As we all know by now and some of us are still adjusting to, 2 years ago, NBC started broadcasting NFL Games on Sunday Night (formerly broadcast on ESPN). As Monday Night Football switched to a cable outlet (ESPN), Sunday Night Football has now become the "new Monday night". Here's what I mean by that:
While the ESPN broadcasts will have the MNF name and heritage, NBC (like ABC) is a broadcast network, whereas ESPN is a cable service not freely available to all Americans. For that reason, NBC gained rights to the Thursday night season opening game, the wild card doubleheader that has traditionally aired on ABC, as well as a share of the rotating rights to the Super Bowl (with CBS and FOX also in the mix). In short, NBC is now the most prestigious place to showcase the weeks NFL main event.
NBC also is the beneficiary of "Flexible Scheduling". For the final seven weeks of the season, the NFL has the flexibility in selecting games to air on Sunday night. This makes for the most compelling relevant matchups to be aired on NBC.
There are also several similarities in NBC's Sunday Night Football telecast to the old ABC Monday Night Football (now on ESPN). This further makes Sunday Night Football the "new Monday night"........
For one, NBC has the broadcasters formally on ABC in John Madden, Al Michaels and Andrea Kremer. Also, NBC has a graphic of starters introducing themselves much like ABC did in the past. NBC's SNF has the "horse trailer MVP". The idea originated on ABC's MNF. Another similarity is the rousing introduction that MNF used to be known for with Hank Williams Jr. singing the theme song. Instead of Williams Jr. though, NBC's SNF now has their own opening theme song, which is a reworking of the Joan Jett song, "I Hate Myself For Loving You" retitled, "Waiting All Day For Sunday Night".
Which brings me to my main topic of discussion: The Sunday Night Football Theme Intro! I wasn't so sure about it at first, but over the last 2 years, I've grown rather fond of it. Call it a guilty pleasure, but I love the intro by NBC. Everything from the John Williams composed instrumental theme, to the reworked Joan Jett theme song. It all works for me! In '06 it was sung by Pink. In '07 it was sung by Faith Hill. The Hank Williams Jr. theme for MNF was a piece of nostalgia from the ABC days. It pumped you up and let the crowd know that you were about to watch something really special. I now feel the same about NBC's theme. I even like that they switch up the celebrity singer every year, yet keep the song the same.
Now the ultimate question: For year 3, who does NBC select as the theme intro singer in '08?
While the ESPN broadcasts will have the MNF name and heritage, NBC (like ABC) is a broadcast network, whereas ESPN is a cable service not freely available to all Americans. For that reason, NBC gained rights to the Thursday night season opening game, the wild card doubleheader that has traditionally aired on ABC, as well as a share of the rotating rights to the Super Bowl (with CBS and FOX also in the mix). In short, NBC is now the most prestigious place to showcase the weeks NFL main event.
NBC also is the beneficiary of "Flexible Scheduling". For the final seven weeks of the season, the NFL has the flexibility in selecting games to air on Sunday night. This makes for the most compelling relevant matchups to be aired on NBC.
There are also several similarities in NBC's Sunday Night Football telecast to the old ABC Monday Night Football (now on ESPN). This further makes Sunday Night Football the "new Monday night"........
For one, NBC has the broadcasters formally on ABC in John Madden, Al Michaels and Andrea Kremer. Also, NBC has a graphic of starters introducing themselves much like ABC did in the past. NBC's SNF has the "horse trailer MVP". The idea originated on ABC's MNF. Another similarity is the rousing introduction that MNF used to be known for with Hank Williams Jr. singing the theme song. Instead of Williams Jr. though, NBC's SNF now has their own opening theme song, which is a reworking of the Joan Jett song, "I Hate Myself For Loving You" retitled, "Waiting All Day For Sunday Night".
Which brings me to my main topic of discussion: The Sunday Night Football Theme Intro! I wasn't so sure about it at first, but over the last 2 years, I've grown rather fond of it. Call it a guilty pleasure, but I love the intro by NBC. Everything from the John Williams composed instrumental theme, to the reworked Joan Jett theme song. It all works for me! In '06 it was sung by Pink. In '07 it was sung by Faith Hill. The Hank Williams Jr. theme for MNF was a piece of nostalgia from the ABC days. It pumped you up and let the crowd know that you were about to watch something really special. I now feel the same about NBC's theme. I even like that they switch up the celebrity singer every year, yet keep the song the same.
Now the ultimate question: For year 3, who does NBC select as the theme intro singer in '08?
