<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Denny Crane)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> Are the Packers for real?</p> </div></p> Are you for real? Wait wait..lemme answer that, no.</p> </p>
I think this is the first step. Soon you will be able to order which games you want to see, just like WWE events. Is it fair? Most probably think not.</p> On the other hand, the NFL don't owe you anything.</p> So, what can you do about it? Not much. Boycott their sponsors products. Get your Congressman on the phone. The NFL can do pretty much whatever it wants and on some level it's our fault. We made the NFL what it is today.</p>
Exactly OB, its not like they owe us something. You can say that you go to games, and buy the jerseys, etc but still they owe you nothing. I expect my team to win, and that is all, I don't care if its on tv or not.</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (shapecity)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> Both sides are trying to maximize profits so you can't really fault either one. It's up to the fans and viewership to force them into a friendly compromise that benefits YOU.</p> Express your concerns to them and force them to take action before they lose you as a customer.</p> It would be great if we could eventually pick and choose from the entire gambit of games on a daily basis on what we want to watch. I hate how cable packages currently work. I don't watch half the channels I have because I'm not interested in it or it's in an entirely different language. I hate being forced to pay for those programs.</p> </div></p> Actually, you can fault the NFL Network. Very much so. The NFL Network is trying to get a really good rate and isn't beyond using extortion to get it. I think the NFL Network asks for something like 80 cents per householdwhile channels like CNN get somewhere around 35-40 cents per household. Now, that is nothing compared to money that ESPN gets which is somewhere between 3 and 4 dollars a household, but remember that ESPN has been around for 30 years while the NFL Network has been around for 4 years. The NFL Network came out of the box demanding to be a first tier cable channel, so that EVERY HOUSEHOLD pays for it. Cable companies don't want to pay those rates because (despite how football junkies like myself love the channel) the NFL Network is a niche market and one that barely has been around to have much of a track record. It makes more sense for cable companies to carry ESPN, despite the high rates,because it is nowa recognizable brand name that covers almost every sport and has much more orginal programming than the NFL Network. I seriously doubt that ESPN got those high rates over night.</p> Want an example of the dirty pool that the NFL is capable of in pushing the NFL Network? I live in Louisville and the cable company here is Insight. Insight was carrying the NFL Network, but must have arranged a lower rate by not carrying live games. A couple of days before the first NFL Network game, I noticed the channel went off the air in the middle of the night and was back on the next morning. I guess the NFL Network was switching us to a different feed that wasn't getting the live games. What we did get was a constant scroll which informed us that we were not getting the live games and we needed to call the cable company and demand them. Then, Insight made the picture from the feed wider so that you couldn't really make out the scroll. I didn't blame Insight. How would you like it if you had an agreement with the NFL to carry their network, without live games, and they turned around and used that feed to make your company look like cheapskates to your customers? Before you answer, think about it. How much are 8 live ballgames worth? That's about 25-30 more hours of live original programming for the year. The NFL should never have agreed to arate for cable companies to carry their station without ballgames if they were going to turn around and put those kind of messages on that feed. Think aboutit. How is it ethicalto enter a business agreementwith another company then bad mouth them to their customers toforce them tosweetenyour side of the deal? Of course this doesn't even consider the backstabbing that the NFL is doing to the networks that have paid outrageous contracts to cover those games. Do you think FOX isn't pissed that the NFL Network is carrying the Packers-Cowboys game? That game should have been broadcast on their station. The NFL is being a bunch of greedy bastards and they are screwing everyone they are doing business with. I hope they change their ways before it hurts the league and affects the game.</p> </p>
I don;t understand why teh NFL network can;t sell the game they would make so much money! They could still air it, accompanied by some other network</p> </p> </p> I have NFL network so I am not complaining but, I feel for you guys!</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pack Attack)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> I agree that the NFL had no idea the game would be this important back when the schedule was made, but it IS this important now. If they really wanted to change it, they could. They OWN the network. And you can't tell me Fox or ESPN wouldn't take the game if it was offered...</p> Then again, I think putting ANY game on the NFL network is a mistake. At least until the network is at least a part of every basic cable package in the country.</p> </div></p> I agree with everthing else, but how could a packers vs cowboys rivalry not be important, it's always a huge game for the fans on both sides they have arguably the best history in football. By the way, Cowboys will win!</p> </p>
