http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/f...g.364dd18.html
NFL gobbles up Cowboys
Web Posted: 01/29/2006 12:12 AM CST
Tom Orsborn
Express-News Staff Writer
The NFL's decision to broadcast eight prime-time Thursday and Saturday games on its NFL Network next season could make for an unappetizing Thanksgiving for many of the city's Dallas Cowboys fans.
League sources said Saturday the package will begin Thanksgiving night with the Cowboys-Washington Redskins game in Irving. Simulcasts of the eight games will be limited to stations in the markets of the teams playing, meaning San Antonio-area fans must pay to watch the Cowboys-Redskins game or find a bar or restaurant that carries the NFL Network.
"We are following the same protocol that exists for games shown on ESPN," said Seth Palansky, NFL Publicity Manager/Director of Media Services.
When ESPN broadcasts a Cowboys game, the league also allows a local station in the Dallas market to simulcast the game. In San Antonio, it is only shown on ESPN.
The NFL Network is offered in San Antonio through cable/satellite providers DirecTV, Dish Network and San Marcos-based Grande Communications Inc.
Depending on the level of service, packages offered locally that include the NFL Network range from $38-$63 a month.
There may soon be a fourth option. Time Warner Cable, the area's largest cable provider, is negotiating with the NFL, Time Warner spokesman Jon Gary Herrera said.
"We would like to get something done as quickly as possible, and we are optimistic a deal will be reached," Herrera said.
By showing live games, the NFL Network will increase its value significantly and, in turn, become more attractive to cable operators like Time Warner and Charter Communications, said Marc Ganis, president of the Chicago-based sports marketing company Sportscorp Ltd.
The decision also means the NFL Network can charge higher monthly subscriber fees while the league still collects lucrative payments from broadcasting partners CBS, Fox, ESPN and DirecTV.
"Time Warner will need to take the NFL Network on," Ganis said. "Their subscribers will demand it. Plus, Time Warner needs the NFL Network more than some channel about gardening or something like that."
Ganis predicted the NFL will ask cable operators to put the NFL Network on basic cable so all cable customers would get it. The NFL Network has about 40 million cable and satellite subscribers.
"This is a really smart move," Ganis said. "The NFL Network will get many more subscribers and is going to be available to many more households. That will allow the NFL Network to be viewed by tens of millions more people regularly."
The NFL had been negotiating to put games on Comcast Corp.'s OLN Network or a new sports channel but decided Friday to televise games on its own network.
"After discussing this new package of games with many potential partners, we decided it would be best presented on our own, high-quality NFL Network, which has developed so rapidly that the time had come to add live regular-season games to the programming," NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue said. "In the end, we wanted these games on our network, which is devoted 24/7 to football."
NFL games broadcast on ABC, CBS and Fox averaged 15.6 million viewers this season. Games on ESPN averaged 8.7 million.
"The NFL is fortunate to be in a position where they can put their games on almost any delivering system and know fans will seek them out," Ganis said. "It's a unique situation. There is no other programming concept in the United States that can say that."
The NFL created the eight-game package by taking Saturday and Sunday games originally scheduled for CBS or Fox.
I heard about this yesterday and I still can't believe it. After all that crap about Jerry Jones not wanting to lose the San Antonio TV market if the Saints moved here, San Antonio gets the major snub. I'm not a Cowboys fan, but it totally sucks that the NFL is messing with a longstanding Thanksgiving tradition. I hope that the NFL has been flooded with complaints. If they go through with this, I really hope that people take a stand and NOT pay for that game.
It won't be a pay-per-view deal... you'll either be someone who gets the NFL Network and sees the game... or you won't. Time Warner is working to secure NFL network as we speak. People without cable will be left in the cold... but since I have cable...
I'm Not Going To Pay For This
It's All About The $$$$ For The Nfl
They Suck!!!
Yes, let's take a business model that's been an UTTER FAILURE for the NBA (NBATV) and implement it for the NFL. Stern thought he could cull off the best games and package them, too. Stupid gits.
Doesn't sound like "just needing cable" to me, scott.Depending on the level of service, packages offered locally that include the NFL Network range from $38-$63 a month.
The "packages" are not the cost of just the NFL network... those are the costs of the Cable Packages that currently offer the NFL network (namely, DirecTV and Dish Network - $38 sounds like its right around the base package on either system).
Like the article says, Time Warner is working on landing the NFL network. If you have cable via Time Warner or any of the Dish providers, there is a strong probability you will get the NFL network.
I watch NBATV when there are games on there and I watch Rick Kamla's show.
Too bad you can't use your Vbookie $$$ to buy the PPV
Awesome. I can't wait for it. I'm a fancy man and got NFL Network, its about time all the cable companies stop being es and offer it to customers. even tight wadded in Network even now offers NFL Network on their card, there is no excuse any cable company can't get it on either.
Comcast has it as part of the basic digital package up here, I like it. But I will be back in SA by that time, so something better change. I swear, Time Warner really sucks ass sometimes....
you Paul liabue!!!
Well Cowboy fans in SA, this how Mr Jones and the rest of the NFL say thank you for being a (sucker) I mean fan.
WTF Jerry Jones has ruined this BEEEPing game with his bull .
What we need to do is contact the advertisers... I.E. Budweiser and say
no Cowboys no beer sales. Contact Lay's .. no chip sales. Contact Pace salsa.. no NYC salsa... etc.
Yeah... because that will work.
Im not a fan of either one of these teams to be honest, but you dont go messing with tradition and alienating tons of fans across the country just to make a few extra bucks. I would expect more from the league, but then again it all comes down to money.
I expect cable and sat providers to pick up the NFL network as part of their basic packages by the time next season rolls around...
BTW, how about the Cowboys getting downgraded to primetime on T-Day?
If you want to blame anyone, Lamar Hunt is your man...
If you love the Cowboys that much, pay up or move.
STFU Poser...
Don't with a bunch of drunk San Antonio cowboy's fans without there game...
UN ING BELIEVABLE.......Is there only going to be one game in the daytime???
Damn Communists!!
There is going to be three games on Thanksgiving; the two normal afternoon games and then the added night game...
Cowboy fan since 197X; I would not even consider paying to watch them, even on Thanksgiving. The emotional tie is simply dead, but that is just me - I suspect I am in the minority.
woooohh....much better. Could care less bout the Boys, just did not want to waste Thanksgiving TV on the lumberjack competion on ESPN.
Lumberjacks.... are you gay?
COWBOYS and turkey!!
I can see that. JJ is just grasping at straws every year. Parcells is good enough to at least give the fan base the hope of making the postseason. With Aikman, Smith and Irvin you had homegrown talent. Now it's just whoever, save for the few bright spots. It's artificial. It's like the Knicks. No matter how ty the team does the franchise is still making $ hand over fist. Oh well, it, that's my stream of consciousness view on the Cowboys. Whatever happened to Crazy Ray?
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
