i_am_the_swammi Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 If what i read below is accurate, no more having to pay $4.95 for an expanded-sports tier just so i can get teh NFL Network....it'll be free, just like most other cable stations. NFL, Comcast settle NFLN dispute 50 minutes ago The league and the cable provider announced a long-term agreement Tuesday that will keep the NFL-owned channel out of Comcast’s premium sports tier of programming and ended a lengthy battle between the companies. The pact was announced shortly after the league’s two-day spring meeting formally opened in South Florida. “Our goal has always been to provide our digital customers with access to the NFL’s unique content and, working together, we have struck the right balance between value and distribution on a variety of viewing platforms,” Comcast CEO Brian Roberts said in a release. “We are looking forward to bringing the NFL’s programming to our customers just in time for the start of the NFL season.” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said the league was “very pleased” with the deal. Specific terms of deal were not disclosed. The NFL said Comcast will begin repositioning NFL Network to its digital classic level of service and have a full launch by August 1, and the companies planned to immediately drop pending legal actions before the Federal Communications Commission. Comcast, the nation’s largest cable company, had said the NFL wanted a 350 percent increase in fees it would pay to carry the network. Those fees are based on numbers of viewers, so Comcast aimed to move the channel from a digital tier with 8.6 million subscribers to a sports package with 2 million subscribers who would pay an additional monthly fee. The league’s contention was that Comcast was being punitive because it didn’t get rights to show eight live NFL games for its Versus sports channel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swashbucklers Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 Does it say that it will be free or be offered on the "Digital Classic" Tier? Do I already have that? Comcast just gave me an internet powerboost free for a year for the inconvenience concerning the problems surrounding NFL Network. So I cancelled the sports package anyway and got the free upgrade for 12 months. First decent thing Comcast has done for me in years! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cdrudge Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 Also not mentioned in that article is an agreement reached with CBS and Fox that will allow Comcast to carry the Red Zone Channel. I don't think other providers have announced if they will be carrying that channel, but I'd imagine that they would be interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savage Beatings Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 Oh sweet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tazinib1 Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 Also not mentioned in that article is an agreement reached with CBS and Fox that will allow Comcast to carry the Red Zone Channel. I don't think other providers have announced if they will be carrying that channel, but I'd imagine that they would be interested. Red Zone Channel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
i_am_the_swammi Posted May 19, 2009 Author Share Posted May 19, 2009 Was just at lunch, and WIP's sportsbreak mentioned that NFL Network will now be available to millions of more Comcast subscribers. I am assuming this means that it will not be apart of the "Expanded Sports" option (which is an additional $5 per month). And yes, the Red Zone Channel will be operational this season! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 Now was that so hard? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tazinib1 Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 I just did alittle google on the Red Zone Channel. I'm not a Direct TV subscriber nor do I have Sunday Ticket but god almighty, that gave me a Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cdrudge Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 On the Doug Gottlieb Show this afternoon one of the talking heads was talking about the deal. They mentioned that Sunday Ticket also could be licensed to cable companies from DirecTV. This was in lieu of any discussion of the Red Zone Channel so I wonder if they were just confusing the two. I can't imagine that DirecTV would spend literally billions to get the exclusive rights, only to sub-license the package to the competition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seahawks21 Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 I just did alittle google on the Red Zone Channel. I'm not a Direct TV subscriber nor do I have Sunday Ticket but god almighty, that gave me a Yes, it is as cool as it sounds!! The best part is when you're stuck watching a 6-3 fireworks show between like Denver and Cleveland. By the 3rd quarter all the other games are getting intense so you can basically keep up with all of them instead! It is also perfect if you watch games with guys in your league. It gives everybody a chance to watch their players a littel bit instead of complaining about which game to watch. I wouldn't be surprised if the ratings take away from the network games some. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cunning Runt Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 I can't imagine that DirecTV would spend literally billions to get the exclusive rights, only to sub-license the package to the competition. Seems like a it would make a lot of sense if you ask me. If they could make some on the deal, why not? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westvirginia Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 Seems like a it would make a lot of sense if you ask me. If they could make some on the deal, why not? +1 There are people who won't get direct/dish for various reasons (I'm one). If I could get Sunday ticket or red-zone on my cable I would certainly look at it if the deal were right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cunning Runt Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 +1 There are people who won't get direct/dish for various reasons (I'm one). If I could get Sunday ticket or red-zone on my cable I would certainly look at it if the deal were right. I'm right there with ya. I've got too many TVs in the house for the dish to make any sense. But if I could get Sunday Ticket on cable I think I'd be all over it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FishFreak Posted May 27, 2009 Share Posted May 27, 2009 Well I hope Time Warner cable is next in line. I'm tired of not being able to watch the NFL network. At least give me a choice to watch the channel whether it's free or extra. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.