You gotta love that the game is nationally broadcasted on the most basic sports channel in Canada but the folks down south have to pay for it. I've been so busy with school, I completely forgot about this game. Moments ago, I was flipping channels deciding what to watch, I figured Survivor: China but thought I should at least check to see if there was a game on. First sports channel, poker, second, Knicks/Celtics but I really hate both of those teams so I tired a third and low and behold, there's football on baby!</p> Fucking ace, Farve versus Romo, this is going to be good.</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DolfanDale)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (shapecity)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> Both sides are trying to maximize profits so you can't really fault either one. It's up to the fans and viewership to force them into a friendly compromise that benefits YOU.</p> Express your concerns to them and force them to take action before they lose you as a customer.</p> It would be great if we could eventually pick and choose from the entire gambit of games on a daily basis on what we want to watch. I hate how cable packages currently work. I don't watch half the channels I have because I'm not interested in it or it's in an entirely different language. I hate being forced to pay for those programs.</p> </div></p> Actually, you can fault the NFL Network. Very much so. The NFL Network is trying to get a really good rate and isn't beyond using extortion to get it. I think the NFL Network asks for something like 80 cents per householdwhile channels like CNN get somewhere around 35-40 cents per household. Now, that is nothing compared to money that ESPN gets which is somewhere between 3 and 4 dollars a household, but remember that ESPN has been around for 30 years while the NFL Network has been around for 4 years. The NFL Network came out of the box demanding to be a first tier cable channel, so that EVERY HOUSEHOLD pays for it. Cable companies don't want to pay those rates because (despite how football junkies like myself love the channel) the NFL Network is a niche market and one that barely has been around to have much of a track record. It makes more sense for cable companies to carry ESPN, despite the high rates,because it is nowa recognizable brand name that covers almost every sport and has much more orginal programming than the NFL Network. I seriously doubt that ESPN got those high rates over night.</p> Want an example of the dirty pool that the NFL is capable of in pushing the NFL Network? I live in Louisville and the cable company here is Insight. Insight was carrying the NFL Network, but must have arranged a lower rate by not carrying live games. A couple of days before the first NFL Network game, I noticed the channel went off the air in the middle of the night and was back on the next morning. I guess the NFL Network was switching us to a different feed that wasn't getting the live games. What we did get was a constant scroll which informed us that we were not getting the live games and we needed to call the cable company and demand them. Then, Insight made the picture from the feed wider so that you couldn't really make out the scroll. I didn't blame Insight. How would you like it if you had an agreement with the NFL to carry their network, without live games, and they turned around and used that feed to make your company look like cheapskates to your customers? Before you answer, think about it. How much are 8 live ballgames worth? That's about 25-30 more hours of live original programming for the year. The NFL should never have agreed to arate for cable companies to carry their station without ballgames if they were going to turn around and put those kind of messages on that feed. Think aboutit. How is it ethicalto enter a business agreementwith another company then bad mouth them to their customers toforce them tosweetenyour side of the deal? Of course this doesn't even consider the backstabbing that the NFL is doing to the networks that have paid outrageous contracts to cover those games. Do you think FOX isn't pissed that the NFL Network is carrying the Packers-Cowboys game? That game should have been broadcast on their station. The NFL is being a bunch of greedy bastards and they are screwing everyone they are doing business with. I hope they change their ways before it hurts the league and affects the game.</p> </div></p> If you don't like what the NFL is doing don't support it. Think about it. I'm glad the NFL is fighting back against the cable companies and have the support of its fans to do it. The NFL Network should only be stuck with 8 lousy games and given the leftovers the other stations don't want?</p> These schedules were determined in May, no one had an issue with it when they were originally announced. They won the luck of the draw getting a premiere game and now people want to bitch and moan? They aren't being greedy, if they wanted to be greedy they could make every single NFL playoff event a Pay per view and keep the bulk of any sponsorship revenue generated from the broadcasts.