Maybe. As I noted before, the NFL has a dumb TV policy and has been slow to embrace the Internet. Why does the NFL insist on making it difficult for its fans to watch its product? The NFL and local TV stations force feed fans the games that they want you to watch, regardless of whether the fans in that area have any interest in them. So far, this hasn't hurt the NFL, but it could in the future--or, perhaps worse, there is no way to know--why doesn't the NFL try to reach a bigger audience by letting people choose what games they want to watch?
Talk about adapts to changing times; compare MLB and NFL in watching games on the Internet. If I want to watch MLB games on the Internet, I can buy the MLB.TV package for about $125, and I don't need to be a subscriber to any cable company. Through that package, I can watch every out-of-market game on my TV, iPad, smartphone, and computer, live and in HD, and all with multiple camera angles. The cost is about $0.02 per game.
With the NFL, if I want to watch a game on the Internet, I first have to subscribe to DirecTv. Then, I have to buy the Sunday Ticket--but not ordinary Sunday Ticket, but Sunday Ticket MAX, which is extra--the total is $330, a total of about $0.65 per game, not counting the cost of DirecTv.
Why does the NFL insist on making it hard (and expensive) for its fans to watch its games?
You're right. Look at what NBC is doing with the English Premier League. Yes, you need NBC Sports Network to watch the games on live television but every other game in the league is streamed, free, on their website. Their coverage happens to be superb so it's really a can't-miss proposition.
That’s the thing. DirectTV pays billions so they can dictate how NFL games are programmed. The money in NFL is in gambling and fantasy football. So DirecTV came up with the RedZone channel. I know people who have gotten DirecTV simply for that one channel. It’s genius. Baseball has to give its product away because people don’t care nearly as much anymore. The NFL can dictate its terms because people will pay for the privilege of watching it. And hey, if it’s blacked out, just go to a bar with satellite and watch it there. Still nicer and cheaper than the stadium experience nowadays.
That’s the thing. DirectTV pays billions so they can dictate how NFL games are programmed. The money in NFL is in gambling and fantasy football. So DirecTV came up with the RedZone channel. I know people who have gotten DirecTV simply for that one channel. It’s genius. Baseball has to give its product away because people don’t care nearly as much anymore. The NFL can dictate its terms because people will pay for the privilege of watching it. And hey, if it’s blacked out, just go to a bar with satellite and watch it there. Still nicer and cheaper than the stadium experience nowadays.