Dish Network Downgrades NFL Network
Dish Network Moves NFL Network from Top 100 Package to Top 200, Cutting Its Reach to 31M
By Ben Grossman -- Broadcasting & Cable, 2/20/2008 4:13:00 PM
NFL Network was stripped of another 4 million subscribers after Dish Network downgraded the National Football League-owned cable channel.

The satellite-TV service moved NFL Network from its America’s Top 100 package to the America’s Top 200 package, leaving its reach at around 31 million.
“We are aware of Dish's unfortunate decision, which is not in the best interest of its many subscribers who are football fans, especially this week, with NFL Network's exclusive coverage of the scouting combine featuring incoming college players from all over the country,” an NFL spokesperson said in a statement.
The move continues the NFL’s ongoing uphill battle for carriage, as its eight-game package of regular-season games has yet to help it increase penetration.
The league may not have done itself any favors from a leverage standpoint in the final week of the 2007 regular season, when it made the New England Patriots-New York Giants game available on both CBS and NBC.
-
I can understand the Dish downgrade of the NFL Network -- why should Dish have to pick up the high price that NFL is charging when its not a service that everyone wants. Cable rates are high enough as it is and there are those of us that would rather have a lower cable bill because we weren't paying for our neighbor having the luxury of watch the NFL Network. If people want the NFL Network and they feel that the product that they are offering is worth it let them purchase it ala carte -- just don't charge every cable or satellite subscriber for it.
Richard Frost - 12/22/2008 2:39:00 PM EST -
What Dish Network needs to remember is that their customers have the right to "fire" them if they are dissatisfied. If they cancel any other channels while our fee remains the same that will be the last straw for me - I will cancel my service & go elsewhere & encourage other unhappy customers to do the same.
Pat Alger - 7/26/2008 4:52:00 PM EDT -
I think at Comcast they had the right idea; when NFL raised their rates, instead of going to the next tier of programming, the channel was placed in a seperat sports tier with about 8 other channels. Even a subscriber with the lowest level of digital offered (same price as standard cable) can add the sports tier for $5.
Joe Z. - 6/21/2008 6:39:00 PM EDT -
I can't tell you how much I regret signing up for the Dish Network. This is the most expensive service and the programing stinks. Not only is their sports package a joke. Their regular programing is weak as well. If you want to be left watching re runs of Andy Griffith sign op for Dish. I am switchin to Direct TV so I can get the NFL!
Stephen Kerr - 6/21/2008 8:32:00 AM EDT -
We need a class-action against Dish. They mis-represnted their product by not telling us that the channel was only a "free preview". I signed up because of the false and misleading information that the channel was indeed part of the top-100 - not simply included as a preview. I would have gone with another carrier had I known.
John B Goode - 2/29/2008 12:38:00 PM EST
No related content found.
-
No Top Articles



















