Goodbye NFL, you've lost another fan

[Rizon]

I've had enough, this absolutely sickens me. The only games I can watch each week are the Raiders or 49'ers (I am a fan of neither), and that's it, unless both teams play at the same time or have a bye.

There is no way on earth I am going to PAY to watch extra games, ala NFL network or pay-per-view.

So, unlike the rest of the universe, and probably some huts in India, I cannot view any good games each week, with the exception of Sunday or Monday Night Football, the later being unbearable to listen to for obvious reasons.

The last straw was today, when "NFL rules prohibit" my station from showing OT in the Charges/Titans game, and instead showing the 5th Quarter Raiders Postgame Show. And I don't even get the Pats and Steelers.

So basically, that is it. My team sucks, and will suck for years to come, I can't watch any good games each week, I'm out. It was a nice run, but unfortunately the bozos around the league, probably greedy owners and NFL execs, have ruined this experience for me. Good bye NFL.

[Jas_lov]

Why are there rules on being able to show bonus coverage after 3:15 anyway? It seems like it would be beneficial to the fans at home to let them show the end of a game like Chargers-Titans, especially if they aren't getting a double header. I agree with this and the NFL Network being a joke, but I'm still gonna keep watching because my team will rule for years to come.

[RendeR]

You need to blame the Radiers, not the NFL, each team fights tooth and nail for the rights to airtime for their team in their region.

As a lifelong Bengals fan who has never lived in the bengals viewing region, I understand your frustration, but frankly, you need to get over yourself. If yer a fan, yer a fan and you'll figure out how to follow your team.

The TV practices haven't changed much in the last 40 or so years. When the league took over managing the TV contracts they had to make concessions to the individual teams. THIS is what is screwing you out of the OT games. The Local team, not the league itself.

If the league had a choice you'd get every game every weekend without paying extra for it yourself because they'd be making billions more in advertising.

I understand your pain, but you'll get no sympathy from me for it.

[molson]

I think the NFL will survive.

If you're pissed that local teams are getting coverage in your region, and THAT'S the final straw, ya, I don't think you're an NFL fan anyway.

[Cringer]

The NFL just emailed me. They said to tell you buh-bye.

[Greyroofoo]

I think the NFL will survive.

If you're pissed that local teams are getting coverage in your region, and THAT'S the final straw, ya, I don't think you're an NFL fan anyway.

If my only options were to watch the Raiders or the 49ers I probably would hate the NFL too.

[Buccaneer]

And what is wrong with following games on GameCenter?

[Rizon]

You need to blame the Radiers, not the NFL, each team fights tooth and nail for the rights to airtime for their team in their region.

As a lifelong Bengals fan who has never lived in the bengals viewing region, I understand your frustration, but frankly, you need to get over yourself. If yer a fan, yer a fan and you'll figure out how to follow your team.

The TV practices haven't changed much in the last 40 or so years. When the league took over managing the TV contracts they had to make concessions to the individual teams. THIS is what is screwing you out of the OT games. The Local team, not the league itself.

If the league had a choice you'd get every game every weekend without paying extra for it yourself because they'd be making billions more in advertising.

I understand your pain, but you'll get no sympathy from me for it.


Oh believe me, I hate the Raiders. I hate them more than most things in life. The 49'res are not far behind. If I were a fan of either of these teams, it wouldn't be so bad, but I'm not.

It's not like baseball. Yeah, the Giants and A's suck, and will suck for awhile, but I still watch their games when they're on TV. Heck, I can even scroll through the channels and find the Cubs, Braves or whatever Fox game is on. The NFL, I get nothing.

I remember a time, maybe before the Raiders returned, that I was able to watch 2 morning games and 2 afternoon games, if I am not mistaken. It seems like over the last few years, this has dwindled down to just being able to watch the home teams.

The odd thing was at the beginning of this year, I was able to watch more than the home teams. When the Raiders or 49'ers were on, there was another game on. This stop just a couple of weeks ago. What happened?

I just can't be a fan of something that's not even on TV.

[Atocep]

I had Raiders/Packers this morning and I have Seattle/Arizona now. Instead of CBS showing the NE/Pittsburgh game I get the movie Darkness Falls.

Two games on Sunday is ridiculous.

[Rizon]

And what is wrong with following games on GameCenter?

I've tried. GameCenter sucks, IMO. It lags too far behind, and has far too many errors. I watch them mostly in Yahoo.

