World Series games to start at 8 pm!

I dont think the Anthem had been sung yet. I think they were in the process of showing the previous game's highlights that were interrupted.

As for Saturday afternoon World Series games, does MLB really wanna' go head to head with the 3:30 p.m. EST college football kickoffs?

 

Now if they could just do something to make the games move along more quickly.

 

That is correct. They started doing weeknight games in the 1970s and went all prime-time in 1985. Then had one afternoon game in 1987 to mullify the "purists". Even though that game turned out to be, of all places, the climate-controlled Metrodome.

In recent years, games have gotten longer and longer. TV breaks between innings are up to 2 1/2 minutes, to say nothing of all the pitching changes, meetings at the mound and useless throws to first base. So even with a 8 pm ET start, there is no guarantee the game will be over before 11 pm ET. And, yes, affiliates hate delaying their local newscasts because viewers switch to a competitors' station and all that promo work you did goes for naught.

 

Would be interesting since FOX doesn't have an OTA college football package. Some of us are old enough to remember ABC juggling college football and post-season baseball games in the 1970s and early 80s. Start one at noon and the other at 3:30 pm ET.