NFL's $12 Billion Deal With DirecTV Faces Major Antitrust Lawsuit

[ramsince62]

True for the day, but, and you know this better than me, if you impress these people with good drinks, food, prices, and atmosphere, then your patronage will certainly increase.

Not necessarily, but you certainly stand a better chance of keeping your regulars.

 

[Ram65]

Interesting lawsuit. Direct TV does seem to be creating a monopoly on getting outside of local market and national televised games.
I would pay for steaming Rams games. What $5 to $10 a game.

At some point watching sports on TV or computer is just going to cost too much.

I'll just read about Ram games here. Everyone here sees the same thing right.

 

[bwdenverram]

You know as much as I hate to pay as much as I do for DirecTV, the fact that I can sit in the comfort of my own home and watch pretty much any game I want in HD has a ton of value.
And the fact is DirecTV just outbids everyone else. I do think the cable operators should band together and outbid (if that's even an option). Maybe it's not fair to the bars and such that pay more, but they also get business because they can offer all those games and not just local ones.
If it wasn't for DirecTV I would have to watch some lousy game cast or wait for highlights on ESPN.
When I wait all week to watch 4-5hrs of football that $300ish bucks doesn't seem that bad.

 

[ChrisW]

Only if the streaming is of sufficient quality to put on my HDTV without the ball looking like a glitchy blob and I can clearly see what the hell is going on.

Lol, I meant Sunday ticket streams, which are high quality. I doubt I'll get access to any channel on my comcast to view the games via HDTV, but I have a 144Hz monitor that I computer game on, and would gladly watch 1080p streams on it.

 

[fearsomefour]

Yeah - I fear that people think I'm making a case for someone to step in and force them to lower the price of ST. Not even close to my mindset. If they did happen though to lower the price, it may get quite a few of us fringe guys on the hook. I do think however, that allowing a monopoly is a but sketchy.

I always have mixed feelings about these sorts of things.
Should the NFL not have the right to sell their product how they want?
Direct pays dearly the exclusivity on the product. Despite paying billions ESPN and NFL Network also carry some games and regional games are still on local tv.
What is the difference between Sunday Ticket and a PPV fight or special event (other than it is a series of one time events)?
Should the next big PPV fight be forced to keep the price point below a certain level or be forced to offer it through various providers to keep costs down?
Before Sunday Tickets I had to go to the local bar to watch the games or a local casino (nightmare). I am not one of those guys who is going to order an iced tea and sit there for 3 1/2 hours. So, that meant buying a meal and a pitcher and spending $25 bucks. I am fine with Sunday Ticket the way it is, but, thats just me.

 

[fearsomefour]

Interesting lawsuit. Direct TV does seem to be creating a monopoly on getting outside of local market and national televised games.
I would pay for steaming Rams games. What $5 to $10 a game.

At some point watching sports on TV or computer is just going to cost too much.

I'll just read about Ram games here. Everyone here sees the same thing right.

If a streaming option comes available it will be much more than that I would expect.
The problem with paying for individual games is the true lack of fan parity in the league will be on full display.
So, if the Cowboys have 2 million people streaming their game and Bills have 150,000....dont you think Jerry is gonna want a bigger cut of that money? This format would lead to other lawsuits between owners and the NFL. The benefit to the NFL of this format (besides the massive revenue of course) is it keeps the sharing of the monies very simple and neat.

 

[Rams43]

Just for some honest perspective and strictly from my own personal POV...

Two things have allowed me to pursue my Ram fandom even though the Rams left SoCal in '95.

One is the Internet and boards like this one.

The other is Sunday Ticket.

Both are amazing. The combination of the two enables me to follow and enjoy my Rams far better than I ever could before.

Frankly, I can't imagine doing without either one ever again.

Ain't technology wonderful? Lol.

 

[bwdenverram]

I think the other thing that people have to realize is; think about what your options were before the internet. You either drove to a stadium and paid a ton of money for the tickets, food and parking or you watched highlights on TV or read the paper the next day.
ONE game probably cost you anywhere from $50-$100.

