NFL Network goes up against Big Cable -- again

Sports seasons have familiar grooves -- say, the joy that some fans feel when the call goes out for pitchers and catchers to report for spring training.

And so it is with the NFL. Discerning fans know that we're in the heart of the regular season when the NFL Network  and Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) issue dueling press releases.

The publicity mill began churning out statements last week when Specter joined a bipartisan baker's dozen of senators in chastising the NFL for restricting the broadcast of eight late-season games to its wholly owned NFL Network. The NFL responded a day later with its spin.

Last year's NFL Network schedule generated unprecedented fan anger because the league-owned 24/7 football network had exclusive rights to the then-undefeated New England Patriots, who finished the regular season with a 16-0 record by defeating the New York Giants, 38-35.

The NFL Network carried the game but the league bowed to intense fan and political pressure and made the game available on two broadcast networks. The senators applauded that decision -- but complained anew about this season's eight games that (starting with Thursday's Browns/Broncos match-up) will be aired only on NFL Network.

That's a problem for such NFL fans as Garden Grove resident Robert Eakins, a Time Warner cable customer who can't get NFL Network programming and once again won't be seeing the exclusive broadcasts.

The NFL has been unable to persuade most Big Cable companies to add its programming on an acceptable tier. As a result, the NFL Network is available in 40 million homes, noticeably less than, say, ESPN, which is available in 96 million homes.

Senators pointed out in their letter that the NFL's substantial television revenue stems from a Congressionally approved antitrust exemption. The senators allege that the league "is now  leveraging the success of its over-the-air broadcasts to move games to pay television, to the detriment of NFL fans across the country.”

The NFL responded with a press release that compares games broadcast on the NFL Network to games broadcast on ESPN for the last 20 years. The league also asked the senators to "encourage" Comcast, Time Warner and several other major cable operators to agree to carry NFL Network programming."

Eakins, meanwhile, says this year's NFL Network schedule is a ho-hum affair. "There aren't a lot of games I'm interested in, other than Dallas-Baltimore," Eakins said. "And that's not because it's going to be a good game, but because I know Cowboys defensive coordinator Brian Stewart."

Sam Farmer, The Times' NFL beat reporter, picked these three games as the best of the match-ups that the NFL Network will broadcast between now and the end of the regular season:

• Jets at Patriots in Week 11 -- The bad blood still flows freely between these franchises, so this game is always interesting. The Patriots won at the Meadowlands in Week 2, and now Brett Favre gets a chance to even the score.
• Cardinals at Eagles in Week 13 -- Is this the year the Arizona Cardinals truly become contenders? They've been surprisingly good so far, and will be looking for a strong push in the "fourth quarter" of the regular season.
• Raiders at Chargers in Week 14 -- No team has taken a firm grip on the AFC West, and things could easily still be up for grabs at this point. Will the Chargers finally have their act together? Will the Raiders finally be relevant?

-- Greg Johnson

Top photo: New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan pressures New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady during a Dec. 29, 2007 game at Giants stadium. The  Patriots beat the Giants, 38-35, to go undefeated during the regular season. Credit: Rich Kane / US Presswire

Inset: Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Arlen Specter during a September hearing in Washington. Credit: Mandel Ngan / AFP / Getty Images

Comments

[Jeff S]

For many years, the NFL has disenfranchised 50% of the country or more who are unable to get satellite television because they're living premises do not have the proper south west exposure, their landlords will not allow them to place a satellite dish on the part of their apartment that is not common area or they have the proper exposure but there are impediments in the way such as taller buildings, trees or whaever.

MLB almost made the same mistake but at the last minute realized they could leverage mlb network against allowing the cable companies to carry Extra Innings and that resolved the issue and some mlb network, when it debuts in January, will have far higher penetraton than NFL Network.

Nobody forced the NFL to disenfranchise millions the way it has. Jimmy Dolan who owns Cablevision in the NYC area has made it clear that until he is able to offer Sunday Ticket, he will not carry NFL Network.

The issue is quite simple. NFL Network will not be available on any of these networks until 2011 when the idiotic exclusive contract with Directv expires at which time the NFL will leverage NFL Network to Sunday Ticket.

Until then, the NFL is stuck in the swamp it created when it deprived over half of the country of the ability to purchase Sunday Ticket.

Good for the cable networks.

[tTodd]

My point exactly, Jimmy Dolan. I will gladly pay for the NFL Network when you let me get Sunday Ticket on TWC!!!!