Report: NFL keeps late-season package for itself (Here comes NFL Pay Per View!)

ESPN ^ | January 28, 2006

[Liberty Valance]

One more reason I'm liking College football more and more. Well, that and the Longhorns have been totally awesome ;o)

[Will_Zurmacht]

it seems to me that if only two networks teamed up, they could create their own league...and no, i'm not talking XFL.

If the NFL tries to go too far, some suits might just jump at the chance to own and operate their own league. Just off the top of my head,you could create a North American league with the 9 CFL teams and 20 US teams, and 1 from Mexico.

It'll seem like scabs for a while, but pretty soon, without the ad revenue, there is no NFL. We'll all just watch the NAFL for free..

[newzjunkey]

They'll be shown in local markets unless "enough" tickets aren't sold you mean.

It's not technically pay-per-view but it's not free-to-air either because you clearly need to subscribe to a provider carrying the NFL Network and that's crap.

[newzjunkey]

If you don't have cable, you can't get it. If you have cable but it doesn't carry NFL Network, you can't get it. If you have to get DirecTV to see it, how is it not PAY to view (if not exactly per view)? Want Monday Night Football? Need cable or satellite carrying ESPN.

This is greed fueled stupidity. No skin off my back.

I like the idea of local media charging to carry scores and highlights. It does amount to free advertising for entertainment. While I'm at it, we need to end every single cent of taxpayer subsidies for sports. They can build their own venues.

[Sonny M]

Pay per view for for NFL games?

This is a day late and a dollar short.

I already have NFL Sunday Ticket.

That IS NFL Pay Per View.

Its like watching folks yelling "The cops are coming" while surrounded by police officers.

That said, the NFL Network isn't pay per view.

[Doogle]

The NFL Network is not Pay Per View.

..yet

[backtothestreets]

it seems to me that if only two networks teamed up, they could create their own league

Great point! It wouldn't need more than a single network, maybe an the WB or Paramount as they are still trying to create a place for themselves beside ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox.

The formula you mentioned is what brought about the old AFL. They teamed up with NBC, brought in talent the NFL had no interest in, or were cast off as has-beens by the NFL and added in a few rule changes to make their brand of football more thrilling for the fans. The rest is history. The brash upstart took the fight to the NFL for equal status.

Also, it doesn't need to start big. I used to go to Oakland Raider games at Frank Youell Field.

[holymoly]

If you don't have cable, you can't get it. If you have cable but it doesn't carry NFL Network, you can't get it. If you have to get DirecTV to see it, how is it not PAY to view (if not exactly per view)?

Nice strawman. I never said cable/satellite was free, I said the NFL Network isn't "pay-per-view".

Want Monday Night Football? Need cable or satellite carrying ESPN.

This is greed fueled stupidity.

Yes, it is. And it's on the part of ABC, who was losing money on MNF. So they moved it to ESPN (which is owned by ABC).

The Sunday night games, which were previously carried by ESPN, will now be broadcast by NBC. So, in regards to MNF/SNF, there is no net loss of "free" NFL games.

[ducks1944]

What is NFL Network. I have dish network but never heard of NFL Network!

[Keith in Iowa]

>>>The NFL Network is not Pay Per View.<<<

Yet... :)

[Luke21]

You have to have Directv. Then you can get NFL network and Sunday Ticket.

We are talking nuances here. If you have Sunday Ticket, that's the same as NFL pay per view.

[Poodlebrain]

I remember my first Raider game at Frank Youell Field. The Raiders hosted the Denver Broncos. We got season tickets the next season when the Raiders moved to the Colosseum. Didn't miss a home game until they moved to L.A.

[backtothestreets]

Frank Youell Field was a fan friendly field. I would occasionally walk down to the sideline bench and sit with the players.

During the week they would practice at the high school I attended (Marina High School in San Leandro). Often the players would go to Guido's bar in San Leandro after a game also.

The old AFL was a blue collar league. Most all the players had regular jobs during the week. They weren't playing for the big bucks, but the sport.

Dang good memories. Hopefully there are still a lot of other folks around with the memories we have.

Hopefully too someone with a love of football will come across this thread and get a competitive new league going.

[foreverfree]

bump

[holymoly]

What is NFL Network. I have dish network but never heard of NFL Network!

It's a sports channel/network similar to ESPN, but dedicated solely to the NFL. The NFL Network is owned by the NFL.

NFL Network

[savedbygrace]

If their DirecTV package is any indication, you'll have to pay for the whole package. No single game choices allowed.

[bigcat32]

"Not going to work. The majority of NFL fans are families with friends who come over. They'll most likely go out to the sports bar and watch it for free rather than paying for it at home."


I have a tradition where I hit a local saloon to drink a few black russians with my mother on Thanksgiving but I always thought that was dysfunctional. I'm glad to see I'll now have some company.

My guess is that most people will learn that life goes on without NFL football. As a die hard Browns fan I learned that lesson in the late 90's.

[leftcoaster]

The announcement on the NFL Channel's website does NOT say the first game will be the Cowboys on TG night. I suspect that may be wrong.

The Cowboys have traditionally hosted the late-afternoon game, with the Lions being the home team for the early game. This adds a 3rd game, at night, on Turkey Day, and I'll bet it floats from city to city each year. Dallas and Detroit fans are used to having the holiday game in their plans. Few other cities would WANT a daytime game on that major family holiday.

A prime-time kickoff, after the family gatherings, etc., is easier to accept as a one-time deal.

[baclava]

DirecTV + Sunday Ticket = THE greatest advance in the history of civilization. And now with the NFL Channel we get football 24/7 365 days a year...what's not to like?

Unless you're a whiny loser fan of a loser team.

HERE WE GO STEELERS, HERE WE GO!!!

[Fruitbat]

That's what sports bars are for.