Games on the NFL Network

[kcchief19]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

Since I can't see the game, I wonder.....is it Theisman bad? Sterling Sharpe bad? Give me a reference point.

Let me put it this way ... I'm not going to complain next time the Chiefs end up with Ian Eagle doing play by play.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by kcchief19

Let me put it this way ... I'm not going to complain next time the Chiefs end up with Ian Eagle doing play by play.

Nuff said! Thank you Knology for not showing this game

[Philliesfan980]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

Since I can't see the game, I wonder.....is it Theisman bad? Sterling Sharpe bad? Give me a reference point.

Have you ever heard Doug Godfrey on ESPN2 with Holly Roe (sp). That sums it up.

[Philliesfan980]

Originally Posted by kcchief19

Let me put it this way ... I'm not going to complain next time the Chiefs end up with Ian Eagle doing play by play.

Give me Gus Johnson anyday. That guy needs to get moved up in the rotation.

[miami_fan]

Is this a week by week deal or did cable companies have to buy the entire package at once?

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

Is this a week by week deal or did cable companies have to buy the entire package at once?

Entire Package at once.
NFL Network wants to charge the cable companies ALMOST as much as ESPN charges them just for 8 games a year.

Cable companies do not want to charge this fee to ALL of their customers so have gladly agreed that they would distribute this channell as part of add on tier but NFL Network has declined. Basically saying, we hold the upper hand and we dont care about the extra revenue if we cant make every customer have our channel. Maybe they need to realize ESPN didnt start where it is today!!!

[RendeR]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

Btw, want to chime in and agree with those that say in the PR battle, the cable companies are coming off better. People aren't blaming Time Warner or Comcast for not being able to see the game tonight, they are blaming the NFL, because they are putting it on their own network, which they want to charge major prices for and are using these games as leverage. Fully within their rights to do so, but people (at least those I've spoken to) seem to blame the NFL for doing so.

Actually public blame will be laid on either side regionally. here in western NY

they used to have "Adelphia" Cable who went through some major problems when their owners literally stole the company funds for themselves.

Adelphia offered the NFL Network with no qualms whatsoever. Now that Time-Warner stepped in to buy out the bankruptcy they've yanked adelphia's programming in favor of their own "standard" packages of networks. No more NFL network on Cable in western NY and the majority of the region is screaming bloody murder about it and blaming TWC directly for the problems they've had.

I had TWC when I lived in Troy, ny a number of years ago, I found them fairly typical of cable companies, a bit overpriced for what was offered, piss poor customer service, service people who were repeatedly hours late for appointments and rude on top of it when they did deign to arrive. Their service failed at least once a month and the cable internet was rediculously flawed and slow.

Now when I put my own experience with TWC together with my current experience with DirectTV and the huge outcry I hear locally, I hope TWC fails miserably here and people get a better provider that can actually support its customers.

[Butter]

I would say I'm pissed that the Bengals game is on the NFL Network with no TV in Dayton tonight, but since I scored tix to the game, I can't really say that.

Maybe Rudi can run over Ray Lewis a couple more times.

[RendeR]

Originally Posted by Butter_of_69

I would say I'm pissed that the Bengals game is on the NFL Network with no TV in Dayton tonight, but since I scored tix to the game, I can't really say that.

Maybe Rudi can run over Ray Lewis a couple more times.

Preach on brother!

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

Since I can't see the game, I wonder.....is it Theisman bad? Sterling Sharpe bad? Give me a reference point.

He's worse than Theisman. At least Theisman knows how to project his voice. Gumbel is simply horrid. Maybe the worst I've ever heard.

The Monday Night crew HAS to go. Mike Tirico is good if paired with the right guy (great with Herbstreit in college games), but Theisman and Kornheiser are unbearable. And the stupid guests in the booth each week is horrid too. They are trying to ruin the NFL!

[BrianD]

Originally Posted by RendeR

Actually public blame will be laid on either side regionally. here in western NY

they used to have "Adelphia" Cable who went through some major problems when their owners literally stole the company funds for themselves.

Adelphia offered the NFL Network with no qualms whatsoever. Now that Time-Warner stepped in to buy out the bankruptcy they've yanked adelphia's programming in favor of their own "standard" packages of networks. No more NFL network on Cable in western NY and the majority of the region is screaming bloody murder about it and blaming TWC directly for the problems they've had.

