NFL on CBS in high def

[panerd]

I am on the fence about renewing my Sunday Ticket subscription this year. $350 is getting a bit pricy (have to go Superfan/HD). I guess my main concern is I want to catch all of the Bengals games but last season about 4 of them were on networks that I got through regular service and then like 4 weren't even in HD. Does anyone know if CBS is going to actually join the 21st century and offer every NFL game in high def? (what kind of contract do they have? 1 billion?)

I think only one game will be available to me in St. Louis if I don't get the package. But I am tired of Bengals/Browns or Bengals/Buccs being chosen by CBS as the one to present in standard def. How much can the cameras actually cost?

[Aylmar]

Originally Posted by panerd

I am on the fence about renewing my Sunday Ticket subscription this year. $350 is getting a bit pricy (have to go Superfan/HD). I guess my main concern is I want to catch all of the Bengals games but last season about 4 of them were on networks that I got through regular service and then like 4 weren't even in HD. Does anyone know if CBS is going to actually join the 21st century and offer every NFL game in high def? (what kind of contract do they have? 1 billion?)

I think only one game will be available to me in St. Louis if I don't get the package. But I am tired of Bengals/Browns or Bengals/Buccs being chosen by CBS as the one to present in standard def. How much can the cameras actually cost?

All CBS games will be HD this season.

http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/22...eason-finally/

[Eaglesfan27]

I told DirecTV I wanted to cancel Sunday Ticket (a bluff on my part) and they gave me Superfan for free to convince me to stay. It depends upon a few factors, but from what I've read on dbstalk, this strategy is working for most DirecTV customers.

[cuervo72]

Hmm - I was actually considering dropping this just for the cost. Yeah, I get to watch Eagles games. But they have six (slated) nationally televised games, and two more that will be shown locally against the Redskins. Having games in HD, it might be hard for me to go and watch much in SD. Maybe I should try this.

[RainMaker]

If you're doing it for just one team, I'd suggest looking for a local bar that plays your teams games. Almost every major city has a bar for a specific team (I'm in Chicago and there is a Bills bar across the street). You can catch the 8-10 games you won't get on regular TV through that and just watch the others from home.

[Aylmar]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

If you're doing it for just one team, I'd suggest looking for a local bar that plays your teams games. Almost every major city has a bar for a specific team (I'm in Chicago and there is a Bills bar across the street). You can catch the 8-10 games you won't get on regular TV through that and just watch the others from home.

I tried that one year and discovered that my bar tab for those 8 - 10 games vastly exceed the cost of the Sunday Ticket.

[Flasch186]

well I called and tried this and then realized that I dont mind losing the Sunday Ticket and cancelled the whole thing anyways. I dont watch it enough to make it worth THAT much. Eh, i just saved $400.

[Eaglesfan27]

Originally Posted by Aylmar

I tried that one year and discovered that my bar tab for those 8 - 10 games vastly exceed the cost of the Sunday Ticket.

Same here. Sunday Ticket is saving me money while allowing me to enjoy the game without many distractions.

Edit: Not to mention it is not so easy to do in many smaller cities.

[PackerFanatic]

Originally Posted by Aylmar

I tried that one year and discovered that my bar tab for those 8 - 10 games vastly exceed the cost of the Sunday Ticket.

Haha, no doubt.

[Raiders Army]

Unlike EA's monopoly of the NFL License, DirecTV has tried (successfully) to make the Sunday Ticket better by leaps and bounds the past few years. The SuperFan package is awesome. Being able to track your fantasy players is great. The Short Cuts were the single best idea they had.

[korme]

I can't believe so many of you guys have DirecTV

[panerd]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

I told DirecTV I wanted to cancel Sunday Ticket (a bluff on my part) and they gave me Superfan for free to convince me to stay. It depends upon a few factors, but from what I've read on dbstalk, this strategy is working for most DirecTV customers.

I think they have all the deals I have made on file or something. I once negotiatied a HD DVR and free HD service for a year and then another time I got them to credit 2 months of my account due to some technical issues. So about a month ago I tried to milk another HD DVR out of them for a discount (saying I would go to cable if not) and the guy on the other end apoligzed and told me good luck with cable. I will probably try it but I think they will call my bluff.

[panerd]

Originally Posted by Raiders Army

Unlike EA's monopoly of the NFL License, DirecTV has tried (successfully) to make the Sunday Ticket better by leaps and bounds the past few years. The SuperFan package is awesome. Being able to track your fantasy players is great. The Short Cuts were the single best idea they had.

One difference being that cable and dish network offer a lot better options on almost everything else and I know at least 3 people (including me) that keep Directv only for NFL. They have a huge bargaining chip but it is slowly slipping away.

[panerd]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

If you're doing it for just one team, I'd suggest looking for a local bar that plays your teams games. Almost every major city has a bar for a specific team (I'm in Chicago and there is a Bills bar across the street). You can catch the 8-10 games you won't get on regular TV through that and just watch the others from home.

Well I do it mainly for the Bengals but I definitely watch other games and watch my fantasy guys. But if it weren't for Cincinnati I wouldn't get the package that's for sure. (MLB extra innings isn't that enticing because I get almost every Cardinals game and while I like other games I don't like them that much) Nothing beats watching it at home and pausing or going to the computer or whatever that I can't really do at a sports bar.

[Eaglesfan27]

Originally Posted by panerd

One difference being that cable and dish network offer a lot better options on almost everything else and I know at least 3 people (including me) that keep Directv only for NFL. They have a huge bargaining chip but it is slowly slipping away.

I think that was true a few years ago, and it was the only reason I got DirecTV. Now, I think DirecTV's HD is better than Cable or the Dish as well and it would be a reason for me to stick with them even if Sunday Ticket wasn't exclusive in the future (although I doubt DirecTV will allow that to happen.) For example, DirecTV is expanding HD locals to my market in August/September (they claim they will have 84% of all American homes with HD locals by the end of 08) and from all indications the Dish is going to lag behind significantly with the number of markets they cover. Cable does better with SD programs, but our local cable doesn't have as many HD channels as DirecTV offers.

[panerd]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

I think that was true a few years ago, and it was the only reason I got DirecTV. Now, I think DirecTV's HD is better than Cable or the Dish as well and it would be a reason for me to stick with them even if Sunday Ticket wasn't exclusive in the future (although I doubt DirecTV will allow that to happen.) For example, DirecTV is expanding HD locals to my market in August/September (they claim they will have 84% of all American homes with HD locals by the end of 08) and from all indications the Dish is going to lag behind significantly with the number of markets they cover. Cable does better with SD programs, but our local cable doesn't have as many HD channels as DirecTV offers.

I just get mad that my friends with cable have HBO Comedy and like 10 Cinemax channels and don't have to pay upfront for a box that they don't even own. I am sure HBO comedy isn't that great and I could get all the soft core porn I want on the regular Cinemax channel but I just don't understand why Directv won't carry these channels either.