NFL Network cries to the FCC
by Ben Drawbaugh 
posted Sep 21st 2007 at 2:21PM
These days just about everyone has their own cable network, from billionaires to NCAA football conferences. But what good is a network if no one can watch it? It only makes sense that you'd want your network to be carried by the largest paid television provider in the country. Of course Comcast knows they're the 800 lb gorilla, so if they say you're going on the sports tier, than so be it. The networks take this personal and after years of bickering, the NFL Network is taking their case to the FCC. They're saying it isn't fair because Comcast has no problem putting the the channels they own on the base tier. As much as we normally hate to side with big cable, we kinda see their point on this one, we mean seriously, who else but big time NFL fans even cares about this channel? It's not like NFL Total Access is presented in HD or anything.
Filed under: Cable
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Leonardo DiCrapio @ Sep 21st 2007 2:56PM
I'm sorry, but I feel no sympathy for Comcast and definitely do not side with them. They say, "Well, you could get it on the Sports Package for an additional $5 per month." But what Comcast doesn't tell everybody is that you will need Digital Cable to get the Sports Package, and more than 10 million of Comcast's 25 million customers don't have Digital Cable.
Now Comcast is trying to stiff arm the Big Ten Network, but I am pretty sure they are going to lose this battle. Comcast seems to have done pretty so far in convincing the public that the Big Ten Network is at fault here. Penn State will have 3 of 5 games on the Big Ten Network in September. How many of the last 7 games will be on the Big Ten Network in October and November? The Big Ten Network has games as leverage, and I hope they dig their cleats into Comcast's neck.
I don't want the Golf Channel, E! Entertainment Television, Versus and Style. Why should I (and everybody else) pay for all this crap when a Big Ten football game is on that has high viewership numbers.
Andy @ Sep 21st 2007 3:35PM
I've gotta side against the NFL Network. I hate everything about this channel. The NFL has been trying to FORCE cable and satellite providers to include this channel by showing games on it while they know not everyone has access to it, and on top of it, we know they want a decent chunk of money to include it. Then they go around telling people that their provider is being a bunch of big meanies and to complain to them to include the network in their service.
Screw you NFL channel.
Big Sam @ Sep 21st 2007 3:44PM
I care about this channel... A LOT. So much so that I'm going to dump TW for Dish or DTV in a month or two so I can get it (and more HD too). I'm waiting to see how many channels they get, what deals they offer, and to compare their DVRs. But what's really driving me to change is TW refusal to work out a deal with NFL Network.
But of course I'm a "big time NFL fan".
Andy @ Sep 21st 2007 4:01PM
See, that's kind of what my point is, the NFL Network would love to make it sound like it's all the provider's fault for not carrying it. The NFL Network wants to force all providers to put them in the Basic tiers, and additionally, they want a good chunk from all subscribers of the network. This is one thing, but then when they immediately start putting games on their brand new network, and tell fans to blame their provider for not carrying it. The NFL's tactics with this network have been very much like the big bully that is trying to convince everyone to do what they want. While I wouldn't mind the channel (granted I wouldn't watch much, college football is millions of times better than pro), I don't agree with how the NFL has tried to force it on providers and will support Time Warner's stance on it.
Steve @ Sep 21st 2007 5:32PM
Is an 800 lb Guerilla an hulking giant that goes round using intelligence, ambush, deception, sabotage, and espionage, to undermine something through long, low-intensity confrontation? (Using Wikipedia's definition of Guerilla here... I rely on them marginally more for grammar than I do Engadget, but only marginally).
It would seem that the bulk would make such tactics a little tough. Now if it were an 800 lb Gorilla engaging in guerilla tactics, I could buy that, because who would suspect a Gorilla of conducting espionage or subtle sabotage? Such a thing would truly be comcastic...
Jeff N. @ Sep 21st 2007 4:46PM
Is DirecTv and Dish can provide the NFL Network without putting it on a special Sports Package Tier than Big Cable providers can too. Cable providers are still very arrogant.
Jon Thomas @ Sep 21st 2007 4:55PM
Well i say Funk you comcast , i signed up for the triple play ... and the HD package ... So i start fliping channels , ESPN 2 in HD ok thats cool ... ESPN " please call to order service " WHAT ?!?!?!? ... Turns out the triple play doesnt include the next teir up needed for ESPN HD and Discovery HD .. Which were both included in charter before i moved ... So i play like $13 extra a month to get those couple HD channels and a buncha non HD shiet i will never watch ... It still pisses me off that i cant watch NFL HD with out buying some retarded ass racing and golf channels
JD @ Sep 21st 2007 4:58PM
Yeah, lets just leave the space so Comcrapest can put another channel they own on basic tier. CrapCast and Cox do this all of time. I guess we need another Discovery this or that, or maybe another channel for women, maybe you like thoses better. Crapcast is doing nothing but usong the NFL network to get more of their customer FORCED over to DIgital cable so they can charge double or even triple the amount of the analog boxes.
