Carriage and distribution complications NFL Network

1 carriage , distribution complications

1.1 comcast

1.1.1 comcast trial


1.2 time warner cable
1.3 cogeco
1.4 insight communications
1.5 dish network
1.6 charter communications
1.7 playstation vue

1.7.1 background
1.7.2 2006 free preview
1.7.3 2007 packers vs. cowboys controversy
1.7.4 2007 patriots vs. giants controversy


1.8 suddenlink , nfl network reach carriage agreement

carriage , distribution complications

the nfl network has had carriage disputes number of cable , satellite providers, although in recent years, major television providers have resolved disputes channel, , since 2012 nfl network has been carried each of top ten television providers. network-run iwantmynfl.com website designed sell customers push directv carry channel instead of traditional carriage-building strategy of asking cable customers contact cable providers , request network; site has since become redirect network s website cable coverage has been attained.

comcast

on november 10, 2006, comcast announced add nfl network on digital tier in time debut of network s eight-game thursday- , saturday-night package. on august 6, 2007, comcast moved nfl network digital tiers sports entertainment package. led court battle between nfl network , comcast, ruling in favor of comcast; nfl network later appealed ruling. comcast sent nfl network cease-and-desist letter stop encouraging subscribers drop comcast service. comcast s carriage agreement nfl network ended in mid-2009. on february 26, 2008, new york appellate court reversed course on may 2007 judgment allowed comcast move network second-most distributed tier company s sports tier. @ time, court date had not been set. 4 judges @ new york state supreme court, appellate division, first department, ruled language concerning additional programming package ambiguous , neither party has established interpretation of relevant contracts matter of law. comcast s deal nfl network set expire on april 30, 2009. according messages sent out comcast, midco, , cable systems customers or without set-top boxes, nfl network might removed customers channel lineups. message said: in spite of our efforts continue carrying nfl network/nfl network hd, nfl may terminate our rights. result these networks may removed lineups 5/1. on april 10, 2009, confirmed comcast remove channel on date due failing reach carriage agreement. however, on april 30, 2009, nfl network announced continue carried on comcast in interim while both sides tried reach agreemenet on new contract. on july 30, 2009, nfl network made available lower-tiered comcast digital cable subscribers.

nfl network later filed discrimination case against comcast federal communications commission, claiming since comcast not charge fee sports channels owns, versus , golf channel, considered comcast s move charge nfl network unfair. on october 10, 2008, fcc ruled follows:

in second report , order, commission emphasized statute “does not explicitly prohibit multichannel distributors acquiring financial interest or exclusive rights otherwise permissible,” , thus, “multichannel distributors [may] negotiate for, not insist upon such benefits in exchange carriage on systems.” commission stated, however, “ultimatums, intimidation, conduct amounts exertion of pressure beyond faith negotiations, or behavior tantamount unreasonable refusal deal vendor refuses grant financial interests or exclusivity rights carriage, should considered examples of behavior violates prohibitions set forth in section 616.” find nfl has presented sufficient evidence make prima facie showing comcast indirectly , improperly demanded financial interest in nfl’s programming in exchange carriage. further find pleadings , documentation present several factual disputes whether comcast’s retiering of nfl network result of comcast’s failure obtain financial interest in nfl’s programming. accordingly, direct administrative law judge hold hearing, issue recommended decision on facts underlying financial interest claim , recommended remedy, if necessary, , return matter commission within 60 days.

comcast trial

the trial before administrative law judge (as ordered above) began on april 14, 2009. on april 17, 2009, comcast chairman , ceo brian roberts testified provider willing move channel sports entertainment package lower-priced base package if subscriber fee reduced 25¢ per month (at time, nfl network charging 75¢ per month). claimed overall, comcast saved $50 million year in license fees leaving channel on sports package, in turn led savings customers.

on april 30, 2009, nfl network total access correspondent lindsey soto reported comcast continue carry network after contract expired @ midnight negotiations proceeded. on may 19, 2009, nfl , comcast reached ten-year agreement place nfl network on comcast s digital classic package august 1, 2009 monthly price between 45 , 50¢, instead of 70¢ fee nfl requested. deal led speculation other cable operators end holdouts , try reach deals bring network wider audience.

as of 3 january 2011, nfl network available on digital preferred or sports package on comcast s xfinity system in atlanta, georgia, , not on digital classic package (which not exist). contrary above-mentioned agreement between comcast , nfl.