Actually, I do sit in from of GameCenter/Yahoo each Sunday to "watch" my Dolphins get throttled. Plus I'm in several pickem leagues with alot of money at stake, so I follow all of them closely. But it's not the same as watching the game live. :(

[Cringer]

Well, you can always see either the Pats or Colts in primetime every week. There is always that to love. ;)

[Buccaneer]

I've tried. GameCenter sucks, IMO. It lags too far behind, and has far too many errors. I watch them mostly in Yahoo.

Actually, I do sit in from of GameCenter/Yahoo each Sunday to "watch" my Dolphins get throttled. Plus I'm in several pickem leagues with alot of money at stake, so I follow all of them closely. But it's not the same as watching the game live. :(

It does lag, I agree, but I am more than happy to make that trade-off than watching what little football they show between commercials.

[Rizon]

Well, you can always see either the Pats or Colts in primetime every week. There is always that to love. ;)

Yeah, that's not so bad. I'm not a fan of the teams, but I'm a fan of how well they play, and I certainly don't hate either one of them. If they're on TV, I'm happy. I just like to see some good football played, not the Raiders and 49'ers bumble their way through 60 minutes.

If the Pats and Steelers were on TV now, I'd be happy. At least give me 3 games a week: Monday, Sunday Night and 1 good Sunday day game. I'd be happy then.

[lynchjm24]

The rules in the home cities are bizarre at times. For the television watcher you are better off not being in a city that has a team.

The other problem is that there are only about 3 teams in the league that aren't painful to watch week in and week out, leaving the vast majority of the schedule unwatchable.

Gambling and Fantasy keep the NFL machine chugging, not the quality of play on the field.

[Rizon]

It does lag, I agree, but I am more than happy to make that trade-off than watching what little football they show between commercials.

What's funny is that I suffer through the Raiders/49'ers games just to get to halftime so they highlight some other games. Sometimes I mute the game and do something else; clean house, play FOF or other video games, walk the dog, and just pay attention around halftime.

Actually, is there a way to listen to any games for free on the radio/internet? I can survive then. I like listening to games on the radio.

[MJ4H]

Try SopCast

[Cringer]

What's funny is that I suffer through the Raiders/49'ers games just to get to halftime so they highlight some other games. Sometimes I mute the game and do something else; clean house, play FOF or other video games, walk the dog, and just pay attention around halftime.

Actually, is there a way to listen to any games for free on the radio/internet? I can survive then. I like listening to games on the radio.

If you can afford the extra $13 a month, get Sirius. It is worth it to me and great. You get EVERY NFL game, and you get both the home and away team broadcasts of each game. You get three broadcasts for the national primetime games, both team broadcasts and the national one. You also get all the other great things on Sirius.

[Rizon]

I mean, I'm watching SF/MIN right now, in desperation and against what I said, and SF is getting throttled. Dilfer is completing all his passes 10 yards into the sidelines, from his back. It's awful And to think NE/PIT is on right now, and 10-14. Throw me a bone, someone.

[k0ruptr]

I still have no idea how people don't know about these things, but hxxp://channelsurfing.net and hxxp://sportsonpc.com (username: spcunderground pass: fishandchips) have almost every game streamed live online for free. thats how i watch the nfl now, to hell with TV.

[Big Fo]

That's pretty cool, sounds similar to how I watch soccer games that aren't on FSC/GolTV/Setanta.

For people without DirecTV it's a shame Americans can't get that one service the NFL runs which is similar to Sunday Ticket but on your computer.

That said, with a league full of mediocre teams barring 3-4 exceptions on either end of the scale it's not like you're missing much until the playoffs start and the games are easy for anyone to catch.

[Pyser]

I still have no idea how people don't know about these things, but hxxp://channelsurfing.net and hxxp://sportsonpc.com (username: spcunderground pass: fishandchips) have almost every game streamed live online for free. thats how i watch the nfl now, to hell with TV.

well shit, i wish i knew that this morning!

[Raiders Army]

The Sunday NFL Ticket is nice

[Big Fo]

The Sunday NFL Ticket is nice

RedZone channel ftw

[Rizon]

Funny, Soft Rock is bitching about this very thing during the 49'ers game.

[Kodos]

I was stuck with the Bills when they were crappy in the late 70s and early 80s. Then we moved to Ohio, where I suffered through Bungles games. Then I lived in Indiana when Colts stood for Count On Losing This Sunday. Then the Bears in Chicago. And now I'm stuck with New England and the New York teams, none of which I can stand.

