Football fans have had the opportunity to watch every NFL game via DirecTV since 1994, but that service may soon be scrapped. NBC Sports reports that the satellite service may drop its NFL Sunday Ticket after the 2014 season.
The piece cites comments by DirecTV CFO Pat Doyle, speaking Wednesday at an investors conference. Noting that the company’s deal with the NFL expires after the 2014 NFL season, Doyle said DirecTV would look into “striking a non-exclusive deal with the NFL or possibly even dropping the popular package.” The piece cites a report in SportsBusiness Daily.
“The fact that there’s no new deal only two seasons away from expiration of the current contract isn’t a good sign, given that the NFL usually extends these things years in advance,” the NBC Sports report notes. “Complicating matters is the fact that the popularity of the RedZone channel, now available via cable, has made the Sunday Ticket package less important to many fans. Also, the availability of every game on NFL Rewind after the fact reduces the attractiveness of features that previously were exclusive to DirecTV.”
The piece notes that if DirecTV opts out, rights could be moved to a cable provider or multiple cable providers.
I have been a DirecTV subscriber ever since they started Sunday Ticket. If they cancel it, I will switch to the company that carries it.
You would not be the only one. I work for a cable company and the #1 reason I hear about not having our far more weatherproof, (heavy clouds here) reliable signal is Sunday ticket. The problem DirectTV has is that it has always been a loss-leader. It is costing WAY to much for them to hold it as an exclusive deal. So I hope they drop it.
I signed up for Direct TV just for The Sunday Ticket. I would not drop it if the Ticket is scapped, but I would be disapointed. Also if The Ticket goes away then the price of the Red Zone would triple. Plus the NFL would figure out a way to sell ad time. So it won’t be as good as it is now.
Direct TV give you the most bang for your buck & if you are a sports fan it is the BEST pay service to have. You can’t beat the HD signals compared to cable.
With or without the football I am very happy with my Direct TV serice.