time warner cable

on december 20, 2007, nfl network proposed time warner cable enter binding arbitration, have neutral third party determine price , tier nfl network on provider s systems, based on fair market value of service. nfl network noted process take time , offered make december 29, 2007 game between unbeaten new england patriots , new york giants available time warner cable subscribers, upon “written agreement participate in arbitration process , bound result.” network willing make binding arbitration available cable providers not carrying nfl network , extension of comcast s current contract.

time warner cable denied binding arbitration proposal, saying operator has reached agreements hundreds of programming networks without use of arbitration. continue believe best way achieve results privately seek resolution , not attempt negotiate through press or elected officials.” twc stated willing make network available on sports tier, premium service, or make game available subscribers on per-game basis, @ retail price set nfl, 100% of attendant revenue going league.

on september 21, 2012, associated press reported time warner cable , bright house networks had reached agreement carry nfl network. within hours, both nfl network , nfl redzone began carried on many time warner cable systems in time week s games, full distribution across company s systems planned completed september 27, in time next thursday night football game.

cogeco

on november 10, 2006, canadian cable provider cogeco cable announced had reached carriage agreement nfl network carry network on sports & information tier . nfl network had insisted allow cable providers carry network on basic tiers; time warner cable stated carry network on digital sports tier. makes cogeco major cable provider reach agreement nfl network placing directly on digital sports tier without repercussions network. when announced nfl network carry run playoffs on cogeco not on digital basic tier, stated cogeco s sports & information tier has 30% penetration across cogeco subscribers , 60% penetration among cogeco digital-cable homes.

insight communications

in 2004, insight communications reached carriage agreement nfl network carry network on provider s digital tier, in addition carrying nfl network on demand , nfl network hd. @ first, insight did not carry run playoffs games due surcharge providers pay carry games. insight did not show first-ever game, between denver broncos , kansas city chiefs on november 23, 2006, game aired following week , future games available due long-term agreement later reached. following insight s january 2012 acquisition time warner cable, twc chose let carriage agreement nfl network , nfl redzone expire on august 1, 2012, resulted in 2 channels being removed insight s systems in ohio, kentucky , indiana, due long-running carriage impasse between national football league , time warner cable. restored upon time warner reaching carriage agreement network 2 months later.

dish network

on february 20, 2008, dish network moved nfl network america s top 100 package america s top 200 package. dish network notified customers nfl network moving out of free preview america s top 200 package on february 20, 2008. move cost nfl network 4 million subscribers. on february 27, 2008, nfl network announced file suit against dish network moving network america s top 200 . move stemmed nfl network s decision simulcast 2007 new england patriots-new york giants game on cbs , nbc, in addition game being shown on nfl network. of 3 march 2008, nfl no longer encouraged customers switch dish network on iwantmynfl.com website; instead, network encouraged customers switch directv, verizon fios or at&t u-verse if provider not carry network or has placed network on higher-priced tier.

on january 15, 2009, new york state supreme court judge rich lowe ruled in favor of nfl network, claiming 2006 agreement carriage on america s top 100 package still valid , dish network violated moving america s top 200 package, did not order dish network move channel lower package immediately.

on april 10, 2009, announced nfl network , dish network had reached out-of-court settlement place channel on classic silver 200 package.

on june 16, 2016, dish entered new dispute nfl network when contract carry network expired @ 7 pm et, resulted in removal of nfl network , nfl red zone dish lineup, marked first time in history of nfl network carriage agreement contract carry nfl network expired , new agreement not reached before deadline in resulted in temporary removal of network cable/satellite provider. part of new carriage agreement, dish subsidiary sling tv added both networks lineup on august 11, 2016, in time start of 2016 nfl preseason schedule.

charter communications

charter communications became 1 of first multiple system operators provide nfl network, in 2004. deal called network carried on charter s digital-basic programming , included nfl hd , nfl on demand. however, in december 2005, network had pulled charter , filed breach of contract suit against provider in new york supreme court on contract language regarding distribution. reported nfl network wanted 125% rate increase in carriage fees , placement on charter s expanded basic tiers.

in august 2011, charter communications , nfl network announced 2 parties had reached new, long-term agreement carry nfl network , redzone in time 2011 season.

playstation vue

on august 25, 2016, 2 weeks after nfl network , red zone channel launched on rival service sling tv, sony s iptv service playstation vue added 2 networks lineup. nfl network available vue s core, elite, , ultra tier subscribers, while red zone available $40 seasonal add-on channel.

