NFL adds fifth network to Regular Season Package..

[SirFozzie]

(and it is it's own network.. if I was the other companies, I'd be a BIT miffed)

The NFL Network will carry eight regular-season games in 2006, the New York Times and other media outlets reported Saturday.

The league's network, which has only shown preseason games in the past, will carry eight Thursday and Saturday games, starting with the Washington Redskins vs. the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving, the Times reported, citing a senior league official,

The NFL currently has television deals with CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN and DirecTV and had been negotiating with Comcast about the package that it will now show in its own network.

The games will also be shown by local broadcasters in the markets where they are being played. The NFL Network currently has about 36 million cable subscribers.

[dervack]

The potential for this is great for Cable viewers. I would not be surprised if the NFL Sunday Ticket isn't a Direct TV exclusive in a few years.

[Philliesfan980]

Comcast[/B] about the package that it will now show in its own network.


Am I interpreting this wrong, or does it mean that us Comcast guys might have a hope of getting the NFL Sunday Ticket someday?

[Desnudo]

I think it's referring to the 8 game agreement for next season. Doesn't DirecTV have an exclusive agreement for Sunday Ticket?

[Philliesfan980]

I think it's referring to the 8 game agreement for next season. Doesn't DirecTV have an exclusive agreement for Sunday Ticket?

I believe they signed a big deal at the beginning of last year or the year before that gave them exclusive rights for 5 years at the time of signing.

[GreenMonster]

I believe they signed a big deal at the beginning of last year or the year before that gave them exclusive rights for 5 years at the time of signing.

Comcast was slipping on this, NFL package is a major sticking point for a majority of cable viewers. I right now would gladely pay more than Direct TV cost to get the NFL package on Comcast..

[Darkiller]

What is the audience rating for NFL Network, is it "working well" ?

[GreenMonster]

What is the audience rating for NFL Network, is it "working well" ?

I will be adding the NFL network this year, probably this week so I can watch all the pre-draft stuff. I can't believe some people without cable or the NFL Network will not be watching the Cowboys and Lions on Thanksgiving. The Lions will be getting beat up by my Dolphins and I can't wait..

[cthomer5000]

I can't believe some people without cable or the NFL Network will not be watching the Cowboys and Lions on Thanksgiving. The Lions will be getting beat up by my Dolphins and I can't wait..
Yeah, this just seems deeply wrong to me.

[Philliesfan980]

What is the audience rating for NFL Network, is it "working well" ?

I'm not too sure how its doing in the ratings, but I watch it all the time. Its better than anything that ESPN puts out there in terms of football coverage. They have some nice shows, and the game of the week is great!

Kinda wish they had more old school NFL films type stuff, but thats probably just me.

[Ksyrup]

I can't believe some people without cable or the NFL Network will not be watching the Cowboys and Lions on Thanksgiving.
Same here. I've got DirecTV, but who the hell knows where I'll be on Thanksgiving in any given year. The idea of possibly not having 2 NFL games on Thanksgiving afternoon...I just can't comprehend that scenario.

[Desnudo]

Yeah, this just seems deeply wrong to me.

I know, it's been years and years since the Dolphins have beat up on anyone. I'll have the NFL Network for the first time Wednesday. The classic games sold me.

[henry296]

Am I interpreting this wrong, or does it mean that us Comcast guys might have a hope of getting the NFL Sunday Ticket someday?

The reference to Comcast was negotiating with OLN which is owned by Comcast to carry the games.

As mentioned, Sunday Ticket won't be on cable for a while.

[ISiddiqui]

Ok, now we need for the NFL Network to have its own HD feed. If they are having 8 games, it's a requirement!

[WVUFAN]

Ok, now we need for the NFL Network to have its own HD feed. If they are having 8 games, it's a requirement!
They do. It's in my cable company listed under "NFLHD". Of course, I don't have a HD-ready TV, but it is there for those that do.

[ISiddiqui]

Ah... damnit... freaking Comcast!

[SirFozzie]

Some additional information I'm hearing..

The Thanksgiving game that NFL Network will get will NOT be one of the existing two, but a third game (thought to be a 8:00 PM start).. because some owners were tired of the Cowboys and Lions always getting the Turkey Day spotlight.... but the Cowboys and lions owners successfully politicked to keep their always on Thanksgiving game.. so instead they added a third game, between teams to be determined each year.

Also:

Details on the flexible Sunday night NFL television schedule for next season were ironed out last week during a brief league meeting in Orlando, Fla., that was a precursor to the annual meeting in mid-March.

