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Verizon Broadband Customers Get NFL Extras
As the NFL slowly starts to embrace the Intertubes...
In order to really compete with traditional cable TV, both AT&T and Verizon are going to have to offer a little something different from the standard fare. Verizon's latest attempt involves a partnership with the NFL that lets FiOS and DSL customers select from multiple camera feeds of NFL games. Of course the only games included in the deal are the preseason and Thursday night games broadcast on NFL network, but it's something. Meanwhile the NFL, very, very slowly, is starting to ease off their vice-like grip over content and will stream Sunday night games this year online at NBC.com.
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FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

FFH5

Premium Member

Watch NFL on TV; and use nfl.com for live game stats

I can't see many people streaming the Sunday night game unless they are at work and can't watch TV. And those should be working and not watching it on their PCs.

I do like »www.nfl.com and their "Game Center" free offering that gives live stats updates as the game proceeds. And if you want to go back and check on something they have a "play-by-play" log you can check as well.

Smith6612
MVM
join:2008-02-01
North Tonawanda, NY

Smith6612

MVM

Re: Watch NFL on TV; and use nfl.com for live game stats

I'm not a TV watching person though. SInce I'm a gamer, I'm ultimately on the computer all the time and this can be convenient for me IF my favorite team's games are shown on here.

StudioTech
Off The Air
join:2001-10-10
Edison, NJ

1 edit

StudioTech

Member

Yawn!

Call us when they decide to stream Sunday Ticket. Nothing to see here.

meh37
@verizon.net

meh37

Anon

Re: Yawn!

"Nothing to see here."

True of anything from the NFL.
jarthur31
join:2006-04-14
Carlsbad, NM

jarthur31 to StudioTech

Member

to StudioTech
Ditto!

At least the NBA and MLB already do this.

And the NFL wonders why torrent sites are filled with their pirated content! Most people are ready, willing, and able to pay for subscriptions but they absolutely refuse to offer it. I will continue to "steal" until they want to take my money.

dadkins
Can you do Blu?
MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA

dadkins

MVM

Also...

Sunday Football will be streamed to *ANYONE* at NFL.com and NBCSports.com.

»[NFL] "Sunday Night Football" to be streamed on Web

»nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/25885336/

"The live NFL.com and NBCSports.com coverage will come from NBC’s TV coverage of Sunday Night Football. Complementing that stream will be a number of extra features to enrich the viewing experience including additional camera angles, in-game highlights, picture-in-picture technology, live statistics and other interactive elements."

PandaB
join:2008-04-14
Chino Hills, CA

PandaB

Member

...

They need to loosen their grip from DirecTV and allow more networks to purchase the NFL Sunday Ticket.

cdru
Go Colts
MVM
join:2003-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN

cdru

MVM

Re: ...

said by PandaB:

They need to loosen their grip from DirecTV and allow more networks to purchase the NFL Sunday Ticket.
Capitalism 101. They go with where the money is at. They got the best offer from DirecTV with an exclusive deal. It's not that DirecTV has an ill-gotten grip on the NFL, they just put in the highest bid (at over $700m a year). And it's not that NFL has a grip on DirecTV...they just have a contract to follow.
jarthur31
join:2006-04-14
Carlsbad, NM

jarthur31

Member

Re: ...

Not true! The could get at least double that if they allowed cable companies to broadcast or even sell directly sell to consumers (via PC viewing).

cdru
Go Colts
MVM
join:2003-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN

cdru

MVM

Re: ...

said by jarthur31:

Not true! The could get at least double that if they allowed cable companies to broadcast or even sell directly sell to consumers (via PC viewing).
Do you have any actual proof? Or are you just pulling numbers out of the air?

Allowing other companies rights would result in DirectTV only bidding at a fraction of what they pay now. The other providers also aren't going to submit bids in the range that DirecTV does now.

And for all providers, the cost for providing the more or less fixed number of games each week will be constant. But if they only have a portion of the total number of subscribers, the cost per subscriber also goes up. That means in the end either customers are going to pay more, or the cable companies are going to make less. Which do you think is going to happen?

There is 0 chance that the NFL is going to give up $700m/year in revenues, which is exactly what you are saying they are doing by not allowing multiple providers. I'll concede that they might make more with multiple providers, but that also comes with additional headaches. Instead of 1 contract every couple of years that has to be renegotiated, you now are dealing with every MSO.

The NFL has also expressed concerns about protecting local networks and stations...the two things that matter more for TV rights. NFL:ST viewers don't count for Nelson ratings. The more people that subscribe to NFL:ST, the lower the Nelson ratings could be. This results in lower advertising revenues as advertising rates are set based on the ratings. Whether this is a red herring, I don't know. Out of market games aren't going to have a huge impact on ratings, and national games (Sunday & Monday nights) aren't available on NFL:ST either.
Joe12345678
join:2003-07-22
Des Plaines, IL

Joe12345678 to PandaB

Member

to PandaB
said by PandaB:

They need to loosen their grip from DirecTV and allow more networks to purchase the NFL Sunday Ticket.
In canada you can get it one more then 1 provider.
subman87
Another day in the Brentwood
join:2000-11-24
Harrison, NY

subman87 to PandaB

Member

to PandaB

The current contract between DirecTV & the NFL expires 2010.
Clearpix
join:2008-01-17
Wilmington, DE

Clearpix

Member

ESPN Fantasy football

VZ also soon introducing interactive fantasy football with on screen tracking of fantasy football teams and team updates. Link here:

»Some new features coming w/ IMG 1.6

brooklynman4
join:2004-09-07
Brewster, NY

brooklynman4

Member

Re: ESPN Fantasy football

We still need sunday ticket dosent matter about that lol.
steveymacjr
join:2001-01-25
Matthews, NC

steveymacjr

Member

Directv Sunday Ticket

I can already stream NFL Games as part of my Directv NFL SUnday Ticket Superfan package...
What would be cool is if the NFL did like Nascar did today, and allowed the ESPN broadcast to be streamed for free on Nascar.com....but with the way non-cable economics work i doubt that will be happening..
wombatclov
join:2002-10-16
Easthampton, MA

wombatclov

Member

ONLY IF you have a Verizon TV Package Also

Logged in with my Verizon DSL account, and got a useless message. Contacted customer service and they told me the bad news.