Reports: NFL, DirecTV near new Sunday Ticket deal

[PepperNY]

DirecTV has ran the numbers on how many customers will leave them for a traditional carrier if they ever lose exclusivity and the numbers aren't pretty. Also don't forget that larger bars and restaurants pay upwards of $1,000-5,000 a year for Sunday Ticket. That is easy money for DirecTV.

I would leave DirecTV in a heartbeat if NFL Sunday ticket was available through my local cable provider

[KINGOFOOTBALL]

This is retarded.
Clearly WATCHING the actual Fn games takes precedence over playing a video game of it. These stupid comparisons to online or downloads or "crystal clear" are bologney. I can just as well sit here and say if you want to play a different NFL video game then just play NFL2K with some updated rosters. Same shitty downgrade in quality and convenience.
I will say that TV consumers in general benefit because DTV has pushed the envelope on many areas forcing cable companies to compete. We all get a better TV picture and overall service because of this deal. But as a football fan it sucks. Ive literally had to overlook apartments and places to live because they wont allow dishes and streaming options are crap.
I was hoping that thered be at least a streaming option. i.e exclusive to OTA/dedicated TV providers but ATV/Google/Netlfix would get streaming.

Bill - As it stands no one sees the NFL in full HD. AFAIK 720p/1080i were still the highest quality images available regardless of service. Streaming might have made that possible.

[ThunderHorse]

So you guys feel like watching some shitty quality stream (legal or illegal) or just waiting a few hours (because every sports fans hates to see the action live) after the game to download clips off of NFL.com are acceptable substitutes?

No.

But they're legitimate alternatives for folks who don't want to pay DirectV.

We have no alternative to EA's product. Hell, EA already sent out the checks for the monopoly settlement.

[NAHSTE]

No.

But they're legitimate alternatives for folks who don't want to pay DirectV.

We have no alternative to EA's product. Hell, EA already sent out the checks for the monopoly settlement.

You have a loose definition of legitimate. Most people would rather a legal and reliable (affordable would be nice too) option.

[ThunderHorse]

You have a loose definition of legitimate. Most people would rather a legal and reliable (affordable would be nice too) option.

I've already given 2 legal, reliable, and affordable options.

My definition of legitimate is legit, brah.

[NAHSTE]

I've already given 2 legal, reliable, and affordable options.

My definition of legitimate is legit, brah.

NFL Rewind? Not watching the games live, that's what you call reliable?

[Maynard]

there are only 2 options for watching the NFL - sunday ticket and network TV.

the EA vs directv comparison is kind silly, but imo, EA stranglehold over football games is by far worse then directv. At least with directv you have another choice. with EA, you have no choices.

[BigBucs]

So you guys feel like watching some shitty quality stream (legal or illegal) or just waiting a few hours (because every sports fans hates to see the action live) after the game to download clips off of NFL.com are acceptable substitutes?

No matter how you slice it these are alternatives, you have 0 with Madden. Lets keep the argument in proper context.

[MrBill]

No matter how you slice it these are alternatives, you have 0 with Madden. Lets keep the argument in proper context.

NFLK 2K5 with updated rosters
Tecmo Bowl with updated rosters

Those 2 alternatives are about as high quality as your alternatives for Sunday Ticket. I love playing video game football but it is nothing compared to how much I want to watch live football in a full bitrate HD option.

[BigBucs]

NFLK 2K5 with updated rosters
Tecmo Bowl with updated rosters

Those 2 alternatives are about as high quality as your alternatives for Sunday Ticket. I love playing video game football but it is nothing compared to how much I want to watch live football in a full bitrate HD option.

We being ridiculous for the sake of being ridiculous? You telling me some dated football game is a viable option as long as I update rosters but watching a live stream or downloading a game a few hours later isnt? Havent even mentioned going to a sports bar. Lots of different ways to take in a sports contest.

[JimLeavy59]

NFLK 2K5 with updated rosters
Tecmo Bowl with updated rosters

Those 2 alternatives are about as high quality as your alternatives for Sunday Ticket. I love playing video game football but it is nothing compared to how much I want to watch live football in a full bitrate HD option.

[Houston]

Why do I have a feeling that internet streams are a little more high quality than this?

[Maynard]

internet streams are trash from places like first row....not sure how thats in the discussion

[Warner2BruceTD]

I can't watch a sporting event that I care about on some hokey, unreliable stream like first row.

If i'm watching something on first row, I expect it to look like shit, and either buffer badly or crash before it's over.

[KINGOFOOTBALL]

We being ridiculous for the sake of being ridiculous? You telling me some dated football game is a viable option as long as I update rosters but watching a live stream or downloading a game a few hours later isnt? Havent even mentioned going to a sports bar. Lots of different ways to take in a sports contest.

No numbnuts it was brought up as a counter point to the "no alternative" argument. There is an alternative that is just as useless and shitty as a crappy stream or post game replay at 4 am.
There is no lateral move from HD ota/sat/cbl just as there is no Video game equivalent. But most normal functioning NFL fans would agree Sunday ticket is a bigger issue as some people simply cannot access it.
Can you imagine an apartment complex telling you PS4s aren't allowed and it's an XBOX only building. That's what many people have to deal with with tv providers.