Dolphins/Jets . . . Cowboys/Eagles . . . Ravens/Jags 4:15 ET

[Creation88]

all moved to the later games.

that's the stupidest marketing plan i've ever heard! coupled with the broadcast games of the Pats/Cards, Texans/Raiders, Eagles/Redskins here in SA, i'm really getting fed up with the craptacular broadcasting schedule.

[Poochiesdead]

It's stupid to move the better games to a better timespot?

[Creation88]

why is it better? and all the best games at the same time? what do you think?

[Poochiesdead]

The national games in those time slots were Seahawks/Cards and Skins/49ers. If you would rather watch those be my guest.

[SacKingsFan]

Who cares, the Niner game will be on :p

[ptrac30]

Its dumb, I wont even get to see the COWBOYS game because I live in New York. So I get blacked out.

[NotoriousVesaToskala]

It's stupid to move the better games to a better timespot?

Yeah, how can anyone complain about this? This is a great move on the part of FOX and CBS because it maximizes the audiences of the games that have the most playoff implications.

I don't know why people always whine about this kind of stuff, get Sunday ticket.

[UFCFan]

Yeah, how can anyone complain about this? This is a great move on the part of FOX and CBS because it maximizes the audiences of the games that have the most playoff implications.

I don't know why people always whine about this kind of stuff, get Sunday ticket.

Exactly. The way I see it, if you rely on the few games you get via your local networks, you lose the right to ***** about it. I understand not everyone has DirecTV, or a lot who do can't afford Sunday Ticket, but too bad. Thems the breaks.

[Elias_Devil]

They had to move the Jets game because I'm pretty sure that the Jets and Giants can't play at the same time. Either way, I like this a lot. Watch the GMen early then watch some teams fight for a playoff spot.

[nathynwest]

Exactly. The way I see it, if you rely on the few games you get via your local networks, you lose the right to ***** about it. I understand not everyone has DirecTV, or a lot who do can't afford Sunday Ticket, but too bad. Thems the breaks.

sunday ticket is not an option to everyone my friend.

[Radiation74]

all moved to the later games.

that's the stupidest marketing plan i've ever heard! coupled with the broadcast games of the Pats/Cards, Texans/Raiders, Eagles/Redskins here in SA, i'm really getting fed up with the craptacular broadcasting schedule.

the pats win early and the jets are done. they won't even show against miami if that happens. the pats game should be later too.

[UFCFan]

sunday ticket is not an option to everyone my friend.

It is an option to anyone who can afford it. Even people who live in apartments and townhomes can put a dish up. A lot of places may say you can't or attempt to dissuade tenants from putting a dish up, but they can't legally prevent anyone from doing so. If you don't have line of sight, that's another story. Either way, my point still stands. If you are relying on whatever the local networks show, you shouldn't really be complaining-regardless of the reason. There's a way to do just about anything if people want to bad enough.

[trinity231]

It is an option to anyone who can afford it. Even people who live in apartments and townhomes can put a dish up. A lot of places may say you can't or attempt to dissuade tenants from putting a dish up, but they can't legally prevent anyone from doing so. If you don't have line of sight, that's another story. Either way, my point still stands. If you are relying on whatever the local networks show, you shouldn't really be complaining-regardless of the reason. There's a way to do just about anything if people want to bad enough.

I could have put a dish up at the apartment I was living in, but would have needed to carry liability insurance on the entire building to do so. When I lived in another building, it was physically impossible to have a dish installed.

The NFL doesn't want Time Warner or Comcast to put the NFLN on a premium tiered network, yet they signed a $700M/yr exclusive contract with a dish provider for Sunday Ticket that isn't an option for most people (and you have to pay a premium tier for the service). Anyone who believes that the NFL cares about the fan over profit doesn't have a clue. Every other major sports season ticket package is carried across different providers. I wouldn't mind having the option to pay for Sunday Ticket, but I do mind being forced to buy a dish in order to have the option of paying for it.

For anyone thinking that the NFL may change their mind about having DirectTV be the exclusive provider, don't count on it. I know that the below is copied from wiki, so take it for what you will, I've heard the story elsewhere from more reliable sources as well.

"The NFL has indicated that one reason they accepted DirecTV's bid was to limit the availability of the product so that the television networks and local stations would be protected. In particular, Sunday Ticket viewers do not count towards local Nielsen Ratings, thus offering Sunday Ticket on cable might cost CBS and FOX affiliates millions of dollars in lost revenue from local commercial breaks (as opposed to national ads sold by the networks)."

[Poochiesdead]

the pats win early and the jets are done. they won't even show against miami if that happens. the pats game should be later too.You think the Jets don't want to knock the Dolphins out of the playoffs?

[nathynwest]

I could have put a dish up at the apartment I was living in, but would have needed to carry liability insurance on the entire building to do so. When I lived in another building, it was physically impossible to have a dish installed.

The NFL doesn't want Time Warner or Comcast to put the NFLN on a premium tiered network, yet they signed a $700M/yr exclusive contract with a dish provider for Sunday Ticket that isn't an option for most people (and you have to pay a premium tier for the service). Anyone who believes that the NFL cares about the fan over profit doesn't have a clue. Every other major sports season ticket package is carried across different providers. I wouldn't mind having the option to pay for Sunday Ticket, but I do mind being forced to buy a dish in order to have the option of paying for it.