</p> The NFL Network is trying to use this event to show Cable companies how big a draw they can bring and force the Cable companies to package their network into every household with Cable. If you're a football fan isn't that what you would want instead? All the NFL Network programming included in your current cable sports package and not an additonal charge.</p> I can guarantee you the NFL Network will eventually have 1 game per week.</p> </p> </p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (shapecity)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DolfanDale)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (shapecity)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> Both sides are trying to maximize profits so you can't really fault either one. It's up to the fans and viewership to force them into a friendly compromise that benefits YOU.</p> Express your concerns to them and force them to take action before they lose you as a customer.</p> It would be great if we could eventually pick and choose from the entire gambit of games on a daily basis on what we want to watch. I hate how cable packages currently work. I don't watch half the channels I have because I'm not interested in it or it's in an entirely different language. I hate being forced to pay for those programs.</p> </div></p> Actually, you can fault the NFL Network. Very much so. The NFL Network is trying to get a really good rate and isn't beyond using extortion to get it. I think the NFL Network asks for something like 80 cents per householdwhile channels like CNN get somewhere around 35-40 cents per household. Now, that is nothing compared to money that ESPN gets which is somewhere between 3 and 4 dollars a household, but remember that ESPN has been around for 30 years while the NFL Network has been around for 4 years. The NFL Network came out of the box demanding to be a first tier cable channel, so that EVERY HOUSEHOLD pays for it. Cable companies don't want to pay those rates because (despite how football junkies like myself love the channel) the NFL Network is a niche market and one that barely has been around to have much of a track record. It makes more sense for cable companies to carry ESPN, despite the high rates,because it is nowa recognizable brand name that covers almost every sport and has much more orginal programming than the NFL Network. I seriously doubt that ESPN got those high rates over night.</p> Want an example of the dirty pool that the NFL is capable of in pushing the NFL Network? I live in Louisville and the cable company here is Insight. Insight was carrying the NFL Network, but must have arranged a lower rate by not carrying live games. A couple of days before the first NFL Network game, I noticed the channel went off the air in the middle of the night and was back on the next morning. I guess the NFL Network was switching us to a different feed that wasn't getting the live games. What we did get was a constant scroll which informed us that we were not getting the live games and we needed to call the cable company and demand them. Then, Insight made the picture from the feed wider so that you couldn't really make out the scroll. I didn't blame Insight. How would you like it if you had an agreement with the NFL to carry their network, without live games, and they turned around and used that feed to make your company look like cheapskates to your customers? Before you answer, think about it. How much are 8 live ballgames worth? That's about 25-30 more hours of live original programming for the year. The NFL should never have agreed to arate for cable companies to carry their station without ballgames if they were going to turn around and put those kind of messages on that feed. Think aboutit. How is it ethicalto enter a business agreementwith another company then bad mouth them to their customers toforce them tosweetenyour side of the deal? Of course this doesn't even consider the backstabbing that the NFL is doing to the networks that have paid outrageous contracts to cover those games. Do you think FOX isn't pissed that the NFL Network is carrying the Packers-Cowboys game? That game should have been broadcast on their station. The NFL is being a bunch of greedy bastards and they are screwing everyone they are doing business with. I hope they change their ways before it hurts the league and affects the game.</p> </div></p> If you don't like what the NFL is doing don't support it. Think about it. I'm glad the NFL is fighting back against the cable companies and have the support of its fans to do it. The NFL Network should only be stuck with 8 lousy games and given the leftovers the other stations don't want?</p> These schedules were determined in May, no one had an issue with it when they were originally announced. They won the luck of the draw getting a premiere game and now people want to bitch and moan? They aren't being greedy, if they wanted to be greedy they could make every single NFL playoff event a Pay per view and keep the bulk of any sponsorship revenue generated from the broadcasts.</p> The NFL Network is trying to use this event to show Cable companies how big a draw they can bring and force the Cable companies to package their network into every household with Cable. If you're a football fan isn't that what you would want instead? All the NFL Network programming included in your current cable sports package and not an additonal charge.</p> I can guarantee you the NFL Network will eventually have 1 game per week.</p> </p> </p> </div></p> But thats the point. The cable companies are completely willing to put it in the sports packages. They aren't willing to make it part of basic cable.</p> </p>
