Beginning with the Browns pre-season game on Aug. 15 and going all the way through Super Bowl XLIV on Feb, 7, 2010, 10TV is Central Ohio's destination for the best NFL games on TV.

The NFL released the 2009 schedule on Tuesday. From there, affiliate television stations are given the weekly schedule showing games available, who has the doubleheader weekends and any other considerations.

The first order for the 10TV programming department is to identify conflict weeks between the two Ohio teams; the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals. The Pittsburgh Steelers also have a strong following in Columbus and are scheduled when possible after the Browns and Bengals.

For the 2009 season, WBNS-10TV has identified six weeks of conflict beginning on Sept. 14. 10TV will choose between the games involving Cincinnati vs. Pittsburgh or another matchup between Cleveland and Baltimore.

"This is a classic example of why central Ohio is one of the most difficult television markets to program for the NFL," said Frank Willson, 10TV's director of operations.  "On the one hand you've got a huge rivalry between the Ravens and Browns fans, but on the other you have two of central Ohio's favorite teams in the Steelers and Bengals. It's a decision we'll make closer to the game but either way we know some fans are going to be upset."

While there are six currently scheduled weeks of conflict, the flex scheduling system will begin in Week 11 of the season and could change the schedule.

One unique highlight of the 2009 season will be the New England vs. Tampa Bay game live from Wembley Stadium in London, England. That game will air on Oct. 12 at 1 p.m.

Willson explained some of the questions he often gets from viewers and why viewers sometimes get frustrated.

"What many fans don't realize is the NFL and CBS require us to choose what game we're airing 12 days in advance. A perfect example of why this can create a bad situation for 10TV is last season when the Tennessee vs. Pittsburgh game became much more important for the playoff picture after the Steelers beat the Ravens the previous week. The problem was 10TV was locked into showing the Browns vs. Bengals. We were inundated with angry calls and e-mails but there was nothing that could be done."

Another common question asks why the station doesn't conduct polls on 10TV.com so viewers could decide the games they want to see.

"CBS and the NFL frown on this practice for many reasons, not the least of which are message boards that try and skew the poll to one side or the other," Willson said.  "We analyze the ratings each Monday morning and try to track which teams are garnering the most viewers. This is the most accurate polling we have."

The 2009 NFL season on 10TV promises great action and an exciting finish with the Super Bowl on CBS. 10TV Programming plans to use every tool available to communicate with viewers including 10TV.com, Twitter, and Facebook. As the season gets closer, check in often for updates.

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