NFL's Goodell blasts Comcast
The commissioner said the cable company was depriving fans of the NFL Network by forcing them to pay extra for it.
Joined by Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell blasted Comcast Corp. for putting the league's television network on a paid tier in its cable package.
Goodell was not happy that Comcast cost the league, in the NFL's estimate, nearly eight million homes in viewership.
"We have one cable operator close to here, which has taken us from nine million homes to one million homes, and that's a significant difference," Goodell said after a day of league meetings at a Center City hotel. "They have the right to put us in nine million homes. It's not a matter of negotiation. It's just a decision they made.
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"We're confident the consumers want to see it."
Goodell did not point the finger only at Comcast. The league has had issues with Time Warner Cable, which will not carry the NFL Network.
"There are very little talks that are going on with Comcast right now," Goodell said. "We've had some discussions with Time Warner recently. Right now, we don't see this is going to get resolved, and that's a concern for us. . . . We have a very compelling product outside of our games. We think that the production quality and the content that we have on the NFL Network on a year-round basis is in great demand, and the consumers want it. That is the issue that we're having with our cable operators."
The NFL Network was launched in November 2003. Last month, the NFL complained to the Federal Communications Commission, claiming that Comcast puts its affiliated channels on its basic or digital basic tiers, while the NFL Network is available only on a sports tier for an additional fee.
Darcy Rudnay, senior vice president of corporate communications at Comcast, said the network was included on a digital tier with about nine million customers before this summer. She said it was moved to a sports tier that costs extra because of a significant increase in costs.
"The NFL increased the costs [for carrying] eight out-of-market games significantly," Rudnay said. "A huge amount of people don't want to pay for these out-of-market games, especially for viewers in April or May who don't want to watch repeat programs. That's the issue."
Changing the draft. After enduring the longest first round in NFL draft history in April, Goodell announced that he has changed the way the league conducts its annual college draft. Beginning next year, the draft will start at 3 p.m., rather than at noon, with only the first two rounds occurring on Saturday. There will be 10 minutes (down from 15) allowed for each first-round pick, and seven minutes (down from 10) for second-round picks.
The third round will move to Sunday, beginning at 10 a.m., rather than 11.
The 2008 draft is scheduled for April 26-27 at Radio City Music Hall in New York.
A speech about spying. At the beginning of the meetings yesterday, Goodell talked to the owners and team managers about the repercussions after New England coach Bill Belichick was caught and punished for spying on the New York Jets. Although no one would divulge exactly what Goodell said about Belichick and the Patriots, Carl Peterson, president and general manager of the Kansas City Chiefs, said the commissioner's input was important.
"We play a very competitive game with very competitive people," Peterson said. "The essence of our game is the integrity of it. I think we all understand that you may take it up to a point, but you can't cross a line, and that, if you do, it really starts to erode from the quality and the love of our game and our fans. So it's a concern. It's always a concern."
Overseas. On the eve of their second regular-season game outside American soil - the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants will play Sunday in London - the league would like to have two games overseas next year. It is probable that Kansas City will play a regular-season game in Germany. The other location remains up for discussion.
Expect an announcement at Super Bowl time.
In other international news, the Buffalo Bills explained their motion to play preseason and regular-season games in Toronto. The Bills would like to have a five-year deal to play a regular-season game in Toronto in each of the next five seasons, and a preseason game every other year starting next season.
Contact staff writer Ashley Fox
at 215-854-5064 or afox@phillynews.com.
