What's Up With NFL Sunday Ticket?

[timr21]

Seems like I remember reading here late last year that the 2002 season was it for DirectTV's chokehold on this package, and that the NFL was entering discussions with the Dish and other cable companies regarding a wider distribution.  So, has anyone heard how these discussions are progressing?

Thanks,

TimR><>

[ibglowin]

Did you just get out of solitary confinement!?

Direct wanted to maintain the chokehold and shelled out.......(Dr. Evil voice) TWO BILLION $$$$$ for a 4 year exclusive deal once again. DirectTV subscribers can now really bend over and get ready for some football. Not only is your Sunday ticket going to go up drastically, so are the core packages to help pay for this.

[Geronimo]

DirecTV has an exclusive in terms of DBS. In the last two years of the deal it can be sold to cable.

[Curtis0620]

Core packages are going up less than E* increases. So how are we getting screwed by this? And Total Choice Plus with Locals is not going up at all. See channel 998 on Directv for details.

[DVDDAD]

Don't know the particulars, but DirecTV's got another multi-year exclusive with the NFL. The NFL also promised them some HDTV content. This might be the year I switch over myself. Just waiting for the HDTV hardware (PVR's) and content to settle and then I'll make up my mind. Luckily my team (Giants) are covered locally, but I'm a big NFL fan and would enjoy catching a few out of market games, but if Dish becomes the HDTV provider of choice, I'm likely to stay with them.

Best regards, Adam Okula.

[Greg Bimson]

The deal was $2 billion for five years.

The rumors are that most DirecTV's programming packages will be raised by about $2 a month. Hardly a drastic increase to pay for Sunday Ticket, and supposedly to start March 18.

What would be the reason for Dish Network's recent increase in monthly rates?

[Curtis0620]

The price increases have been announced (see channel 998):

Total Choice +$2
Total Choice Plus +$2
Total Choice Premier +$4

Total Choice w/locals +$1
Total Choice Plus w/locals +$0
Total Choice Premier w/locals +$2

Premiums
1st +$0
2nd +$1
3rd +$1
4th +$0
5th +$0

[John Corn]

Adam (DVDDAD), Those are my exact thoughts.

The NFL Sunday Ticket doesn't mean much to me, Im a Browns fan and I get plenty of football coverage. I would love to have MLB EI, I honestly think E* will have that package after this season.

I want to see if E*or D* is going to be the clear cut leader in HDTV (DBS) programming, thats going to determine which DBS provider I use.

[jeffwtux]

AT150 is now a complete rippoff. AT150+ locals is now $9 more than TC+ w/locals. For what? the Encore themes and 2 TMC channels. That's rippoff. Dish will lose a ton of these customers to DirecTV over the next year. Unless you really do want both HBO and Cinemax(and you really have to want both), or have lots of ClubDish credits, Dish is a complete rippoff in the long term after your upfront promotion.

[BobMurdoch]

You can build your own "poor mans" Sunday Ticket on E* by getting waivers on CBS and Fox. I now get the New York games and the LA feeds which almost always have a different game. Add in the fact that the 921 will be able to view HD OTA from Philadelphia (40 miles from me) and I'll have three sets of games at 1PM and 4pm on Sundays (According to E* I am only allowed to get the New York Locals which is funny as Philadelphia is actually closer to me as the crow flies)

[dbronstein]

Originally posted by Greg Bimson
What would be the reason for Dish Network's recent increase in monthly rates?

They don't want to lose $900 million like Hughes did last year.

[dbronstein]

Originally posted by BobMurdoch
You can build your own "poor mans" Sunday Ticket on E* by getting waivers on CBS and Fox. I now get the New York games and the LA feeds which almost always have a different game. Add in the fact that the 921 will be able to view HD OTA from Philadelphia (40 miles from me) and I'll have three sets of games at 1PM and 4pm on Sundays (According to E* I am only allowed to get the New York Locals which is funny as Philadelphia is actually closer to me as the crow flies)

Except you can't get a waiver if you live in a city that has locals. I live in Denver and I'm a Jets fan, so I'd love to get the NY CBS station, but I can't. I applied for a waiver last summer and of course it was denied.

