NFLN BLACKOUT (1 Viewer)

[JerseyEagles]

Well, before tonight I had both NFLN and HD NFLN. But my Cable provider (Patriot Media- Central NJ) is informing me that because they won't carry NFLN on their regular system, the NFL is "playing games" and tried to charge them $125,000 per game to carry it on their extended package. So my Cable provider "Unilaterally" decided to just not carry ANYTHING and blackout on NFLN when actual games are going on. They claim they were doing this to protect their customers!!! Well, thanks for #### Pat Media. What's the point in having NFLN through you bastards if you won't let anyone watch the damn games!!!!

Who else is having this problem? $100 says Comcast of all providers decided to pay the damn fee

 

[pagermill]

NFLN up here in Winnipeg, Canada has it blocked as well. Luckily, our ESPN (TSN) has the game on.

 

[DazYam48]

Guess the smaller cable companies have no chance to make these NFLN payouts. Sounds like the NFL is trying to rework cable TV as we know it. I'd crap in a bag and take it to your provider's doorstep.

Game looks great in HD though!

 

[DolphinsPhan]

Well, before tonight I had both NFLN and HD NFLN. But my Cable provider (Patriot Media- Central NJ) is informing me that because they won't carry NFLN on their regular system, the NFL is "playing games" and tried to charge them $125,000 per game to carry it on their extended package. So my Cable provider "Unilaterally" decided to just not carry ANYTHING and blackout on NFLN when actual games are going on. They claim they were doing this to protect their customers!!! Well, thanks for #### Pat Media. What's the point in having NFLN through you bastards if you won't let anyone watch the damn games!!!! Who else is having this problem? $100 says Comcast of all providers decided to pay the damn fee

I have PatMedia too and at no time did they say they were blacking out the live games until you try and turn the game on. There is an FAQ on their website about it saying complain to the NFL. I was looking for where I can complain to PatMedia...

 

[jq_ballgame]

Well, before tonight I had both NFLN and HD NFLN. But my Cable provider (Patriot Media- Central NJ) is informing me that because they won't carry NFLN on their regular system, the NFL is "playing games" and tried to charge them $125,000 per game to carry it on their extended package. So my Cable provider "Unilaterally" decided to just not carry ANYTHING and blackout on NFLN when actual games are going on. They claim they were doing this to protect their customers!!! Well, thanks for #### Pat Media. What's the point in having NFLN through you bastards if you won't let anyone watch the damn games!!!! Who else is having this problem? $100 says Comcast of all providers decided to pay the damn fee

Comcast here...and watching the game.

 

[Gandalf]

RCN in Boston blacked out. Poor showing by the NFL network as I had no idea and was set to watch the game tonight.

 

[pinda]

when the NFL network was offered to cable companies and was picked up by the cable companies, there was no games on NFLN yet.

since they've put games on, the NFL network went back to the cable companies and told them they have two options, one is to have the network w/o the game which would be their current agreement, or they could pay a little more and have the updated NFL network with the 8 games. It was up to the cable companies.

Now most of the Canadian companies decided to go against the new network agreement because TSN was signing a deal with the NFL Network for the Canadian broadcasting rights. As for the US, it's not the NFL's fault, it's your local cable companies not bucking up to pay for the service. It's almost worth it just to get Dish Network or DirectTV for one room for 4 months during the NFL season.

 

[gman74]

when the NFL network was offered to cable companies and was picked up by the cable companies, there was no games on NFLN yet.since they've put games on, the NFL network went back to the cable companies and told them they have two options, one is to have the network w/o the game which would be their current agreement, or they could pay a little more and have the updated NFL network with the 8 games. It was up to the cable companies.Now most of the Canadian companies decided to go against the new network agreement because TSN was signing a deal with the NFL Network for the Canadian broadcasting rights. As for the US, it's not the NFL's fault, it's your local cable companies not bucking up to pay for the service. It's almost worth it just to get Dish Network or DirectTV for one room for 4 months during the NFL season.

they could just put the games on the ocho and solve all the problems

 

[There it is]

Well, before tonight I had both NFLN and HD NFLN. But my Cable provider (Patriot Media- Central NJ) is informing me that because they won't carry NFLN on their regular system, the NFL is "playing games" and tried to charge them $125,000 per game to carry it on their extended package. So my Cable provider "Unilaterally" decided to just not carry ANYTHING and blackout on NFLN when actual games are going on. They claim they were doing this to protect their customers!!! Well, thanks for #### Pat Media. What's the point in having NFLN through you bastards if you won't let anyone watch the damn games!!!! Who else is having this problem? $100 says Comcast of all providers decided to pay the damn fee

Comcast here...and watching the game.

