OT: NFL Network Cutbacks

[ahmed]

Damn I actually enjoyed him on the marathon pregame Sunday show. He brought an unhinged energy to the mix.

I loved him and was pretty much the only reason I occasionally watched the NFL Network pregame show which was the only one I watched.

He always gave Brady his flowers too which did not hurt!

 

[XLIX]

ESPN, NFL Network are believed to be closing in on a deal

As NFLN slashes and burns, ESPN prepares to ride to the rescue.

www.nbcsports.com

It will be interesting to see how this all plays out.

I remember Rich Eisen interviewing Robert Kraft before the Pats game in Germany last season. It was the NFL Network’s 20th anniversary and Eisen brought up the anniversary to Kraft, the chair I think? of the NFL’s TV committee. Rather than the hardy congratulations Eisen was expecting, Kraft spoke of how the network was formed as a fallback in case the league should lose one of its network broadcast partners. I remember it as a cold response to Eisen’s question about the network’s anniversary. Unspoken but heard, he was saying that with the streaming services out there the NFL Network had outlived its usefulness to the owners. Now we’re just seeing the realization of Kraft’s comments that day.

Florio's a total hypocrite here. He talks about ESPN losing independence by being partners with the NFL. Well you know who else is partners with the NFL? NBC (Florio's employer), CBS and FOX.

 

[203Pat]

Florio's a total hypocrite here. He talks about ESPN losing independence by being partners with the NFL. Well you know who else is partners with the NFL? NBC (Florio's employer), CBS and FOX.

Florio is so annoying with his little "holier than thou" act. He always championed himself as some rouge NFL reporter who may get some things wrong here and there (like Terry Bradshaw being dead) but would deliver information and report on rumors that others wouldn't and for a while he actually was. The problem is that he still pretends to be that guy even after selling out and I haven't really figured out what he is supposed to be at this point. Florio isn't an "insider" like Schefter or Rappaport and he isn't an analyst. He is a guy who ran a blog, sold out, and now seems to just be a news aggregator but he still loves to get all preachy or try and sell his crappy wise guy book.

 

[Bill Lee]

Florio is so annoying with his little "holier than thou" act. He always championed himself as some rouge NFL reporter who may get some things wrong here and there (like Terry Bradshaw being dead) but would deliver information and report on rumors that others wouldn't and for a while he actually was. The problem is that he still pretends to be that guy even after selling out and I haven't really figured out what he is supposed to be at this point. Florio isn't an "insider" like Schefter or Rappaport and he isn't an analyst. He is a guy who ran a blog, sold out, and now seems to just be a news aggregator but he still loves to get all preachy or try and sell his crappy wise guy book.

In short, Florio is a twerp.

 

[Bill Lee]

John Skipper said on a podcast they created it as a backup plan for NFL games if the networks ever cut back on rights spending. However, that is no longer a risk as it has become much more valuable as the most popular thing on TV by far. On top of that, there are more available rights buyers (e.g. Prime, Apple TV).

The network does not really have a purpose anymore. I would not be surprised if it gets axed eventually or just becomes more bare bones playing reruns and NFL docs and the like.

Yeah, the more I think about it, the more this point of view seems to be the correct one.

Many of us think of NFLN as cheap advertising for the game and the owners being OK with footing the cost just to build goodwill, but even that angle hasn't aged well when you have "social media influencers" creating NFL content for free in far higher volumes and in some cases better quality than NFLN itself.

Just keeping the channel alive spinning reruns and infomercials would keep them on the channel map and let them spool things up again in the future if that ever becomes necessary.

Those greedy ****suckers behind the NFL really have a lot of things going their way right now, but the bigger they are, the harder they fall.

 

[203Pat]

NFLN will end up going the way of MTV had some point unless they start broadcasting live games again (which isn't likely). I would assume they will keep on a small group that focuses on social media and most of the programming will be game replays and old Super Bowl replays etc. It is clear Goodell and the 32 don't think they're getting the proper ROI with the channel so it will probably be sold off and dismantled sooner rather than later.