Kyle Johnson @ Sep 21st 2007 5:17PM
As much as I hate to side with the NFL Network on this (since I don't care one bit about football), Comcast should have to treat it's own properties the same as ones they don't own. So if Comcast wants to move all their sports channels to the sports tier, then NFL has nothing to complain about. But if Comcast is leveraging a vertical monopoly to stifle competition, then there is a problem.
Leonardo DiCrapio @ Sep 21st 2007 6:14PM
You have obviously never read the book "The Gorilla Game," which is about companies like Microsoft, Cisco, and Intel.
"Gorilla
A company that dominates an industry without having a complete monopoly.
Investopedia Commentary
This term is a reference to the old jokes about the 800-pound gorillas, who "do whatever they want." For example, you'll hear people say 'Microsoft is an 800-pound gorilla.'"
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/gorilla
Ben @ Sep 21st 2007 6:21PM
He's making fun of my mis-spelling and did a great job of it by the way. I couldn't stop laughing as I was fixing it.
Jim Mallory @ Sep 21st 2007 9:02PM
Actaully...I did a price comparison and the standard DirectTV tier with NFL network is $49.99 per month (standard price), Comcast Digital Classic with the Sports and Entertainment Package is about $54.00 (standard price)....not that big of a difference.
-- Jim
JD @ Sep 21st 2007 10:53PM
Did your comparo add boxes, remotes and franchise fees? If not add about another $10-15 for Comcast. But it's not about $$$ it's about the service. DTV has always just thrown a channel on for everybody to see if you have the second tier DTV programming.
zenprism @ Sep 21st 2007 7:59PM
Because of my stupid apartment facing the wrong way, there's no way I can get anything other than Time Warner, therefore, I can't get NFL Network. I don't care who is to blame, I just wish they'd all dance among the flowers and let us NFL fans see a channel we actually want to see. It's bad enough I can't get NFL Sunday Ticket...
crazyblackman @ Sep 21st 2007 8:58PM
So sorry for you Comcasters. I LOVE DIRECTV and the NFL NETWORK. I would never, ever,ever,ever...give another dime of my hard earned money to Comcast. Trust me, get dish network or directv and you will never go back to cable. what's taken you so long?
JBDragon @ Sep 22nd 2007 11:39PM
Just what I don't want. I don't want yet another Sports channel I don't want that costs a bundle to carry like ESPN and ESPN2, etc. I don't want my cable bill to go up another $10+ a month to have it. These Sports channels cost a bundle because these Pro Athletes make millions every year. Someone has to pay them, and I sure don't want it to be me. Sports these days is a total rip off. It's a GAME. These players get Millions playing a GAME. I'd rather they got a Reasonable paycheck, Under a Million, Have ticket prices Reduced a whole lot, everything else going down in cost. Much smaller fee's to carry these sports channels. Then hey, maybe the NFL Sport channel would be put on COMCAST in the basic Tier. Personally I think any NEW channels put on these days HAS to be in HD anyway.
JeffDM @ Sep 24th 2007 12:53AM
I really don't have sympathy for either, but I think NFL is out of its mind.
I don't know about this, but I know ESPN is one of those gorillas that are reputed to charge more than any other channel because they can. Mabye NFL Channel is following that model. At least ESPN is a multi-sport channel. NFL wants their own single-sport channel on the base tier of every cable provider? That's a bit much and clearly arrogant.
Moxie @ Nov 4th 2007 7:34PM
I think the site admin below have done a great job of exposing the NFL Network for who they really are. Def. worth the read.
http://ispgeeks.com/wild/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=3339#3339
Brian @ Nov 27th 2007 12:10AM
How about the cable company drops one of the 50 useless channels that I get with Digital Cable like LOGO and replace it with NFL Network. It's lame that I get 170 channels, only watch 70, and can't get the 71st channel that I do want to watch.
bobsalen @ Dec 2nd 2007 1:30PM
Ah yes... sports billionaires fighting cable billionaires for my measly viewership dollars. Maybe 10 of the 200 channels Comcast offers is worth a damn, but the NFL Channel has already screwed me out a Patriots game so they are on my shit list too. But then, it's all about the $$$ and has nothing to do with loyalty, especially to coporate NFL or a cable company. Wanna make it a premium channel? Go ahead - it's time I got back to reading more books anyway.
Screw both of you.