Slow News Apocalypse: Will the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement Force the Oscars to Move?

Hope you're sitting down for this one. As part of the Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations between NFL owners and players, the league is considering expanding its 16-game season to 18 games by 2012-13. The thinking being that too much potential revenue is left on the table by having four preseason games each year, when two could suffice. If that were to happen, however, the Super Bowl wouldn't occur until the end of February... and what's at the end of February?

The Oscars! "It's obviously something we're keeping a close eye on; Yes, it's a concern for us." That's Bruce Davis, executive director for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Science, expressing his deep "concern" over the fact that the Oscars may have to move away from their current Sunday night home, if the NFL expands their schedule and the Super Bowl to winds up at the end of February.

"We're always happy to talk to the sports entities, but this is a going to be a tough one," Davis told Variety. "It's hard for [the NFL] to take us into consideration." Ya think? The Super Bowl routinely draws in upward of 100 million viewers; the Oscars would be lucky with half that number.

As Davis himself acknowledged, however, there's no rule that states the Oscars have to occur on a Sunday night, rendering this whole issue utterly meaningless. Considering this isn't happening for another three years -- if it even happens at all; perhaps the Super Bowl and the Oscars won't fall on the same calendar date? -- don't lose too much sleep. To paraphrase Walsh in Chinatown: Forget it everyone, it's August.

· Oscars Could Move to Mondays [Variety]