Television/ NFL Dispute

**MrKhay** · 11-27-2007, 06:28 PM

More than half the country will be blacked-out from the looming match-up between The Green Bay Packers, and The Dallas Cowboys. Both teams have identical records in their respective divisions, 10-1.

Of course, it's all about money.

Most fans that I've talked with (I don't get out much) say they just want this nonsense over with. They don't care about basic cable tiers, or costs per subscriber.

A few lawmakers want to weigh-in on this issue, looking for Washington D.C.,, or Madison to simply fix the problem with a law. Just what we need, another law.

Fact is, it's governed by the free market. The law is that of supply and demand. The NFL can televise or not televise their games where and whenever they want. This isn't 1960 any more, and there are now several platforms through which the league can peddle it's wares. It has it's own network, but it still is married to the cash cows at CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox who all pay big money for pieces of the over-the-air action. I don't see that ending any time soon. The teams can thank Pete Rozelle for this, as he was the man that had the formula for team-network revenue sharing that pumped what was then a fledgling American Sport, in to every American Living room. That helped spread the wealth around. What great foresight Rozelle had. All teams got an equal piece of the pie. Some claim this is the reason that Green Bay still has the Packers. (I think the fan base is the reason Green Bay still has the Packers).

If you happen to be outside of the televised marketing area...out of state, and not the Green Bay, or Milwaukee area...there is still the Flintstonian media known as 'Radio'. Our old friends Larry McCarren and Wayne Larrivee host each and every game with professional play-by-play and game analysis.

Check for a Packers Radio Network affiliate in your local area.

Packers Radio Network - Wisconsin - Football - Sports > Affiliates

kmfarm · 11-27-2007, 06:58 PM

Ya, I don't like it either. Although I do have dish, I don't like the way the NFL is trying to force the cable companies to buy their network. They're hyping up the big match-ups (which they schedule) in order to coax people to call their cable companies to buy their network.

It's free enterprise, but I think they could achieve the same thing without p'ing off half the country.

Mark

**Mike** · 11-27-2007, 08:09 PM

This just sucks. I have been able to watch every game this season from Salt Lake City, and now I'm just angry. Grrrr....

MichelleC · 11-28-2007, 08:31 AM

Heh, there's a Google ad on the left to watch this game on the NFL network. I find it annoying that I can't watch my state's team on TV for free. I'm only interested in the Packer games, not football in general, so getting the NFL network is not in the cards even if I could (I'm on cable).

Michelle

**j10asen** · 11-28-2007, 12:03 PM

I think this is the future of NFL. If you feel you MUST watch the game , you will pay the price for admission. Remember as long as there are people willing to pay, there will be people willing the charge the price. Once they get the TV established as pay/per ,the radio broadcast will be moved to satalite radio and you will pay to listen.
For all who can see the game ,enjoy , for those who can not , well you are the leading edge for all future broadcasts as this is the future. There has to be a way of recouping for the expensive 67 million dollar contracts!!! new ways to increase revenues, like buying cable and getting infomertials!!!!!!!