Why is NFL Sunday ticket only on DirecTV?

NFL Sunday Ticket is an exclusive sports package only offered via DirecTV. This package was designed to allow customers to see NFL games from outside of their region every Sunday. The subscriber gains access to over 200 games over the course of the season, and up to 14 games every weekend. Sunday Ticket also provides the customer with the ability to track the stats of up to 18 players of their choosing throughout the season. Throughout the broadcast, you can check multi and single-game scoreboards, and there is a channel dedicated to providing updates and statistics from around the league. Sunday Ticket Superfans can also watch up to 12 games per week in HD.

DirecTV bid for, and won, the rights to be the exclusive provider of this extensive NFL broadcast package until 2010. Before DirecTV obtained exclusive rights to broadcast games, other cable and satellite providers were able to sell Sunday Ticket subscriptions. The only requirement was that they also carry the NFL Network. Since DirecTV is the only provider to carry this package, it has resulted in a large influx of new DirecTV subscribers, while the other satellite and cable companies are not able to legally produce a competitive package.

Right now, the only way for customers to see games out of their area is to try to view a FOX or CBS affiliate via antenna. If the game they are trying to watch is blacked out, they will not be able to watch the game without a subscription to Sunday Ticket.

The NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell, claims that the two largest cable networks, Time Warner and Comcast, use their size and power to discriminate against independent broadcasters , like his NFL Network. Goodell would like the House Telecommunications and Internet Subcommittee to investigate the anticompetitive behavior exercised by Comcast and Time Warner.

The CEO of Time Warner, Glenn Britt argued that it was “disingenuous” for Goodell to compel any cable or satellite carrier to carry the lower valued NFL Network in broad distribution and simultaneously limit access to the higher valued NFL Sunday Ticket.

Ultimately, the fans who cannot, or will not, switch to DirecTV to pay a very high cost for NFL’s Sunday Ticket package, and get tethered to a contract are the ones who lose. The bidding, exclusivity, blackouts, and partnerships among the networks and the cable and satellite companies are struck in the best interests of those companies. This particular deal has disappointed thousands of NFL fans, and if the broadcasts are not more widely distributed after the DirecTV deal expires next year, the fans will ultimately lose again.

Update: NFL Sunday Ticket Will Remain DirecTV Exclusive Until 2014

March 26, 2009 · Filed under Satellite TV

Comments

1  

Quentin Smith

May 13, 2009 @ 1:34 pm

I was a direct tv subscriber for almost 8 years only because of the sunday ticket offered by them. I think it’s completely wrong that you have to be with direct tv just to watch sunday ticket. They seem to take advantage to the fact that they are the sole provider and recently I left them after years of feeling like my business was never appreciated. They never gave me any reason to stay with them other than the sunday ticket and their customer service sucked. I also had a move that went less than smoothly and a upgrade that was supposed to drop my bill for my years of service that got screwed up and raised my bill a good bit. In the end the experience has left me very sour and bitter and I can honestly say I’ll never be back which saddens me since my beloved Steelers just won the super bowl and I would love to see all their games this year. I’ve talked to so many people even before my relationship with direct tv went south and they express interest in wanting sunday ticket but don’t want to switch. The amount of packages sold would greatly increase and fans would be better served if it were offered by other companies. Why doesn’t the nfl do something about this. It seems wrong and why is the nfl got to be the ones being exclusive with direct tv? Seems like they are out to serve some other people and not those who truly love to watch the game. It really shouldn’t suprise me though I mean they seem to want to take the game overseas and hook them up and forget about the lifelong fans their have been. Taking care of us like they did the early players of the nfl. They need to remember who helped get them where they are. Hopefully it will change but until it does I promise I’ll never go back to direct tv.

2  

Scott

August 9, 2009 @ 6:15 pm

Quentin, I feel your pain. I myself am a 49er die hard living in Colorado and at best have watched a handful of games in the past 5 years. Before that I lived in Southern California and had to suffer through predominately San Diego and Raider broadcasts. Prior to moving from Northern California I was a Sunday faithful with season tickets making a three hour trek south. Suddenly I feel like a used up toy tossed aside by the current NFL dictatorship simply because I refuse to cough up ridiculous amounts of money. I find it particularly ironic that Mr. Greedy Goodell is screaming about discrimination when he himself is doing just that to so many fans. If you ask me the NFL is doing nothing less than what amounts to extortion of its fan base. Surely with today’s technology there must be a viable and economical compromise which would allow fans to watch out of area games without breaking the bank. Up until the 08 season I could at least listen to the games over the internet by logging into a local Bay Area radio station. That came to an end with the birth of NFL field pass. Once again the NFL wants more money. Where will it all end?

3  

dan

September 11, 2009 @ 1:25 am

I totally agree with all of you and am unfortunately paying through the A$$ for my Sunday ticket, and the worst part was last year I upgraded to the samsund hd lcd…. come to find out just getting the nfl Sunday ticket just got me the games yes, but if I wanted my games in hd I had to upgrade to the superfan for an extra $100 for the season! CONCLUSION: Goodell shouldn’t have a contract strictly through direct tv…. he should paper view each game for 3.95 that way 1, he would make a killing on all cable customers, 2 we will get to watch the games we want when we want without our wallets being gouged.

