For years, the NFL's Sunday afternoon TV packages have distinctly divided: Fox with the NFC and CBS with the AFC. But as the league has started moving games more freely between networks, the balance shifted, much to Fox's concern.
Enter Mike Mulvihill, a Fox executive, who opened up to Richard Deitsch of The Athletic about this evolving broadcast landscape. Previously, Fox felt they were losing their prized NFC matchups without receiving comparable AFC games in return. Mulvihill remarked, "We discussed with the league that 'cross-flex'—the policy allowing NFC games to go to CBS and vice versa—needed a more equitable share."
The issue arose as the AFC dramatically improved, surpassing its state when cross-flexing was first introduced. In Fox's eyes, top-tier NFC games were heading out, without reciprocal AFC quality incoming. The scales had tipped.
This season, however, tells a different story. A marquee Week 14 clash featuring the Bengals and Bills—highlighting quarterbacks Josh Allen and Joe Burrow with playoff stakes on the horizon—landed with Fox. Under previous rules, this gripping AFC duel would never have made it to Fox's airwaves. It's the type of scheduling move that has Fox executives nodding in approval of the NFL's efforts.
With this shift, Fox finds itself content, enjoying the fruits of a revamped system that better aligns with its expectations. As the season unfolds, both fans and broadcasters anticipate a gripping slate that promises high-stakes contests on all platforms.