Exactly my argument. The NFL wants their network to be included in every single household with cable under their basic plans. Why are NFL fans complaining about their sport getting more exposure without any extra money coming out of their pockets?</p>
Us NFL fans north of the States (Canada if your still thinking it through) have it being broadcast on TSN which is a major sports channel here, but for those of you whom are not lucky enough to be in Canada currently or whom arnt subscribed to the NFL Network I just suggest you go to your local sportsbar if you must watch it. For those watching the game I really hate the commentators they are horrible, so lifeless.</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (shapecity)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> Exactly my argument. The NFL wants their network to be included in every single household with cable under their basic plans. Why are NFL fans complaining about their sport getting more exposure without any extra money coming out of their pockets?</p> </div></p> I just got confused from the last line: "All the NFL Network programming included in your current cable sports package and not an additonal charge."</p> Anyhow...our cable company has NFL network on in place of another channel....: D</p> </p>
I hereby christen this the game thread.</p> Everybody jump on the train, cuz we're runnin it on the Packers! Yeeeee Hawwww!!!!</p>
I just got home from work and when I walked in my friend was staring miserably at the Celtics-Knicks game.</p> I yelled at him to turn on the Packers-Cowboys game, knowing full-well we don't have it here.</p> "The Packers are on the ten-yard-line!", I implored "We're gonna miss it!"</p> He just pointed at the screen (Celtics 73-Knicks 33) and said "I'm watching this scintillating game".</p> </p> <hr width="100%" size="2" /> <hr width="100%" size="2" /> </p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GMJigga)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> I hereby christen this the game thread.</p> Everybody jump on the train, cuz we're runnin it on the Packers! Yeeeee Hawwww!!!!</p> </div></p> Retracted!</p> 'Tis a bitter taste, that humble pie.</p> </p> </p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (shapecity)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DolfanDale)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (shapecity)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> Both sides are trying to maximize profits so you can't really fault either one. It's up to the fans and viewership to force them into a friendly compromise that benefits YOU.</p> Express your concerns to them and force them to take action before they lose you as a customer.</p> It would be great if we could eventually pick and choose from the entire gambit of games on a daily basis on what we want to watch. I hate how cable packages currently work. I don't watch half the channels I have because I'm not interested in it or it's in an entirely different language. I hate being forced to pay for those programs.</p> </div></p> Actually, you can fault the NFL Network. Very much so. The NFL Network is trying to get a really good rate and isn't beyond using extortion to get it. I think the NFL Network asks for something like 80 cents per householdwhile channels like CNN get somewhere around 35-40 cents per household. Now, that is nothing compared to money that ESPN gets which is somewhere between 3 and 4 dollars a household, but remember that ESPN has been around for 30 years while the NFL Network has been around for 4 years. The NFL Network came out of the box demanding to be a first tier cable channel, so that EVERY HOUSEHOLD pays for it. Cable companies don't want to pay those rates because (despite how football junkies like myself love the channel) the NFL Network is a niche market and one that barely has been around to have much of a track record. It makes more sense for cable companies to carry ESPN, despite the high rates,because it is nowa recognizable brand name that covers almost every sport and has much more orginal programming than the NFL Network. I seriously doubt that ESPN got those high rates over night.</p> Want an example of the dirty pool that the NFL is capable of in pushing the NFL Network? I live in Louisville and the cable company here is Insight. Insight was carrying the NFL Network, but must have arranged a lower rate by not carrying live games. A couple of days before the first NFL Network game, I noticed the channel went off the air in the middle of the night and was back on the next morning. I guess the NFL Network was switching us to a different feed that wasn't getting the live games. What we did get was a constant scroll which informed us that we were not getting the live games and we needed to call the cable company and demand them. Then, Insight made the picture from the feed wider so that you couldn't really make out the scroll. I didn't blame Insight. How would you like it if you had an agreement with the NFL to