TV Networks Will Show More Non-Union Games

NBC, CBS and ABC will continue to televise National Football League replacement games this weekend if the players’ strike isn’t settled, the networks announced Tuesday.

The networks are evaluating the strike games on a week-to-week basis.

Overall ratings for NFL games declined more than 20% during the first week of strike games, but network officials said the ratings were better than expected.

“That obviously affected our decision (to continue televising strike games),” Mark Carlson, a spokesman for CBS, said. “But another reason was that the games were better than expected. And we expect them to improve this week, even if the strike is still going.”

ABC’s telecast of the strike game between the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers received a 13.8 rating, a 26% drop from the last Monday night game played before the players’ strike.

The Monday night game between the New England Patriots and New York Jets on Sept. 21 received an 18.7 rating. It was the last game played before the regulars went on strike.