U.S. Senators Send Goodell Letter About Games On NFL Network
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U.S. Senators Urge Goodell To Make
NFL Network Games More Widely Available |
A group of 13 U.S. senators Tuesday sent a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell "urging the league to make the games televised on the league-owned NFL Network more widely available," according to Mark Maske of the WASHINGTON POST. The letter cited the NFL's decision last December to simulcast Patriots-Giants on NBC and CBS, in addition to the NFL Network, and stated, "We write today because we are disappointed that, rather than building on this success, the NFL will return to restricting games to the NFL Network beginning November 6. That the NFL would choose to have fewer viewers for select games again this year is an indication of its interest in moving toward a pay television model." The senators wrote the NFL's antitrust exemption "facilitated the nationwide broadcast success of the NFL," and added, "We are concerned that the NFL is now leveraging the success of its over-the-air broadcasts to move games to pay television, to the detriment of NFL fans across the country." The letter also said that the NFL "defines the markets of the teams too narrowly, to the detriment of viewers in nearby areas" (WASHINGTON POST, 10/30). The senators "raised the possibility that the NFL is violating antitrust laws." In N.Y., Bishop & Zinser note MSOs including Time Warner, Cablevision and Charter "do not carry the NFL Network, and Comcast makes it available on a higher-cost sports tier." Signees of the letter included U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Arlen Specter (R-PA), who "has criticized Mr. Goodell on numerous issues" (N.Y. TIMES, 10/30).
FIGHTING THE DEFINITION OF LOCAL: The senators also "expressed concern over the league's definition of a home city (the host city of each contest gets local over-the-air rights to the games)," noting that cities like Hartford "aren't considered a home market" for the Patriots (CABLEFAX DAILY, 10/30). Leahy: "When we have the Patriots based in our home area we at least ought to be able to see their games over the air. People drive from all over Vermont to go to a Patriots game" (Barre Montpelier TIMES ARGUS, 10/30).
NFL RESPONSE: The NFL released a statement that read in part, "Senator Specter knows that our television policy regarding NFL Network games this season will be identical to the broadcast pattern we have followed for more than 20 years with our ESPN primetime games. ... The goal of our NFL Network games is to show them to a national audience. ... Any help that Senator Specter or his colleagues could lend to encourage Comcast or other cable operators to reach a fair agreement with us would be in the best interests of their constituents and our fans" (THE DAILY).
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