ESPN and NFL Network may be heading for a merger.
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the Worldwide Leader and the National Football League's house network are engaging in high-level talks about developing a partnership. The discussions go all the way up to Disney CEO Robert Iger and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
At first glance, it looks like a win-win: For the NFL, the deal would help get NFL Network into tens of millions of cable TV households that currently don't carry it. For ESPN, it would strengthen ties with America's most popular sports league, and it would ensure that the NFL won't develop a similar partnership with a cable TV competitor.
But the deal could be a loser for NFL fans. Competition between ESPN and NFL Network -- especially at NFL Draft time -- has made both networks improve their coverage. If they start working together, what little competition currently exists in cable TV coverage of the NFL disappears.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-20-2008 @ 10:56PM
Justene said...
NFL Draft coverage was always good. Now there's just more coverage resulting in frequent channel flipping. Chris Berman, Mel Kyper and Rich Eisen on the same broadcast would be fine with me.
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6-20-2008 @ 11:59PM
George B Vieto said...
Having the NFL Network merge with ESPN is like Spider Man and J. Jonah Jameson sharing a vehicle together. It would be a fireworks display of emotions.
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6-21-2008 @ 11:15AM
murph207 said...
Not to mention the fact that ESPN is becoming more and more like an owner/partner in sports and not a news organization. I am all for the NFL network being in more homes but I don’t think this merger should take place
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