happy we don't have RU problems

[bulls96go]

bowl games decisions will keep pushing us toward a play off

heard congress was getting involved

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/bowls06/news/story?id=2689097

Updated: Dec. 6, 2006, 7:59 PM ET

NFL Network not carried by local cable providersAssociated Press

NEWARK, N.J. -- Rutgers football fans hoping to watch their team in the Texas Bowl later this month may be better off going to Manhattan -- the one in Kansas, that is.

The hometown of bowl opponent Kansas State is likely to have better coverage since the NFL Network, which has exclusive rights to televise the game, is not carried on two cable companies that serve more than 1 million of New Jersey's 2.5 million cable subscribers, not to mention most of New York City.

With No. 16 Rutgers suddenly at the flashpoint of the dispute between the NFL Network and cable operators Time Warner and Cablevision, New Jersey Sen. Frank Lautenberg sent a letter to the NFL on Wednesday urging the league to allow the Dec. 28 game to be shown on local television.

"Rutgers fans and the people of New Jersey do not deserve to be punished or used as a bargaining chip in that dispute," Lautenberg wrote.

Through spokesman Seth Palansky, the NFL Network said a solution will depend on an agreement between the network and the cable providers.

"As the senator recognizes, we have repeatedly offered to make not only this Rutgers game but all NFL Network programming available broadly throughout New Jersey," Palansky said. "We regret that Time Warner and Cablevision have not yet agreed to carry NFL Network, but we will continue to work as hard as we can to resolve this commercial dispute as soon as possible."

That isn't likely to happen in the next three weeks. According to Time Warner cable spokesman Mark Harrad, the NFL Network wants cable providers to offer it as part of a basic cable package rather than as a premium service, an idea he said would force Time Warner to raise rates for all subscribers to cover the network's $140 million price tag.

"The NFL Network is asking for a price that would make it one of the top five networks in terms of audience," Harrad said, comparing it to networks such as Disney, ESPN and TNT. "But they're not a network that has shown broad ratings or broad appeal. That doesn't mean we don't want to offer it, because there are definitely customers who will want to pay more to get the NFL Network."

In his letter to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and NFL Network president Steve Bornstein, Lautenberg asked the league to apply the same policy for the Texas Bowl that it uses for its eight NFL telecasts this season. Those games are also broadcast locally by network affiliates.

Officials from Rutgers and the Big East are searching for a way that a local broadcaster such as MSG Network or Secaucus-based WOR Channel 9 could show the game.

That would require changing the NFL's broadcast agreement with the Texas Bowl, and Palansky said the league has no plans to alter that agreement.

Barring that, Rutgers fans could be forced to find bars or restaurants that have satellite feeds, since the NFL Network is carried on DirecTV and the Dish Network.

Comcast, the largest cable company in the country, carries the NFL Network on its digital service that is used by about 7 million of its 24 million subscribers. Comcast is the largest cable provider in New Jersey with about 1.3 million subscribers.

Oddly, Rutgers' men's basketball game against North Carolina will be broadcast on ESPN2 at the same time as the bowl game.

A notice on the Texas Bowl Web site didn't offer much hope for New Jerseyans, though it did suggest a call to action.

"NFL Network is the exclusive broadcaster of the Texas Bowl," it read. "The Texas Bowl can only be seen on NFL Network. If you don't have NFL Network, you won't get the Texas Bowl. Call your local cable provider and ask for NFL Network now."

Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press

[twillybull]

Time Warner strikes again!  

[Guest JulmisteForPrez]

That's so gay.

[Guest]

That isn't likely to happen in the next three weeks. According to Time Warner cable spokesman Mark Harrad, the NFL Network wants cable providers to offer it as part of a basic cable package rather than as a premium service, an idea he said would force Time Warner to raise rates for all subscribers to cover the network's $140 million price tag.

"The NFL Network is asking for a price that would make it one of the top five networks in terms of audience," Harrad said, comparing it to networks such as Disney, ESPN and TNT. "But they're not a network that has shown broad ratings or broad appeal. That doesn't mean we don't want to offer it, because there are definitely customers who will want to pay more to get the NFL Network."

This is the crux of the problem.  Rutgers needs to learn how to Stampede.  Heck, living that close to NYC, I might even organize an in-person stampede.  Hard for the NFL to ignore hundreds of Rutgers fans in their lobby.

[E.T.]

...  Hard ... to ignore hundreds of Rutgers fans ...

I will try in 2008  8-)

[Don Toro]

Speaking of the BIG EAST, I'm glad we don't have WVU's problem. Wvsports.com is in serious meltdown mode.  All the threads are about RR and whether he is leaving for 'bama or not.  They had around 3K fans online at one point, down to 2.5K right now.  

[tbbulls]

I can get nfl network in HD here thanks to verizon

wouldnt have needed it if we went to texas though cause i would of been there to see my bulls live in person

go bulls

[RJWGoBulls]

I feel their pain, Its looking like I wont get to see the bowl game.  The North American Sports Netwrok would prefer to have a Third showing of BYU vs Oregon from the Las Vegas Bowl.....

[hightechbull]

Another pissing match between the NFL network and Time Warner.

We have the same problem here in Tampa with the NFL network & Time Warner/Brighthouse.

I personally think the NFL network idea is stupid.  Do we really need another sports channel, especially one dedicated to a sport that plays so few games as the NFL?  An NBA, NHL, or MLB network makes more sense, but those leagues are smart enough that they will not alienate their local fans; the did enough of that in the past and learned their lesson.  Obviously the NFL is bound to make the same mistakes of the other major sports; piss off their fans in pursuit of more money.

Does the NFL really need that much more money?

[RMF5630]

What is the USF Bowl game being televised on?