered with the NFL Network to air professional football games in their local markets. Tribune paid cash plus barter time to acquire the games.

Tribune is looking to increase its sports programming across all of its markets, Tribune programming chief Sean Compton told B&C in an interview last month, and is acquiring sports rights from the high-school level on up.

The eight Tribune stations that will air games are: WPIX New York, WGN Chicago, WPHL Philadelphia, KIAH Houston, WSFL Miami, KDAF Dallas, KSWB San Diego and WXIN Indianapolis.

By NFL policy, ESPN and NFL Network games are carried on free, over-the-air television in the city of the visiting team and in the city where the game is played as long as it is sold out 72 hours in advance of kickoff.

The full schedule of games is as follows:

Chicago Bears v. Miami Dolphins: November 18, 2010, WGN Chicago, WSFL Miami
Cincinnati Bengals v. New York Jets: November 25, 2010, WPIX New York
Houston Texans v. Philadelphia Eagles: December 2, 2010, KIAH Houston, WPHL Philadelphia
Indianapolis Colts v. Tennessee Titans: December 9, 2010, WXIN Indianapolis
San Francisco 49ers v. San Diego Chargers: December 16, 2010, KSWB San Diego
Dallas Cowboys v. Arizona Cardinals: December 25, 2010, KDAF Phoenix