My cable co., Adelphia, is being bought by Comcast. I have NFLN now and if I don't have it w/Comcast I'm switching (somewhere) to get it.I live in NE Pa.

 

[TLEF316]

another central jersey guy here. #### pat media

 

[valhallan]

GO TO THE BAR

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

I herd that wowway cable here in metro detroit did the same thing. - black out the game.

I know of a few people who are cancelling service today.

 

[Ghoti]

I herd that wowway cable here in metro detroit did the same thing. - black out the game. I know of a few people who are cancelling service today.

Indeed. When I turned it on last night they had some old highlight show on. I called up WOW to see what the deal was, and before you even reach the menu options they had a message from their VP saying that they refuse to pony up for the games because it would mean raising the cable rates.Its an annoyance, but not the end of the world. Hell, I probably wouldn't be able to see those games anyway. But I do think it is low of the NFL to tack on an extra charge to cable companies to show those games.

 

[Godsbrother]

A buddy of mine went to turn the game on last night and found it was blacked out by his cable company. I have Comcast and the games are being broadcasted.

The cable companies have known about this for months. The least they could have done was inform their subscribers well in advance that they weren't going to broadcast games.

Most, if not all of these cable companies advertise that they carry the NFL network and I am guessing their ads don't mention the fact that they won't carry the live games. They should be required to.

 

[mozzy84]

I herd that wowway cable here in metro detroit did the same thing. - black out the game. I know of a few people who are cancelling service today.

Indeed. When I turned it on last night they had some old highlight show on. I called up WOW to see what the deal was, and before you even reach the menu options they had a message from their VP saying that they refuse to pony up for the games because it would mean raising the cable rates.Its an annoyance, but not the end of the world. Hell, I probably wouldn't be able to see those games anyway. But I do think it is low of the NFL to tack on an extra charge to cable companies to show those games.

kinda funny how satelite companies can provide nfln in their basic package and have the games on, and your paying the same as cable, funny how that works. Its not the nfl's fault, its the greedy cable companies.

 

[JerseyEagles]

I herd that wowway cable here in metro detroit did the same thing. - black out the game. I know of a few people who are cancelling service today.

Indeed. When I turned it on last night they had some old highlight show on. I called up WOW to see what the deal was, and before you even reach the menu options they had a message from their VP saying that they refuse to pony up for the games because it would mean raising the cable rates.Its an annoyance, but not the end of the world. Hell, I probably wouldn't be able to see those games anyway. But I do think it is low of the NFL to tack on an extra charge to cable companies to show those games.

kinda funny how satelite companies can provide nfln in their basic package and have the games on, and your paying the same as cable, funny how that works. Its not the nfl's fault, its the greedy cable companies.

yeah, I don't think Pat media has the customber volume capability to just asbsorb the cost like say Comcast or Time Warner. The guy last night gave me the "well don't blame us, call the NFL" spiel on the phone. The NFL isn't my cable provider jackass, YOU ARE. Something's eventually going to have to give, and I doubt it will be the NFL.

 

[Swamprat]

when the NFL network was offered to cable companies and was picked up by the cable companies, there was no games on NFLN yet.since they've put games on, the NFL network went back to the cable companies and told them they have two options, one is to have the network w/o the game which would be their current agreement, or they could pay a little more and have the updated NFL network with the 8 games. It was up to the cable companies.Now most of the Canadian companies decided to go against the new network agreement because TSN was signing a deal with the NFL Network for the Canadian broadcasting rights. As for the US, it's not the NFL's fault, it's your local cable companies not bucking up to pay for the service. It's almost worth it just to get Dish Network or DirectTV for one room for 4 months during the NFL season.

they could just put the games on the ocho and solve all the problems

Wouldn't last night's game have to be on the ocho cinco?

