Comcast to Kerry: We Already Have NFL Network Carriage Deal
Comcast Says It Offers National Football League's Cable Channel on Sports Entertainment Package
By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 12/12/2007 2:57:00 PM
The nation's largest cable company, Comcast, told Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) that it already has a carriage agreement with NFL Network and that the channel is already available to anyone who wishes to buy it as part of its Sports Entertainment Package.
"Those customers who want the NFL Network can choose to pay for it (by subscribing to our affordable Sports Entertainment Package)," said Comcast executive vice president David Cohen, "while the vast majority of our customers who have no interest in receiving this expensive network do not need to be saddled with its cost."
Cohen was responding to Kerry's letter asking for a meeting with him, Time Warner Cable president Glenn Britt (Time Warner does not carry the network) and National Football League commissioner Roger Goodell in Washington, D.C., next week about finding a way to let more viewers see the New England Patriots at New York Giants game Dec. 29, which is currently on NFL Network (and broadcast outlets in those two markets).
Cohen said he could not meet with Kerry, citing prior commitments, but he added that "given that existing affiliation aggreement, we are not sure that we have anything further to discuss with the NFL."
Comcast suggested that the NFL could put the game on broadcast TV, as it does other games, to ensure the widest possible viewership for the "potentially historic game."
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I don't think Comcast is being greedy at all. They have to pay to have viewership rights to the game. Why should they offer it for "free" to viewers when it's the NFL's fault it's not on local coverage anymore. The cost to add the package for those that think this is a history making game is low, and if it's so important you should be willing to pay the extra bucks.
Ariane - 12/13/2007 12:57:00 PM EST -
MR BECK -
If you cannot afford to pay for the NFL network for one game (about $0.16 if you add it for the day and then take it off) how do you expect to afford it at $1.00 extra per month for every month??
Vincent Eastman - 12/13/2007 12:55:00 PM EST -
It is not Comcast being greedy. The NFL network makes them pay for the carriage of the channel, and Comcast has to pass on those costs to the viewers. The cable industry simply doesn't see the need to make cable ratss go up yet again for a channel that the majority does not want.
Matt Peterson - 12/13/2007 11:54:00 AM EST -
Mr. Beck would have us believe he should get this "historic" game for free, and that his cable company should be the one to bear the cost. Let's put this where it belongs, the NFL has chosen to take over part of the schedule for exclusive showing on their channel. They pulled those games off the public airways, did they do this for the glory, or to give fans a better option to see those games, no they did it for the ad dollars that will now flow into their pockets, so if anyone is being greedy here it is the NFL. The games could have been "free" had they stayed on the networks or on ESPN just like the rest of the schedule.
Just so you know I do not begrudge the NFL, or any other sports net from launching their own network, but then they should not turn around and blame the cable companies who choose to not dump the carriage cost on all of their customers. And as an aside the NFL is one of the most expensive network that cable companies pay to carry.
John Drake - 12/13/2007 10:43:00 AM EST -
Senator Kerry, stay out of it. I do not want to be forced to pay the NFL ransom for a football game. If the NFL wants to go pay per view, then that is their business. Don't saddle the cable companies with another junk channel just because they can. If they want the viewers, then I am sure they will provide it to the public, if not, there is always NFL Europe. Hold on Armstrong, they will blink.
Bob Miller - 12/13/2007 7:23:00 AM EST
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