I had TWC when I lived in Troy, ny a number of years ago, I found them fairly typical of cable companies, a bit overpriced for what was offered, piss poor customer service, service people who were repeatedly hours late for appointments and rude on top of it when they did deign to arrive. Their service failed at least once a month and the cable internet was rediculously flawed and slow.

Now when I put my own experience with TWC together with my current experience with DirectTV and the huge outcry I hear locally, I hope TWC fails miserably here and people get a better provider that can actually support its customers.

I remember reading about this when the buy-out happened. TW offered to pay the same amount that Adelphia was paying, but the NFL Network wanted triple what Adelphia was paying. That is when TW told them to screw off.

[Ksyrup]

I raised an eyebrow when I read this in Peter King's MMQB (both what Billick did and King's endorsement of it), and Billick's team certainly played tonight like they had essentially less than 2 days to prepare:


Why do players seem to like playing for Brian Billick? Here he is, in a very short week, with a road game Thursday against Cincinnati, and he gave his team off today and Tuesday morning. Players don't have to be in until noon Tuesday, and they'll be leaving a little more than 24 hours later for Cincinnati.

[Butter]

Highlights of the game:

1. Standing near several fans shouting obscenities at Deion Sanders during the pregame show, which they had set-up on a main concourse. Even though he played for the Reds for a couple years, no one in Cincy likes the guy, still.

2. Shouting myself hoarse.

3. On an incomplete pass in the early part of the 4th quarter, the clock stopped momentarily, then continued to run... from 13:55, all the way to around 13:04 after the 4th down punt. I spotted this, and the Ravens argued something to the officials at this time, which I can only assume was "why didn't the clock stop?", but the clock was not changed after the play. I love picking up on stuff like this while being at the game that the announcers usually miss.

4. Spotting the muffed punt immediately in the 4th quarter.... again, some understanding of the rules really helps stadium viewing. If you didn't see it, with about 6 minutes left, the Ravens 3rd string kick returner bobbles the punt, which is then picked up by backup safety Ethan Kilmer and run into the end zone. As soon as he started to run with it, I told my dad "that's a muff". He tries to explain to the several stunned fans around me why it's not a touchdown... and a few actually didn't believe him. Apparently, many Bengals fans are not what you would call "rules buffs".

5. Having seats 4 rows from the top paid dividends, as we were protected from the rain by the canopy all night.

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by Butter_of_69

I love picking up on stuff like this while being at the game that the announcers usually miss.

You know, ordinarily, I'm not one to complain about how bad so-and-so announcer sucks or what-not, but the one thing I cannot tolerate is lack of accuracy. Or at least, if you're going to be inaccurate, you need to be a Harry Caray-type personality that is otherwise humorous/interesting to listen to. And Bryant Gumbel was flat-out bad last night.

Not only is his voice not suited to football play-by-play, but he kept calling plays incorrectly. At least twice, he screwed up on who carried the ball for the Ravens (between Lewis and the other guy). And one time, Lewis barely got over the line of scrimmage and he said he got about 3 yards. After that play, I started following him more closely and he misjudged yards gained several times. I usually give a little slack on that, but that one carry was so ridiculous - it was obvious he barely gained a yard - that I really started to dislike pretty much every aspect of his performance last night.

It's too bad the NFL didn't can him for his comments earlier in the season about Tags' replacement being a puppet or whatever he said.

[Samdari]

Originally Posted by Butter_of_69

I would say I'm pissed that the Bengals game is on the NFL Network with no TV in Dayton tonight

It had been announced that, much like the NFL games on ESPN, the games would be on local channels in the markets of the two teams playing. Is this not true?

[Butter]

The game was on local TV on a Cincinnati station, but Dayton is about 50 miles away, so is considered a secondary market with no local TV station allowed coverage. Lexington, KY was in the same boat, a solid Bengals market, but they're 80 miles away from Cincy and as such don't get to carry the NFL Network coverage over the air.

[Ksyrup]

Lucky for me, I have DirecTV.

[Warhammer]

Originally Posted by Kodos

He's worse than Theisman. At least Theisman knows how to project his voice. Gumbel is simply horrid. Maybe the worst I've ever heard.

The Monday Night crew HAS to go. Mike Tirico is good if paired with the right guy (great with Herbstreit in college games), but Theisman and Kornheiser are unbearable. And the stupid guests in the booth each week is horrid too. They are trying to ruin the NFL!

