Doubleheader (television)
Encyclopedia
Doubleheader is used by network television to refer to two games in any sport aired back-to-back on the same network, even though they do not involve the same two teams (three such games may be referred to as a tripleheader, this scenario being encountered most frequently in basketball
). A doubleheader purposely coincides with a league's scheduling of "early" and "late" games. In North America
, games usually start at the same time period in different time zones (Eastern
and Pacific
).
(NFL) games usually start around 1 p.m. local time, creating a 1 p.m/4 p.m doubleheader in the Eastern Time Zone and a 10 a.m/1 p.m. doubleheader in the Pacific Time Zone.
The two networks who broadcast NFL games on Sunday afternoons — Fox
and CBS
— both typically air doubleheaders during the regular season (with the other network only being permitted to broadcast one game in a specific market), with restrictions applying to some markets in which the local team is playing at home that week. When combined with the Sunday night
game on NBC, this creates a tripleheader (as is sometimes advertised by the league's radio partner, Westwood One
, which carries three games in a tripleheader).
Since 2006, Week 1 of the NFL regular season also features a doubleheader on Monday Night Football
, with the nightcap game being two West Coast teams. This stems from circumstances created by the most recent television contract.
and the Thanksgiving Day Classic
, are among the most prominent games in the schedule and occur on two national holidays. The Labour Day doubleheader features prominent rivalries (Hamilton-Toronto and Edmonton-Calgary), while the Thanksgiving games are rotated each year.
Doubleheaders are also used to present the Division Semi-Final and Division Final weeks of the CFL playoffs.
(NHL) regular season, CBC
's Hockey Night in Canada
televises a doubleheader. The first game, featuring teams in the East, begins at 7 p.m. Eastern/4 p.m. Pacific. The second game, featuring teams in the West, airs at 10 p.m Eastern/7 p.m. Pacific. On some Saturdays, a tripleheader might occur, although there is a break between the afternoon game and the evening games for news and other sports.
NHL on Versus
also airs doubleheaders, usually on Monday nights, in the same time slots.
The NHL on TSN
usually (but not always) has doubleheaders on Wednesday nights, although they may occur on other nights of the week.
During the 2010–11 NHL season, the NHL on NBC debuted "Hockey Day in America," a televised doubleheader featuring regional action between six of the most popular hockey teams in the United States in the opening game and a nationally televised game between the Pittsburgh Penguins
and Chicago Blackhawks
in the afternoon. Completing a tripleheader would be the 2011 Heritage Classic
, for which NBC viewers were directed to change the channel to Versus.
currently airs a doubleheader on Christmas
afternoon, but otherwise does not normally air doubleheaders. The league is experimenting in 2009 with a Thanksgiving night doubleheader.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
). A doubleheader purposely coincides with a league's scheduling of "early" and "late" games. In North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, games usually start at the same time period in different time zones (Eastern
North American Eastern Time Zone
The Eastern Time Zone of the United States and Canada is a time zone that falls mostly along the east coast of North America. Its UTC time offset is −5 hrs during standard time and −4 hrs during daylight saving time...
and Pacific
Pacific Time Zone
The Pacific Time Zone observes standard time by subtracting eight hours from Coordinated Universal Time . The clock time in this zone is based on the mean solar time of the 120th meridian west of the Greenwich Observatory. During daylight saving time, its time offset is UTC-7.In the United States...
).
National Football League
National Football LeagueNational Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL) games usually start around 1 p.m. local time, creating a 1 p.m/4 p.m doubleheader in the Eastern Time Zone and a 10 a.m/1 p.m. doubleheader in the Pacific Time Zone.
The two networks who broadcast NFL games on Sunday afternoons — Fox
NFL on FOX
NFL on Fox is the brand name of the Fox Broadcasting Company's coverage of the National Football League's National Football Conference games, produced by Fox Sports...
and CBS
NFL on CBS
The NFL on CBS is the brand name of the CBS television network's coverage of the National Football League's American Football Conference games, produced by CBS Sports.-Market coverage and television policies:...
