News & Notes: NFL TNF Deal; CBS Mulling Changes

• The big story this week is the NFL plan to sell a portion of its Thursday Night Football package to a broadcast partner for the 2014 season.  The league would prefer to sell the rights to one its over the air partners (CBS, FOX & NBC), but have not shut out cable partners such as ESPN, Turner Sports or NBCSN.  The league's preference is sell early games, but it has not firm clause in negotiations.  What may be a sticking point is the league looking to simulcast the Thursday games on NFL Network.  It appears this way the league can keep its exposure, while not paying in production.  [Source: NY Times.com]
   
• Jason McIntire at the The Big Lead is reporting potential talent changes coming to CBS's The NFL Today for the 2014 season.  The eye's pregame show took a tremendous hit in the ratings losing out to FOX NFL Sunday an average of 1.5 million viewers this season.  The network may look to shake up by bringing in newly retired Tony Gonzalez, and wait and see on the futures of Peyton Manning and Rex Ryan.  The new additions will likely signal the end of Shannon Sharpe and Dan Marino.  The only significant change coming next season for CBS is the retirement of Dan Dierdorf and the possible shuffling of the broadcast pairs. [Source: The Big Lead]
   
• FOX Sports have release on what will be a huge two hype towards Super Bowl XLVIII.  FOX Sports One will have coverage throughout the week from New York & Los Angeles and they will complimentry programing throughout including UFC and College Basketball.  FOX also announced their plans for national promotion campaign for the title game and a partial schedule of pre & post game coverage surrounding the event.  Super Bowl XLVIII is tentatively (weather permitting) scheduled for Sunday, February 2nd from MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. [Source: FOX Flash]