 

[pinda]

kinda funny how satelite companies can provide nfln in their basic package and have the games on, and your paying the same as cable, funny how that works. Its not the nfl's fault, its the greedy cable companies.

I know it's easy to think that the cable companies are being greedy but in reality it is the other way around. The NFL is the one that is greedy and is spinning this pretty good towards the cable companies.If you are a television network and a part of the basic cable lineup, you get a certain amount per year from the cable company to put your channel into the basic lineup. Even on the www.iwantnflnetwork.com site, they admit that saying its the equivalent to one movie per year. So around $1 per month.Now the cable companies want to put it on premium service, let's say an extra $2 per month for each person that wants it. (Just choosing the $2 number randomly, but that's about how much premium channels cost here.)Now think about, who's greedier. The NFL realizes that not every single cable subscriber will want NFL Network. At $2 a pop, they would have to get 50% of cable subscribers to buy it in order to maximize revenue. The other way by forcing it down people's throats, it's a guaranteed revenue stream. $1 per per cable household. I would imagine the marketing gurus at the NFL probably figured that the number of people subscribing to the premium service would be around 20-25% maximum. That's the highest number that I've ever read that subscribe to a premium channel in Canada, don't know about the USA. I know it's shocking, but not everybody watches football or is willing to pay to watch it. It only make financial sense for the NFL to force the cable companies to comply. They want people like you guys to complain. Also they want the small portion of you to jump to DirecTV or DishNetwork in the hopes that will force the cable companies to comply.

 

[mozzy84]

kinda funny how satelite companies can provide nfln in their basic package and have the games on, and your paying the same as cable, funny how that works. Its not the nfl's fault, its the greedy cable companies.

I know it's easy to think that the cable companies are being greedy but in reality it is the other way around. The NFL is the one that is greedy and is spinning this pretty good towards the cable companies.If you are a television network and a part of the basic cable lineup, you get a certain amount per year from the cable company to put your channel into the basic lineup. Even on the www.iwantnflnetwork.com site, they admit that saying its the equivalent to one movie per year. So around $1 per month.Now the cable companies want to put it on premium service, let's say an extra $2 per month for each person that wants it. (Just choosing the $2 number randomly, but that's about how much premium channels cost here.)Now think about, who's greedier. The NFL realizes that not every single cable subscriber will want NFL Network. At $2 a pop, they would have to get 50% of cable subscribers to buy it in order to maximize revenue. The other way by forcing it down people's throats, it's a guaranteed revenue stream. $1 per per cable household. I would imagine the marketing gurus at the NFL probably figured that the number of people subscribing to the premium service would be around 20-25% maximum. That's the highest number that I've ever read that subscribe to a premium channel in Canada, don't know about the USA. I know it's shocking, but not everybody watches football or is willing to pay to watch it. It only make financial sense for the NFL to force the cable companies to comply. They want people like you guys to complain. Also they want the small portion of you to jump to DirecTV or DishNetwork in the hopes that will force the cable companies to comply.

whatever, I just know that I am paying less for direct tv than I was with cable, and nfln comes in their basic package. Just let me be happy and keep hating the cable companies

 

[JimBob2232]

kinda funny how satelite companies can provide nfln in their basic package and have the games on, and your paying the same as cable, funny how that works. Its not the nfl's fault, its the greedy cable companies.

I disagree. The NFL basically snubbed the cable companies by not allowing them to carry the Sunday Ticket. These same cable companies are losing customers to DirecTV because of it. Now the NFL is trying to force them to carry the NFL network and pay huge fees to do so. The cable companies have 2 options1) Alienate their non-sports customers by increasing rates for programing they dont watch or2) Alienate their football customers because of not carrying the game.I think they are looking at it, and from a business perspective, alot of they "football" customers have already left for DirecTV. The benefit of carrying these games is small compared to the risk of increasing fees on non-sports customers.The best outcome here is this: Cable networks agree to carry NFLN on basic cable in exchange they will be able to offer NFL Sunday Ticket once the current contract expires.