Thiesman is at least bearable, but Kornheiser really needs to go. All he tries to do is get Joe riled up and it gets old quick. The guests get old too.

What they need to do is get two guys that subscribe to completely different theories on football and are from two completely different backgrounds. Put them in there and just let them talk. Don't try to create conflict, let it create itself.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Originally Posted by Butter_of_69

As soon as he started to run with it, I told my dad "that's a muff".

I remember saying the same thing to my dad one time in the French Quarter during Mardi Gras.

[Butter]

Your dad needed that pointed out, did he?

[flere-imsaho]

Originally Posted by Kodos

He's worse than Theisman. At least Theisman knows how to project his voice. Gumbel is simply horrid. Maybe the worst I've ever heard.

I've had it with Gumbel ever since his crack that none of the athletes in the Winter Olympics were real athletes.

The Monday Night crew HAS to go. Mike Tirico is good if paired with the right guy (great with Herbstreit in college games), but Theisman and Kornheiser are unbearable. And the stupid guests in the booth each week is horrid too. They are trying to ruin the NFL!

They've grown on me, actually. I think Kornheiser has pulled back a little on his stuff, but his calling Theisman on his BS has forced Theisman to be a little more circumspect, which is good. Now if they could only get rid of those god-awful booth interviews....

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

I raised an eyebrow when I read this in Peter King's MMQB (both what Billick did and King's endorsement of it), and Billick's team certainly played tonight like they had essentially less than 2 days to prepare:

I saw that too, and felt the same way, but it looks like it worked. To be honest, though, none of these guys should need more conditioning at this point in the season.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Originally Posted by Butter_of_69

Your dad needed that pointed out, did he?

In the French Quarter, you can never be sure.

[RendeR]

Originally Posted by BrianD

I remember reading about this when the buy-out happened. TW offered to pay the same amount that Adelphia was paying, but the NFL Network wanted triple what Adelphia was paying. That is when TW told them to screw off.

The NFL demanded more from TWC because TWC has/had almost 4X the number of subscribers. If you offered your services to 10 people at one price wouldn't you raise it accordingly to service 40?

[DanGarion]

Originally Posted by RendeR

The NFL demanded more from TWC because TWC has/had almost 4X the number of subscribers. If you offered your services to 10 people at one price wouldn't you raise it accordingly to service 40?

You don't know how channels are paid for. The NFL wanted 3 times as much per subscriber.

[Galaxy]

Originally Posted by RendeR

The NFL demanded more from TWC because TWC has/had almost 4X the number of subscribers. If you offered your services to 10 people at one price wouldn't you raise it accordingly to service 40?

So a company should increase it's rate per customer because they have more?
As what others said, NFL Network wanted to charge 3x per customer.

Personally, both companies are spinning this this. Also, on a related note, I'm a little concern at the aggressive corporate stragety of the NFL overall.

[DanGarion]

Let's also remember the more viewers the NFL Network gets the more they can also make on advertising.

[Pumpy Tudors]

I'm taking a stand. As long as Bryant Gumbel is doing play-by-play for the NFL Network, I won't watch it.

Take THAT, NFL Network!

(I never really watched NFL Network anyway)

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

I'm taking a stand. As long as Bryant Gumbel is doing play-by-play for the NFL Network, I won't watch it.

Take THAT, NFL Network!

(I never really watched NFL Network anyway)

Larry Johnson is demanding they get a black guy to call the games.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

I'm taking a stand. As long as Bryant Gumbel is doing play-by-play for the NFL Network, I won't watch it.

Take THAT, NFL Network!

(I never really watched NFL Network anyway)

Way to take a stand! Do you only get in Taxis that are yellow, also? How about only eating at restaurants with clean plates?

SI

[Pumpy Tudors]

I just got pwn3d.

[korme]

Originally Posted by Butter_of_69

The game was on local TV on a Cincinnati station, but Dayton is about 50 miles away, so is considered a secondary market with no local TV station allowed coverage. Lexington, KY was in the same boat, a solid Bengals market, but they're 80 miles away from Cincy and as such don't get to carry the NFL Network coverage over the air.

In Dayton myself, we went to Bw3's last night off North Fairfield and it was packed, no seating. So we went to a local bar and watched it. WHO DEY BOYS

[cuervo72]

I hate to say it, but watching last night was like watching a preseason game (ok, so the unseasonably warm temps didn't help).

