Joe Gibbs coming up on the NFL Network

[joecrisp]

Originally Posted by JoeRedskin

I was looking forward to watching it when it was announced, but it is not on my "expanded basic" cable service - Is it a pay channel? If not, are there plans to expand its availability?

Anyone?

Currently, not many cable subscribers have access to NFL Network, but it's not because of the NFL Sunday Ticket agreement with the satellite companies.

Service providers-- both satellite and cable-- have to pay programming fees to all of the networks that they carry. The most popular networks-- like CNN, ESPN, MTV, Nickelodeon, etc.-- are able to charge service providers higher fees for the rights to carry their networks, and have the leverage to negotiate preferential positioning on the providers' channel lineups-- ie, basic and expanded basic tiers (lower channel numbers, broader audiences).

The problem that the cable companies have with the NFL Network is that the NFL has been insistent upon programming fees that are on par with the most popular networks mentioned above, and wants to be positioned in the basic tiers, alongside ESPN in the channel lineup. The cable companies (or at least Comcast-- the largest cable service provider in the U.S.) feel that the NFL must prove that their network will draw a large enough audience to warrant such high programming fees and preferential positioning in the channel lineup.

I've been emailing Comcast on a regular basis, requesting the NFL Network. You can do the same by clicking on the link below. I would encourage all cable subscribers who want the NFL Network to do your part in lobbying the cable companies to provide the programming you want!

http://getnfl.cablesource.net/default.asp

Just follow this link, answer the questions, and de-select the personal info sharing options if you want to avoid spam. If your cable company doesn't provide NFL Network, you will be given the option of having the NFL Network send a letter to your cable provider on your behalf.