Dennis

[jrbdmb]

Originally posted by jeffwtux
AT150 is now a complete rippoff. AT150+ locals is now $9 more than TC+ w/locals. For what? the Encore themes and 2 TMC channels. That's rippoff. Dish will lose a ton of these customers to DirecTV over the next year. Unless you really do want both HBO and Cinemax(and you really have to want both), or have lots of ClubDish credits, Dish is a complete rippoff in the long term after your upfront promotion. AT150 also provides sports channels (Golf channel, Fox Sports World, outdoor channels) that require a premium subscription on DTV. For those who want these channels, AT150 is the better deal.

[juan ellitinez]

If were to get the la distants package wouldn't the nfl games be blacked out in the new york market?

[FTA Michael]

dbronstein, if you rent a vacation home in Creede, Colorado, and move your Dish setup there, you'll qualify for Denver locals AND all distant networks, no waiver necessary.

Beautiful country out there! :)

[JohnL]

Originally posted by juan ellitinez
If were to get the la distants package wouldn't the nfl games be blacked out in the new york market?

No if you qualify for Distant Networks you qualify for all of their content with absolutely NO blackouts.

One last note, if you live in Grade B area or better you don't qualify for Distant nets without a waiver and we all know that these are automatically denied by the local affiliates.

The only other way to get distant nets is with a RV exemption, any RV or Boat that has a valid State registation qualifies. Any and all receivers on an account that gets RV Exemption status will get the Distant nets its not just on the one receiver that "travels".

I used my Boat to get Distants and I live in a Grade A area and have 6 receivers on my account and all my receivers get Distant nets. BTW the boat is in the left column. Only 10 more weeks till it hits the water and this mornings temperature was -2.

John

[DCSholtis]

Originally posted by jrbdmb
AT150 also provides sports channels (Golf channel, Fox Sports World, outdoor channels) that require a premium subscription on DTV. For those who want these channels, AT150 is the better deal.
Those channels are outside the sports pack...you only need to be a D* Total Choice sub.:hi:

[Greg Bimson]

It is the strange thing about the sports pack, for either provider...

AT150 has Fox Sports World, Golf, Speed Channel and OLN. That is $39.99 a month (currently).

DirecTV has Speed channel and OLN on regular Total Choice, currently $31.99 (currently). Fox Sports World and the Golf Channel are the two packaged channels, along with the RSN's, that are in the Sports Pack.

[Brett]

Originally posted by BobMurdoch
Add in the fact that the 921 will be able to view HD OTA from Philadelphia (40 miles from me) and I'll have three sets of games at 1PM and 4pm on Sundays (According to E* I am only allowed to get the New York Locals which is funny as Philadelphia is actually closer to me as the crow flies)

Bob, the Philly stations transmit from Roxborough PA thats probably another 10 miles extra than just calculating Philly from your location. According to www.indo.com/distance its 62 miles from Brielle to Roxborough.

Whats nuts is Ocean County (which is south of Monmouth) cannot get Philly stations via DBS. The sat providers either are unaware that cable systems carry both feeds, or cannot by law. I dont know what the network broadcasters (Disney, NBC, etc.) have on this.

The O&Os are ignoring that Ocean County is the fastest growing county in the state. Too bad its over 50 miles from both NY and Philly, too far for either of them to spend much time about. The NYC stations dont do weather there and very little news there. The Philly stations do, but unfortunately not much. NJN's news is amateur. Comcast CN8 gathers news from Toms River, but CN8 is cable only and not the quality of the network affiliates.

But they are many Eagles and Philly fans in Ocean Co. The Walmarts and Kmarts carry Eagles/Phillies apparel from what I've been told.

