TSN's CFL Scheduling.

Within a two hour period yesterday, I had two people ask me why the football game in Winnipeg on Sunday started at 11 AM our time and why would the CFL play on the first Sunday of the NFL season. The reason is a simple one.
TSN dictates the schedule now that they are the official network of the league. TSN was left with many programs to get out on the network and left the CFL with no choice but to put the Riders/Bombers at noon. They have a contract with the NFL to show games, they have a contract with whoever to show the US Open Tennis Tournament. There was no other place to put the football game except having it on early Sunday. With all the other inventory that the network has, they have to try and jam in everything.

As for going head to head against the first Sunday of the NFL, I understand that some football fans (especially those in southern Ontario) will probably watch the NFL first. I admit that had it not been the Riders playing Sunday, I likely wouldn't have watched the CFL as I would be ankle-deep in Sunday Ticket. However, what is the CFL supposed to do? They already gave us a double header on Saturday, and while they could have given us a tripleheader by having the Bomber-Rider game Saturday night or move the Lions game to Saturday night thus giving the Bombers-Riders a Saturday afternoon start. However, I believe the Bombers do something very similar to what the Riders do as far as a family fun day on the Saturday before. Winnipeg isn't giving that up.

I think its also a sign from Commissioner Marc Cohon that he is confident enough in his league with the TV numbers that are given that enough will still watch his product. I don't think Cohon is snubbing his nose at the NFL. He is just sending the message that he isn't going to let the big bully (the NFL) affect his game in any way. If the TV numbers start to show Sunday viewership is in decline, he and the network may do something, but I don't see that happening anytime soon.
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Super Bowl contenders like the Vikings, Colts, Chargers and Cowboys are 0-1 to start the NFL season. I wonder if some people have jumped off the bandwagons of those teams.
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To those in Edmonton who are against the hiring of Eric Tillman, I ask you what your thoughts were on Craig MacTavish coaching the Oilers and what are your thoughts are allowing Nikolai Khabibulin back on the ice a-s-a-p.
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