Thank god I will have Sunday ticket again next season...

[Passacaglia]

I was stuck with the Bills when they were crappy in the late 70s and early 80s. Then we moved to Ohio, where I suffered through Bungles games. Then I lived in Indiana when Colts stood for Count On Losing This Sunday. Then the Bears in Chicago. And now I'm stuck with New England and the New York teams, none of which I can stand.

Thank god I will have Sunday ticket again next season...

damn you hate a lot of teams

[Desnudo]

I've had enough, this absolutely sickens me. The only games I can watch each week are the Raiders or 49'ers (I am a fan of neither), and that's it, unless both teams play at the same time or have a bye.

There is no way on earth I am going to PAY to watch extra games, ala NFL network or pay-per-view.

So, unlike the rest of the universe, and probably some huts in India, I cannot view any good games each week, with the exception of Sunday or Monday Night Football, the later being unbearable to listen to for obvious reasons.

The last straw was today, when "NFL rules prohibit" my station from showing OT in the Charges/Titans game, and instead showing the 5th Quarter Raiders Postgame Show. And I don't even get the Pats and Steelers.

So basically, that is it. My team sucks, and will suck for years to come, I can't watch any good games each week, I'm out. It was a nice run, but unfortunately the bozos around the league, probably greedy owners and NFL execs, have ruined this experience for me. Good bye NFL.

Go to a bar. Although having Steelers-Pats on TV against Seahawks-Cards would have saved me some major calories in beer and wings.

[Daimyo]

Streamtvnow is another site, but you have to pay to use it.

[14ers]

Two games on Sunday is ridiculous.
What is this guy or the original poster talking about?

I thought everyone got 3 games Sunday afternoon? One network has a doubleheader and the other network shows 1 game. That would be a total of 3 games every sunday afternoon.


Not sure what happens when there are Saturday or Thursday games though.

[Desnudo]

Two games in Seattle today. Oak-GB at 10 AM, then Sea-Ari at 1 PM.

[Rizon]

What is this guy or the original poster talking about?

I thought everyone got 3 games Sunday afternoon? One network has a doubleheader and the other network shows 1 game. That would be a total of 3 games every sunday afternoon.


Not sure what happens when there are Saturday or Thursday games though.

Nope, we see no other games if the Raiders or 49'ers are playing. So typically the Raiders are the morning game, the 49'ers are the afternoon game.

[clintl]

Nope, we see no other games if the Raiders or 49'ers are playing. So typically the Raiders are the morning game, the 49'ers are the afternoon game.

Isn't the Raiders' lease up in a few years? That should take care of the Raiders problem, if Al can just find another city to extort.

[clintl]

Dola...

It was better a few years ago when you could pretty much count on the Raiders home games being blacked out in Northern California.

[Rizon]

Isn't the Raiders' lease up in a few years? That should take care of the Raiders problem, if Al can just find another city to extort.

I pray for it every day. When the Faiders leave, I'll throw a party. When Satan Davis dies, I'm going to piss on his grave.

[Oilers9911]

I pray for it every day. When the Faiders leave, I'll throw a party. When Satan Davis dies, I'm going to piss on his grave.

You get far too worked up over a Sunday of football.

[ISiddiqui]

What is this guy or the original poster talking about?

I thought everyone got 3 games Sunday afternoon? One network has a doubleheader and the other network shows 1 game. That would be a total of 3 games every sunday afternoon.

Areas with 2 "home teams" can easily end up with only 2 games during the afternoon. It's because you can't show a game on the opposite network from the home team's game. So while in most markets you'll have a two games during the other time when the home team doesn't play, in 2 home team markets you can have one home team play in the early game and the other home team in the late game.... meaning only 2 games during the afternoon.

Though everyone gets Sunday Night Football... well, unless it doesn't sell out and gets blacked out in the home area.

[Rizon]

You get far too worked up over a Sunday of football.

Sometimes on Mondays and Thursdays, and even Saturdays too.

Think about it: I was a hardcore Raiders fan until they moved, then I became a Dolphins fan. The Raiders win the bowl the next year. I've suffered ever since, living in the land of red and gold bandwagoners and gloaters (where are they now??). Then the Raiders come back, and destroy the beautiful Oakland Coliseum with 500 billion pounds of blasphemous concrete known as Mount Davis.

