NFL Screws Fans With Sunday Ticket Extension

[HDOrlando]

For the last couple of months, I had been hoping the NFL Network dispute with cable carriers would eventually lead to the NFL offering Sunday Ticket to cable when the exclusive deal with Directtv was set to expire after the 2010 season.

However, the NFL dashed my hopes and extended their deal with Directtv through 2014.

They say we can get a Red Zone channel and there is a broadband thing available for homes who can prove they can't get directtv.

Still, it stinks for us all and I doubt the cable co's are going to offer NFL Network anytime soon.

I hope they keep those greedy basturds out of our households and let the NFL Network continue to only be in 30 million homes.

The Directtv fans still get screwed here as they will likely see a jump in their absurd $299 fee (80-90 bucks extra if you want HD).

It just stinks that we got screwed here and I hope BH does not give in.

[SomeRandomIdiot]

Will be worse when they start charging for each individual game on a pay per view basis.

[bdraw]

Wow, someone is really bitter. Although it would be nice if other providers offered it, I bet it'd be the same price anyways, so why does it matter? Unless you don't have access to put up a dish, but that doesn't sound like your complaint.

I mean what makes you think it'd actually be less than $300 if BHN carried it?

[HDOrlando]

The reason why it is so much is because DirectTV pays a huge sum for the exclusive rights.

They only have 1.3 million of their customers subscribe to it but it slightly helps them in their competition with dish network.

If it were available on cable, the price prob would cut in half making it more affordable.

I will say I am ticked off about this whole deal.

[bdraw]

Did you ever stop and consider that maybe the NFL wants it exclusive and that allowing multiple providers to carry isn't even an option?

I mean, it can't be the money because there is no way that the NFL wouldn't make more if every provider offered it. Although only the NFL really knows why they do it, the most logical explanation I've ever heard is that the league feels that if the ST was more widely available it would degrade the value of the lucrative contracts with CBS and Fox.

According to the Washington Post, the current 6 year deal with CBS and Fox signed in 2004 is worth 8 Billion. So in other words at least twice as much as the ST deal considering inflation etc. Seems logical to me that the NFL wouldn't be able to charge Fox and CBS as much for less exclusive rights to the games. In fact the only way they probably get away with it now, is with all the BS blackouts that are applied to the games.

Also of note is that the broadband and Redzone channel won't be more widely available until after the CBS and Fox deals are re-negotiated.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A34844-2004Nov8.html

[Kendo]

Besides the exclusivity that Bdraw mentions most of the subscribers to NFL Sunday ticket are actually sports bars and regular bars and restaurants. Any of whom can stick a dish out back or on the roof to get the package. This allows pretty much any establishment to pick it up. If they signed an exclusive deal with any other provider many bars would be unable to get the service because they just don’t have that particular company serving their area.

It really does make sense... about the only other company that might be able to pick it up (steal it from DTV) someday would be the DISH Network.

[SomeRandomIdiot]

Although only the NFL really knows why they do it, the most logical explanation I've ever heard is that the league feels that if the ST was more widely available it would degrade the value of the lucrative contracts with CBS and Fox.

According to the Washington Post, the current 6 year deal with CBS and Fox signed in 2004 is worth 8 Billion. So in other words at least twice as much as the ST deal considering inflation etc. Seems logical to me that the NFL wouldn't be able to charge Fox and CBS as much for less exclusive rights to the games. In fact the only way they probably get away with it now, is with all the BS blackouts that are applied to the games.

Actually, it would be VERY easy for the local cable company to sub the local CBS/FOX affiliate on the channel showing that game (essentially black out that ST Feed for that game) so the local value would be intact.

[HDOrlando]

One thing that was mentioned before they blindsided us with the deal was letting the local affiliates run ads on the games that their network was carrying.

It's so wrong to the fans that we have to go satelite and pay a king's ransom for the games out of area.

I was so hopeful the NFL Network dispute would be the catalyst to getting this now and we are screwed till at least 2014.

[bdraw]

Well that catalyst you speak of did have an impact and as a result the redzone channel will be more widely available. Now if you're a transplant and subscribe so you can follow the team from your home town, then it isn't much help. But if you are just an NFL fan and love to watch more than one or two games, then this is a great alternative.

Also in the future, the broadband service will be available to more than just DirecTV subscribers.

You can read more about this here.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/190869-DirecTV_s_Sunday_Ticket_Renewal_Sets_NFL_Network_s _Game_Plan.php

[HDOrlando]

The Redzone channel is nice but I do not care much for the broadband service unless I can hook it up to my TV somehow and get the picture in HD.

That sounds tough to do.