The picture on this page shows the distribution of NFL coverage on FOX channels nationwide during the early (1pm EST) Sunday time slot.  The following image shows the portion that affects me: 
[Image: nflfoxweek1.png]
The red area refers to Philadelphia @ Green Bay coverage.  Notice that small gray area covering northern New Jersey and a few other areas.  Why is it gray?  Because there was no game on.  What was on instead?  Some stupid bogus FOX timewaster crap.  What could've been on?  Any football game.  What would've been ideal?  The Eagles game.  I shouldn't have to point out the fact that Philadelphia is about a centimeter away from New York on the map.  It goes without saying that millions of Eagles fans are scattered throughout various parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and even some of New York.  So why wouldn't FOX play the Eagles game, or any other game for that matter, instead of showing four hours of commercials for the 16th season of Prison Break and the all-new all-new all-new episodes of 24, the Simpsons, Family Guy, and that other stupid show with that comedian guy where he hates his family and his son is gay and this equates to meaningful, well-thought-out comedy? 

Let me take a moment to describe the thoughts of a typical football fan:  I like watching football.  If there's a game on, I'll watch it.  I don't care who's playing.  I don't care if I have no emotional or monetary investment in the outcome.  It doesn't matter if neither team has a single player from my fantasy team.  Sometimes it's just good to watch football for the sake of watching football.  I enjoy watching grown men run into each other.  I enjoy watching 300-lb defensive lineman run after quarterbacks and catch them like a lion catching an antelope.  I enjoy watching tight ends plow through defensive backs like they're little girls.  The bottom line is that I like watching football, so broadcasting a football game can only be a good thing for a TV station.  Think about it:  I'm your prime demographic.  Male, 25, likes to live vicariously through TV.  Who wouldn't throw all their advertising dollars at me? 

Back to the program.  Apparently, there's a rule that states "no other NFL games can air on local TV at the same time as a team's home game in the club's primary market," which means if the Jets are playing at home at 1pm and the Giants aren't playing at the same time, no other game will be broadcast because it's unfair for the loser Jet fans and their failure of a team (my translation).  Sorry Jets fans to encroach on your territory; maybe you should get a new coach, a new quarterback, a new team, or some combination of the above, and figure out how to beat the Patriots.  Until that happens, I'd rather watch motorized vehicles drive around a circular path 500 times in a row, which is exactly what was on the other local channel during your game. 

So basically, it's the NFL's decision.  Or more accurately, it's the NFL's fault.  The thing I like is also the thing I hate. 

It turns out, I found a similar link last year, and I found a workaround that still works.  Hooray for the internet! #entertainment