So that's no football championships I've ever seen for my teams. The A's, the only championship being in 89 is tainted because apparently every member of that team was stuck with more needles than the entire sierra-nevada's pine trees combined, and pumped with more juice than an entire Tropicana factory.

So what can I do? Watch the 49'ers and Raiders stink it up on TV, or go to a game. I'd go to a Raiders game, but I fear all the inbreeding could be contagious. Plus I don't want crabs. I can watch the 49'ers, but I'd probably get blown away in the wind. I can go watch the Giants, and get dirty stares when I yell out, because heaven forbid you disrupt any of those poon's blog postings they do on their laptops in the stadium. I know Bush sucks, get over it. Or I can go to an A's game, and look at Mount Satan, and get reminded of the time he took me into his shag van, bent me over the front seat, and hammered away at my anus with his +5 dagger of backstabbing.

My sports life sucks, but at least I get free porn.

[korme]

Isiddiqui just lost me

[ISiddiqui]

Isiddiqui just lost me

I'll give an example ;).

Ok, I live in the Atlanta metro area. Whenever the Falcons are on (on Fox usually), the other network isn't allowed to broadcast a game. So the Falcons are the only game on TV during the 1 PM or 4 PM timeslot. The other time slot gets the double games (I used doubleheader, when I shouldn't have, maybe that caused the confusion).

So, say the Falcons are on FOX at 1 PM. CBS isn't allowed to broadcast on 1 PM in the Atlanta home area. CBS and FOX will broadcast a game at the 4 PM slot though. Though I believe that may only be for when the Falcons are at home, but I'm not sure.

For a 2 home team area (like San Fran/Oakland or NYC), there is the possibility that one home team has the 1 PM timeslot and the other has a game on the 4 PM timeslot. And the other network can't broadcast against them.

[stevew]

Eh, just think of the plus that if the Niners or Raiders ever play a meaningful game on NFL network, you'll get to see it.

[Schmidty]

I just nut it up and buy Sunday Ticket.

[Dunleavy]

^yep = dish

wait till next year and you'll get a free sunday ticket deal iirc

[JeeberD]

:confused:

During the Cowboys games this year they've still shown games on the other network. Yesterday, for example, the Cowboys were playing on Fox and during commercial breaks I would switch over to the Oakland-Packers thrashing on CBS...

Edit: OK, I missed the "Though I believe that may only be for when the Falcons are at home, but I'm not sure" the first time through. That may be why I was able to see the other game yesterday...

[ISiddiqui]

Yeah, I'm thinking it may just be for home games. I'm guessing they can't exact that pressure when the team is playing somewhere else.

[tarcone]

When the Rams are at home only one game showed in that slot which is usually the early slot. Then one game in the afternoon. I hate the Rams and hope home week they dont sell out so they are blacked out

[Ragone]

Eh, just think of the plus that if the Niners or Raiders ever play a meaningful game on NFL network, you'll get to see it.

you are assuming that it doesn't get blacked out :)

[Fidatelo]

I'm always amazed that I seem to get better NFL coverage on basic cable living in the middle of the Canadian prairies than many U.S. of Americans in major U.S. of American cities.

[Ajaxab]

These kinds of policies are one of the reasons why I have come to love college football so much more than the NFL. On a given Saturday, I can have access to upwards of five or six games at one time without even buying Gameplan. When games are simultaneously on ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX Sports HD, ESPN, ESPN2 and Versus, I can always find a good game somewhere. By contrast, I find myself being bored by only one NFL game being shown in my market, especially when it's a team I don't care about (hello Houston Texans). Sure there are four times more teams in college football, but I just don't think the NFL gets it with its draconian, medieval television rules.

[ISiddiqui]

These kinds of policies are one of the reasons why I have come to love college football so much more than the NFL. On a given Saturday, I can have access to upwards of five or six games at one time without even buying Gameplan. When games are simultaneously on ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX Sports HD, ESPN, ESPN2 and Versus, I can always find a good game somewhere. By contrast, I find myself being bored by only one NFL game being shown in my market, especially when it's a team I don't care about (hello Houston Texans). Sure there are four times more teams in college football, but I just don't think the NFL gets it with its draconian, medieval television rules.

Agreed. I think that's why I've really started to like the college game more. You ask me five years ago, and I'd have said I'm definately more of an NFL fan. But in those five years, I've really come to love the college game, more than the pros, and I think part of that is that I have a choice among so many games in a given weekend on just basic cable.