Fox Thrilled with 2025 NFL Schedule: A Winning Balance Between AFC and NFC!

The NFL has traditionally split its Sunday afternoon games between networks—Fox mainly broadcasts NFC games, while CBS covers the AFC. Recently, though, the league has become more flexible, allowing games to be moved between networks. This shift hasn’t always sat well with Fox.

Mike Mulvihill, a Fox executive, shared some insights on this. He mentioned that, in previous years, Fox felt it was losing more exciting NFC games than they were receiving in exchange from the AFC. However, he noted that this season, they are happier with the way the NFL organized the schedule.

"We had in-depth conversations with the league," Mulvihill said. "We looked at making the ‘cross-flex’ system more balanced. The idea behind cross-flex is to even out the games between networks. Over time, the AFC has gained strength, and that has skewed things a bit."

This season’s schedule has highlighted this change. For instance, a significant AFC matchup featuring quarterbacks Josh Allen and Joe Burrow, the Bengals vs. the Bills, was assigned to Fox. This would have been unlikely in the past due to the stricter NFC/AFC division, indicating a more balanced approach this year.

Looking at the trends, fan reactions have shifted too. Viewers express excitement online about these cross-network games, showing that flexibility can enhance viewing experiences. In fact, surveys show that 68% of fans appreciate the variety that comes from these cross-flexed games.

This change reflects a more competitive NFL landscape, where both conferences are strong. It makes the games more enticing for fans and gives networks more thrilling content to showcase.

For more insights on NFL scheduling and broadcasting trends, you can check out The Athletic.

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