background

the nfl network embroiled in disputes several cable providers. perhaps public controversy on removal on systems owned time warner cable, second-largest system in united states, occurred in september 2006 , lasted until september 2012. provider pulled network systems had purchased adelphia communications , february 2012 purchase of insight communications after providers agreements expired.

nfl network has insisted placed on basic tiers of participating providers , wishes charge cable companies monthly rate of $0.61 per subscriber, while time warner cable , other major cable providers wish place on sports tier. cable companies feel channel such marginal interest , few live games filler programming tough sell outside of football season. nfl network s position demands unreasonable , many other providers place nfl network on basic tier without subscriber backlash.

2006 free preview

nfl network offered free preview december 24 30, 2006 suddenlink communications systems in west texas , time warner cable , cablevision systems in new york city area. package included texas bowl , insight bowl, excluded week s nfl game between new york giants , washington redskins, shown on nbc owned-and-operated station wnbc (channel 4) (nfl policy dictates games televised nationally on cable/satellite network simulcast on broadcast television station in markets of participating teams).

however, time warner cable , cablevision interested in showing texas bowl, featured rutgers scarlet knights, developed strong local appeal in 2006 , barely missed berth in bowl championship series. nfl denied request , offer free preview if cablevision and/or time warner cable made entire preview week available customers.

twc offered carry free preview on digital tier. cablevision, however, continued refuse carry nfl network programming other texas bowl. announced cablevision put on channel 14 (normally occupied television listings channel used overflow feed msg network , fsn new york) @ 6:00 p.m. until end of network s postgame coverage. nfl, however, stated not accept request.

on december 21, however, after new jersey legislators threatened legal action, cablevision changed mind , indeed showed not game between rutgers , kansas state, entire free preview schedule. time warner had made similar announcement hours earlier. suddenlink agreed on december 22 carry entire free preview customers in west texas. free preview did not lead long-term carriage deals, , standoff continued between 3 cable companies , nfl network.

2007 packers vs. cowboys controversy

2007 saw fresh controversy nfl network. year, network happened hold rights match-ups major implications. first came in late november when one-loss dallas hosted one-loss green bay. green bay s brett favre having 1 of best seasons of career , lead resurgent packers nfc championship game. fans not see game because of carriage restrictions, more noticeable because involved nationally respected teams in highly anticipated match-up. controversy pale in comparison final game nfl network broadcast season.

2007 patriots vs. giants controversy

in december 2007, u.s. senator john kerry of massachusetts wrote letter nfl commissioner roger goodell asking league settle differences in time new england patriots-new york giants game on december 29 broadcast on saturday night football. game patriots record-sealing win made them first undefeated team through regular season in 35 years. kerry urged solution decided upon in time americans witness historic event . agreement worked out between nfl , 2 of league s television partners, nbc , cbs, allow nfl network broadcast of game simulcast on networks, resulting in first nfl simulcast since super bowl , first three-network simulcast in history of league.

in addition, new york city area mynetworktv owned-and-operated station wwor-tv (channel 9), , hearst television-owned abc affiliates wcvb-tv (channel 5) in boston , wmur-tv (channel 9) in manchester, new hampshire, expressed dissatisfaction on cbs/nbc simulcast, stating violated agreements network. stations had been scheduled air game, per nfl rules. greg aiello, nfl spokesperson, stated nbc , cbs not have agreed present simulcast without clearing game nationally, including aforementioned markets. wwor came agreement network , showed game along wnbc , wcbs-tv (channel 2) in new york city market. wcvb still televise game , stated still working toward resolving issues nfl network on additional coverage rights. result of these arrangements viewers in new york, boston , new hampshire areas see game on 4 networks.

rcn corporation, 12th-largest cable provider in u.s., stated league s deal cbs , nbc devalues contract league’s in-house service. greg aiello, nfl spokesperson, said unaware of dissatisfaction among nfl network affiliates on simulcast , if seeking rebate or other form of compensation because game being more distributed. if case, said, discussions “take place privately our tv partners.”

suddenlink , nfl network reach carriage agreement

on august 20, 2010, national cable television cooperative reached agreement, of suddenlink communications member, carry nfl network on organization s participating providers. result, suddenlink announced offer nfl network , nfl redzone , began carrying channels. suddenlink expected network s rollout of service areas completed or before september 12, first sunday of nfl s 2010 regular season.