In N.Y., Joe Nocera writes if he was an exec at a current NFL TV rights holder, he "would be nervous" about Twitter's deal with the NFL for the rights to deliver a live OTT digital stream of 10 "Thursday Night Football" games next season. The deal "might not look like much in financial terms, but it offers the NFL a cheap and easy chance to experiment with putting football games online in a way that is untethered to a television network or a cable or satellite subscription." Over time, that "can't possibly lead anyplace good for the networks" (N.Y. TIMES, 4/9).
LATE PUSH: In N.Y., Bob Raissman wondered if Comcast and YES Network would have "already reached a deal, or be closer to one," if Fox -- which owns YES -- and the Yankees initially "had exerted the kind of pressure they are putting on Comcast now." A source said that Fox and the team "showed early indifference, and to some extent arrogance." Raissman noted no one is "suggesting the two sides would have reached agreement already if Fox/YES had mounted their offensive earlier," but a case "can be made there would have been much greater awareness of the situation surrounding the dispute if they had geared up in November or December and enlisted the Nets in their cause" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 4/10).
GOLD RUSH: ESPN.com's Nick Wagoner wrote he would "be surprised" if the Rams do not end up with a "SNF" game next season. The Rams, who moved to L.A. in the offseason, are "an interesting story." In addition to the "usual Thursday night appearance," Wagoner expects the Rams to "get a game or two" on "Monday Night Football" (ESPN.com, 4/9).
