Comcast wins lawsuit against NFLN; other cable operators could follow

[pats1]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/15/sports/15sandomir.html?_r=3&ref=sports&oref=slogin

Fried agreed that Comcast had the contractual right to shift the NFL Network to its sports tier if it could not make a deal for (a) the cultish Sunday Ticket package of out-of-market games, which remained exclusive to DirecTV, or (b) a new eight-game, late-season package of N.F.L. games for Versus. The N.F.L. rejected Comcast’s offer of about $400 million a year for the eight games last year, then added them to the NFL Network with a monthly surcharge of 55 cents a subscriber.

Versus, which is owned by Comcast, no doubt would have upped its fee from its current 13 cents a subscriber, according to Kagan Research, if it had gotten those games.

The league has filed a notice of appeal of Fried’s decision to the state Appellate Division, and Comcast is telling its affiliates to get ready to move the channel to a sports tier. “We’re not going quietly and will continue to fight for what’s right,” said Seth Palansky, a spokesman for the NFL Network.

(Some level of quiet will continue; Fried sealed the case early on at the N.F.L.’s request. Only a hearing transcript is public record, and the league is unlikely to ask for the file to be unsealed.)

Fried’s ruling, if it is upheld, would do away with the NFL Network for about 6.5 million Comcast subscribers, while 750,000 would be able to see it on a sports tier for about $5 a month. The decision will almost certainly lead Time Warner, Cablevision and Charter, the largest cable operators that do not offer the channel, to seek the right to carry it on a sports tier.

 

[JoePats]

Interesting. I have Cablevision and I would pay extra for it.

 

[bakes781]

does this mean we have to pay more to keep NFL Net?

 

[PatDaPatriot]

FWIW, I have Crapcast and I've received a message yesterday that the NFLN is becoming a "premium" channel. Seeing that NFLN is one of maybe 5 channels I actually watch, I'll probably bite the bullet...

 

[PatDaPatriot]

does this mean we have to pay more to keep NFL Net?

If you have Crapcast, then you'll need to be a subscriber to the sports pack...

 

[patsfan55]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/15/sports/15sandomir.html?_r=3&ref=sports&oref=slogin

a bad day mightve gotten much much worse
i dont wanna think of a world without me being able to watch nfl network
extremely sad thought

 

[patsfan55]

If you have Crapcast, then you'll need to be a subscriber to the sports pack...

the article said thats only the case for about 750,000, while for 6.5 mill wont have it at all?!?!?!
im a lil confused
when would this take place anyway

 

[Rob0729]

It looks like either way the subscribers lose, just much worse with this decision. I'm not going to pay extra money for the NFL Network out of football season. I can hear NFL Total Access on Sirius although it ain't the same. I guess it comes down to what games are on the NFL Network this year. Channel 5 will get any Pats games, but I think the NFL Network did hoard some of the better games.

 

[PatDaPatriot]

the article said thats only the case for about 750,000, while for 6.5 mill wont have it at all?!?!?!
im a lil confused
when would this take place anyway

Yeah, that was pretty confusing...I assume that 6.5 million receive it now as part of basic programming, and that it will soon become a premium channel. Not the greatest article ever written...

I called Comcast to inquire about adding the sports pack. It'll cost an additional $7.95 per month. The change doesn't go into effect until June 16, 2007.

 

[bakes781]

If you have Crapcast, then you'll need to be a subscriber to the sports pack...

great :bricks:

 

[zippo59]

I used to have the NFL Network but I got rid of it and don't miss it one bit. It's a lot of fluff and with the internet I can get more serious football doses elsewhere.

As long as they keep broadcasting games that are on the NFLN to network TV in the local markets, I'll be happy. It would be a problem though if I didn't like in Massachusetts.

 

[QuiGon]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/15/sports/15sandomir.html?_r=3&ref=sports&oref=slogin

It's times like these I am glad I have Cable and DirecTV

 

[brdmaverick]

I already bit the bullet by adding the sports package, but for a different reason.

I actually upgraded to the sports package today to get this weekend's Revolution/Houston game (it's on the soccer channel). Due to these latest update on the NFLN, I will have to keep this upgrade.

 

[mgcolby]

Gotta love Directv even if their customer service has taken a step or two back towards the cable blowhards.

 

[BelichickFan]

The cost will be passed on to the customer either way, it's just a matter of it being a little bit for everyone or more for just those who want it.

 

[brdmaverick]

it's too bad that I am going to have to shell out 7.95 extra for something I already have now, when I could put that money towards a movie channel

 

[SpiderFox53]

What those of you that have comcast need to do, is call them up and threaten to leave thier service if they make the move. It won't do anything if only a small amount of people do this, you have to get everyone you know that has comcast to call in. If they make the move anyway, switch to Directv. NFLN is free and then you can get Sunday Ticket if you want other games besides the Pats.

 

[satz]

for people like me you watch 2 different sport channel it is okay i guess.

I watch motogp ,ama and super bike racing so speed channel and nfl is part of the 6$ package.

 

[BradfordPatsFan]

Sports Pack is what you make of it. I have it because I love college sports and you get CSTV, 3 different Fox College sports channels (which may get you an extra football/basketball game or two per week) and a lot of coaches shows from around the country. I could care less about the soccer channel, speed, or any of those, but for me it is worth more than some of the other channels that I don't have to pay for.

I'm looking forward to the day when the comsumer can pick his own tv line up.

 

[pats1]

a bad day mightve gotten much much worse
i dont wanna think of a world without me being able to watch nfl network
extremely sad thought

Think of my life since December 2005, when Charter decided to stick it to the NFLN and pull the plug. They haven't negotiated since.