Congress Taking a Look at NFL Network

Pericles349 · 11-15-2006, 10:44 AM

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/f...ball-headlines

I think it's ridiculous how the NFL wants to monopolize everything. It's already a joke how they promote the NFL Network as an independent sports channel while their reporters get exclusive access to post and pre-game interviews and other forms of media have to sit by and watch. I also think it's the worst idea to have live games broadcast on the network as it cuts our a ton of people from watching the games. Not only that but the price tag they are asking cable providers for is really out of proportion with the product they offer.

It seriously upsets me. Shows like NFL Total Access are a joke. They are a news show put on by the league, for the league. How critical will they ever be? It's like taking all your news about the latest Ford car exclusively from Ford's PR dept. The bias is unbelievable.

Any thoughts??

maddendude · 11-15-2006, 11:24 AM

Yea NFL is all about making money no matter how good of a organization it sounds.

It wants to go international too...do you REALLY think they wanna make games outside the US for the FANS? Hell no, they just see it as huge marketing potential, thus profits. Even though so few US fans wanna export their games.

DolfanDaveInATX · 11-15-2006, 11:46 AM

Social Security and Medicare are going bankrupt, federal discretionary spending is out of control, Iran and North Korea are close to producing their own nuclear weapons, Iraq is turning into a quagmire, and Republican senators are focused on...Internet poker and televised pro football? No wonder they lost their majority. (And before I get flamed by my fellow Republicans...)

spydertl79 · 11-15-2006, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DolfanDaveInATX

Social Security and Medicare are going bankrupt, federal discretionary spending is out of control, Iran and North Korea are close to producing their own nuclear weapons, Iraq is turning into a quagmire, and Republican senators are focused on...Internet poker and televised pro football? No wonder they lost their majority. (And before I get flamed by my fellow Republicans...)

At least they're doing something...

Pericles349 · 11-15-2006, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maddendude

Yea NFL is all about making money no matter how good of a organization it sounds.

It wants to go international too...do you REALLY think they wanna make games outside the US for the FANS? Hell no, they just see it as huge marketing potential, thus profits. Even though so few US fans wanna export their games.

I definately agree with going international. I don't think many US fans realize that the NFL is pretty popular in some countries, not just the US. Not only that, but the NFL has marketing campaigns in those countries. I think it is the typical american attitude of not caring about what happens outside its borders. As long as they are happy, who cares. To them it doesn't matter that a Dolphins fan in Brazil spends hundereds of dollars a year paying for extremely expensive cable service just to watch his beloved Dophins, or that a fan in Germany will pay unbelievable shipping prices just to get a replica jersey through the NFL shop. The NFL is much larger than this country, american fans need to understand that. Plain and simple.

That said, the NFL as a league could care less about making this an international league because of the fans. If that were the case then they would add teams from other countries. As you mentioned, profits are all they care about and they will milk this all the way to the bank...

Super Bowl champions should never call themselves World Champions. This league is about as isolated as it can get. There is nothing international about it, thus negating a World title. What is wrong with being called American or National Champion? Why do americans always want to be the best in the world even if they don't compete on a global stage? It's the ironies in life....

Daunt8TDChris84 · 11-15-2006, 01:08 PM

nfl games on nfl network but on a thursday thats horrible god.

and im mad with the nfl as well because the only game we can play is madden they did there money but dont care bout the consumer they giving us the only ****ing game we can playing madden and its an average game.

B-LO, BABY · 11-15-2006, 01:08 PM

I totally agree with you. The NFL Network, the shows it plays, and the games it broadcasts all are a threat to objective coverage of the sport.

The NFL has already seeped its way into the CBS and FOX broadcasting booths, as every sportscaster nowadays swoons over players and teams while rarely criticizing things like poor officiating or shaky ownership. Fans don't want a league where the message is controlled and all media personalities dealing with the league follow the company line.

Pennington's Rocket Arm · 11-15-2006, 03:06 PM

they said the same thing when they started showing games on ESPN.

B-LO, BABY · 11-15-2006, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UF Fin Kat

they said the same thing when they started showing games on ESPN.

The NFL showing NFL games is different than ESPN showing NFL games. Granted, the NFL keeps them in check somewhat (the alleged forced cancellation of Playmakers, for example), but ESPN is still a separate corporation.

Pericles349 · 11-15-2006, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UF Fin Kat

they said the same thing when they started showing games on ESPN.

The HUGE difference being that ESPN carries multiple sports and also offers multiple channels. Not even comparable...

DolfanDaveInATX · 11-15-2006, 04:51 PM

Could someone please explain how NFL Network's structure and format is that much different from NBA Network?

DonShula84 · 11-15-2006, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maddendude

Yea NFL is all about making money no matter how good of a organization it sounds.

It wants to go international too...do you REALLY think they wanna make games outside the US for the FANS? Hell no, they just see it as huge marketing potential, thus profits. Even though so few US fans wanna export their games.

