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The latest round in NFL Network’s battle with Comcast goes to the NFL.
The Federal Communications Commission has sided with the league, saying Comcast should carry NFL Network on its digital cable package.
The FCC ruled in a decision it handed down Friday that Comcast discriminated against NFL Network by saying it would only carry it on a more expensive tier. An administrative law judge now could force Comcast to carry NFL Network.
“We are pleased with today’s FCC ruling and appreciate the commissioners’ attention to our complaint,” the NFL said in a statement, per the Associated Press. “NFL cable viewers could soon be the real winners.”
October 11th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
As as a Comcast customer, I have idea about as to whether this is a good ruling from a legal perspective, but I think it’s great news for all of us who want to see the NFL without paying an extra $10/month.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
October 11th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
I’m confused. I thought the FCC had no jurisdiction over any TV unless it’s over-the-air. Seeing how NFL Network is not available in any way shape or form over-the-air, and cable is, of course, cable, how does the FCC figure in this at all?
Also, I’m still mad the FCC didn’t want me to see Janet Jackson’s silver dollar pancake.
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Rating: 3.65 / 5 with 6 rating(s)
October 11th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
YES!!!! Stick it to Comcast!
So when should I cancel my upgraded sports package?
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 5 rating(s)
October 11th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Isn’t it Comcast’s decision wether they want to carry it or not, and if they do for how much and on what tier? Why is the FCC telling Comcast they have to give out something they pay for, and pay a LOT for, essentially for free?
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Rating: 3.65 / 5 with 6 rating(s)
October 11th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
Reason #1 of why I was thrilled to switch from Comcast to Verizon Fios.
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Rating: 3.65 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
October 11th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
@ Slow Joe:
They have jurisdiction over “interstate telecommunication”, which includes cable TV.
You may be thinking of the indecency rules, which only apply to OTA broadcasts.
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Rating: 4 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
October 11th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
I am confused. How can the FCC tell another business not controlled by the FCC what to do? That is like saying I have a coffee shop & I have to give you a small coffee with every sugar bun. Are you shure this story is accurate? Even if the FCC does have some kind of control over cable, who are they to tell a company what they can & can’t charge. Mind you I am a Cablevision guy who has yet to even be able to get the NFL Network, but still I don’t get this….
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Rating: 2 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
October 11th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
comcast is the worst customer experience I’ve ever seen, so good
But I think this whole suit is silly, people act like this is NBC we’re talking about. I think Comcast charges me an extra $3 a month for the NFL Network, on top of the $100 a month for my cable and internet I already pay. Should I automatically assume that I get the NFL Network when I sign up for Comcast? No, just like I didn’t assume I’d get HBO.
But seriously $3? this is the NFL trying to stick their sticks wherever they can.
But I don’t care too much in this case, let me them insert it into Comast, Hard.
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
October 11th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
@ Crushing Touchdown Run: Thank you.
Whenever anyone talks about the FCC, I get the eminem song in my head:
So the FCC won’t let me be
or let me be me, so let me see
They try to shut me down on MTV
But it feels so empty, without me
I would have included more lyrics, but there’s NO WAY my comment would have been approved.
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Rating: 2.35 / 5 with 6 rating(s)
October 11th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Comcast has been doing this kind of sh*t to their customers for years. It’s good to see them get some of their own medicine.
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Rating: 4.35 / 5 with 6 rating(s)
October 11th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
thank god for DirecTV. I would hate having to deal with this…….
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Rating: 3.4 / 5 with 5 rating(s)
October 11th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Basically they are saying Grandma, who hates football, has to pay extra for the NFL network even though she doesn’t want it. Bad decision
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Rating: 2.25 / 5 with 11 rating(s)
October 11th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
The issue is Comcast’s discriminatory treatment of NFL Network as compared to other sports networks, including networks that Comcast owns. Relegating NFLN to a subscription tier while keeping all of the other networks on the basic tier harms NFLN’s ability to compete for programming. Comcast can refuse to carry NFLN, but I don’t think that’s gonna make their subscribers too happy.
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Rating: 3.65 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
October 11th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
As long as it is good for us, Then that is all I CARE about it. Our cable provider (Charter) does not even give us the option to pay for NFL network. You just don’t get it at all.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
October 11th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
@peter007phxaz-
That’s a good point. But I hate Wifetime, Oxygen, Hallmark Channel, etc., etc. Even though I’m not paying ‘extra’ for those channels, if my cable company didn’t carry them, I’m sure mine and everyone’s bill would be less.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
October 11th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
who’s Grandma wouldnt like football!?! that just plain Un-American!!!
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
October 11th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
Comcast could give subscribers the NFLN for no extra charge and just enjoy the ratings and the advertising revenue that comes with it. They don’t have to charge Grandma extra to come out smelling like a rose on the deal… but they will anyway and they’ll blame it on the NFL. They want to come out smelling like a room full of roses. Oh yes, Comcast is gonna get their money whether they get it from the basic tier or a subscription tier.
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
October 11th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
If Comcast had always charged for this channel I wouldn’t have minded but the fact that it was offered for free and then later they decided to charge for it when they saw how popular it became I thought was total BS.
Glad to see the system work from time to time.
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Rating: 4.5 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
October 11th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
@ peter007phxaz
If I’ve got to pay for her cooking shows, she’s got to pay for my football. I’m all for a la carte pricing, but the way it stands now we’re probably all paying for channels we hate.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
October 11th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Yayyyyyy!!!!!!
Comcast has been charging me extra.
(In an unrelated story,
last month they sent me a bill that
was $282 dollars more
than I really owed.
I say that to say
they are hungry for the money,
so I guess it is a related story.)
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
October 11th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
i don’t understand why any of you are confused.
we live in an increasingly socialist country where big brother runs everything and only answers to corporate interests.
big brother is in the process of nationalizing the banks, necxt year after the most marxist socialist to ever run is elected they will get to work on your medical care. it seems to be what you all want, or so the polls say.
this is just an example of big brother mediating a dispute between its corporate constituants.
do you know who loses?
we the customers lose.
if required to carry it, comcast will no longer charge an extra fee for it, that’s true.
instead they will raise the price for all customers.
the people cheering, who think the NFL is sticking it comcast are as silly as the notion of only taxing the rich.
like the rich they will just pass the cost along to the little guy, thats how the rich get richer and the poor poorer.
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Rating: 1 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
October 11th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
Eminem? Jesus, did I jump into a time machine and go back to 2003?
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Rating: Not yet rated
October 11th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
Hopefully all of us in and around NYC will be able to sign up for the NFL Network on Chuck Dolan’s Monopoly called “Cablevision”
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Rating: Not yet rated
October 11th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
Another shining example of government interference. We are headed down the path to Socialism. Government should butt out and let the private sector decide.
First we nationalize the banking industry, what’s next? We are a doomed nation…
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Rating: 1 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
October 11th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
I hate Comcast AND DirecTV……they can all EABOD!!!!
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Rating: 1 / 5 with 1 rating(s)