And the Wendy's halftime graphics look like they were ripped off from ABC's college football broadcasts.

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by flere-imsaho

I saw that too, and felt the same way, but it looks like it worked. To be honest, though, none of these guys should need more conditioning at this point in the season.

If by "worked" you mean unprepared and not into the game, then yes, I guess Billick's strategy "worked."

It isn't about conditioning so much as preparing for your next opponent and getting mentally prepared to play a game on a quick turnaround. I understand they were coming off a dominating win, but why give them a day and a half off during a very short week? Why not give them the time off after the Thursday game, when you've got another 9-10 days before your next game?

He may have scored some "cool" points, but they looked awful last night.

[kcchief19]

Originally Posted by cuervo72

I hate to say it, but watching last night was like watching a preseason game (ok, so the unseasonably warm temps didn't help).

And the Wendy's halftime graphics look like they were ripped off from ABC's college football broadcasts.

The NFL Network claimed the game here in Kansas City would feature a "Super Bowl quality" halftime show.

After the halftime show featured John Fogerty in his second halftime show of the day, a local newspaper columnist had this response -- "they promised us Super Bowl quality, they just didn't tell us they meant Super Bowl III."

[flere-imsaho]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

If by "worked" you mean unprepared and not into the game, then yes, I guess Billick's strategy "worked."

Good point. I somehow got it into my head that they won. I need to stop posting when I haven't had enough sleep.

However, from a conditioning standpoint, at this point in the season the players should be as conditioned as they're going to be. The lack of time spent studying film and preparing is, I would assume, what bit them. Especially given that they could only put up 7 points against a Bengals defense that hasn't exactly been stellar this season.

[TazFTW]

Saw this on KFFL,

NFL | NFL Network will offer one free week to two cable operators
Tue, 12 Dec 2006 22:26:38 -0800
The Associated Press reports the NFL has offered one free week of NFL Network programming to two cable TB operators who don't carry the channel. Cablevision will broadcast the NFL Network only for the Dec. 28 Texas Bowl between Rutgers and Kansas State, showing all pre- and postgame coverage. Commissioner Roger Goodell told the Associated Press that the week of Dec. 24-30 would be offered as a "free view" for customers of Cablevision and Time Warner Cable. The NFL Network would be offered on the expanded basic levels of both carriers.

Haven't seen any announcement from my cable company (Time Warner) about this but I hope they agree to show it so I can see what the channel offers.

[sterlingice]

How easy is it for a cable company to set up to show a station just for one week that they don't even carry?

Also, if they show a Gumbel game, how many people will see what kind of a farce this really is?

SI

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

How easy is it for a cable company to set up to show a station just for one week that they don't even carry?

Also, if they show a Gumbel game, how many people will see what kind of a farce this really is?

SI

I wouldnt think it would be extremely hard. They just have to uplink the signal via satellite and pass it on to their customers.\ through the end head(the local cable carries with all the satellite dishes pointing towards the sky). The same way they are able to provide PPV channels.

As far as Gumble, I havent actually seen a game on NFL Network but I have heard he is horrible, so maybe it wont be a good thing for them. That is good news it seems that NFL Network may be losing the battle and they may have to lower their demands.

[thesloppy]

I guess I'm in the minority, but I find Gumbel/Collinsworth to be a fine announcing team, especially compared to the MNF crew. Then again, I also think Ron Pitts/Jesse Palmer is a great crew, so you may want to ignore my opinion entirely (if you haven't already).

[miami_fan]

The NFL's ability to negotiate exclusive sports packages is under fire from the outgoing chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) twice said he would introduce legislation in the next session aimed at eliminating the league's freedom from antitrust laws.

Specter said the NFL should not use the exemption to negotiate exclusive programming packages such as DirecTV's Sunday Ticket, which allows viewers to watch teams outside their regional market.

"As I look at what the NFL is doing today with the NFL channel with the DirecTV . . . a lot of people, including myself, would like to be able to have that ticket," Specter said.

But the 1961 law that gives the NFL this freedom should not apply to DirecTV because it is not "sponsored programming," said Stephen Ross, a law professor at Penn State and chair of the school's sports law institute. He said Specter might be using the threat of legislation to pressure the NFL to make changes voluntarily.

