Note to Charter Cable: Get the NFL Network
November 27, 2007
You know, I’ve been this close (I’m pinching my fingers together) to doing away with my Charter Cable service and switching to DirectTV. I don’t like having a satellite (I remember my uncle having one when I was little, and anytime the wind picked up outside, his dish went crazy) … but if it means watching channels I want, then so be it.
I, instead, am a Charter Cable subscriber, and when my favorite team in the whole world (the Dallas Cowboys) bring their 10-1 record against my wife’s favorite team in the whole world (the Green Bay Packers), who are also 10-1, we won’t be able to watch it from the confines of our own home.
Why?
Because Thursday night’s game will only be shown on the NFL Network, and since I don’t live in the Dallas or Green Bay market, I won’t be able to watch the game at home. Instead, Jennifer and I may have to head to some sports bar in Pittsboro to catch the game. Fantastic.
It seems the NFL Network is in a big dispute against cable companies like Charter. I don’t know the details of the dispute, only that NFL wants to be a part of the basic cable packages, and the cable companies want to package the NFL Network as a separate pay channel, or something to that extent.
Whom do I blame? I blame the NFL for even having a separate network. What … Fox, ESPN, NBC and CBS aren’t enough? And why are we playing Thursday night non-Thanksgiving games anyway?
I understand the NFL Network wants to break into the big time, and holding games against the league’s top two teams for ransom is a pretty shifty way to get the cable companies to budge. Unfortunately, next year I may be one of those who dumps cable and picks up a satellite because of this. I don’t want to, but there are few things I like watching on TV these days — Lost, The Simpsons and football. Don’t take away my football.
It’s just a crappy situation, and instead of watching the game my wife and I have looked forward to all year in our living room, we’re going to have to find a cramped, smokey sports bar 20 to 30 minutes away to catch the game.
Boooo.
Entry Filed under: Dallas Cowboys, Newspaper. .
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1.
Al Roethlisberger | November 28, 2007 at 3:00 pm
We’ve had our share of Charter Cable issues as well, losing both our TV programming and high-speed Internet sporadically over the last 90 days which Charter seems unable to fix.
Although I’m not leaning toward the temptress that is the “dish”… especially with all the trees around here!
But on the topic of the NFL and Cable programming, I listened to a humorous opinion piece on NPR while driving into work:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16665953
Al
2.
Jennifer | November 28, 2007 at 4:38 pm
Amen!!! Bring on the NFL network!!
3.
Jon | November 28, 2007 at 4:55 pm
Charter also needs MASN. All the ECU games and many Carolina games are on it, as well as many baseball games…
And why do we not have a choice between Time Warner and Charter?
I smell a business feature.
4.
scott | November 29, 2007 at 11:19 pm
How did nfl network get this game? i used to have nfl network and it stunk. that is why cable company’s are not bowing down to this. i hope they send the nfl network packing and put the games back on the regular networks where they belong. college football is 10 times better any way.
5.
anonymous | November 30, 2007 at 3:20 am
I just wanna put my 2 cents in I am a packer fan but I will not be able to see the game because I am a charter customer too!
BUT BUT BUT
The facts are that the NFL channel wants WAY to much money for their stuff! They want charter to put it on basic BUT they also want as much as ESPN for their service which is TINY compared to ESPN. The reason charter and other big cable companies are not putting it on basic is because then the NFL CHANNEL will get so much per customer and how many older people and people that don’t watch sports would have to pay for it. Charter wants to put it on a sports tier so that if you want it you will have to HELP cover the cost of this OVER PRICED channel. I back charter 110% my grandmother doesn’t watch football and she is on a tight budget so why should she have to pay for it if I wanna watch it? I would pay for a sports tier.
ALL THE NFL WANTS TO DO IS MAKE MILLIONS A DAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If they cared about their fans they would put it on sports tier and let whoever wants it pay for it!!
6.
anonymous | November 30, 2007 at 3:22 am
TO JON
You don’t have a choice because if it’s a charter market and you want Time Warner YOU give Time WARNER MILLIONS OF DOLLARS to build a system in your town to only get if your lucky 35% of the homes it would take 200yrs for them to even brake even!
7.
Maria | January 10, 2008 at 4:34 am
I am a Charter subscriber and I’m not an NFL fan, though I do support anyone’s desire to follow games…sports just aren’t my “thing.”
However, I feel Charter is absolutely right not to carry the NFL Network under the network’s current conditions. Why should I have to pay for this channel when I don’t like football? There are so many other channels out there that I already pay for and don’t watch, but the NFL network is too expensive and does not warrant a place on the expanded basic lineup. It belongs appropriately in the Sports Tier, and I hope Charter holds out on this. Is the NFL really this greedy?
8.
Donald | February 1, 2008 at 9:15 pm
I agree that Charter really ought to carry the NFL Network. Drop some of those worthless shopping networks if needed.
9.
Hector | October 4, 2009 at 4:22 pm
charter realy sucks no sports channels and like 10 hd channels i am swictching to dish is cheaper more channels more hd channels and the nfl red zone is only 5.99 a month
10.
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