NFL and Comcast Come to Terms

[Mari-OWNED!]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d81065fa0&template=without-video-with-comments&confirm=true

PHILADELPHIA AND NEW YORK – Comcast Corporation and the National Football League announced today that they have reached a new, long-term agreement regarding carriage of NFL Network and complete settlement of all outstanding legal disputes. The carriage agreement consists of a broad array of video content, including the live (24/7) Network, video on demand for Comcast’s Digital Classic cable customers, and the ability to offer the NFL’s RedZone Channel when it is created.

Under the terms of the agreement, Comcast will begin repositioning NFL Network from the Sports Entertainment Package to its Digital Classic level of service with a full launch by August 1, reaching nearly two-thirds of the company’s total digital customer base. In addition to NFL Network’s in-studio shows, commentary and live-game broadcasts, Comcast’s Digital Classic customers will now have access to a robust suite of NFL content On Demand, including game highlights, game replays, the “best” of NFL Films, players and coaches interviews, local team highlights, and other NFL programming whenever they want a piece of the action.

"We are delighted to have come to an agreement with the NFL,” said Brian L. Roberts, Chairman and CEO, Comcast Corporation. “Our goal has always been to provide our digital customers with access to the NFL’s unique content and, working together, we have struck the right balance between value and distribution on a variety of viewing platforms. We are looking forward to bringing the NFL’s programming to our customers just in time for the start of the NFL season.”

“We are very pleased that NFL Network and other NFL content will be widely distributed in millions of more homes on Comcast’s service,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “We look forward to having NFL Network’s coverage of training camps and the preseason showcased this summer on Comcast. NFL Network is the only TV channel devoted exclusively to football 24/7, 365 days a year.”

The NFL and Comcast will take immediate joint action to discontinue pending legal actions before the Federal Communications Commission and a New York state court.

This doesn't really affect me because I have U-Verse, but I'm sure this will make all you Comcast users happy!

 

[Thorn]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d81065fa0&template=without-video-with-comments&confirm=true



This doesn't really affect me because I have U-Verse, but I'm sure this will make all you Comcast users happy!

yes, it does make me happy. But I'm probably still going to switch to AT&T when it's offered in my area. At the very least, when it is offered, I have to check out their packages and prices. AT&T already hand my land line phone and internet DSL, if they offer to put cable TV on the same invoice it's one less invoice to have to think about each month.

 

[TEXANS84]

Doesn't matter to me, I'm still switching to AT&T. Good to see for the rest of you that have comcast that the channel is not eliminated.

 

[disaacks3]

Just read this and was stoked over the announcement. It's nice how the article mentioned the price break that the NFL gave Comcast to add the channel to a "lower" tier.

Everybody had been hammering Comcast, not realizing just what kind of $$ the NFL was them to shell out for the privilege of carrying it.

The deal spans 10 years and would cost Comcast 40 cents to 45 cents per subscriber to get the NFL Network, down from the NFL’s previous asking price of 70 cents. By Aug. 1, the NFL Network will be carried throughout Comcast’s service areas on a programming package called Digital Classic, which has around 10 million subscribers.

 

[Polo]

It's nice that the NFL caved a little, but I think that ultimately comcast was going to have to end up carrying it or lose out on a bunch of customers...