Access to out-of-market football games was one of many consumer fairness issues addressed during the hearing. Another hot topic was whether cable providers should be forced to share sports broadcasting rights with every service provider in an area.

David Cohen, executive vice president of Comcast Corp., said his company has not made a local Philadelphia sports network it owns available to DirecTV because it is one way his company can stay competitive with the Sunday Ticket package.

"What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander," he said.

[Aylmar]

Thank God the Senate has important issues to talk about such as the public's access to out-of-market football games. I was worried they were running out of problems to solve...

[Pumpy Tudors]

Originally Posted by thesloppy

I guess I'm in the minority, but I find Gumbel/Collinsworth to be a fine announcing team, especially compared to the MNF crew. Then again, I also think Ron Pitts/Jesse Palmer is a great crew, so you may want to ignore my opinion entirely (if you haven't already).

I like Ron Pitts, and Jesse Palmer was The Bachelor, so you can't go wrong there. Gumbel is really the worst professional play-by-play announcer I've ever heard, though. Obviously, that's just an opinion, but he singlehandedly keeps me from watching football on NFL Network.

JESSE PALMER WAS THE BACHELOR, THOUGH!!!

[Marathoner]

I can't wait to see Gumbel/Collinsworth in action after all the rave reviews, then again I like the movies on MST3K.

[panerd]

Originally Posted by Article

"As I look at what the NFL is doing today with the NFL channel with the DirecTV . . . a lot of people, including myself, would like to be able to have that ticket," Specter said.
.

Then pony up and buy a fucking dish you rich, cheap, piece of shit.

[Craptacular]

Originally Posted by panerd

Then pony up and buy a fucking dish you rich, cheap, piece of shit.

I doubt it applies to him, but you know there are millions of people in the U.S. who have no place to put a dish at all, or can't put one where they can get the signal. Canadians can get Sunday Ticket on cable, but we can't. I personally think the NFL is fucking up big time on this (and the NFL Network) and hope it comes back to bite them in the a$$.

[Aylmar]

Originally Posted by Craptacular

I doubt it applies to him, but you know there are millions of people in the U.S. who have no place to put a dish at all, or can't put one where they can get the signal. Canadians can get Sunday Ticket on cable, but we can't. I personally think the NFL is fucking up big time on this (and the NFL Network) and hope it comes back to bite them in the a$$.

The Ticket has been exclusive on DirecTV for ten years. Why is it so important now and not, say, nine years ago? Or are you just talking about the games on NFL Network?

[Ksyrup]

I hope they include Sirius and XM in on this, so they can force them to stop their exclusive deals with Oprah, Howard Stern, the NBA, NHL, MLB, and NFL. Oh, and don't forget Garth Brooks and Wal-Mart. And then there's Starbucks and Bob Dylan and a bunch of others. Yep, the NFL should certainly be singled out for this...

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by Craptacular

I doubt it applies to him, but you know there are millions of people in the U.S. who have no place to put a dish at all, or can't put one where they can get the signal. Canadians can get Sunday Ticket on cable, but we can't. I personally think the NFL is fucking up big time on this (and the NFL Network) and hope it comes back to bite them in the a$$.

The notion that a private league cannot determine when and where its own games are to be televised is beyond ridiculous. Do we have some "right" to watch every game? I'm surprised it took the NFL this long to create its own network and sell itself the rights to a number of games. MLB teams have been doing this for years (Cubs, Braves, Yankees). It's just good business practice to capitalize on the popularity of the sport they created. As far as the disputes with cable companies, it's simple supply and demand. It's freaking football, not some life and death, basic human right they are withholding. You want it, you pay for it.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

I hope they include Sirius and XM in on this, so they can force them to stop their exclusive deals with Oprah, Howard Stern, the NBA, NHL, MLB, and NFL. Oh, and don't forget Garth Brooks and Wal-Mart. And then there's Starbucks and Bob Dylan and a bunch of others. Yep, the NFL should certainly be singled out for this...

Well, again, tho, the issue is not as much exclusivity as uncompetitive exclusivity due to antitrust.

SI

[Aylmar]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

Well, again, tho, the issue is not as much exclusivity as uncompetitive exclusivity due to antitrust.

SI

But local markets get all cable games (including NFLN) rebroadcast to normal networks. So, basically what we're discussing is the right to view games for teams that aren't in your market. That's the only "exclusive" portion of this discussion...