Reader Mail: I Want My NFL!

Mon Sep 17, 2007 12:45PM EDT

See Comments (11)

Reader FredH276 writes: I'm a diehard Packers fan who lives in Oakland, and I'm sick of missing most of my Packers games here on the West Coast...but I don't want to sign up with DirecTV just to watch Brett Farve. Will NFL Sunday Ticket ever be available on cable?

Hey Fred: I feel your pain. My wife is a Philadelphia Eagles fan, and I follow the 49ers, but we live in New York—so short of the occasional Sunday/Monday night game or a matchup with the Jets or the Giants, we're usually out of luck. And while most cable subscribers can sign up for MLB and NBA packages that offer hundreds of out-of-market games, the coveted NFL Sunday Ticket package has been a DirecTV exclusive for the past several years.

So, the big question: will NFL Sunday Ticket ever make it to cable? Unfortunately, the news is not good: DirecTV and the NFL recently signed an agreement that extends DirecTV's hold over the NFL package through 2010, at an estimated cost of about $700 million a year (and count on that deal to be extended yet again). Of course, it's no surprise that DirecTV would shell out so much for the NFL Sunday Ticket; the exclusive deal means that untold thousands (or even millions) of subscribers jump to DirecTV each year for the privilege of watching all the football their eyeballs can handle.

OK, so short of signing with DirecTV just for the NFL Sunday Ticket ($270 for the regular season, if you're a new subscriber), what are the options for watching every Packers game in Oakland? Sadly, squeezing into your local sports bar might actually be the best alternative. You could also stream video of the games courtesy of NFL Game Pass (via Yahoo! Sports)—so long as you're not in North America, that is. If you don't mind missing out on video, there's always the audio-only NFL Field Pass offered though RealNetworks ($40 for a season pass, or $10/month). Finally, you can follow along on Web using services like ESPN or Yahoo! Sports' own GameChannel—no video or sound, but at least you can keep tabs on each play, the scoring log, and game stats. (Oh, and then there's always this—not exactly sanctioned by the NFL, mind you, so don't come running to me when Roger Goodell comes after you.)

Related:
DirecTV, NFL Network snub cable customers [The State]

Comments on Reader Mail: I Want My NFL!

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  • 1 Posted by dan_reichl on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:36PM EDT Report Abuse

    George & Walt's on College Ave. in Oakland, every NFL game and cheap beer. A brew or 3 on Sunday morning never hurt anyone.

  • 2 Posted by somebodys_here on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:32PM EDT Report Abuse

    Ben, that link want you to download TVU player... in case you don't know TVU is known as a easy access way for hackers and spyware. its amazing what you learn whilst monitoring the P2P community.

  • 3 Posted by yeti042 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:56PM EDT Report Abuse

    you know what adds fuel to this NFL fire?? if you are cursed like me to live in a comcast market, the bloodsuckers have recently moved the NFL Network to their upgradable "Sports" package!!! for those familiar with the NFL Network, they would replay games during the week and on Sundays have a live roatating ticker with stats (great for us fantasy guys). wel, now, you can't even get that on cable without shelling out and extra $30 or so!! what a crock!

  • 4 Posted by bobf4 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:10PM EDT Report Abuse

    Hey, at least you guys can GET NFL Network! Try living in a part of the country serviced by Time Warner Cable, who doesn't even OFFER NFL Network!

  • 5 Posted by smithj_33 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:28PM EDT Report Abuse

    Its not the cable companies fault. TimeWarner tried to reach an agreement, but the NFLNetwork wanted so much that TW would have to raise everyone's cable bill regardless if they got the NFLN or not. TimeWarner declined, which I am glad, because I don't want my bill raised any more than it already is.

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