1 in 5 US households are cutting the cord. That's a shitload of viewers.

To me, it is an absolutely obsolete model to be reliant on DirecTV to push your out-of-market TV viewership. It made sense 5-10 years ago when everybody wanted cable. It doesn't make sense in today's world. You have customers who would pay a shitload of money to stream games on their computer, and you're denying them that unless they pay for a clunky dish and an expensive monthly cable charge, for a service they only need 3 months out of the year.

And DirecTV is desperate to cling on because they know that lots of subscribers keep their dish only because of Sunday Ticket. So DirecTV will never be open to opening up their streaming services to non-dish subscribers in a meaningful way.

Case-in-point... Thursday NFL games that are available to all markets on cable AND DirecTV... 2 million viewers on Twitter. Imagine what that viewership would look like if that service was offered to all games, especially games where a lot of viewership is out-of-market and can't get through network TV. The fact that Goodell gave Twitter a great deal even though they underbid speaks volumes.... They know the importance of streaming TV and I bet the NFL is secretly wishing they could get out of this DirecTV deal.

That seems to be common. Im the same way anymore. 10 years ago I was glued to the NFL on Sundays. Seems like Im becoming more like my dad. lol

When we were little in the 80s he was a big NFL fan, always watched it every Sunday and MNF. I dont think hes watched any in several years now. Hes not that old, just has other interests now.

Bullshit.

The NFL is guaranteed $1.5 billion dollars per year through 2021 with Direct TV/AT&T.

If you think that they want to give that up for a Twitter, you're dead wrong.

That's completely untrue.

If Direct TV isn't available in your area or you live in a complex that won't allow a dish, the Sunday Ticket streaming option is available.

At some point the NFL will need to care a lot more about their viewers and fan loyalty than the size of their contract. When diehards stop watching games not because they don't want to, but because they don't have the option of watching a game the way they want it... that's not good business.

And I didn't say the NFL needs to replace their current contract with Twitter. I am saying the use of streaming for a nationally televised game goes to show how many people would gladly stream an out-of-market game that wasn't available on network TV. The NFL would greatly benefit from their current model, but offering a paid streaming option for anyone who didn't want to commit to a dish. The fact that the NFL has no option for non-dish subscribers (apart from college) to stream is completely bonkers. And it's completely out of touch with today's world. Again, Goodell's Twitter contract seems to be acknowledgement that Goodell understands this problem.

And I didn't say the NFL needs to replace their current contract with Twitter. I am saying the use of streaming for a nationally televised game goes to show how many people would gladly stream an out-of-market game that wasn't available on network TV.
Good grief, you're SO ****ING verbose.

And, of course, you're wrong.

Last night's game garnered only 8 million viewers across all platforms, including streaming.

The 2015 Week 4 Thursday night game garnered 19.4 million viewers on NFLN and CBS.

If Direct TV loses Sunday Ticket, not only will DTV/AT&T suffer but there's no way the NFL generates $1.5 billion annually from Sunday Ticket or similar.

https://nflcommunications.com/Pages/...Platforms.aspx
2.2M total viewers on Twitter (2.6M in week 2). Only 200-300K at any given time. But that's a lot of eyeballs.


DirecTV is dependent on the NFL a shitload more than the NFL is dependent on DirecTV. And it's going to get worse over the next 5 years. If the NFL is cool with watching that downward slide in viewership, fine. Like I said, there's a point when losing diehard viewers isn't worth whatever premium DirecTV is charging.

MLBTV has 3.5M subscribers paying $130 for a much less popular sport. The NFL would have a shitload more subscribers paying a much higher price. You're absolutely nuts if you don't think there would be enormous demand for an online streaming option that didn't tie your hands to a dish.

The protest is one thing. More damaging to ratings, IMO, are the extended think pieces on sports media, and consistently highlighting anthem postures in the broadcast.

Individuals demonstrating their positions is one thing to reconcile with your personal politics. The entire entertainment venue focusing on it at the expense of other sports coverage is another level to hurdle.

Not really

Good ****ing grief. Why do you continue to talk out of your ass?

Again, the NFL receives $1.5 BILLION dollars for the rights to Sunday Ticket. They're not going to turn down $1.5 BILLION dollars, especially at a time when viewership is declining.

First off, you're speculating.

Secondly, for the NFL to receive $1.5 billion from any other source, using your $130 dollar example, the NFL would need a minimum of 11.5 MILLION subscribers.

Currently, there are on 2 million subscribers to Sunday Ticket on DTV.

The numbers don't work, at all.

Oh, and MLB streaming is just short of sucking. I have a Roku 2 connected to a 65" Sharp Aquos and I have to change the advanced motion setting just to see a Royals game somewhat clearly.

No to mention, interruptions, skips, motion blurs, etc. The NFL is a much faster paced game and I think it would probably look like shit on large LED's.

And I have a 225 mbps connection.

You wouldn't charge $130. That's crazy. You could easily charge over $200 if you wanted to.

There are 2M subscribers. How many aren't subscribing because they don't want to buy a ****ing dish? If the MLB is pulling in 3.5M and the NFL only 2M, that tells you all you need to know. The NFL subscribership should be crushing the MLB.

You can replace DirecTV's bid with a cable bid. It would have to be an omnichannel option. Would be crazy to only offer the service online streaming.

How much money are you losing in fans who become less engaged with the NFL because they stop watching because it's inconvenient.

How much money are you losing in advertising that you could place on your streaming site?

The numbers add up. Especially if you take lost viewership seriously and realize those viewers create fans that spend a shitload of money on the NFL.

Today's world for out-of-market games:
-Pay several hundred $'s to install a dish. Locked in to an expensive cable charge
-Pay $350 for Sunday Ticket on top
-Don't have a dish? **** you.

Alternative:
-Option to watch on cable per game, per month, or per year with a paid subscription
-Option to watch streaming only. No need to have cable.
-Bundled rate for both

Um... yeah, I think the second option will get you a hell of a lot more viewers.

You're an idiot.

What's even dumber is the idea that the NFL would shun a guaranteed $1.5 BILLION dollar per year licensing fee in order to "test the waters" with a different format, especially when numbers are declining.

Idiot.

More stupidity.

For new subscribers, Sunday Ticket is FREE. Secondly, there is NO charge for installation or equipment.

Clearly, you don't read the Sunday Ticket thread because NO ONE pays full price.

I paid $159 for Sunday Ticket Max this year.

Very true, and that along with what I believe is over-expansion in the league to where there aren't enough talented QBs and other offensive playmakers to go around...you end up with a lot of bad football games.