THE FLIP SIDE: NFL NETWORK

by Rupert, Ghosts of Wayne Fontes

Note: The Flip Side is a semi-regular feature at GoWF, whereby we take a pressing issue in sports and express an opinion on the topic. The catch? Well, since most issues are discussed at length by journalists with actual skills and access to information, we have a little gimmick to make it a little more fun. The Flip Side is when we actually try to prove the opposite point - as opposed to what we really think. Neat.

Over the course of the last couple weeks, the standoff between the NFL Network and the cable companies has drawn intense scrutiny. Fans have complained that the fat cats behind NFL are preventing the real fans from watching key games - most notably last week's Cowboys (10-1) vs. Packers (10-1) - in order to drive potential customers to pressure the cable companies to offer the NFL Network in their basic cable packages.

Knock the NFL Network as you may, but this game of hardball has a proven track record. In its early days, ESPN2 televised the Duke-UNC game to try to muscle it's way onto basic cable as well, relying on complaints and the support of loyal fans to strong arm the cable companies into carrying the WWL sibling. Well, now we have ESPNNEWS, ESPNU, ESPN Classic, ESPN Yiddish, and so on, so why is it a shock that the NFL Network is trying the same approach with their infant network?

The NFL Network is playing a good hand in becoming a player in NFL broadcasting. They currently only reach 40% of households due to resistance from major cable companies like Time Warner, Comcast, and Charter, because they refuse to eat the whopping 70 cents per subscriber in added costs. Considering they bury about $45 in unknown charges in my cable bill each month, an additional 70 cents seems pretty diminutive.

The cable companies justify this as support for the subscribers who have been unjustly subjected to rising cable bills - citing that they would have to pass the costs on to the consumer for a channel that some subscribers might not choose to purchase otherwise. Instead, they are only willing to add the channel as part of pemium sports packages. Um, at what point did the cable companies start deciding what we want to view? The idea is that cable companies should focus on getting the most and best programming and let the customer choose from the myriad of channels. Believe me, I wouldn't raise a fuss to add the Soap channel to my basic cable package, but when the OC and 90210 reruns come on, I catch myself tuning in. What's the difference?

Let's get down to the real root of this issue. The deal just isn't sweet enough for the cable companies. They were quick to add Versus, Golf, and soon the MLB Channel, so why not the NFL Network? The NFL has more fans than any of those leagues. Well, for starters, Comcast owns Versus and Golf. The MLB on the other hand sweetened the deal by selling equity ownership to the cable companies. Ah ha.

The NFL Network offers great programming for NFL fans. The cable companies are underestimating how popular this channel could be on the basic platform. The real gem of the channel is the replays of games on off nights of the week. Nowhere else can football fans and experts get easy access to the games - particularly out of the region - after the game day. With the boom in fantasy sports, message boards, blogs, gambling, and interactive sports networking sites, the die hard fan will likely use this and appreciate it regularly. Until it reaches basic cable; however, most fans will not know it exists.

While this issue seems to have subsided for the past few days, it is far from over. The Thursday night and Saturday games are just getting started and there are some great games we are all going to miss, most notably the Patriots vs. Giants in week 17, which looks like it very well could have New England's undefeated season on the line. Want to watch tonights game between the Bears and Redskins? You got two choices, either go to a bar or get on the hamster wheel at your gym.

What do we really think? I actually do believe that the NFL Network is a great channel and I love the replays and 24 hour NHL coverage, but this is bullshit. NFL Network, go negotiate a deal with the cable company, give them some ownership or do whatever it takes, but we as fans do not deserve to be penalized for your greed. And while your at it, give us On Demand games so we can watch our favorite teams from out of state locales without spending $200 on NFL Sunday ticket and get with the damn program and get some live internet streaming. As fans, it should not be our problem that you cannot negotiate a deal and it certainly is not our job to help you make it happen, it's yours. Go do your own job.

(Originally published 12/5)