carry their network, without live games, and they turned around and used that feed to make your company look like cheapskates to your customers? Before you answer, think about it. How much are 8 live ballgames worth? That's about 25-30 more hours of live original programming for the year. The NFL should never have agreed to arate for cable companies to carry their station without ballgames if they were going to turn around and put those kind of messages on that feed. Think aboutit. How is it ethicalto enter a business agreementwith another company then bad mouth them to their customers toforce them tosweetenyour side of the deal? Of course this doesn't even consider the backstabbing that the NFL is doing to the networks that have paid outrageous contracts to cover those games. Do you think FOX isn't pissed that the NFL Network is carrying the Packers-Cowboys game? That game should have been broadcast on their station. The NFL is being a bunch of greedy bastards and they are screwing everyone they are doing business with. I hope they change their ways before it hurts the league and affects the game.</p> </div></p> If you don't like what the NFL is doing don't support it. Think about it. I'm glad the NFL is fighting back against the cable companies and have the support of its fans to do it. The NFL Network should only be stuck with 8 lousy games and given the leftovers the other stations don't want?</p> These schedules were determined in May, no one had an issue with it when they were originally announced. They won the luck of the draw getting a premiere game and now people want to bitch and moan? They aren't being greedy, if they wanted to be greedy they could make every single NFL playoff event a Pay per view and keep the bulk of any sponsorship revenue generated from the broadcasts.</p> The NFL Network is trying to use this event to show Cable companies how big a draw they can bring and force the Cable companies to package their network into every household with Cable. If you're a football fan isn't that what you would want instead? All the NFL Network programming included in your current cable sports package and not an additonal charge.</p> I can guarantee you the NFL Network will eventually have 1 game per week.</p> </p> </p> </div></p> Actually, the NFL Network and Insight haven't asked for my opinion, but I did give it. Last year, when the NFL Network and Insight were having the problem, I did call the NFL offices and leave a message saying how I felt and my number to call me back for the PR folks. They didn't have the guts to call me back. I also dropped an email through NFL.com that was never answered.</p> Why should the NFL Networkbe left with 8 lousy games? Because the NFL has a contract with FOX, CBS, NBC and ESPN for those networks to show games. The NFL is getting paid for every game they have. I'm saying that the NFL is screwing these networks by taking back games like the Packers-Cowboys, which I'm sure FOX would have loved to feature, and showing it on their cable network. In my opinion, sell the rights to games then going in the business of showing games as well, borders on being a conflict of interests. It wasn't luck of the draw. It was barely a calculated risk. The Packers and Cowboys have large fanbases that will want to see their team even if they were struggling. The NFL cherry-picked this game and FOX should be pissed.</p> Making every playoff game a pay-per-view would be the ultimate step in stupidity. Beer and car companies aren't going to pay nearly as much for advertising on a pay-per-view event as they would an event going into almost every household in America. Why do you think advertising rates are so high for the Super Bowl?</p> The NFL Network is using the game to show it can draw an audience? Does the NFL really need to prove that one of it's top matchups can draw ratings? Really? If anyone in the cable or network television business doesn't know that the Packers-Cowboys will draw, they are stupid to deserve their job. The only message being sent here is "Give us the money we demand or we will withhold games that will cost you customers." That's a pretty crappy way of doing business with companies that help your network and cable partners carry your games and that you want to carry your network.</p> As far as exposing the NFL to people who don't follow the game now, I can't see how demanding a rate that might help drive up the cost of basic cable will endear the NFL to them. I guarantee you that if the cable companies break and give the NFL Network what they want, then other companies are going to want more for their channels based on that rate. Do you really think that there aren't other companies waiting to see exactly what an unproven NFL Network can extort and then demand more based on the fact that they have been around longer, provide more original programming and have a larger audience? Trust me, the NFL Network is doing no one any favors and that bothers me because I'm a fan and want the NFL and the NFL Network to succeed.</p> </p>
My personal view on this game is that if it were on at 1:00 on Sunday, I wouldn't see it anyway - and nobody outside Wisconsin or Texas (without Direct TV and the NFL package) would expect to.</p> The NFL has always had the hammer, more so now than ever, and they will continue to swing it until they have every last penny they think they can get.</p>
