Weird crawl on NFL network -- some cable providers not carrying live games

Hoping this isn't a D_B.

Was clicking through channels and came across NFL Replay, when I noticed the crawl (partially cut off) up top.

It said something like this:

You're watching NFL Network. Your cable provider has decided not to air live games. That means unless you live in your team's local market, you will not get 8 games. Contact your cable company yadda, yadda, yadda.

I just checked NFL.com and couldn't find anything, but I did find an article from the Sports Business Journal that gives some details.

http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.feature&featureId=1974

Apparently, if the cable company doesn't pay the surcharge, it doesn't get the live games. Once again, fans are held hostage.

So if you're a KC or Denver fan, you may want to make sure your cable company has paid the ransom proper surcharge so you can watch the game.

 

Cablevision vs. The NFL. Talk about having no one to root for.

 

That I understand. If a cable provider isn't paying a surcharge, then it shouldn't get the network.

What I don't understand is why only allow a partial payment. Either you get all the programming or none of it. Doesn't seem like a smart move by the NFL.

 

Fans held hostage by the NFL...shocking, I tell you, shocking.

 

And I can certainly see the NFL saying, "We'll be happy to give you much of the NFL Network for free. You can charge for it and it won't cost a dime - for our basic cservice... But if you want the package to carry the games, it will cost you."

 

Cable One doesn't offer the NFL Network (or versus/OLN). If I was allowed to have a dish at my complex, I so would.

 

They can NOT keep you from having a dish. It's the law, and it doesn't matter if it's in the lease or not. They can tell you where it can go, however.

 

Well, OTD, unless you live in the same state as chickie, you might not know what the law is. It varies considerably from state to state.

 

Oh, I can have one, but I can't attach to the building and given where my apartment is located, that means I can't have one. And yes, that's perfectly legal.

 

It's a federal law. Chickie is a resident of the good ol' U S of A. However, if she can't see south from her apartment, she's out of luck.

 

Got NFL Network on Comcast here, thankfully. Steelers-Browns will be a Thursday night game coming up soon.