NFL Network, Comcast slapfight could see channel yanked May 1

This Hatfield & McCoy-like dispute has been going on for years now and it might be ready to come to a head. In case you haven't seen the ads, the NFL Network could leave Comcast altogether May 1. As always, the NFL wants to be on the basic tier in every subscriber's house alongside ESPN and, less popular, Comcast owned channels, and Comcast wants to keep it on the sports tier, where only those willing to shell out extra will see what it claims is the 4th most expensive channel it has. We like the NFL, but we also hate higher basic cable bills for stuff not everyone wants to watch. Of course, an 11th hour reprieve is always possible -- see Viacom, Big Ten Network and more, but next month Comcast subs may have to choose which large, greedy corporation they love more.

Read - NFL, not Comcast, is behind dispute over NFL Network
Read - I Want NFL Network

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 9th 2009 5:26PM]

Just bring MNF back to ABC. That's all I want. I really really want to dump pay TV altogether and go with OTA only, but I need my MNF.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 9th 2009 5:33PM]

F Comcast for making it a Pay channel .. the other channels in the Sports pkg are lame-o ..

[Biggiesized Posted Apr 9th 2009 5:51PM]

I'd prefer NFL Network to the Big 10 channel.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 9th 2009 7:25PM]

I don't mind paying for what I want. I pay to subscribe to WWE 24/7 why not pay for something you enjoy watching? Why does EVERYONE have to share the burden of paying for something you watch? Would it be fair to make EVERYONE pay for me to have WWE 24/7 on basic cable?

[glennS Posted Apr 9th 2009 7:53PM]

No contest. I love the NFL way more than Comcast. I hate Comcast. But that is a stupid question anyway. No way NFL network should be on basic cable, at least not with the current pricing structure.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 9th 2009 7:57PM]

Yea, Comcast pulled that same "it's the xth most expensive channel we have" argument when negotiating over the Big Ten Network. The big blunder was when they admitted that ESPN was in fact their single most expensive channel and yet somehow they didn't put *that* in the sports tier. Oops.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 10th 2009 2:14PM]

I would rather keep the NFL channel on the Sports Tier if the cost is that high. Espn is fine on Basic as it offers alot moer that just 7 games a year. I add the Sports package when I need it and then dump it after the last game.

[UnnDunn Posted Apr 9th 2009 9:59PM]

Carriage disputes are fun. LOL

Comcast (and all the other cable companies) are playing for pride after being denied NFL Sunday Ticket for so long.

Meh, no matter. If you want NFL so much, switch to DirecTV.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 9th 2009 10:29PM]

On the digital cable message Comcast sent us it said despite our best efforts yada yada yada

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 9th 2009 11:10PM]

"We like the NFL, but we also hate higher basic cable bills for stuff not everyone wants to watch."

Yeah bring on a few more religious channels and shopping channels cause we all love paying $45/mo for that crap.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 13th 2009 12:28AM]

Religious channels and shopping channels are given free to cable companies. They cost you nothing.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 10th 2009 12:24AM]

Comcast should show the greedy NFL the door!

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 10th 2009 3:00AM]

I'd side with Comcast a bit more if they actually delivered on some of their other 'promises' like more HD channels, SDV, speed they claim, etc.....

And yes I'm all for pay for what you want, but than let me pay for the 15 channels I want and take the rest away.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 10th 2009 3:50AM]

i agree with comcast. NBAtv, MLB Network, and NHL network are just fine being in the sports tier. SPECIALIZED channels go to a specialized tier. and the NFL's argument about comcast having their own sports channels on basic is BS cause they are local sports channels. with that argument the NFL must feel that them and ESPN are the only sports channels that belongon basic. as far as im concerned the NFL Network is boring as hell. could do without. as a matter of fact i do just fine right now without it.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 10th 2009 9:02AM]

If Comcast pulls NFLN, I'll drop my Comcast.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 24th 2009 10:32AM]

i'll drop comcast too! go to verizon fios better technology, faster and a littel cheaper even with a box for each tv.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 10th 2009 9:40AM]

Yay, Now Just add a channel Like ESPNews HD or The Weather Channel HD and maybe I'll stay with comcast!

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 10th 2009 10:28AM]

I side with Comcast. There just isn't enough variety or content on the NFL Network. I love my NFL but I get along well without the NFL Network. It's a boring channel. Hopefully that ESPN Classic/ ESPNU swap happens. It would be great to get ESPNU.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 11th 2009 1:28AM]

Where were all of you when the NFL and TWC were fighting over this? It is the same arguments all over again, but this time everyone agrees with the cable company.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 11th 2009 12:39PM]

cya later comcast.....you lost me as a customer.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 13th 2009 10:35AM]

Any day now they will have FOIS in my area, and it will be BY BY Comcast!