The difference between the MLB and NFL exclusivity was MLB was not exclusive and did not have a firm contract already, government stepped in and allowed MLB to be shared with DIRECTV and the three big cable companies. The NFL deal has been exclusive since the 90s and this is an extension of an existing agreement. Plus NFL really does not have any intention of mass distribution for a the reason of protecting local carriage. Local affiliates might not have a big incentive to carry more than one game a week if NFL had more carriage. I have DIRECTV for NFL and HD (among other things, local cable sucks with 10 HD channels and high cost for low amount of channels).

Don the HR10-250 is just the TIVO interface the receiver is I am correct is made by either Hughes or RCA. RCA actually makes one of the HR20s in the market, the HR20-100. If you want to stay in the past, be my guest. I have had both the HR10-250 and HR20-100 and yes it was a little painful but I have a 1 tb drive on my HR20 and I have hundreds of hours of HD recorded and at my disposal plus the upcoming VOD product for Directv. Yes you feel disinfranchised but get over it.