Follow the Money

The NFL (in case you aren't a football fan and didn't know) has set up its own network, called.... the NFL Network (catchy name isn't it).  Since its inception, they have been fighting with cable companies to carry their product without extra charge, even though they charge nearly the highest fee to these companies for broadcast rights. 

The cable companies dug in their little toes and said "NO!  Ain't gonna happen."  Even Comcast, who carried the NFL network as a regular channel last year, has moved it to the Premium tier this year. 

The NFL in its infinite wisdom figured they could set up their own little football fiefdom... with the games available to only a very very small percentage of viewers. (they should ask the NHL how that worked out for them...) They thought people would go out of their way to clamor for the product... apparently they were wrong.  Shocking isn't it. 

Their broadcasts have been royally panned by the sports talking heads here in town and no one seems to be breaking down the doors of the cable companies to "make" them show the games on regular television.  Most people - even football fans - just shrug and figure they'll miss that game this week. 

Then the Patriots winning season put them in a quandary.  Do they stick to their guns and only broadcast on NFL Network... or do they give in and show it on nationally broadcasting channels.  It's a tough one.

The last few weeks there has been a hue and cry over the fact that only a very tiny number of people (directly in the Boston area) would be able to see the Patriots - Giants football game on a regular tv broadcast.  The game that will decide if the Patriots remain undefeated for the season or if the Giants will take them out and be THE team to have beaten them.  The real problem is this... the Patriots are The New England Patriots - not the Boston Patriots.  Their fan base for the most part runs from Maine through Connecticut and out to Vermont.   The  local telecast was only going to be for the small Boston market - not the entire fan based market which encompasses the New England area...  How's that again?   Pretty stupid if you ask me. 

Personally I figure most of the country could care less, but the NFL has finally figured out that they can really milk this one...

Pats-Giants to be first three-network simulcast game in NFL history

Wow!

But the league announced Wednesday that the NFL Network feed will be simulcast on NBC and CBS. It's a major concession by league officials, who repeatedly said they would not show the game anywhere but the NFL Network. The NFL had faced mounting pressure from politicians in recent weeks to make the game available to more viewers.

I don't believe the "politicians" bit... it's all about the money - it's always all about the money.  First you have fans who are very likely letting the NFL know in no uncertain terms that this network garbage they have going on is going to drive them off to other sports - there are plenty available.  Then the BIG inducement... advertising... How much money do they stand to make on this simulcast?  The dollars are HUGE. 

So let's quit pretending that John Kerry's little hissy fit had anything to do with them broadcasting the game to one and all.  With something this large - 3 networks... each with advertisers... you do the math and then convince me that Kerry's threat of "legislation" even made a dent.

Right - I don't think so either.  I'll watch the game... I wonder who will be doing play-by-play.  Hmmmm...

Posted by: Teresa in Sports at 05:49 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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