November 6th Browns Game to be Simulcast

The Broncos match up against the Cleveland Browns on Thursday November 6th was originally scheduled to be an NFL Network exclusive.  KWGN (channel 2) in Denver will simulcast the game for Denver area viewers.  The showing is slated to be broadcast in high definition.  Typically local affiliates have to pay for special rights to an NFL broadcast, KWGN did not disclose terms of their deal with the NFL.  In recent games that NFL Network has had exclusive rights to, it has typically negotiated a simulcast in the local markets of the participating teams.

Last season while the Patriots were on their *historic 18-1 run, the NFL Network had exclusive rights to the final regular season game between the Pats and the Giants.  Due to overwhelming pressure of fans and a national audience, the league folded and agreed to simulcast on multiple public networks for the first time in decades.  This continues a long going feud between the NFL Network and Comcast on carrying the channel in it’s normal package lineup akin to ESPN for viewers.  Directv offers the channel within it’s standard package to all customers.  After folding on their biggest exclusive game, the NFL Network is looking at merging channels with ESPN Classic.

press release [Denver Business Journal]