The owners and networks came up with a system that will begin in Week 10 of the 2006 season because there will be no Sunday night game on Christmas Eve. In 2007 and thereafter, the flexible schedule will be in place from Weeks 11-17 except in years when there is a Christmas conflict.

For those weeks, no game will be designated for the Sunday night slot on the schedule when it is released before the season; all games will be listed with the usual 1 p.m. or 4 p.m. start time. However, the league will already have a game or two in mind for each of those Sunday nights, subject to change based on team records and matchups.

For Week 10, a game will be designated for Sunday night 12 days in advance; the same will happen for each succeeding week, with the teams involved given 12 days' notice.

Fox and CBS each will have five ''blocks" per season, meaning they can stop a designated game from being moved to Sunday nights -- but only up to a maximum of five times. When a block is used, a new game will be selected, still with 12 days' notice

The hope is that this will avoid some of the terrible matchups ''Monday Night Football" was saddled with in recent years. Monday nights now will belong to ESPN, with the Sunday night NBC game becoming the big night game of the week.

NBC and the NFL have yet to decide whether the Sunday games will begin at 8:15 or 8:30 p.m.

[Desnudo]

I wish they'd rotate the teams to try ensure that match-ups will at least be somewhat interesting.

[ice4277]

I wish they'd rotate the teams to try ensure that match-ups will at least be somewhat interesting.
Part of the problem is that one of the teams must play one of their AFC opponents on Thanksgiving so CBS can carry that game, which can leave rather slim pickings. This coming season, that will be the Lions, meaning we'll get either Buffalo or Miami on Turkey Day.

As for rotating the teams hosting the game, well, two reasons that won't happen, at least in Detroit's case. For one, the Lions started the whole thing, its tradition. Sometimes it is good to keep traditions just for the sake of keeping them. I cannot imagine a Thanksgiving without a game, regardless of how shitty the team may be. Two, Ford (or maybe the entire Big Three, I can't recall which) have threatened in the past to pull ALL advertising from the NFL if they move that game out of Detroit. Good luck with that.

[cthomer5000]

I wish they'd rotate the teams to try ensure that match-ups will at least be somewhat interesting.
Nah, you can't mess with the Detroit/Dallas tradition. It IS Thanksgiving.

[cthomer5000]

This coming season, that will be the Lions, meaning we'll get either Buffalo or Miami on Turkey Day.
You have to think the NFL will go Miami on this one.

[ice4277]

You have to think the NFL will go Miami on this one.
Yeah. The Dolphins definitely seem like the better contender for next year, more star power on Miami, plus I guess they could tie Nick Saban into coming back to the area for the first time since he left MSU.

[cthomer5000]

Yeah, and Buffalo on the other hand seems about as unappealing as they come.

[dubb93]

Sweet, Comcast doesn't offer the NFL network in my area.

[Desnudo]

Part of the problem is that one of the teams must play one of their AFC opponents on Thanksgiving so CBS can carry that game, which can leave rather slim pickings. This coming season, that will be the Lions, meaning we'll get either Buffalo or Miami on Turkey Day.

As for rotating the teams hosting the game, well, two reasons that won't happen, at least in Detroit's case. For one, the Lions started the whole thing, its tradition. Sometimes it is good to keep traditions just for the sake of keeping them. I cannot imagine a Thanksgiving without a game, regardless of how shitty the team may be. Two, Ford (or maybe the entire Big Three, I can't recall which) have threatened in the past to pull ALL advertising from the NFL if they move that game out of Detroit. Good luck with that.

Shocking, considering who owns the Lions. I understand your point. I like the idea of tradition when it makes sense, but I think it would be a lot more fun for all fans outside of Detroit and Dallas if the schedule rotated.

[Desnudo]

Nah, you can't mess with the Detroit/Dallas tradition. It IS Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving to me is turkey, mashed potatos, wine and two boring football matchups.

[Butter]

I think this is clearly a move by the NFL Network to expand their cable coverage. Everyone is whining now about how they're going to be missing some Thanksgiving games by not having the NFL Network... but just wait. I bet by September/October, most major cable systems will pick the channel up. I bet most of you won't miss anything.

I was surprised by this announcement because I thought that the TV contracts were all set for the next few years... does this mean that Fox and/or CBS will want some money back because they'll each be having 4 fewer games per year?

