Doubleheader (television)

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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).

[edit] National Football League

Main article: NFL_on_television#Sunday_regional_coverage

National Football League (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.

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.

[edit] National Hockey League

Every Saturday night during the National Hockey League (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.