[Tiny Tom]

I just read that the NFL Network is going to be carrying the thursday and saturday games exclusively. I don't have it (neither does Jim Nantz strange as that sounds). I can't believe that they are carrying those special games plus are carrying the NFC showdown between the Packers and the Cowboys. I tell ya, the cable company I have doesn't carry the NFL Network so I usually hang out at the bar to catch an important game like Cowboys/Packers but I can't hangout for all the saturday games and certainly not the thursday games. This is crazy!!! Has sports become a strict pay per view pastime? I'm ready to make the NBA and my Boston Celtics my main sport because I do like Bball and I can get the NBA network. It seems as if my cable company won't LET me be an NFL fan. Like Warren Zevon sang...Lawyers, Guns and Money!

[bears9]

I can't watch the 10-1 showdown, I can't watch the Patriots last game for a shot at going un beaten

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by Tiny Tom

I just read that the NFL Network is going to be carrying the thursday and saturday games exclusively. I don't have it (neither does Jim Nantz strange as that sounds). I can't believe that they are carrying those special games plus are carrying the NFC showdown between the Packers and the Cowboys. I tell ya, the cable company I have doesn't carry the NFL Network so I usually hang out at the bar to catch an important game like Cowboys/Packers but I can't hangout for all the saturday games and certainly not the thursday games. This is crazy!!! Has sports become a strict pay per view pastime? I'm ready to make the NBA and my Boston Celtics my main sport because I do like Bball and I can get the NBA network. It seems as if my cable company won't LET me be an NFL fan. Like Warren Zevon sang...Lawyers, Guns and Money!

cable companies want to make it a premium channel and NFL won't let them. I'm on NFL's side .. I don't want to have to pay for it either.

[azrael492]

I'm on NFL's side too. They are trying to save s a few bucks this time. Cable companies want us to pay more to get the games. NFL wants it to be part of the digital package. If enough people switch to satellite, they will cave in.

[Lefty Noob]

I really don't care one way or another. If I get it, I'll watch the games. If not, oh well!

[Tiny Tom]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

I really don't care one way or another. If I get it, I'll watch the games. If not, oh well!

Considering the games they're carrying though especially Sunday's 'Boys/Pack and the saturday games I say it's a pretty big loss to football fans. And no matter who's side you're on in this NFL vs. Cable war it seems like fans were destined to lose in this one.

[Lefty Noob]

See, everyone says the NFL's the good guys here because they want to make it available for everyone at no extra charge. The cable companies have a different story, though. They seem to hint that being forced to carry NFL network will raise basic rates for everyone, whether they want the channel or not. Not sure I buy that, but it really doesn't matter - if getting the NFL Network means I have to pay even more for my cable, I don't want it.

[Tiny Tom]

That's just it for any sport though. To get any NHL games aside from local market if you have one you have to get the Central Ice package. To get tuesday's Cavs vs. Celtics game (out of market) you need the NBA Network. If you really want to enjoy sports nowadays you HAVE to pay more for cable...and I see less and less on free tv or basic cable packages in the future and more upgrading to get these special channels. This is very disturbing to me, I wish I could be more like Lefty in this one but this worries me.

[Phils20]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

cable companies want to make it a premium channel and NFL won't let them. I'm on NFL's side .. I don't want to have to pay for it either.

I already have to pay for it. They bundle it into a sports package, with the NBA network, a soccer channel, and some extra college football games. It's only $5.00 a month for about 5-7 extra channels, but it still sucks! Last season it was free!

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by Phils20

I already have to pay for it. They bundle it into a sports package, with the NBA network, a soccer channel, and some extra college football games. It's only $5.00 a month for about 5-7 extra channels, but it still sucks! Last season it was free!

You must have Comcast too, Phils. Same deal here in the Buckeye State. I refuse to pay the extra five each month.

[azrael492]

I wasn't trying to make the NFL out to be the good guys. I am not naive enough to think that they can try to take the money we don't use on cable to make us buy something else. I wish I could just pay a certain amount and get only the channels I want to watch.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by azrael492

I wasn't trying to make the NFL out to be the good guys. I am not naive enough to think that they can try to take the money we don't use on cable to make us buy something else. I wish I could just pay a certain amount and get only the channels I want to watch.

Yeah, ala carte cable - now that would be the way to go. If only that were an option. It'll never happen, though.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

See, everyone says the NFL's the good guys here because they want to make it available for everyone at no extra charge. The cable companies have a different story, though. They seem to hint that being forced to carry NFL network will raise basic rates for everyone, whether they want the channel or not. Not sure I buy that, but it really doesn't matter - if getting the NFL Network means I have to pay even more for my cable, I don't want it.

I just can't figure out how satellite can provide it without charge and without raising rates when cable can't.

if it weren't that I have no way to get reasonably fast internet without cable I'd go to satellite, cause it's certainly cheaper (for me anyway.) the closest DSL is miles and miles away and will require new wire before the telco can provide it in my area (something they are reluctant to do.) when I had a land line a few years ago (pre cable) he best I could ever connect via modem was 18K and had lots of problems with line noise. last year one of the local racers, who's also a satellite dealer, had a special and we tried to find something that would work for a reasonable price, but even he couldn't figure out a workable plan for less than $200 a month!

so, if Time Warner wants me to pay for it, I'm like Lefty .. I'll pass...

[Phils20]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

You must have Comcast too, Phils. Same deal here in the Buckeye State. I refuse to pay the extra five each month.

Yep, comcast it is. The great Satan of providers!!! I guess I'm just a sports junkie, but the 5 bucks seems a small price to pay.

I will cancel during the off season, then pick it up again in September. Five months of it will cost me 25 bucks, and it is just worth it to me. We'll see how long it stays at 5!

[Tiny Tom]

Originally Posted by Phils20

Yep, comcast it is. The great Satan of providers!!! I guess I'm just a sports junkie, but the 5 bucks seems a small price to pay.

I will cancel during the off season, then pick it up again in September. Five months of it will cost me 25 bucks, and it is just worth it to me. We'll see how long it stays at 5!

Clever Phils. Screwing a system that is screwing you. But I sympathize with the Duckman. If I get Satellite i'd be losing a lot more in terms of High Speed Internet which my wife needs for research to do some work at home when she's not at the office than i'd be gaining in some NFL coverage. It's just a no win scenario for a lot of us I guess. I saw on the NFL.com you can watch the games on your computer with streaming? Maybe someone here said that I don't remember. I'm not gonna get the same excitement sitting in front of my monitor as I do my TV. Does baseball have this type of screw job scenario? I really just watch the WORLD CHAMPS and not a lot of out of market games unless ESPN show them and they have playoff implications.