 

[jmt57]

The best thing about NFLN is their free, 'NFL Red Zone-Lite' channel on game days.
One TV on the game I am watching, another TV on that channel is fine for me.

Good Morning Football was good too. Jamie Erdahl was good in her moderator role, and Jason McCourty added some decent insight thanks to being recently retired. The downside was that it was only watchable for a short while until they started repeating the show for another hour, and another hour after that.

I liked Stacey Dales in her role on NFLN as well - when given the opportunity she had good analysis and insight. That doesn't come across often on game days with the fluff sideline interviews she is relegated to, for whatever network she works for on Sundays.

‘NFL Total Access’ Canceled By NFL Network After 21 Years

NFL Network has canceled NFL Total Access after 21 years on the air, Deadline has learned.

deadline.com

NFL Network cancels signature show ‘Total Access’ amid layoffs, per reports

NFL Network continues their layoffs, including Hall of Famer Michael Irvin and canceled its signature nightly show 'Total Access.'

www.usatoday.com

The Athletic reports that “Insiders,” a program featuring reporters Ian Rapoport, Mike Garafolo, and Tom Pelissero, will replace "Total Access."​

 

[Bill Lee]

NFLN will end up going the way of MTV had some point unless they start broadcasting live games again (which isn't likely).

Agree, unlikely. The COVID era showed people will still watch games on midweek nights with practice-squad players and empty seats. Granted there was nothing else to do, but still, the product was poor yet people still watched. That's an important proof point for the advertisers. The league has no need to keep NFLN around other than as a very low cost insurance policy in case they can't sell their content to old or new media outlets, which is very unlikely.

I would assume they will keep on a small group that focuses on social media and most of the programming will be game replays and old Super Bowl replays etc. It is clear Goodell and the 32 don't think they're getting the proper ROI with the channel so it will probably be sold off and dismantled sooner rather than later.

 

[rkarp1]

NFLN will end up going the way of MTV had some point unless they start broadcasting live games again (which isn't likely). I would assume they will keep on a small group that focuses on social media and most of the programming will be game replays and old Super Bowl replays etc. It is clear Goodell and the 32 don't think they're getting the proper ROI with the channel so it will probably be sold off and dismantled sooner rather than later.

I believe they are going to partner with espn and merge football between the two

 

[203Pat]

I believe they are going to partner with espn and merge football between the two

I think ESPN will eventually be where NFLN ends up and maybe some of the on air talent transitions over but honestly I don’t think many will. ESPN is mainly an east coast operation here in CT/NY and late last year there were already talks that most of their LA office would either be laid off or move east. With all the layoffs at ESPN the last few years and having to move across the country I can't see many established on-air names wanting to come along.

 

[Bill Lee]

The Athletic reports that “Insiders,” a program featuring reporters Ian Rapoport, Mike Garafolo, and Tom Pelissero, will replace "Total Access."​

I would bet this is just a quirk of who's contract was expiring and who's was not.

I believe they are going to partner with espn and merge football between the two

That would piss off a lot of their other "media partners" and probably not maximize profits since having the "partners" bid off against each other helps the NFL.

I think ESPN will eventually be where NFLN ends up and maybe some of the on air talent transitions over but honestly I don’t think many will. ESPN is mainly an east coast operation here in CT/NY and late last year there were already talks that most of their LA office would either be laid off or move east. With all the layoffs at ESPN the last few years and having to move across the country I can't see many established on-air names wanting to come along.

True, it's probably a career killer to move from LA to Bristol, CT and end up with even less job security.

Same old NFL: They spend "hundreds of millions" to build a new NFLN HQ a few years ago next to the Rams in Inglewood, now they'll just write it all off...

NFL Media kicks off ambitious expansion with new headquarters in Inglewood

The move to Inglewood from Culver City comes after NFL Media struggled for years with outdated technology.

www.latimes.com

 

[rkarp1]

I would bet this is just a quirk of who's contract was expiring and who's was not.



That would piss off a lot of their other "media partners" and probably not maximize profits since having the "partners" bid off against each other helps the NFL.