[jrbdmb]

Originally posted by DCSholtis

Those channels are outside the sports pack...you only need to be a D* Total Choice sub.:hi: I just checked the D* web site ... maybe this is old info, but they show the following channels are in the Sports Pack and are *not* part of Total Choice Plus:

Fox Sports World
The Golf Channel
NBA TV
The Outdoor Channel

I guess D* is too cheeep to include these in TC Plus. :crying: :)

[Greg Bimson]

You are correct, jrbdmb. However, TC Plus is cheaper than AT150, by about 4-6 dollars.

So, for an apples to apples comparasion, TC Plus and Sports Pack is about the same price as Dish Network's AT150 and RSN pack. I believe DirecTV's is slightly more expensive, in that regard.

[lee635]

Like D* and E* don't check out each other's pricing schemes on a daily basis. :rolleyes: It's starting to get like long distance phone service or buying an airline ticket with all the DBS specials and deals and package plans. ;)

[Curtis0620]

Originally posted by Greg Bimson
You are correct, jrbdmb. However, TC Plus is cheaper than AT150, by about 4-6 dollars.

So, for an apples to apples comparasion, TC Plus and Sports Pack is about the same price as Dish Network's AT150 and RSN pack. I believe DirecTV's is slightly more expensive, in that regard.

Throw in locals and Directv is cheaper.

TC+w/locals and SP = $51.99
AT150 + SP + locals = $55.97

[DCSholtis]

Originally posted by jrbdmb
I just checked the D* web site ... maybe this is old info, but they show the following channels are in the Sports Pack and are *not* part of Total Choice Plus:

Fox Sports World
The Golf Channel
NBA TV
The Outdoor Channel

I guess D* is too cheeep to include these in TC Plus. :crying: :)
They may have recently changed that I know that at one point those channels did not have to be subbed to the Sports Pack....As far as D* being cheap.....Thats a laugh.....Remember its not run by His Cheapness....Charlie Ergan......

[jrbdmb]

Originally posted by DCSholtis
They may have recently changed that I know that at one point those channels did not have to be subbed to the Sports Pack....As far as D* being cheap.....Thats a laugh.....Remember its not run by His Cheapness....Charlie Ergan...... Oh, I know, I just had to fight back at least once against all the "Cheapo Charlie" posts Ii see on here ... :D

[DCSholtis]

:D

[BobMurdoch]

Originally posted by dbronstein


Except you can't get a waiver if you live in a city that has locals. I live in Denver and I'm a Jets fan, so I'd love to get the NY CBS station, but I can't. I applied for a waiver last summer and of course it was denied.

Dennis

Not true..... I am officially part of the New York City DMA. I requested waivers from the four networks and received them from CBS and NBC on the first try, and from Fox on the third try. Only ABC has refused me so far (and I've tried 5 times and written a letter to the station, without success,.... dagnabit Disney. I refuse to watch any ABC shows except for Alias, NYPD Blue, and Monday Night Football in protest... they're all too good to miss. I'm so weak. )

[dbronstein]

How do you get the waivers?

[waydwolf]

Originally posted by lee635
Like D* and E* don't check out each other's pricing schemes on a daily basis. :rolleyes: It's starting to get like long distance phone service or buying an airline ticket with all the DBS specials and deals and package plans. ;)

    "Dial 10-10-220 and then the channel and save big money over the other dish service!"

 

[Karl Foster]

Originally posted by dbronstein
How do you get the waivers?

I have waivers for Fox, so I have my local Fox (13) and Fox NY (388) and Fox LA (389) on Directv. My other local stations would not grant me a waiver.

You just need to call Dish (or Directv) and ask them to apply for waivers for you. When I did, I got a postcard about once a week notifying me of the progress of my application. ABC - rejected, NBC - rejected, CBS - rejected, Fox - approved tune to channels 388 and 389.

Pretty easy process and you may get what you want. On Directv it costs $1.17 per month for my Fox NY/LA. YMMV.