Now, if you're paying, say $350 for NFL Sunday ticket (I don't recall exact and it's not the same for everyone but that's ballpark) your talking about $22 per game. BUT, you get that for EVERY game, not just one. And you don't pay for parking or $30 for a couple beers and a hot dog. Plus, your sitting in your lazy boy and don't have to fight 100 people trying to go to the restroom. Do I complain? Of course I do, we all do. But when I stop and really think about the alternative it's peanuts.
Everyone wants it free because it's the internet. Well, I work in telecom and I can tell you the cost to build the infrastructure to deliver all this content is huge. So why would those companies deliver it for nothing?

Would you rather go back to pre-internet? I sure as hell wouldn't.

EDIT: I realize for those that are local you can get the game on TV. But like me and many on this board we are not in St. Louis and don't have that option.

 

[iced]

Only if the streaming is of sufficient quality to put on my HDTV without the ball looking like a glitchy blob and I can clearly see what the hell is going on.

depends on mostly your internet connection, and I would think also your video card.. I have my 55" hooked up to my desktop as a 2nd monitor, and have in the past streamed games on it.. It's not as clear as regular tv, but watchable for the most part.. Just depends on how many times it has to keep buffering...

although with direct tv's online stream, its also a question of whether or not it'll fuckin' work....grrrrr....

 

[Rmfnlt]

Just for some honest perspective and strictly from my own personal POV...

Two things have allowed me to pursue my Ram fandom even though the Rams left SoCal in '95.

One is the Internet and boards like this one.

The other is Sunday Ticket.

Both are amazing. The combination of the two enables me to follow and enjoy my Rams far better than I ever could before.

Frankly, I can't imagine doing without either one ever again.

Ain't technology wonderful? Lol.

Yeah, I remember when the only glimpse of the Rams I got was on "This Week In The NFL". It ran for an hour and maybe I got 5 minutes of the Rams game highlights? Never missed it!

Yes, we've come a long way!!

When the economy took a down turn a few years ago, I used that as leverage to negotiate a reduced price for The Ticket. I said I had to cut back and that was an item I could not afford any longer at that price. It worked for like 3 years (they'd usually cut the price in half). But, after a few years, they stopped negotiating.

Maybe it's what some of you have said... just have to get the right Agent on the phone. I think I'll try that this year.

 

[Ram65]

Yeah, I remember when the only glimpse of the Rams I got was on "This Week In The NFL". It ran for an hour and maybe I got 5 minutes of the Rams game highlights? Never missed it!

Yes, we've come a long way!!

When the economy took a down turn a few years ago, I used that as leverage to negotiate a reduced price for The Ticket. I said I had to cut back and that was an item I could not afford any longer at that price. It worked for like 3 years (they'd usually cut the price in half). But, after a few years, they stopped negotiating.

Maybe it's what some of you have said... just have to get the right Agent on the phone. I think I'll try that this year.

I remember when the Rams were a very good team and would be on TV in New York Metro area 4 or more times a year. Too bad they haven't been very good of late.

 

[Ram65]

If a streaming option comes available it will be much more than that I would expect.
The problem with paying for individual games is the true lack of fan parity in the league will be on full display.
So, if the Cowboys have 2 million people streaming their game and Bills have 150,000....dont you think Jerry is gonna want a bigger cut of that money? This format would lead to other lawsuits between owners and the NFL. The benefit to the NFL of this format (besides the massive revenue of course) is it keeps the sharing of the monies very simple and neat.

So you pay for all the games just like Direct TV but you don't need direct TV get this option. I imagine the Cowgirls get better rating now but don't get more TV revenue.

 

[fearsomefour]

So you pay for all the games just like Direct TV but you don't need direct TV get this option. I imagine the Cowgirls get better rating now but don't get more TV revenue.

Which is how the NFL wants it I am sure.

 

[OldSchool]

I just wish there was an option other than getting it on dish. I love MLB.tv because I can watch it on so many platforms. I do currently have uverse with AT&T so I hope they expand availability.

 

[DR RAM]

Not necessarily, but you certainly stand a better chance of keeping your regulars.

Just as, if not, more important.

I think it stinks that they have a monopoly on the games, but I have to have my Rams, and I don't live in the area. I don't frequent bars, or restaraunts to watch games. I get too intense, and don't want to be distracted.

 

[Hey Man]

Lucky you. There's not much residential fiber in Chicago, yet. ATT is keeping them out.

DSL sucks. Its either Verizon, Verizon Fios or Comcast. I could get the AT&T bundle, but it would be DSL for internet.