Could the NFL Network be the bigget debacle in the history of sports TV?

Answer 1

Yes, I feel the NFL network is the biggest joke, deserving of the fans on slought, it has pissed alot of people off, and should be free for all to view, luckily we live 20 miles from boston

Answer 2

The fact that they started putting games on this channel without securing deals with all the major cable and satellite providers just proves that they don't give a **** about the average fan. This has been a horrible trend in sports TV the last decade. The same thing is happening with the Big Ten network (you can't watch Northwestern games in Chicago!). It happened when the Yankees started up their own channel but couldn't get it on Cablevision because they squabbled over whether it should be on basic or premium - so 3 million households in the NY area couldn't watch the Yankees for a whole season. I could list a few other examples. At some point, the government should step in and regulate this mess.

At least the NFL has enough sense to show the NFL network games on local TV in the team's cities, but the fact that a huge percentage of football fans won't get to see history made this Saturday is a disgrace.

Answer 3

What are you talking about?

It is the BEST sports network. They have wonderful behind the scenes coverage of the league letting you get to know something of what the players are really like. They have access to the entire NFL Films library and show fantastic shows from the past. For example, I loved watching the Ice Bowl both in NFL Films highlight form and in the original broadcast form. They have extremely detailed analysis leading up to both the draft and training camp giving someone like me, who doesn't care at all about college football, knowledge of the young players entering the league.

They offer access to many more games than we used to get in the form of Thursday and Saturday regular season games and the wonderful NFL Replay series which airs the 5 best games of the preceding week.

The best football show anywhere is easily Playbook which gives excellent analysis, including film study, of the games in the current week. It is basically a 4 hour version of ESPN NFL Matchup. Point After is another great show highlighting each team and featuring the coach'es press conferences.

I love NFL Network!!! It is the best sports coverage by a mile!

Answer 4

Comparing monday night football, on ESPN and ABC to the NFL network is just wrong. The majority of cable and satellite subscribers can get ESPN on basic cable. The NFL network you have to pay extra for, and really what are you getting a few extra games a year, and what in the offseason?

Another TV network debacle could be the Big Ten Network, talk about another pointless network.

Answer 5

The NFL is just shooting the dice on that one. They're taking a calculated risk that people will be willing enough to pay just to watch their games, even the "home team". If they ever cut out my Steelers, I would not watch football anymore, to me, it's that simple. I don't like to be bullied by any large corporation, especially one as greedy as the NFL. My personal opinion is it will backfire on them, and they'll disillusion a lot of the fan base over time. If the NFL is stupid enough to bite the hands that feed it, then let them. I hear soccer is the next big thing here in the states anyway, all those soccer mom's have changed the minds of our youth.

Answer 6

How could it be? The NFL is making money on it and fans aren't leaving the sport over it. The NFL doesn't care if people can't see the game, if that bothered them they would have waited to put games on the network.

Answer 7

I prefer college football to pro , so to me the NFL network is unnecessary. Eventually, though, all NFL games will be on that network. NBC, Fox, CBS, and ESPN will lose all rights to televise pro games and to watch a pro game you're going to need to ante up. It'll make the NFL richer, but eventually will backfire. It will lead to a serious decline for the NFL, which is becoming more and more like the WWE everyday.

Answer 8

I don't pay anything extra for the NFL Network with my provider and I like the programs. In fact, I pay less than the other cable providers in the area that do not carry it or offer it as a premium channel. Maybe you should think about changing providers?

Answer 9

It has made my New Year's resolutions for 2008. Resolution number 1: Never ever subscribe to the NFL Network under any circumstances other than a direct nuclear strike on Bristol, Connecticut, and only then if they are offering a really good package that I can cancel after three months if, God willing, I survive that long.

Answer 10

We pay 5 bux a month and get about 30 extra channels with nfl network with comcast in florida... IN HD no less. The complainers and haters are the ones who are too cheap to spend 5 bux a month for all types of shows all week. In depth analysis of all the teams. sounds of the game, americas game series, games from way back, nfl replay, replaying 3 best games of the week in mid week again for us to see if we missed them. If you cant afford 5 bux then get a job...Chris Collingsworth and Deion sanders are doing a fine job...but I think Bryant Gumble needs to stay away from calling the games.

Answer 11

I think they are making some really poor marketing decisions and exposing themselves to some unnecessary drama, but I also think they will end up being included in some standard cable tier over time, just like many other special interest channels are.

To do this, the owners need to get over their greed, and the fans need to understand that these guys look at this as a business, first and foremost. The fans are NEVER number 1 in these guys' eyes. Those days are just gone.