realize it's the crappy cable company that YOU chose to get that is the problem. If anything The NFL Network is trying to HELP you buy forcing the cable company to add it to an existing package instead of making you pay extra for it. Do some reading before you start whining then boycott your crappy cable company. ESPECIALLY if you have Time Warner and/or Comcast. They are the real villains. The Dish companies had no problem adding to an existing package so why can't cable follow suit?
weeder
2007-11-29 06:49:00 · 19 answers · asked by weeder 6 in Sports ➔ Football (American)
highline - How in the world do you think the NFL can MANDATE and dictate to another company what they can or can't do. A perfect example of the first line of my question. be realistic
2007-11-29 07:08:21 · update #1
dpj5 - This game has been planned for a very long time to be broadcast on The NFL Network. I guess they just call up Broadcaster R Us and simply move it to another station? For some reason I doubt it's that simple.
2007-11-29 07:11:06 · update #2
betterth - Those "exorbitant fees" didn't stop their direct competitors for showing it to us at no extra charge.
2007-11-29 07:12:57 · update #3
ugh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2007-11-29 06:57:08 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Anyone who believes it's all the cable companies' fault that the NFL Network is not on a particular cable system doesn't understand the history of the issue.
Back about 15 years ago, the cable companies only had about 36 channels. That's all the technology at the time would allow. As higher bandwidth equipment became available - meaning more channels - the cable companies started adding new programming to their lineups. And, because they have to pay a programming fee to the programmers (ESPN, for example) per subscriber that receives those channels, they raised their subscription rates to cover the increased programming costs.
Eventually, a consumer group appealed to the FCC that a subscriber who doesn't want or watch the additional channels shouldn't have to pay increased subscription rates, just because the cable company added those channels to its lineup. The FCC agreed and ordered the cable companies to provide a tiered lineup that included various levels of programming. The term "basic" cable was defined to mean all local broadcast channels (a "lifeline" service, if you will, that provides news and emergency broadcast service to the public). Cable companies also added public access channels, some of the more popular satellite channels (ESPN, WGN, TBS, etc.), as well as some foreign language programming in certain service areas.
In order to get additional satellite channels (Comedy Central, Discovery, etc.), a subscriber would be charged extra for a block (tier) of additional channels, up to the highest priced tier that contained every non-premium channel that the cable company offered. And, the vast majority of cable subscribers do take some upper tier package, rather than just getting "basic" cable. Think about it - if you have more than about 20 channels available from your cable company, you are paying extra for tiered service. And, I don't know anyone who has just the "basic" cable line-up.
When the NFL Network came along, they approached all of the cable companies to have their channel be included in the cable companies' lineups. But, they would only allow a cable company to pick up the Network if they added the channel to the "basic" cable lineup. Their plan was that they wanted to get the NFL Network out to as many viewers as possible to maximize their ad revenue (the higher your viewership, the more you can charge for advertising). That's why they started putting NFL games on their channel, knowing full well that a lot of cable subscribers would not be able to watch the games. They are hoping that public outcry to the cable companies and threats to switch to satellite TV (who gladly accepted the NFL Network's terms to have an ace-in-the-hole against the cable companies) would force the cable companies to give in to the NFL Network's demands.
So, complain all you want about your local cable company. They're an easy target. But, it's actually the greedy and controlling NFL and NFL Network that you should be complaining about.
2007-11-29 07:41:51 · answer #2 · answered by Paul in San Diego 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have to agree that Comcrap is a rip off. But the Dish networks have their own issues. I couldn't watch the Kansas / Missouri last weekend because the stupid dish lost the satellite signal.
Comcrap removed NFL network from my service 2 weeks ago! Then when I called they said they had to move it to a new Sports package. And oh, that'll be another $4 / month. They've already raised my rates over $26/month over the last 2 years.
HOWEVER, last year when the Broncos were on NFL network, Comcast had the game on an alternate channel for locals. So I have to give credit there.
2007-11-29 06:58:38 · answer #3 · answered by Trogdor 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually, it's the NFL charging exorbitant fees to any cable company that WANTS to carry the network, then badmouthing the ones that don't in an effort to aim consumer criticism at the cable companies.
The NFL is using you to make a few extra bucks off some cable providers that don't see the justification for a service that's only drawing fans for the Thursday games late in the season.
But keep up with the elitism. It's really cute. "UR CABLE COMPANY SUCKS LOLZ!!!11!11 eleven!"
2007-11-29 07:09:48 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
People are posting the questions every few minutes complaining they dont get it and yelling at the NFL network. It has nothing at all to do with them. All NFL games are property of the NFL so they can show them on whatever station they have a contractual agreement with. It is the cable companies that are the greedy ones here. satellite i cheaper, clearer, and has more channels. People are lashing out at the wrong agency. You should be angry at what you pay every month instead of getting mad you cant watch a football game....
2007-11-29 06:57:25 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Of course, the NFL could put it on network television so everyone could see it. I'm sure any network would gladly air it. But they want the NFL network to....make money. The NFL is not innocent in this.
2007-11-29 06:58:11 · answer #6 · answered by Splitters 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yup true...I don't have it will be at a friends house cause Comcast wants to charge 4 dollars a month for the channel...Not alot but why would you all the sudden change it overnight...I blame comcast and planning on switching to dish....
2007-11-29 06:55:05 · answer #7 · answered by Ponce 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Cable has a more consistant picture, if theirs bad weather or what have you, the dish or satellite's picture is lost or interrupted! It does suck that they don't have it on Fox or CBS or Espn or something, but that's life. Go to your local sports bar and hook it up there.
2007-11-29 06:59:46 · answer #8 · answered by Derek F 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The NFL should step in this and mandate it or force much lost revenue. They won't, because they get paid no matter what. GREED!!
2007-11-29 06:57:34 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have the NFL channel and except for the RARE good game, it pretty much sucks.
2007-11-29 07:19:14 · answer #10 · answered by stan l 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not to mention that Football will be on every day. True some will be older games but still fun to watch games you have missed.
2007-11-29 07:02:22 · answer #11 · answered by L A 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