NFL Thread

[Darth Madden]

I am wondering when it will happen that NFL network will take all of the games away from the other networks and have themselves set up as a "Sunday Ticket" kind of system.

Sad to say but I can see something like that happening sooner rather than later. Maybe not ALL the games but a good chunk of them.

 

[Darth Cruel]

Sad to say but I can see something like that happening sooner rather than later. Maybe not ALL the games but a good chunk of them.

If you think about it, they could take all of them and make all the money at it. If they had a Sunday Ticket-like package, they wouldn't have to give ANY of the games to mainstream networks and, in fact, it would hurt their bottom line if they did.

But there is still the issue of a great many people still not having NFL Network. So at this point, it might not be prudent.

 

[user 1190]

With NFL Network adding games it will put additional pressure for the cable networks who don't carry it to pick up the NFL Network.

As for saying they want to take games away from mainstream networks is just crazy. They get about 4 BILLION dollars a year from CBS, FOX, ESPN and NBC. Sunday Ticket pulls in about a 1/4 of that and has around 2.25 million subscribers. Plus local networks have have deal through 2022.

 

[SixMillionDollarMan Guy]

If you think about it, they could take all of them and make all the money at it. If they had a Sunday Ticket-like package, they wouldn't have to give ANY of the games to mainstream networks and, in fact, it would hurt their bottom line if they did.

They're making too much money from the mainstream networks to move away from them.

 

[Darth Cruel]

With NFL Network adding games it will put additional pressure for the cable networks who don't carry it to pick up the NFL Network.

As for saying they want to take games away from mainstream networks is just crazy. They get about 4 BILLION dollars a year from CBS, FOX, ESPN and NBC. Sunday Ticket pulls in about a 1/4 of that and has around 2.25 million subscribers. Plus local networks have have deal through 2022.

As I mentioned, it is not prudent now. But what is crazy is to think that NFL could not make the same money doing it themselves in the future.

 

[user 1190]

As I mentioned, it is not prudent now. But what is crazy is to think that NFL could not make the same money doing it themselves in the future.

Lets not forget that Sunday Tickets is basically getting that for broadcast for free or pennies on the dollar. They aren't any of the production cost they are just pushing out something someone else is paying to produce. Also Sunday ticket would never get the add dollars that a mainstream channel would. I think would realistically have to pull in 4 times the customers they do now at a price that could easily be 10 times what it is now for it to see the same kind of dollars.

 

[ProgMatinee]

The NFL would never take over full broadcast. Its brilliant for them to move some of the games to Thursdays to help capitalize on their own network, but moving every event away from networks killed boxing. The NFL is smarter than that.

 

[Darth Cruel]

The absolute bottom line is that all of the money that the mainstream networks pay to the NFL is not all that they make. The NFL could easily make that and more if they chose to.

 

[Grenouille]

So I've been on vacation for the last week, did I miss anything?

As for this game tomorrow, I have a strange calm about it. Based on the little ESPN I watched this week, I see the story has become that the Giants are now the '85 Bears on defense and the '99 Rams offense and that the Pats just have no shot probably getting blown out. Somewhere in that ESPN stuff I think Merril Hodge picked the Steelers, so I take their reporting with a grain of salt.

My pick - Pats 27 Giants 24

Even if they lose it should be a hard fought close game.

 

[ProgMatinee]

The absolute bottom line is that all of the money that the mainstream networks pay to the NFL is not all that they make. The NFL could easily make that and more if they chose to.

You're saying the NFL chose not to make the money?

I think I need you to provide a better explanation to convince me of where and how they can make more money by abandoning partnerships.

Major networks are still considered major networks for a reason. They are in every home regardless of cable provider, satellite provider, or over the air signals. They have incredible diversity of viewership and contact with a variety of advertisers. Watch a game on the NFL network sometime. Its not the same advertisers.

Not to mention the logistical benefits of having filming and production done by actual experts at it.

Its still highly beneficial to work with network partners.

 

[Grenouille]

If anything they make more money by pursuing new partnerships.

This is the league's last year with Reebok as the official uniform and apparel provider. Signed in 2002 for 10 years at $250/$25 yr.

Next season Nike takes over with the league making $35 million a year for the same thing. Personally I'd take Reebok product over Nike, but I can't fault them for taking more money rather than just sticking with who they were comfortable with.

 

[SixMillionDollarMan Guy]

but moving every event away from networks killed boxing.

And a sad day that was. I grew up a boxing fan.

Somewhere in that ESPN stuff I think Merril Hodge picked the Steelers, so I take their reporting with a grain of salt.

My pick - Pats 27 Giants 24

It amazes me guys like Hodge and Skip Bayless have jobs. I guess it's their bit to stir things up to get a reaction.

I have your exact same score but with the Giants winning.

 

[Darth Cruel]

You're saying the NFL chose not to make the money?

I think I need you to provide a better explanation to convince me of where and how they can make more money by abandoning partnerships.

