NBC
Brings Social Media to the Sidelines
If
you caught my post about The
Newsroom (or even better, watch the show) you got a taste of how intricate
and pressure-packed a television broadcast can be. Producers are under rigorous
time constraints and have to adhere to strict formatting guidelines to allot
enough time for the game, and ridiculously expensive advertising. As a result
of these restrictions, commentators can only air brief segments with their
sideline reporters; and these reporters often have the inside scoop on what’s occurring
down on the field. To compensate for their lack of available time, NBC is
utilizing Twitter and Instagram in-game. Filming spots from the sideline and also
manually updating, reporter Michelle Tafoya is updating the handle @SNFonNBC with details that would
otherwise never appear during the broadcast. This brings important information
such as injury updates and player comments right to the user.
Fantasy
Continues to Bring Ratings
Would
you sit at a bar on a Sunday afternoon to watch a matchup of the Cleveland
Browns and Arizona Cardinals if you weren’t a fan? I didn’t think so; I wouldn’t
wish that kind of weekend on anyone. I’ve always compared fantasy football to a
jock’s version of Dungeons and Dragons, but you cannot deny the impact that the
online stat-game has on the NFL’s ratings. Instead of scoffing at yet another
Carson Palmer interception and changing the channel, millions of football
enthusiasts find themselves watching games that they would normally deem ‘The
Stinkbowl’ just to ensure a weekly victory for their team. It really is a
brilliant racket by the National Football League, and the popularity of fantasy
football has brought a viewership to the game that otherwise would spend Sunday
cleaning.
What
Will Become of the Referees?
With
the NFL referee lockout still ongoing, the league’s top brass were forced to
enter the season with replacements. There has not been much in the way of
negotiating progress as the group of officials is firm in their stance of
better pay and not being required to quit second jobs. From all accounts, the
replacements did a serviceable job in their first week, but that will not stop
commentators from blaming officials if a call doesn’t go their way. What will
the NFL do once the lockout is ended? Will some replacement refs be permanently
added to the payroll? This will be an interesting story to follow as it
continues to develop.
There
you have it: just a few of the trending storylines surrounding the NFL’s 93rd
season. So don your beverage helmet and team-gear and get ready for what will prove
to be an eventful few months in the football world.
-Carter Breazeale
PR/PR Public Relations
