The Fans Take Another Shot

So the NFL Network is fencing with the cable companies about whether or not the various providers will carry the network. Whatever - I get it as part of our Direct TV package, so I don't have to worry about it. I am, apparently, quite lucky on this front.

Then I get this email from "National Football League" with this subject line: "Are You Being Blocked From Seeing the Steelers vs Rams and Cowboys vs Panthers?"

Interesting. Of course, I think I already know what this is about, but let's open the mail and see what the NFL has to say. Just for fun.

Very dramatic. Two screen shots of football games with chains over them. At the top of the email, this booming (must be 20-point text (all caps) at least):

MILLIONS OF FANS WILL MISS STEELERS VS RAMS COWBOYS VS PANTHERS THURSDAY & SATURDAY NIGHT. (like the period instead of the exclamation point....subtle!)

Then...below the "football in chains" image:

TIME WARNER, COMCAST AND CHARTER ARE CHARGING MORE FOR NFL NETWORK OR BLOCKING YOU FROM GETTING FOOTBALL 24.7

They then suggest that we "switch to a provider that carries NFL Network at no extra charge and let your voice be heard."

OR they suggest we "contact your elected officials to tell them you want football 24.7" They also have more propaganda here: http://www.iwantnflnetwork.com/

Then there is this disclaimer: "Games subject to black out restrictions."

Black out restrictions. This should not exist. But that's a topic for another post....

Of course, there are folks who gripe about games being on ESPN in the first place and say that if the NFL ever goes completely away from network TV, they won't watch the games anymore. But for every one of these people, there are 10 others lining up to pay the toll.

So the NFL has pulled games from the schedule, put them on NFL Network - which is only available to a fraction of the NFL fanbase - and now wants the fans to rally against the cable companies and/or to contact our elected officials. I sincerely hope our elected officials have better things to do.

It's quite clever. A situation created by the NFL, that irritates fans....and the NFL has managed to make it seem as though this is solely the fault of the cable companies. Not bad. Money talks and fans look for a way to keep watching the games.

The cable companies have been fleecing the consumer since the beginning. I have no sympathy for them. And the NFL is trying to sell its overexposed, multibillion dollar product. Understood.

So the fan takes another shot. What was once free is slowly being taken away. That's just the way of the world. It's too bad, really. People want to watch the games - they just may not be able to do that on network TV for much longer.

But there is a solution! Fans can contribute to the coffers of Time Warner, Comcast and Charter (and the NFL - let's not kid ourselves) who will no doubt conspire with the NFL to bring us this wonderful "treat" of pro football. At a cost, of course. Anything worth "giving" to the fan is worth giving for some green.

It's fun and I enjoy the games - but what cost is too much? I'm sure the NFL and the cable networks will determine that little detail for us and dole it out when the time (and money) is right.