Major networks are still considered major networks for a reason. They are in every home regardless of cable provider, satellite provider, or over the air signals. They have incredible diversity of viewership and contact with a variety of advertisers. Watch a game on the NFL network sometime. Its not the same advertisers.

Not to mention the logistical benefits of having filming and production done by actual experts at it.

Its still highly beneficial to work with network partners.

Well, I am happy to say that I am not stupid enough to make a comment like that. My posts clearly state my understanding that this is not an option currently and that the NFL network needs to expand into more homes first.

Obviously, I am not making myself very clear on this. I have stated in my posts that the NFL network is not currently set up to capitalize on the available money for broadcasting all of the games. Then I went on to add that I feel if the NFL choses to, they can get themselves set up for it. It is not impossible and it is not rocket science. With communication technology the way it is now, the idea of the NFL channel developing their ability to market their own product is easily doable with a little time as it is a big removal from their current practice, so time would be needed for the developement of the idea. Whether they will chose to do it...who is to say. But the possibility is there and not doing it would be the worse of the two choices from a business standpoint as the NFL could make more money by doing it themselves. It is all very simple business. Why should Bob continue to take 50.00 of the 75.00 that Joe is making off of Bob's product when Bob can get himself set up to take the whole 75.00? And it wouldn't be some new innovative business plan, either. Cutting out the middleman has been a tactic for improving profit almost since middlemen sprung up.

What is to stop The NFL Network from chosing not to renew their contract with Direct TV for NFL Sunday Ticket and offer it themselves? They would have to pay Direct TV for the channels. But competition with Dish Network and other satelite services would keep Direct from overcharging out of spite. And what is to stop The NFL Network from selling advertising during the games they offer on one of those packages.

Once again, do they have reason to NOT do this? I don't know. But I don't think it could be argued that they will make less money if the chose to take over the broadcasting of all of the games.

And at the end of the day. The expansion of the number of games that they are broadcasting themselves could be used as a stepping stone toward that end.

Think it through. This may not be a probability, but is nowhere near an impossiblity.

 

[ProgMatinee]

It is all very simple business. Why should Bob continue to take 50.00 of the 75.00 that Joe is making off of Bob's product when Bob can get himself set up to take the whole 75.00? And it wouldn't be some new innovative business plan, either. Cutting out the middleman has been a tactic for improving profit almost since middlemen sprung up.

I think you're making a HUGE assumption that the income would be "75" wherever they go.

Part of the "75" is due to the NFL broadcasting on major networks in the first place. Viewership would drop off if they moved away from network TV.

CBS, NBC, ABC, ESPN, FOX have a lot of viewers who tune in for other programming than the NFL. Cross promotion is a big key to drawing an audience. Someone watches CSI, sees a promo for the next big game and decides the watch it.

I alluded to boxing. "Out of sight, out of mind." Once boxing broke off from network TV, they broke off from casual viewership. Do you think the NFL wants to break off and cater to only "hard core" football fans who have to basically be in the "know" about this week's big game?

Further, individual local affiliates of those networks are resourced to hook up with local businesses for ad space. The NFL would suddenly need to hire ad salesmen in 50+ markets to accomplish what stations already handle. What you think is only 15 games is really about 50 channels when you consider the local affiliates.

And then the economies of it, why would the NFL want to pay every single different satellite or cable provider in America for 50 channels of which each one will only be used for 4 hours a week.

Its just not practical.

 

[Grenouille]

Apparently the Giants web site is jumping the gun a bit.

 

[The Ringer]

Their cockiness is on a whole new level.

 

[Grenouille]

Their cockiness is on a whole new level.

For a Tom Coughlin team it is surprising to see how much they spouted off. It's almost as if they believe the endless hype the media has been giving them these last 2 weeks. They deserve credit for beating a good Packer team in a dominating fashion, but other than that I don't know what screams out juggernaut about them. They were 9-7 and had quite a few lucky breaks to even get that. The Pats were "lucky" that Cundiff missed that FG, the Giants were just dominating when Kyle Williams loses his head for 2 fumbles that result in points that lead to their win.

More power to them if it works out and they win tomorrow or the finger pointing will start right up again. We'll be 10 weeks in next year seeing them at 5-5 or so and the fire Coughlin camp will be out in force for the fourth straight year.

 

[SixMillionDollarMan Guy]

Former Vikings defensive end Chris Doleman makes it to the Hall of Fame.

The others are Curtis Martin, Cortez Kennedy, Willie Roaf, Dermontti Dawson, and senior selection Jack Butler.

https://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/...oleman-lead-2012-pro-football-hall-fame-class

 

[SixMillionDollarMan Guy]

Aaron Rodgers wins the NFL Most Valuable Player. He had 48 votes compared to 2 votes for Drew Brees.

Damn, Terrell Suggs beats Minnesota's Jared Allen for the Defensive Player of the Year.

https://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/...packers-aaron-rodgers-wins-mvp-landslide-vote

 

[Nuka Cola Kidd]

Thought Alec Baldwin did great with the opening of the Honors.

Oh and go Cam!