Direct TV and NFL Extend Contract to 2014

[Fetter21]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123786503490122053.html

Quote:

According to a person with knowledge of the deal, the contract calls for payments of $1 billion a year for the 2011-14 seasons. That is a 43% increase on an annual basis over the current five-year deal, in which DirecTV pays the NFL about $700 million a year for the exclusive right to sell the Sunday Ticket package. That package allows fans to see every NFL game on Sundays, as opposed to simply the games shown on local broadcast channels.

Quote:

However, the new deal chips away at DirecTV's exclusivity when it comes to out-of-market games. The agreement with the El Segundo, Calif., company allows the NFL for the first time to pursue deals with cable operators and Internet providers to offer subscribers the Red Zone Channel, which provides cut-ins to the crucial moments of NFL games. In addition, cable subscribers living in areas where satellite service isn't available will be able to buy the full Sunday Ticket package over the Internet.

Unfortunate for those of us without Direct TV, but not surprising in the least. It is cool that the redzone channel could be available to others though, I'll be curious to see how much that costs.

One thing I thought I saw in another article the other day, but couldn't find this morning was, that by the 2012 season they plan on having an online subscription available even to people who live in areas where they can get Direct TV. Which would be nice.

[p_rushing]

If you have cable, you will never get this. Cable companies don't have enough bandwidth to match DTV or FIOS in HD channels, don't count all the VOD "channels" because they aren't real channels. Cable companies would have to turn off channels to be able to show all the games every where. Some of the big cities could do it, but most just don't have the bandwidth.

DTV already has an online version, so I don't see it moving from DTV to the NFL, the redzone channel is not full games online. The subscription might be available through DTV, but I don't see them giving it up.

Where in the USA is DTV not offered? Its offered every where so I don't know where that claim about being able to buy it is coming from.

[J.R. Locke]

Quote: Originally Posted by p_rushing

Where in the USA is DTV not offered? Its offered every where so I don't know where that claim about being able to buy it is coming from.

If you live in an apartment you are at the mercy of your landlord.

[av7]

I need to switch to Direct TV shortly if Comcast and NFL cant reach an agreement.. Comcast has to stop airing NFLN on May 1st, who knows if they can get it done.

[Aggies7]

Quote: Originally Posted by avrbas

I need to switch to Direct TV shortly if Comcast and NFL cant reach an agreement.. Comcast has to stop airing NFLN on May 1st, who knows if they can get it done.

Agreed just got a message from Comcast stating they were losing NFL Network. Im getting sick of Comcast. Direct TV is the way to go.

[authenticDR]

Comcast is one of, if not the worst television companies out there. DirecTV is heaven for me personally.

[Brandwin]

This makes me sad.

[jmillhimes]

Comcast is a joke period. They have horrible customer service and add the fact that they wont have the NFL network next year...The only reason Im still with them is because they gave me a nice package on the Net and cable