Cable Companies Aren't Interested in Red Zone Channel

When the NFL announced their contract extension with DirecTV, the news did seem to have a little carrot for cable companies, as the league announced that it would start making the RedZone Channnel available to cable operators. That was supposed to be one of the olive branches that would help convince the cable companies to offer the NFL Network as well.

But cable companies aren't exactly impressed. Instead, they seem to be viewing it as yet another act of war. According to the Sports Business Journal, the cable companies see the Red Zone channel as a trojan horse that would just convince more cable viewers to switch to the satellite company.

Most of the cable operator executives contacted by SportsBusiness Journal last week worried that the proposed channel would become a marketing vehicle for DirecTV's service. Why just get the Red Zone Channel when you can get the entire Sunday Ticket service on DirecTV?

It is a big dilemma for cable companies to deal with. On one hand, the Red Zone channel would give some sort of answer to football fans who are unhappy with the idea of being stuck watching only three games on a normal Sunday afternoon. And if you've ever watched the Red Zone channel, you know it's a great idea. With cut-ins to every game going on Sunday afternoon and no commercials it's a great way to keep track of what's going on around the league without going to a sports bar.

But if you're a Giants fan in Philadelphia, it's also a great way to be reminded that you're not getting to see the Cowboys-Giants game you wanted to watch--and a three-minute look-in isn't going to satiate you, and if tht's the case, cable isn't what you want. And if that's the case, why do cable companies want to remind you that a competitor can fix your problem?

So this is a negotiation with no great answers for the NFL (or the cable companies), this one could stay messy for a while.

H/T: Pro Football Talk

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

4-07-2009 @ 12:31AM

PINKY said...

Hey why not just show if for free. More viewers, more money. What happens when people stop paying for it?

4-07-2009 @ 12:32AM

If it leaves. I won't pay.

4-07-2009 @ 5:24AM

giant fan since 57 said...

In spite of the stubbornness exhibited by the cable companies, it is ultimately the responsibility of the NFL to get their product to the people. Yes, even the people who cannot or will not subscribe to satellite.

Anyway the red zone wan't even in high def the last time I saw it.

Sooner or later The Internet will end the competition between cable and satellite by making both their business models worthless.

4-07-2009 @ 8:46AM

StigmA said...

No NFL Network & No Red Zone Channel? they're completely screwing over cable fans. I usually listen to the radio broadcast on NFL Network when I don't want to watch any of the games, so the Red Zone Channel would be leaps and bounds better than that. Oh well, maybe in a perfect world it could happen.

4-07-2009 @ 9:07AM

dewalt25 said...

RedZone channel IS in HD

4-07-2009 @ 7:10PM

BlueStarDude said...

RE: "Why just get the Red Zone Channel when you can get the entire Sunday Ticket service on DirecTV?"

Uh, because it's cheaper and a lot of families don't have two incomes these days and so can't afford NFL Ticket anymore.

Seriously, this just proves how out of touch and dimwitted the men who run these cable companies are.

4-08-2009 @ 12:51AM

piper1 said...

This article should be called..."Cable Companies Not Interested In Making Customers Happy." I remember back when Lance Armstrong was winning consecutive Tour De France victories. I had Charter Cable at the time and could not watch the Tour as they did not carry the Outdoor Life Network OLN which was covering the Tour. I called three years in a row and was told they "were working on it" and they would have it next year. Armstrong won seven years in a row, OLN became Versus, and cable still does not carry those channels. I swithced after the 3rd year, got to see Lances other victories, they were awesome. This year Lance will be back to the Tour and cable will not carry it again! Dropping cable= save money, watch all the NFL you want, get to see Lance Armstrong make history again in 2009. Sorry for the long response. Cable SUCKS!!

4-10-2009 @ 1:58AM

YouFaceTheTick said...

The Red Zone channel is pretty much how we watch sunday games. There's little reason to sit through 1 or 2 games when you can bounce around all of them. We also love the view with Game Mix.