Scott Hanson Feb 2, 2019; Atlanta, GA, USA; Scott Hanson during red carpet arrivals for the NFL Honors show at the Fox Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Those watching NFL RedZone during the second wave of Week 12 action on Sunday were confused regarding how to watch the final game. When the game between the Las Vegas Raiders and Seattle Seahawks was the final one still going, RedZone host Scott Hanson told viewers to CBS, which was carrying the game. That caused confusion and frustration.

The game between Las Vegas and Seattle was not nationally broadcast. Furthermore, CBS did not have the doubleheader rights this week, Fox did. So, the only viewers who could watch that game’s exciting ending on CBS were the ones in the places where the entire game was being broadcast. Everyone else saw what was on CBS. But for most viewers in the United States, when Hanson directed RedZone viewers to CBS, what they found was 60 Minutes. Or, on the West Coast, Judge Judy.

Hanson eventually took to Twitter to explain what happened.

“I found out *after the show* that CBS was not carrying the #LVvsSEA OT nationally. I will try & explain how we are told to handle our end of show protocols in a separate post. For now: Please believe me…”

“…I would never intentionally mislead you, our loyal viewers. There is no one on earth (that I know of) who wants to show you more football than I do. However: I am an employee – not the boss. I have orders just like many of you do at your jobs. More later. Thank you.”

This was definitely an error and one that was made more than once in a relatively short period of time. So, it’s good of Hanson to offer an explanation. However, something else is worth mentioning.

While Hanson erred in saying that CBS would broadcast the end of the Raiders versus Seahawks game, he did not deprive anyone from seeing the ending — nor did anyone at RedZone.

CBS could not pick the game up in markets that weren’t showing NFL action in that window. Networks will do that when going from one NFL game to another. But they can’t just preempt other programs to show the ending of a football game. Networks are obligated to air those shows, as well.

RedZone is also not permitted to broadcast a game when it’s the only one remaining. That’s what differentiates RedZone from NFL Sunday Ticket. This is why when the late-afternoon games begin to finish, Hanson will normally direct RedZone’s viewers to CBS or Fox, whichever network has the doubleheader.

More often than not, it’s not an issue. The second games on the networks with the doubleheader start at 4:25 Eastern Time. The games on the other network start at 4:00 or 4:05 Eastern. Normally, those games wrap up 20-25 minutes before the 4:25 games do. It only becomes an issue when the 4:25 games finish in regulation and an earlier game goes into overtime. That’s what happened on Sunday.

Still, as frustrating and confusing as Sunday was for so many fans, the end of the Las Vegas versus Seattle game was only going to be seen by people in the markets that were broadcasting it from the beginning and people who have Sunday Ticket.

[Scott Hanson on Twitter]

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