For anyone thinking that the NFL may change their mind about having DirectTV be the exclusive provider, don't count on it. I know that the below is copied from wiki, so take it for what you will, I've heard the story elsewhere from more reliable sources as well.

"The NFL has indicated that one reason they accepted DirecTV's bid was to limit the availability of the product so that the television networks and local stations would be protected. In particular, Sunday Ticket viewers do not count towards local Nielsen Ratings, thus offering Sunday Ticket on cable might cost CBS and FOX affiliates millions of dollars in lost revenue from local commercial breaks (as opposed to national ads sold by the networks)."


good points, and the wiki thing sounds believeable.

[nathynwest]

It is an option to anyone who can afford it. Even people who live in apartments and townhomes can put a dish up. A lot of places may say you can't or attempt to dissuade tenants from putting a dish up, but they can't legally prevent anyone from doing so. If you don't have line of sight, that's another story. Either way, my point still stands. If you are relying on whatever the local networks show, you shouldn't really be complaining-regardless of the reason. There's a way to do just about anything if people want to bad enough.

yea thats what sucks, you have to pay for everything with dish networks. First you have to make the switch, then buy the ticket, and also add HD if thats your thing. Thats a HUGE bill is it not? But I understand your point, you can get something better if you pay for it, but thats not what half the people in America can do.

[UFCFan]

It is very expensive, especially if you add all the "fixins". My monthly bill right now is around 170 bucks, and like 45 of that is a Sunday Ticket payment, which they break up into 5 or 6 installments. I pay 96 or something for my "base" package, which is the highest tiered one they offer, and then they add on 10 bucks for HD access, and 5 bucks for the HD-DVR lease fee. They also used to charge 5 bucks a month for each additional receiver, though I am not sure if they still do that.

If I order any pay per view stuff, that shoots it up to somewhere in the $230 range. Also, in addition to their Sunday Ticket cost, if you want the Superfan package, which allows you to watch all the games in HD, as well as the Red Zone channels, short cuts and other stuff, it is another 99 bones. I have gotten that comped the last few years, though.

It sounds like a lot of money, and it is. However, you don't have to subscribe to all that stuff. It's possible to get their lowest base package and sunday ticket. Honestly, I think the pricing for all tv providers is a bit ridiculous. Dollar for dollar, I have found that cable is more expensive than DirecTV for what you get. A Comcast package with every channel they offer, including the premium networks (HBO, Showtime, etc.) was more expensive than DirecTV's, last time I looked.

Going back to the money thing and people complaining, though, I do understand people's frustrations. I remember getting pissed years ago at some of the games the networks chose to broadcast in my area, before Sunday Ticket was ever available. However, when you put yourself at the mercy of the networks, who are legally obligated to show certain things on a regional basis, that's what you're going to get. The incessant whining I see (not just here, either-I see it all over the internet) borders on ridiculous, though. To me, it's like someone only being able to afford going out to dinner to somewhere like Denny's or Sizzler, and getting pissed and complaining that they can only get a tiny (bordering on government grade) Sirloin steak for their 9 dollars instead of some USDA prime Ribeye or Filet Mignon.

[Creation88]

Exactly. The way I see it, if you rely on the few games you get via your local networks, you lose the right to ***** about it. I understand not everyone has DirecTV, or a lot who do can't afford Sunday Ticket, but too bad. Thems the breaks.

you got that elitist attitude down pat!

you realize that the NFL shows 4 games on Fox and CBS (2 each) nationally this week, right? how exactly is it a good move if all the playoff implication games are at the same exact time?

they could've split them up so you could catch at least part of all of them.

[Jason62]

and with dishes, the second it starts to look like bad weather comes in you loose your signal or the signal starts lagging.

[Philly 5-0]

I don't care who wins that eagles cowboys game, neither of them should make the playoffs. They both don't deserve it, I hope they tie.

[ptrac30]

I don't care who wins that eagles cowboys game, neither of them should make the playoffs. They both don't deserve it, I hope they tie.

If they tie, Dallas gets in. LOL.

[UFCFan]

you got that elitist attitude down pat!

you realize that the NFL shows 4 games on Fox and CBS (2 each) nationally this week, right? how exactly is it a good move if all the playoff implication games are at the same exact time?

they could've split them up so you could catch at least part of all of them.

Yeah, I realize that. Think logically for a second, though. The networks don't schedule their games every week to please the fan, or to show them as many games as possible. They purposely put certain games in certain timeslots to try and guarantee the biggest audiences. Since different games are shown in different regions, they really don't care that there are more marquee games happening at the same time. If you notice, most of the bigger matchups during the season are always scheduled for the later timeslot (4pm east/1 pm pacific). That is when the most people are watching. Not just hardcore football fans, who will watch everything they can, but all people in general.

I never said it was a "good move" from a fan standpoint. I just said that this is the way it has been done for the longest time, and incessantly whining about it isn't going to change the way Fox and CBS schedule their games. It's not an elitist attitude at all. It's a realistic one.