On Thu, 27 Dec 2007 08:35:46 -0800, "Mike" wrote:

You would have seen it locally anyway, right? I have DTV, so it was never an
issue here.

Not in CT or RI - NH and MA and NY local. Channel 5 and the NYC
affiliate were carrying it, but because CT and RI aren't considered as
part of Boston's or NY's market - kind of a no-man's land, the local
stations were going to be blacked out. So we weren't going to be able
to watch it.

Comcast is the only cable carrier that carries the NFL network and it
carries it in a "speciality" tier because of the cost - the NFL
charges a lot for thier programming. So even Comcast customers
couldn't get it unless they owned the digital sports tier which only
30% of their customers had.

Of the 40 million nationwide who could get the game, the estimate was
that only 40% had any interest in watching on the NFL network.

The NFL feels that their network belongs on the basic tier and can't
seem to understand that only eight games per year doesn't make for
good TV programming. The cable companies don't want to pay three
times again for basic programming compared to other networks they
carry on basic cable.

MLB did it right - they offered part ownership of their MLB channel
proramming to the cable companies and lightened up on the basic fee
they charge.

In any case, we got it, I'm happy.

Unfortunately, it will be the only thing on TV Saturday night in the
local area as NBC, ABC and CBS will all be broadcasting the game.

Weird - nothing to everything. :)