Nov

20

Comcast demands NFL Network cease “dirty tricks”

Posted by Stephen Rhodes under NFL, Off The Field News 

ComcastNFL Network
In a story that I had written here at NFL GRIDIRON GAB back on November 6, titled, “Cable companies, NFL Network battle in Texas”, Time-Warner and the NFL Network were battling it out to secure customers; specifically, both parties were arguing over which package that potential customers should subscribe to and what they should be charged.

Well add another player to this battle: Comcast. According to Rachel Cohen of the Associated Press, Comcast has sent a “cease and desist” letter to the NFL Network, demanding that their representatives stop encouraging fans to leave the cable provider. Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys and chairman of the league’s NFL Network committee, has urged current customers of Comcast and other large cable providers to either switch to satellite television or a cable provider that carries NFL Network.

The channel’s Web site, iwantnflnetwork.com, includes a link that says, “MAKE THE SWITCH”. Above a field to enter a zip code, the text reads, “Switch to a TV provider that will bring you NFL Network, not hold you hostage.” The letter from Comcast, signed on and dated Monday, states that such actions violate the existing contract between the network and Comcast. In response, NFL Network spokesman Seth Palansky replied, “The legal arguments are without merit, and Comcast subscribers who are dropping that service do not need encouragement from us.”

This isn’t exactly a new disagreement between Comcast and NFL Network. Previously, the network sued Comcast after the cable provider decided to relocate the channel from its basic digitaltier of channels to its premium sports tier that current customers must pay extra to receive. In May 2007, Manhattan state Supreme Court Justice Bernard J. Fried ruled in favor of Comcast; as expected, the network appealed the ruling.

The aforementioned letter also requests that the network confirm in writing by the close of the business day on Friday that they have stopped its efforts to influence customers. Comcast spokeswoman Jennifer Khoury stated that she didn’t want to speculate as to what the cable provider would do if its demands were not met. One thing of note, which may or may not influence any future legal actions between the 2 parties – The NFL Network’s initial strategy was to encourage fans to ask their cable providers to add their channel. Jones did acknowledge earlier this month that the focus had shifted; he said that cable company executives had “dared” him to prove that viewers so desired the network that they would switch providers.

As I had stated in my previous article, I said back then that although I have not personally read any agreements that have been signed between the network and the cable companies involved in this legal mess, there appears to be some “underhandedness” between either the network and/or the cable service providers (the previous article mentioned Time-Warner). I obviously am not trained in the legal profession, but there, nonetheless, appears to be some inconsistencies between both parties. If there is anyone out there who has access to the written agreements, please contact us here at NFL GRIDRON GAB and let us know the specifics.

The feeling that I get is that this may possibly go to arbitration – and as a result – there will be no “real” winners in this legal mess. I do realize that this argument is over wording in said contracts, but at the same time, free enterprise is what is supposed to make this country go round. But again, if anyone out there with access to these legal documents and hopefully is in the legal profession could contact us, it will hopefully simplify all of this.


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Comments

3 Responses to “Comcast demands NFL Network cease “dirty tricks””

  1. Sasha Cohen on December 14th, 2007 5:03 am

    Hello…Man i just love your blog, keep the cool posts comin..holy Friday . Sasha Cohen

  2. Senater Arlen Specter Needs To Drop Spygate Issue | What's The 401?!?! on May 19th, 2008 10:31 pm

    [...] this has nothing to do with Spygate, and everything to do with the fact that Comcast, who has been engaged in a battle with the NFL centering around the NFL Network, also happens to be one of Specter’s biggest campaign [...]

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