Wait, you mean the NFL is a business that wants to make money. How dare they!

I liked NFL Network when I had it, stupid cable company got rid of it a couple months ago. I'd gladly pay the 3 or 4$ a month to have it(got ESPNEWS and a couple Fox sports channels with that cost also), especially during the combine.

maddendude · 11-15-2006, 09:24 PM

i've been to some other countries...all they gotta do is get a Dish n they get everything, no monthly fees, etc. lol.

Pericles349 · 11-16-2006, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DonShula84

Wait, you mean the NFL is a business that wants to make money. How dare they!

I liked NFL Network when I had it, stupid cable company got rid of it a couple months ago. I'd gladly pay the 3 or 4$ a month to have it(got ESPNEWS and a couple Fox sports channels with that cost also), especially during the combine.

Exactly my point. I think most, if not all, of us would gladly pay an extra monthly fee in order to receive the NFL Network. In fact, I'm sure that I am just 1 of MANY fans on this board who pay the crazy $250 for the NFL Sunday TIcket just to see the Dolphins' games (no, I don't watch many of the other games). That's not the point.

The point is that the NFL Network is asking cable companies to pay approx. $108 million in order to carry the channel AND they have to carry it on basic cable. What does this mean? This means that the cable company must pay an exhuberant amount for a channel that has ridiculously low ratings (compared to channels with similar price tags) and subsequently low appeal to the big name advertisers. What does this mean? It means that the cable company cannot afford to pay the $108 million based on advertising revenue alone and must then pass on the cost to the consumer... yes, everyone who pays for basic cable. This means that EVERYONE's cost for cable will go up just because the NFL Network is part of their programming. How the heck does that seem fare to anyone?!?!?

The majority of cable companies balk at the idea of that huge price tag but are willing to consider it if allowed to include the NFL Network on premium sports packages that customers would have to pay an additional fee for. This makes economic and business sense as then the very few people (in the very large world of TV watchers) who actually want to watch this channel will pay a few bucks more for it.

But, the NFL could care less, they want their cake and they want to eat it....

Pericles349 · 11-16-2006, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DolfanDaveInATX

Could someone please explain how NFL Network's structure and format is that much different from NBA Network?

What's your point?

11-15-2006, 11:24 AM	#2
maddendude Starter Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 348 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Yea NFL is all about making money no matter how good of a organization it sounds. It wants to go international too...do you REALLY think they wanna make games outside the US for the FANS? Hell no, they just see it as huge marketing potential, thus profits. Even though so few US fans wanna export their games. __________________ http://madden.awardspace.com/ --- My Blog - More Madden stuff along with other random crap

11-15-2006, 01:08 PM	#7
B-LO, BABY BUFFALO SOLDIER Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: DC Area Age: 25 Posts: 804 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I totally agree with you. The NFL Network, the shows it plays, and the games it broadcasts all are a threat to objective coverage of the sport. The NFL has already seeped its way into the CBS and FOX broadcasting booths, as every sportscaster nowadays swoons over players and teams while rarely criticizing things like poor officiating or shaky ownership. Fans don't want a league where the message is controlled and all media personalities dealing with the league follow the company line. __________________ The Harpoon

11-15-2006, 03:06 PM	#8
Pennington's Rocket Arm Playoffs in '08! Join Date: Jan 2006 Age: 25 Posts: 7,494 Thanks: 30 Thanked 171 Times in 83 Posts FH Badges Total Awards: 1	they said the same thing when they started showing games on ESPN. __________________

11-15-2006, 09:24 PM	#13
maddendude Starter Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 348 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	i've been to some other countries...all they gotta do is get a Dish n they get everything, no monthly fees, etc. lol. __________________ http://madden.awardspace.com/ --- My Blog - More Madden stuff along with other random crap

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11-15-2006, 11:46 AM	#3
DolfanDaveInATX 2008 AFC East Champions! SUCK IT, BRADY! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 3,642 Thanks: 15 Thanked 59 Times in 30 Posts	Social Security and Medicare are going bankrupt, federal discretionary spending is out of control, Iran and North Korea are close to producing their own nuclear weapons, Iraq is turning into a quagmire, and Republican senators are focused on...Internet poker and televised pro football? No wonder they lost their majority. (And before I get flamed by my fellow Republicans...)

11-15-2006, 01:08 PM	#6
Daunt8TDChris84 Banned by Admin Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wade-County Posts: 725 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	nfl games on nfl network but on a thursday thats horrible god. and im mad with the nfl as well because the only game we can play is madden they did there money but dont care bout the consumer they giving us the only ****ing game we can playing madden and its an average game.

11-15-2006, 04:51 PM	#11
DolfanDaveInATX 2008 AFC East Champions! SUCK IT, BRADY! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 3,642 Thanks: 15 Thanked 59 Times in 30 Posts	Could someone please explain how NFL Network's structure and format is that much different from NBA Network?