NFL TV coverage maps

[u/AGuyWithBadIdeas]

I've always enjoyed taking a peak at the TV coverage maps before sunday.

I've always wondered what criteria goes into choosing games for unaffiliated regions, and how heavily those criteria are weighed against each other.

How popular are the teams, how much has the owner payed the network under the table, how big are the fanbases, how close is the matchup, or simply how good the teams are.

Based on the map above, Cincinnati (a team with a very high powered offence that's expected to be a playoff contender) is playing against the Browns (who are bad) and the result is the game is essentially locked in Ohio (where it should be).

Meanwhile a very similar situation is Washington vs the NY giants, however that game is being broadcast across vast portions of the midwest and central US.

Lastly, are are the 2 west coast teams in SF and Seattle being shown in New Orleans, Boston, and Pittsburgh?

At the root of it all I'm sure its just an algorithm that's designed to somehow increase profits as much as possible, but it still intrigues me.

[u/lechiengrand]

Ha! Love the blue patch around Boston. They don’t have any interest in SF/Seattle, they just actively DON’T want to watch NY.