True, it's probably a career killer to move from LA to Bristol, CT and end up with even less job security.

Same old NFL: They spend "hundreds of millions" to build a new NFLN HQ a few years ago next to the Rams in Inglewood, now they'll just write it all off...

NFL Media kicks off ambitious expansion with new headquarters in Inglewood

The move to Inglewood from Culver City comes after NFL Media struggled for years with outdated technology.

www.latimes.com

ESPN will prob not bid on game packages. they will leave that to Fox, CBS, Amazon and Youtube..maybe Apple also breaks in.
ESPN/NFLN will report on the games and have some pre and post game analysis, draft, combine, etc, etc
NFLN not only starts to move away from on air talent, but behind the scenes talent and leaves the in front and behind the camera's to espn

 

[XLIX]

NFLN will end up going the way of MTV had some point unless they start broadcasting live games again (which isn't likely). I would assume they will keep on a small group that focuses on social media and most of the programming will be game replays and old Super Bowl replays etc. It is clear Goodell and the 32 don't think they're getting the proper ROI with the channel so it will probably be sold off and dismantled sooner rather than later.

NFL Network Cycle...

1) "Hey let's increase NFLN ratings and demand by putting some live games on it"
2) "You know, we'd make a helluva lot more money if we sold those live NFLN games to some network for a couple hundred million"
3) Wait a small period of time
4) Go to step 1

 

[Huckleberry1]

Has anyone checked in on the owners? I’m really concerned about their well being. If someone has some free time and could do a wellness check on all 32 it would be very much appreciated. I’m afraid one of them could “ accidentally” drown in the waterfall in their living room. Thanks.

 

[203Pat]

NFL Network Cycle...

1) "Hey let's increase NFLN ratings and demand by putting some live games on it"
2) "You know, we'd make a helluva lot more money if we sold those live NFLN games to some network for a couple hundred million"
3) Wait a small period of time
4) Go to step 1

I figured selling off the rights to TNF would drastically decrease the need for NFLN. TNF was basically created for NFL Network and once you remove the reason for the network why have it at all? They have seemed to let some of their more talented on-air personalities walk recently like Nate Burleson and Kay Adams who seemingly have increased their profiles post NFLN. When they started letting go some of their fantasy football people like Michael Fabiano and Matt Smith go a couple years ago I was surprised since FF is such a cash cow for the league.

When the league created the network back in 2003 the media landscape was completely different. Sportscenter was still the main way most people got caught up on scores and highlights so it made sense for the league to create something to compete. Their problem is the same as ESPN's. They haven't figured out how to adapt. Each generation seems to have a smaller and smaller attention span and it seems like the 32 would rather let ESPN play catchup for the both of them then try and figure it out themselves and throw good money after bad.

 

[Bill Lee]

When they started letting go some of their fantasy football people like Michael Fabiano and Matt Smith go a couple years ago I was surprised since FF is such a cash cow for the league.

True, yet I think they figure we can let go of such people and they'll still be creating FF content somewhere else without us having to pay them.

When the league created the network back in 2003 the media landscape was completely different. Sportscenter was still the main way most people got caught up on scores and highlights so it made sense for the league to create something to compete. Their problem is the same as ESPN's.

True from a funding perspective for sure. Both were hugely dependent on cable tv carriage fees, and since most people have cut the cord that money has stopped flowing.

They haven't figured out how to adapt. Each generation seems to have a smaller and smaller attention span and it seems like the 32 would rather let ESPN play catchup for the both of them then try and figure it out themselves and throw good money after bad.

Maybe they have figured out how to adapt: cut everyone loose to do their thing on 'new media'.

I think their whole cost structure ('talent' contracts, HQ building that cost hundreds of millions of dollars, armies of middle managers and lower grade workers cranking out 'content') was based on cash flow from carriage fees, and that's gone now. It's hard to recover from that. Usually you have to blow up the old business and see what rises from the ashes.

Again, overall we all thought of NFLN as a way for the NFL to advertise itself and to build goodwill. It was that, but it seems to the owners there was an underlying business plan that was going to make it a profit center too, and that is no longer in the cards.