[McSweeny]

Thanksgiving to me is turkey, mashed potatos, wine and two boring football matchups.exactly

there's too much going on and things are too crazy on Thanksgiving for me to be able to sit down and watch a meaningful game. Stick to Dallas and Detroit

[Samdari]

(and it is it's own network.. if I was the other companies, I'd be a BIT miffed)

Well, this package of games was available to all of them, and they all knew that there would be those games not available to them when they bid on their deals. It has not been kept secret from any of them. They planned on offering 8 late season prime time games as a cable package and no other company offered them as much as they thought they could make themselves. It would have been very difficult for any company to pay what the NFL percieves as the value this adds to the NFL network, but the did give others the chance.

As for the Dallas/Detroit games "not being touched," I am not sure about that. Supposedly, the first game they are going to show in this package is Dallas/Washington on Thanksgiving Day. There will be two games on the networks during the afternoon, but not necesarily Detroit and Dallas.

Also, much like the ESPN games, these games being shown on cable will not prevent anyone from seeing their local teams. The games will also be offered to the local channels in the markets of the teams playing.

This is not a sign of the Sunday Ticket package coming to cable any time soon. DirecTV has exclusive rights until 2010. As for being willing to pay DirecTV's costs for this to get it on cable, I really don't think you are. It is a loss leader for them, they lose money on the $200 people pay for it (hoping to make it back on regular subscription fees). Would you pay $400 for the package? That's $100 a month, for four months, just to watch football, in addition to the ~$50 you pay just for tv.

What I think this is, is the first step in what many feel is an inevitable end: In order to watch NFL football, you must pay the NFL directly for the privilege. I envision this evolving until everyone must pay to watch any NFL games, 20-30 years down the road.

[SirFozzie]

Samdari, from what I understand, there WAS no bidding on this 8 game package.

The NFL just assigned it to their network.

and I definitely agree with your last paragraph.

The NFL and it's Network is realizing that they can take all the advertising dollars that the networks get.. and you have to PAY to get the channel! (through agreements with the cable/dish networks)

[cthomer5000]

What I think this is, is the first step in what many feel is an inevitable end: In order to watch NFL football, you must pay the NFL directly for the privilege. I envision this evolving until everyone must pay to watch any NFL games, 20-30 years down the road.This would be the death of the league. I don't see it getting that far. What I do see is a complete elimination of the sunday or monday night packages, with either one or both just being on the NFL network.

[Wolfpack]

Either that or they start adding more Thursday games so the NFL can spread over a longer "weekend" like they do now with opening weekend.

[Desnudo]

This would be the death of the league. I don't see it getting that far. What I do see is a complete elimination of the sunday or monday night packages, with either one or both just being on the NFL network.

I can see a set-up similar to soccer in England where there are normal match-ups on regular tv and then a "match of the week" on pay per view.

[ice4277]

Samdari, from what I understand, there WAS no bidding on this 8 game package.

The NFL just assigned it to their network.

and I definitely agree with your last paragraph.

The NFL and it's Network is realizing that they can take all the advertising dollars that the networks get.. and you have to PAY to get the channel! (through agreements with the cable/dish networks)
I don't know if there were any other official bids, but the NFL was in at least preliminary talks with Comcast, and possibly Turner.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I don't know if there were any other official bids, but the NFL was in at least preliminary talks with Comcast, and possibly Turner.

As were some some others apparently:"...Comcast, NBC Universal, News Corp., Turner Broadcasting, Verizon and a major Internet company"
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001920355

[ice4277]

...and a major Internet company"
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001920355That last one is interesting. I'd have to imagine its google, considering their recent NBA agreement and Google Video. Maybe by the time the next contract is up for renewal, this will be a stronger possibility.

[sterlingice]

Anyone think this is hitting the breaking point for the NFL where they're not headed for overexposure and this will actually be quite the detriment?

SI

[Desnudo]

Not really since the games will be on their own network. So the only people watching them will be from the existing fan base and the hype machine will probably be limited. I'll wager that we're not going to be seing Colts v. Patriots-type games on there either.

[henry296]

I think this is clearly a move by the NFL Network to expand their cable coverage. Everyone is whining now about how they're going to be missing some Thanksgiving games by not having the NFL Network... but just wait. I bet by September/October, most major cable systems will pick the channel up. I bet most of you won't miss anything.

I was surprised by this announcement because I thought that the TV contracts were all set for the next few years... does this mean that Fox and/or CBS will want some money back because they'll each be having 4 fewer games per year?

Fox and CBS were aware that the NFL was going to offer a Thurs/Sat package and they would have less games than last year. It had no impact on their deal.

I agree that most cable companies in major football markets will get the NFL Network by November.

[miami_fan]

Since the question was asked about MNF. How about the NFL Network booth?