4  

Glenn

January 18, 2010 @ 2:21 pm

I too have had it with Directv and their customer service. It is horrible. I have had to call them 4 times in the past week because of billing errors and each tmie I call them some other charge shows up. I only stay because of Sunday ticket. Just now learing that they are exclusive until 2014 saddens me. I might just have to make the ultimate sacrifice though and switch providers.

5  

Douglas

July 29, 2010 @ 12:37 pm

They are missing out on a huge important fact here…

I will watch my football. That’s a given. I want to be able to do it upfront, legitimately. But if you make it such that a “legal” approach is unavailable, I have no choice but to hunt down bootleg video streams. I’m begging for someone to take my money and let me watch football. Instead, they are forcing me to find pirated, FREE, feeds. Who’s winning here?

6  

George

August 22, 2010 @ 9:00 am

I think we should put a class action suit against DirecTv and the NFL for creating this monopoly and making fans signup for 2yr contract for a service we already have with are local providers. I luv Verizon FIOS TV. Had Directv for 12yrs.

7  

David

August 31, 2010 @ 6:51 pm

The reason the NFL continues to give directv the exclusive to this package is to pump it down other countries throats.So until congress steps in directv can continue to offer terrible customer service , and treat us like they are providing air.Directv wanted to have the exclusive to baseball too but the fans got it stopped.Well guess us football fans aren’t as tough as them.

8  

C.T.

September 6, 2010 @ 1:19 pm

I agree fully. The charges for Ticket are ridiculous. The service is poor at best. And frankly, they don’t care if you leave. I have spent 4 hours over two days attempting to sort through the mess. I am going to save over $400 over two years by switching to Dish and have a third TV with DVR at no additional cost.

9  

SamR

September 13, 2010 @ 2:38 pm

I used to get DirecTV to get NFL Sunday Ticket. But as of two months ago, my apartment complex signed an exclusivity deal with Time Warner and cut off all DirecTV service for all residents. Its Time Warner or nothing.

The first day of the NFL season was a huge disappointment, to say the least.

I understand people who think the package is too expensive, but I would happily pay it and miss being someone with that option. We’ve actually discussed moving.

10  

RudyL

October 4, 2010 @ 1:24 pm

I agree with George lets do some thing about this!!! NFL/Goodell should not play these games and give the fans what they deserve we have stood by the NFL for years they can work something out for us the fans.. Mr.Goodell your smarter than this..

11  

Tiffany T

November 27, 2010 @ 4:15 pm

I agree with everyone above. It’s funny how so many people have the same complaints with Direct TV as we do. I bet if their customer service was better, there wouldn’t be so many bitter fans. I personally think it’s illegal that this is allowed. I read an interview with Mr. Greedy Goodell and he states his reasoning for sticking exclusively with Direct TV is because he doesn’t like the fact that Comcast and Time Warner are together. Our government has it’s hand in everything else, why not this? I think there should be a class action suit against the NFL and Direct TV for this. Think about it…what if AT&T were the only cell phone company that allowed texting and internet service? What if they charged these ridiculous rates because they knew they could because they couldn’t go any where else? That probably wouldn’t last very long. I’m all in for starting a class action suit to end this!!!!

We’ve been with Direct TV for 10 yrs and the customer service is the worst!! My hubby is ready to cancel!!! I read above someone gets free streaming…..hmmm may have to look into that.

I very pissed wife of an NLF hubby fan!!

Tiffany T

12  

Mike C

December 12, 2010 @ 4:45 pm

Unfortunately, it’ll only get worse. The NFL has to be laughing all the way to the bank. They have no shortage of income from throngs of lemmings for fans willing to do everything but sell the house to see these games. Game tickets are outrageous, having to commit to one broadcaster to see the games you want on the TV is outrageous. Not having an option to pay-per-view online is outrageous. The NFL is just funneling us all down the fattest cash pipe it can muster. The real problem is people are too numb to do anything about it.

The best thing all of us can do is STOP giving the NFL and DirecTV our money like brainwashed zombies. Instead of support crappy networks and offering thousands of dollars to the NFL, find a local sports bar and go watch the games you like there and help them pay their bill by having a couple drinks with friends. As a nation we spend way too much time with our asses on our couches at home anyhow.

13  

Jazzy J

January 15, 2011 @ 11:37 pm

You people don’t get it! The reason that the NFL gives the Sunday Ticket to Directv is because they can offer the whole package (all games plus the NFL Network). It’s the cable companies who are being greedy here. They don’t want to offer the Sunday Ticket for 1 price for the whole enchilada. They wanted to whack the fans for each game on pay per view. They wanted to charge us fans $29.99 PER GAME!! Add that up over the season, even if you just wanted to watch your favorite team each week! The cable companies are a joke! They are the ones being greedy and don’t give a sh*t about you! If you think Directv’s customer service stinks, try dealing with Charter Cable or Cablevision in the Northeast! They blow!

14  

Cher

October 9, 2011 @ 2:38 pm

I believe the cable companies AND Directv are both greedy..over $300 to see a football game on Sun?? I know it would never happen but would love to see a boycott of the NFL Sunday ticket..I am a long time Directv customer and can afford the ridiculous cost of the package but just think it’s wrong to have 1 game televised every Sun. morning because Directv wants you to pay for all the rest. I won’t do it…Just keep the pc on NFL.com and follow the games. If a boycott would happen for one season it would really hurt them and I would love to watch it!

Leave a Comment