Comcast files lawsuit against NFL for slander

[PATRIOT64]

http://www.betanews.com/article/Comcast_sues_NFL_to_block_slanderous_emails/1197669272

WOW! Boy am I glad I get the NFL network and don't have comcast :snob:

For some reason,I think the NFL would win this fight.

 

[pheenix11]

Eff the Cable Companies. My local company is Brighthouse (Time Warner) and they suck! I want my NFL Network!

 

[MoLewisrocks]

"The widespread rejection of the NFL Network has been attributed to the across-the-board rate hikes that would affect all subscribers if the network was included in the basic package. Comcast feels that the 70 cent monthly increase its basic subscribers would incur if the channel was included is not justified, and has therefore relegated it to the sports tier."



My cable bill goes up by more than that every year for nothing watchable...

 

[pheenix11]

They have raised rates ever year for 20 years but they can't absorb 70 cents a subscriber. This is for a sport that has millions of fans. Yet we get Oxygen and 16 shopping channels for free. What a bunch of BS.

 

[Rawky77]

How much did your cable bill go up when the added the golf channel?

 

[PATRIOT64]

I get 125 cable channels INCLUDING NFL Network for about $55.00 a month

 

[spacecrime]

How much did your cable bill go up when the added the golf channel?

Golf channel charges pennies per subscriber. NFLN charges (I believe) $1.12 per subscriber. Given that 3/4 of subscribers don't watch NFLN, it would be pretty irresponsible of cable companies to include it.

NFL is cutting it's own greedy throat. Right now the cable companies have NFLN as part of a sports package. I suspect that as soon as current contracts run out, Time Warner, Comcast, Charter and Cablevison will drop NFLN altogether.

NFL is choking the goose that lays the golden eggs.

 

[Rawky77]

Golf channel charges pennies per subscriber. NFLN charges (I believe) $1.12 per subscriber. Given that 3/4 of subscribers don't watch NFLN, it would be pretty irresponsible of cable companies to include it.

NFL is cutting it's own greedy throat. Right now the cable companies have NFLN as part of a sports package. I suspect that as soon as current contracts run out, Time Warner, Comcast, Charter and Cablevison will drop NFLN altogether.

NFL is choking the goose that lays the golden eggs.

so let me get this math right, NFLN is charging the cable companys $1.12 per subscriber and the cable company's per the article are only increasing their rates $.70 per subscriber. I don't think so.

Oh and the Golf channel being owned by the cable company might have had something to do with them not being included in the sports tier don't you think.

 

[Gator Mike]

In the interest of full disclosure, I have Comcast, and subscribe to the Sports Pack to get NFL Network, and a couple of other sports channels I enjoy.

Read the article. It's not a slander lawsuit. It's for breach of contract.

I can see Comcast's point. They have a carriage agreement with the NFL Network. It's not an agreement the NFL Network likes, but hey, the NFL signed off on it. Now the NFL Network is encouraging Comcast customers to leave because the NFL doesn't like the terms of its own contract - a contract whose validity has already been upheld in a court of law.

I'd be p*ssed, too.

 

[patsfanofNC12]

http://www.betanews.com/article/Comcast_sues_NFL_to_block_slanderousY_emails/1197669272

WOW! Boy am I glad I get the NFL network and don't have comcast :snob:

For some reason,I think the NFL would win this fight.

I agree, I am so glad that I have Dish Network, which thankfully carries the NFL Network.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

The NFL wants me to see their program for a premium of less than 2% of my cable bill. The cable company wants to force me to pay them to be a digital cable subscriber, then pay for a sports tier over and above the digital tier they also required me to subscribe to to get NFLN to begin with. $0.70 vs. $18.00 a month - so who exactly is it whose trying to screw me? Comcast only has my business because they carry NFLN. Otherwise I can get cable and internet plus phone at a lot cheaper rates...

One thing I have learned over the last 20 years as a cable subscriber is any time a cable company tells you they are fighting for the poor consumer, they be lyin'.

 

[Gator Mike]

One thing I have learned over the last 20 years as a cable subscriber is any time a cable company tells you they are fighting for the poor consumer, they be lyin'.

I can see their point, though. It's kind of a disturbing trend. Sports programming is the #1 reason why TV rates keep going up.

The NFL takes eight games off free TV, puts them on their own network, and increases carriage rates by 700%.

The Big Ten takes games off free local TV, puts them on their own network, demands Standard Cable coverage, and the $1.10/month fee from taxpayers who are already footing the bill for State University athletic departments.

What's next?

NBA playoff games exclusively on NBA TV at $5.00/month?

Stanley Cup Finals exclusively on the NHL Network?

The Super Bowl exclusively to DirecTV?

Somebody's got to draw a line in the sand somewhere.

 

[RayClay]

In the interest of full disclosure, I have Comcast, and subscribe to the Sports Pack to get NFL Network, and a couple of other sports channels I enjoy.

Read the article. It's not a slander lawsuit. It's for breach of contract.

I can see Comcast's point. They have a carriage agreement with the NFL Network. It's not an agreement the NFL Network likes, but hey, the NFL signed off on it. Now the NFL Network is encouraging Comcast customers to leave because the NFL doesn't like the terms of its own contract - a contract whose validity has already been upheld in a court of law.

I'd be p*ssed, too.

Of course football fans want them to pay double what other basic channels charge. Legally, however, the NFL is wrong IMO.

Telling people to switch services means comcast is incurring real damages. They should win a suit, IMO, if this goes to court.

 

[sdaniels7114]

What's truly honest is Comcast building a price for the NFL network thats based on what the NFL wants, Comcast's legit costs in activating/deactivating the channel as subscribers come on and off and a fair profit. That's how honest businesses determine prices.

There's no honest way to go from the NFL wanting a buck or so per subscriber to an $18.00/month price to the end user.

 

[Nitro]

I get 125 cable channels INCLUDING NFL Network for about $55.00 a month

you say that like you are not getting absolutely ripped off

 

[TomBrady'sGoat]

I have no pity for anyone who wants a niche channel in basic. I love Boomerang and wouldn't want to live without it. I also have no issue paying for the family tier to get it. Comcast customers who want the NFL network should pay for the sports tier and stop whining.

And if that means paying for digital too then that's the price you pay. I need digital to get my niche channels. And while you're at it get a DVR. That alone is worth getting digital.

The only people who have a real gripe are those who cannot get NFL network because their providers won't carry it.

 

[ChoWZa]

I was upset when Cox would not provide NFL Network in High Def. Shortly later during the season (this year) I now get it.

Cox may not be good for much but they give me my NFLN.

I have digital/DVR as well.

 

[mcbee]

Do you have to pay extra to get high definition cable?

If you have an HDTV can it pick up the high definition channels anyway, even if you don't subscribe but do get regular cable? I thought I read that some could.

 

[Disco Volante]

I have Comcast and the NFL Network.

 

[AirForcePatFan]

I have Comcast, and pay the $5 to watch the NFL Network... Yes, it's a waste of money but I like my NFLN... Comcast, since you want to make such a huge profit off of my money, why not SUE to get all the games like Directv??? You will get HUGE revenue from the folks like me whose satellite can't work with trees in the backyard...