It's hard to imagine what keeping NFLN around solely for for the advertising/goodwill missions would be. It would all be about how much money the owners would be willing to lose on such a thing. It seems the answer is zero. Cutting Total Access and Good Morning Football seems to be evidence of that.

 

[203Pat]

True, yet I think they figure we can let go of such people and they'll still be creating FF content somewhere else without us having to pay them.



True from a funding perspective for sure. Both were hugely dependent on cable tv carriage fees, and since most people have cut the cord that money has stopped flowing.



Maybe they have figured out how to adapt: cut everyone loose to do their thing on 'new media'.

I think their whole cost structure ('talent' contracts, HQ building that cost hundreds of millions of dollars, armies of middle managers and lower grade workers cranking out 'content') was based on cash flow from carriage fees, and that's gone now. It's hard to recover from that. Usually you have to blow up the old business and see what rises from the ashes.

Again, overall we all thought of NFLN as a way for the NFL to advertise itself and to build goodwill. It was that, but it seems to the owners there was an underlying business plan that was going to make it a profit center too, and that is no longer in the cards.

It's hard to imagine what keeping NFLN around solely for for the advertising/goodwill missions would be. It would all be about how much money the owners would be willing to lose on such a thing. It seems the answer is zero. Cutting Total Access and Good Morning Football seems to be evidence of that.

I wonder if the only "adaptation" for legacy media is to shift from traditional TV networks over to YouTube, social media, podcasts, etc. It seems the boomers (and maybe older Gen X) are really the only generations out there still sitting down to watch the news or network television shows. I am a millennial who only watches streaming services unless I am watching the Patriots, UConn, or the Celtics and at this point there is probably an app for most of those games.

 

[XLIX]

Same old NFL: They spend "hundreds of millions" to build a new NFLN HQ a few years ago next to the Rams in Inglewood, now they'll just write it all off...

 

[Ian]

Florio is so annoying with his little "holier than thou" act. He always championed himself as some rouge NFL reporter who may get some things wrong here and there (like Terry Bradshaw being dead) but would deliver information and report on rumors that others wouldn't and for a while he actually was. The problem is that he still pretends to be that guy even after selling out and I haven't really figured out what he is supposed to be at this point. Florio isn't an "insider" like Schefter or Rappaport and he isn't an analyst. He is a guy who ran a blog, sold out, and now seems to just be a news aggregator but he still loves to get all preachy or try and sell his crappy wise guy book.

I think I irked him a while ago when I said something similar on here about the aggregation and the fact he didn’t credit the source as well as he should, and not long after that he stopped linking anything here (he’d occasionally grab quotes from the transcripts and link back, albeit not mentioning the site and highlighting “said [person]”). So I’m assuming he’s not a fan.

Although I’ll give him credit. He pushed back against adopting the previous terrible NBC Sports template and pushed to keep the look and format he always had to maintain the same experience for his users, so kudos to him on that. That part I always thought was cool of him.

 

[Bill Lee]

I wonder if the only "adaptation" for legacy media is to shift from traditional TV networks over to YouTube, social media, podcasts, etc. It seems the boomers (and maybe older Gen X) are really the only generations out there still sitting down to watch the news or network television shows. I am a millennial who only watches streaming services unless I am watching the Patriots, UConn, or the Celtics and at this point there is probably an app for most of those games.

I'll add that boomers aren't necessarily all 'linear TV' people.

I am a tail-end boomer and cut the cord in the early/mid 2010s and set up an OTA HDTV antenna just so I could keep watching NFL. At first I was buying a few seasons of various shows I liked from the networks, but that got replaced by u2b very quickly.

My mom is in her 80s and even though her condo gets cable on a very low cost package deal she rarely uses it. When I visit her for Thansgiving and want to put football on the TV, all the batteries in all the remotes are dead. When she wants entertainment she uses a tablet to watch u2b videos. Her hobbies are sewing and quilting and there's tons of content on that stuff on u2b and zero on mainstream TV.