 

[pinda]

kinda funny how satelite companies can provide nfln in their basic package and have the games on, and your paying the same as cable, funny how that works. Its not the nfl's fault, its the greedy cable companies.

I disagree. The NFL basically snubbed the cable companies by not allowing them to carry the Sunday Ticket. These same cable companies are losing customers to DirecTV because of it. Now the NFL is trying to force them to carry the NFL network and pay huge fees to do so. The cable companies have 2 options1) Alienate their non-sports customers by increasing rates for programing they dont watch or2) Alienate their football customers because of not carrying the game.I think they are looking at it, and from a business perspective, alot of they "football" customers have already left for DirecTV. The benefit of carrying these games is small compared to the risk of increasing fees on non-sports customers.The best outcome here is this: Cable networks agree to carry NFLN on basic cable in exchange they will be able to offer NFL Sunday Ticket once the current contract expires.

really doesn't serve the NFL's interest to be giving the Sunday Ticket to all the cable companies, DirectTV pays the NFL $700 million per year for the exclusive rights, unless they can get that from the cable companies, things won't change. And they are locked up til 2010 so quite a long time before cable can even get their bids in.As much as we look at the NFL as a sport, the NFL has to be gaining reputation as one of the world's best run busineess. Revenues are through the roof, along with profit. They have done an amazing job at running their business. That's why Goodell probably has the best job in the world, continue what Tags and Rozelle built for a monster executive salary. Just keep the boat nice and steady and revenues will continue to rise.

 

[drdgreenlove]

I have Pat Media and support them...

The NFL is trying to force their crap channel onto mainstream cable and make billions more. They make enough already without forcing my parents who dont watch football to pay for the channel. Do people pay for channels they dont want with basic cable? Of course. However, unlike ESPN or YES, the NFL channel wants a ton of money for 6 games??? ESPN probably has 700 live games a year. Even if ESPN charges cable companies double NFLN, NFLN would be chraging 50-60 times more per game than ESPN.

I love football and fantasy football but there is a sleaze and greed element to the NFL. Like forcing season ticket holders to buy preseason seats. For once the cable companies are the good guy

 

[MrPhoenix]

Charter Cable in St. Louis is playing hardball as well. My solution?

You try to keep the person down long enough, he finds other ways to satisfy his needs.

 

[The Man With No Name]

Does NFL network have exclusive broadcast rights to the Thursday games, or are local stations allowed to show them too?

Cleveland plays Pittsburgh next Thursday and I get local channels. (Time Warner Cable)

 

[TitusIII]

I have Pat Media and support them...The NFL is trying to force their crap channel onto mainstream cable and make billions more. They make enough already without forcing my parents who dont watch football to pay for the channel. Do people pay for channels they dont want with basic cable? Of course. However, unlike ESPN or YES, the NFL channel wants a ton of money for 6 games??? ESPN probably has 700 live games a year. Even if ESPN charges cable companies double NFLN, NFLN would be chraging 50-60 times more per game than ESPN. I love football and fantasy football but there is a sleaze and greed element to the NFL. Like forcing season ticket holders to buy preseason seats. For once the cable companies are the good guy

 

[Tom Servo]

I disagree. The NFL basically snubbed the cable companies by not allowing them to carry the Sunday Ticket. These same cable companies are losing customers to DirecTV because of it. Now the NFL is trying to force them to carry the NFL network and pay huge fees to do so. The cable companies have 2 options1) Alienate their non-sports customers by increasing rates for programing they dont watch or2) Alienate their football customers because of not carrying the game.I think they are looking at it, and from a business perspective, alot of they "football" customers have already left for DirecTV. The benefit of carrying these games is small compared to the risk of increasing fees on non-sports customers.The best outcome here is this: Cable networks agree to carry NFLN on basic cable in exchange they will be able to offer NFL Sunday Ticket once the current contract expires.

You can make the same argument talking about shopping channels, Christian channels, etc. It's a highly segmented market now; I don't blame the NFL for trying to make the most popular sport even more entrenched in the country's fiber.