NFL & Comcast reach agreement: NFL Network switches to digital classic by August 1

Forget all the fights and accusations, the NFL Network and Comcast have reached an agreement that will see the channel moved from the sports tier to its Digital Classic level by August 1, available to almost 2/3 of the company's subscribers. Also coming to cable bound NFL fans? Video on-demand content and Comcast will have the "ability" to offer the no longer exclusive NFL Redzone Channel when it launches. No word on what this means for any other operators but we wouldn't be surprised if this deal is just the first of several providing wider access to NFL Network. Now, just to see how much our cable bill jumps in the fall to know the real cost of this addition.

[Jonthomasdesigns Posted May 19th 2009 1:11PM]

"The deal spans 10 years and would cost Comcast 40 cents to 45 cents per subscriber to get the NFL Network, down from the NFL's previous asking price of 70 cents."

[Gib Posted May 19th 2009 3:20PM]

So, what you are saying is that Comcast will only raise the cost of Digital Classic by $10-15... That's Comcastic!

[Jonthomasdesigns Posted May 19th 2009 4:22PM]

Exactly !

[(Unverified) Posted May 19th 2009 5:15PM]

And the really bad thing is that the Sports and Entertainment Package price won't be reduced. I'll end up paying more for the channel that I was getting anyways. At least when Digital Classic goes up...you've at least added a channel.

[JBDragon Posted May 20th 2009 1:57AM]

Great, no matter where it goes, I still will NEVER WATCH IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[(Unverified) Posted May 20th 2009 7:20PM]

Comcast bought my local cable system around 2001. I decided to upgrade from strictly analog to the digital service. NBA TV was on the basic, all-inclusive digital plan then. Soon after, they moved it to the newly created sports tier. I added this sports tier for around $5 per month, so I could keep watching NBA TV. Occasionally, CC would broadcast some of the current studio shows and live games in HD on a completely separate channel, but over time, that has stopped completely.

At this point, the only reason I continue to subscribe to the sports tier is for NFL Network HD. Once that moves off of the sports tier, the only thing that could keep me paying the extra monthly fee would be if they added NBA TV HD.