— both typically air doubleheaders during the regular season (with the other network only being permitted to broadcast one game in a specific market), with restrictions applying to some markets in which the local team is playing at home that week. When combined with the Sunday night
NBC Sunday Night Football
NBC Sunday Night Football is a weekly television broadcast of Sunday evening National Football League games on NBC that began airing on Sunday, August 6, 2006 with the pre-season opening Hall of Fame Game. Al Michaels serves as the play-by-play announcer, with Cris Collinsworth as the color...
game on NBC, this creates a tripleheader (as is sometimes advertised by the league's radio partner, Westwood One
NFL on Westwood One
The NFL on Westwood One is the brand name given to weekly National Football League games carried on the radio over the Dial Global Radio Network...
, which carries three games in a tripleheader).
Since 2006, Week 1 of the NFL regular season also features a doubleheader on Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
, with the nightcap game being two West Coast teams. This stems from circumstances created by the most recent television contract.
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League has aired doubleheaders and tripleheaders, usually on Saturdays and Sundays. Two Monday doubleheaders, the Labour Day ClassicLabour Day Classic
The Labour Day Classic is a particular week of the Canadian Football League schedule that is played over the Labour Day weekend. This particular weekend, typically the tenth or eleventh week in the season, is known for its matchups that do not change from year to year, unlike other weeks of the...
and the Thanksgiving Day Classic
Thanksgiving Day Classic
The Thanksgiving Day Classic is an annual doubleheader held on Thanksgiving in the Canadian Football League. It is one of two days in which the league plays on a Monday afternoon; the other is the Labour Day Classic...
, are among the most prominent games in the schedule and occur on two national holidays. The Labour Day doubleheader features prominent rivalries (Hamilton-Toronto and Edmonton-Calgary), while the Thanksgiving games are rotated each year.
Doubleheaders are also used to present the Division Semi-Final and Division Final weeks of the CFL playoffs.
National Hockey League
Every Saturday night during the National Hockey LeagueNational Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL) regular season, CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
's Hockey Night in Canada
Hockey Night in Canada
Hockey Night in Canada is the branding used for CBC Sports' presentations of the National Hockey League...
televises a doubleheader. The first game, featuring teams in the East, begins at 7 p.m. Eastern/4 p.m. Pacific. The second game, featuring teams in the West, airs at 10 p.m Eastern/7 p.m. Pacific. On some Saturdays, a tripleheader might occur, although there is a break between the afternoon game and the evening games for news and other sports.
NHL on Versus
NHL on Versus
The NHL on Versus was the former branding used for National Hockey League games broadcast on Versus. Versus became the NHL's cable partner in the United States beginning in the 2005-06 season from previous partner ESPN, providing coverage of regular season games, playoff games, and select games...
also airs doubleheaders, usually on Monday nights, in the same time slots.
The NHL on TSN
NHL on TSN
The NHL on TSN is TSN's broadcast of National Hockey League games. The show's current incarnation debuted in 2002. The channel has exclusive local rights to the Montreal Canadiens and the Winnipeg Jets.-Coverage overview:...
usually (but not always) has doubleheaders on Wednesday nights, although they may occur on other nights of the week.
During the 2010–11 NHL season, the NHL on NBC debuted "Hockey Day in America," a televised doubleheader featuring regional action between six of the most popular hockey teams in the United States in the opening game and a nationally televised game between the Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
and Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
in the afternoon. Completing a tripleheader would be the 2011 Heritage Classic
2011 Heritage Classic
The 2011 Heritage Classic was a regular season outdoor National Hockey League game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Calgary Flames. The game was played at McMahon Stadium in Calgary, Alberta, Canada on February 20, 2011. The Flames defeated the Canadiens by a score of 4–0 before a crowd of...
, for which NBC viewers were directed to change the channel to Versus.
National Basketball Association
The NBANational Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
currently airs a doubleheader on Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
afternoon, but otherwise does not normally air doubleheaders. The league is experimenting in 2009 with a Thanksgiving night doubleheader.