Pay to watch NFL?

[Thornes70]

There's some speculation that this is where it's headed. The Dallas game was the perfect example - you could only watch it if you had the NFL package or something? I heard it pissed off a lot of people (for obvious reasons).

On the radio, I heard some guy discussing it on his program how much it would really hurt the NFL in the long run if you had to pay for some premium package to watch all the games during the week.

So my question is - would you be cool with this, or do you think it's really sticking it to the fans? I personally don't have cash to be dropping on every "sport package" so I don't buy them. College does this, too - but there's so many games in college that it's not really going anywhere. The NFL, however, is another story...

thoughts?

[Lord Sam]

This is something that has worried me more and more as the years have gone on. I love professional football, but the NFL can be such a crazy, greedy empire at times. Considering all the endorsements the NFL gets from Visa, EA, Reebok, Nike, etc. and still they try ans squeeze a few more dollars out of the average fan is just absurd.

I agree, this will hurt them in the long run if all the games are pay-per-view. Where are future generations of NFL fans going to come from if they don't grow up watching it?

[lovekeiiy]

I don't see them doing much of pay per view kind of thing. All the Pay per view for sports now have some kind of build up to draw the people in. They would only be able to pull it off in the playoffs for most part.

NFL is a big business, and I'm sure it is not cheap to run an NFL team. Would I pay to watch individual games? I don't know. My favorite team, maybe if I wasn't able to see it any other way. Then again, is paying for games really that much different than paying to go to the games? There are major differences in the experience you get going to game versus the TV, but on a principle of paying to watch individual games, not much overall. And if they did, there is the whole black out situation. Does it still apply?

The only issue I'm really concerned with any business such as the NFL and paying to for their product they provide is the rising cost to the consumer. I'm afraid at some point they'll price them out of the common affordable range, especially as a family event. I'm a season ticket holder for the Raiders. I spend $1220 for two tickets, which I think the tickets are face value of $61. A family of four, that would be almost $250 for tickets, never mind food, travel, and any other expenses or spending splurge. There are cheaper tickets, as low as $35 a piece, and more expensive at $120. And the Raiders are no longer the highest ticket in the NFL; the Patriots took that title.

I was listen the NFL on Sirius, and I think the commentators are correct in their assessement of the GB-Dallas game, it was really to piss people off to get them complaining and get all the cable/satallite providers to include the NFL channel in their base packages with ESPN, ESPN2 and so forth. That will give them opportunity have high viewership and get generate more advertising revenue, promote the NFL and it's games and players. I don't see the NFL being removed for the major networks on Sunday. Too much money involved for the NFL and networks, and those games, as an overall package, still have too many viewers to not continue.

[Thornes70]

Hmm, that's an interesting point, for sure. Yet who paid for it the most? the fans... same ol' story, unfortunately. I don't know the whole scoop about the NFL package deal, but it sure seems any provider would jump at the chance to offer it, seeing how popular football is in the USA.

Me personally - if the NFL isn't going to show a game on regular tv - for whatever reason - it's a game I'm gonna miss. Pissing off fans (be it their intention or not) just to "make a point" isn't right, and makes the NFL look like a bunch of greedy bastards, imo.

[SHIBUMI]

NEVER!!

NFL can kiss my a$$... As was already pointed out - they get soooooooo much revenue from sponsors and tv - why should the fan at home have to pay them a dime more to watch the game?!?! As a matter of fact, if the fans DON'T watch, then their ad revenue will go down. What's the going rate for 30 second spot during the Super Bowl??

That whole NFL Network is a joke! It should just be a standard channel - like ESPN. Not a paid extra.

It finally hit me this year... I'm just 'over' the NFL at this point. I've pretty much decided not to renew my Bucs' tickets and instead put that money toward upgrading my USF tix instead.

There's just no sense of "team" left in the game anymore... Free agency killed all of that. It kills me to see Lynch playing in Denver - Sapp on Oakland - Dunn as a Falcon - Garcia in Tampa (although I'm glad he is! lol). But to me, the pro game has just lost something... but yet the want to start charging MORE for it.

[Thornes70]

I know, sick, huh? That's why I've always been into college ball for the most part. Still, my wife is into some NFL, so there ya go.

[lovekeiiy]

Well, it wasn't like ESPN, ESPNN, ESPN2, or ESPNC came on as standard channels. People had to demand it or threaten to get rid of their cable/satellite service. There apparently is president for it. There was a huge college basket ball game that ESPN put on EPSN2, where only a small portion of people had the channel to see it. People called up angery as all can be. All of sudden ESPN2 became a standard.

The consumer always pays. And DirectTV has the exclusive rights to the NFL direct package. I don't know how long the deal is for, but till the contract runs, and DirectTV offers money the NFL can refuse, it'll stay on DirectTV.

It's not the fact the NFL would like people to pay for individual games. The issue, as I see it, I don't think the product lends itself well to that kind of sellling plan. Nevermind the how if it would be possible with federal regulations regarding Blackouts; it is a law that the Senate created because they were tired of not being able to watch their Redskins.

As for the consumers really getting riped off, I still think going to the actual games is where a lot fans get taken. Look at the Patriots:

http://cachemediasrv.patriots.com/Im...ting_chart.gif

The cheapest tickets they have are $59, the most expensive is $125, which is not including any taxes, handling fees, and whatever else they tack on.

All that said, if they do try to charge for individual games tv viewing, I think it is rather ticky tacky. It may be worth watching how well the ESPN channel sells on XBL, especially the past games they have.

[Lord Sam]

Just came across this article on ProFootballTalk.com -- The Best Pro Football Scoop on the Internet

LEAGUE'S ANTITRUST EXEMPTION COULD BE THREATENED

Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports reports that the unavailability of the NFL's in-house network could result in an attack on the league's antitrust exemption.

On December 19, Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Arlen Specter (R.-Pa.) sent a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell suggesting such an outcome if the December 29 game between the Patriots and the Giants isn't generally available.

"The NFL appears to be moving incrementally closer to limiting distribution of its programming to subscription television," the letter said. "Now that the NFL is adopting strategies to limit distribution of game programming to their own networks, Congress may need to reexamine the need and desirability of their continued exemption from the Nation's antitrust laws."

Earlier in the month, Senator John Kerry (D-Massachusetts) wrote a letter to Goodell urging the league to find a way to make the game available to people throughout his state.

In response, Goodell offered to submit the league's lingering dispute with cable giant Time Warner to arbitration. In response, Time Warner's CEO politely said, "Get bent."

"As I'm sure you are aware, over the years we've been able to successfully reach agreements with hundreds of programming networks without the use of arbitration. We continue to believe that the best way to achieve results is to privately seek a resolution and not attempt to negotiate through the press or elected officials," wrote Time Warner big cheese Glenn Britt.

We suggested a few weeks ago that the NFL should auction the national broadcast rights to the game. If New England is 15-0 come Sunday night, the league could reel in at least $100 million come Monday morning.

A lot more than $100 million could be riding on the outcome of this one for the league. If the game that caps the first 16-0 regular season in league history can't be seen by anyone who wants to see it without going to a sports bar or installing a satellite dish, the league could be in hot water.

[lovekeiiy]

Ah, the Senate...the same group who gave us black out rules. The public just needs to get pissed off at the TV content providers and start leaving. All of sudden you'll see everyone will have those channels.