Let’s give you some more stuff on the NFL Network’s decision to open up distribution of the Patriots-Giants game.
First, Newsday’s Neil Best made an appearance this morning on CNBC with Sports Business reporter Darren Rovell. If you’re a regular reader, you’ll know I regularly link to both of them so this is like a summit of sports media blogger superstars. LOL. I’ll provide you a link to the CNBC website which has the video of their discussion on the NFL Network.
The Houston Chronicle’s David Barron says the simulcast is evidence the NFL caved to pressure from all sides.
From the Los Angeles Times, Greg Johnson and Sam Farmer write that the fight for the NFL Network is closed for now, but it won’t end the war with cable.
Dan Caesar of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes that this move can be perceived as the NFL blinking first in its dispute with the cable providers.
Judd Zulgad of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune says the NFL definitely blinked first.
David Steele of the Baltimore Sun blogs that as a DirecTV subscriber and an NFL Network viewer, he now wants a refund.
Tim Lemke of the Washington Times says the decision came as a bit of a surprise. Lemke writes in his sports business blog that this is a perfect ending for NFL fans.
David Heushkel of the Hartford Courant says Patriots fans in Connecticut now can watch the game on two channels.
Caroline Roberts in the Bostonist.com site says the NFL is showing its benevolent side in the holiday season.
Paul Edward Parker of the Providence Journal says Cox Communications will refund money to subscribers who had upgraded to digital cable to get the NFL Network for this Saturday.
Vinny DiTrani of the Bergen (NJ) Record says Giants fans have three channels to choose from.
One piece of news that was lost in the NFL Network simulcast announcement was that the ratings for the first 7 games on the channel are up as compared to last season as Broadcasting & Cable tells us.
David Tianen of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says Packers fans don’t have to go to Lambeau Field to get the in-game experience. In fact, many are going to theaters to watch the games instead.
Tim Panaccio and Mel Greenberg of the Philadelphia Inquirer remember sportscaster Stu Nahan who was one of the early play-by-play men for the Flyers. Larry Stewart of the Los Angeles Times has an extensive summary of Nahan’s career in LA and Philadelphia.
Chris Pursell of TV Week also remembers Stu Nahan. Pursell also reports that Fox has sold out its spots for the Bowl Championship Series.
Greg Wyshynski of the AOL Fanhouse blog picks up on the mention by the Toronto Globe and Mail’s William Houston that the NHL plans to bring in ESPN next season and have it share the Stanley Cup Finals with Versus and NBC. What? Versus has Games 1 and 2 of the finals with NBC televising from Game 3 on. Under the proposed silly plan, Versus would do Games 1-3, ESPN would get Games 4 and 5 and NBC would do Games 6 and 7, if necessary. Three networks for the finals? Why not have NBC, CBS, Fox and ESPN do one quarter each of the Super Bowl? Bad idea. But that’s the NHL for you. Split up up the Stanley Cup Finals among three networks so people will get really confused.
Anyway, here’s what CBS will cover on the NFL Today this Sunday.
That’s it for now. Primetime Viewing Picks coming.
