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Originally Posted by mooby
What goes into it from ESPN's end? From the story, it sounds like ESPN puts in requests for what games it wants, and then the NFL decides who gets what games.
Also, not sure if you can answer this, but does the NFL decide on the weekly schedule first and then decide what games will be the primetime matchups?
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Yeah ESPN will build out multiple scenarios/schedules. Taking into account various factors.
There is a lot of back and forth with ESPN and the league (and indirectly the other networks). For example, let's say the NFL tells NBC we want that Bucanneers vs. Falcons game in early October because ESPN working on renewing a deal with the cable affiliate in Tampa and we want to apply some pressure marketing and heavy advertising in October, then the NFL will come back to ESPN and say "that Ravens game you wanted in November, NBC wants that now in exchange for giving you the Tampa game."
Or Fox could say we've got no room on the schedule for a 1pm Dolphins game and Miami doesn't want it at 4pm because the Heat are already playing at home and traffic would be a mess, so the NFL puts them on the road that week and so on.
Ultimately, it's what the NFL wants to do. But there is a lot of back and forth negotiating.
There are also contractual obligations regarding prime time games. Some that are known, like max number of prime time games for each team. Others that are not as well known, such as geographic obligations.