...and in an unrelated story, Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals will be broadcast on Versus instead of NBC so a reality show can premiere. The NFL has all the leverage in the world, while the NHL has none. Interesting.

When are the finals of the U.S. Open? Who carries it? And if it's CBS, isn't there a chance it could run over into the Emmys?

walnuts, what is NBC to do? When you have something like hockey and the return of Lou Diamond Phillips, you have to go with Lou, right???

Yes the US Open Finals will air at 4:30pm that day on CBS in place of football. The US Open could certainlty go long. I would imagine that the tennis would be bumped over to ESPN2 at exactly 7:58PM if need be.

As I was reading this I thought it was a good idea but then remembered the open. I think it will be fine without a run over but like Jeff said expect espn2 to be on alert. And expect a quick move to Monday if its raining. On another note in the contract with Versus they are guaranteed 2 Cup Finals games but the NHL. So thats why Versus tonight. However the schedule is as screwy as it is cuz of the NHL not haveing ONIONS.

The NHL TV contract with VS requires 2 CONSECUTIVE games to air there. The contract does not dictate that it must be Games 1/2 as it has been in the past. It dictates 2 games.

The OFFICIAL reason for what NBC did was to protect Conan not this stupid reality show. Also, NBC and the NHL did not expect to do over a 3 rating and they were also scared of bad ratings. In reality, NBC wanted Conan starting on time, and threat of overtime prevents that. Furthermore, the NHL has to attempt to also please their Canadian TV partnets who want Saturday night games because Canadian hockey tradition is Saturday night Hockey Night on TV. Its been the highest rated TV series in Canada for over 50 years. So this scenario they came up with was the best possible comprimise.

Thanks for the headsup on Game 3 being on Versus. Now I can plan accordingly. There's nothing better than hockey on tonight but in all seriousness, the NHL is screwed because they're the only major North American sports league not to have all games of its championship series on national over-the-air television. As for the NFL, it can't come swiftly enough but I am looking forward to a Magic upset of the Lake Show. Happy Birthday, Gary Bettman. It sure sucks that not everyone can watch your game.

Can someone explain to me when Bears-Packers became the game to go up against? As far as I'm concerned, that contest is way more interesting than the Emmys, and close to Cowboys-Giants. The U.S. Open just compliates it further. Are they really gaining that much with this move?

Im pretty sure the decision had zero to do with Cowboys/Giants. If football runs long, CBS is not switching it off to show the Emmy's. However, on the offchance the US Open runs past 8pm (and I cannot remember that happening in the recent past) they move it to ESPN2 and be done with it.

The audience for Cowboys/Giants is NOT the audience for the Emmy Awards...just a hunch.

The U.S. Tennis Association will make sure CBS does not pull a Heidi. The U.S. Open is an upmarket event and has been a CBS fixture for 30 years or so.

Incidentally, the Emmy Awards were upstaged in part last year by the last game at the old Yankee Stadium.

The US Open Men's Final start at 4:45, the Emmy's at 8 that gives 3 hours plus for the match. I think last year Federer won in an hour in a half but it was on Monday because of rain. I do however think the USTA would allow the move to espn2 because they are the new cable home of the open for a while, so to promote that they'd allow it.