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YouTube TV adds NFL Network to its core lineup
With football season right around the corner, YouTube TV is making some significant changes to its NFL and general sports coverage.
NFL Now online network promises a unique experience for football fans
Super Bowl XLVIII is just around the corner, and the NFL's taking advantage of the week leading up to it by using it as a platform to reveal its next venture: NFL Now. Today, at a press event in New York City, the National Football League introduced a newly created digital network, dubbed NFL Now, which it says will focus on delivering a "personalized stream of content" to fans of the sport worldwide. While the online service won't be streaming football games live -- not at the time of launch, at least -- it will have full on-demand clashes to offer, as well as highlights and other content produced by teams across the league. In addition to all of this, there's also going to be an abundance of extra video from across other NFL properties, including NFL.com, NFL Network and NFL Films. And, better yet, it will be free. However, don't expect Now to act only as a hub for all that aforementioned stuff: The NFL says we can anticipate a ton of original programming to be available as well -- though it hasn't gone into detail about what type exactly. Once it actually gets rolling, we're told the user experience on NFL Now is set to be extremely personalized and easily customizable. For example, users can select from a number of preferences, like favorite team and fantasy players, and NFL Now will show a stream of content based on those choices. "Eventually, no two users should get the same experience on NFL Now," a league representative said to us. NFL Now is set to have applications on iOS, Android, Windows Phone 8, Xbox One and "across select consoles and streaming devices."
NFL Network's Thursday Night Football Xtra app comes to Android
Just in time to arrive alongside some real referees, the NFL Network has expanded the companion app experience for its Thursday night game to include Android users. Now active as the Browns take on the Ravens in a game where a defender catching the ball in the end zone with both hands is likely to be ruled an interception and not a touchdown, Thursday Night Football Xtra promises fans additional interaction with polls, games, stats. There's also live video reports from Simon Wilcots on the sideline, as well as some conveniently placed ads as seen in the screenshot above. We checked it out early on and the content available was mirrored across devices and platforms, although it was oddly stuck in portrait mode on our Nexus 7. The feature debuted on iOS last week, and is now available on Android phones and tablets as a separate app from the standard NFL '12. Hit the source link below to download it (Verizon subscribers have their own version) as we wait to see if Brandon Weeden can learn to play quarterback before he turns 30.
NFL Network and RedZone Channel coming to Time Warner Cable (Update: Officially confirmed)
You don't have to look high (or low) to find a litany of complaints regarding Time Warner Cable's service, support or pricing, but it's evidently aiming to right one particular wrong later today. According to Bloomberg, the National Football League has inked a deal with TWC to bring the NFL Network and RedZone Channel to its systems. The move comes just months after the NFL ushered its networks onto rival Cablevision, putting TWC is a particular bind in the greater NYC market. It's still unclear where the channels will be positioned and how much extra you'll have to pony up to get 'em, but hey -- it's cheaper than moving to a FiOS neighborhood. (Though, admittedly, less satisfying.) Update: Both parties have confirmed it, NFL Network and NFL RedZone Channel are coming to Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks starting September 23rd. NFL Network will be included for customers on the Digital Basic and Sports Pass tiers, while NFL RedZone is on the Sports Pass package only, check the press release after the break for the relevant details and self-congratulatory affirmations.
NFL Network, a la carte NFL RedZone Channel are coming to Google Fiber subscribers
It isn't quite ESPN, but sports fans who also happen to love technology -- yes, they exist -- will be happy to know that choosing Google Fiber doesn't mean going without NFL Network and NFL RedZone. All Google Fiber subscribers will get NFL Network, while NFL RedZone will run you $10 a month, but for only four months of the year. Not exactly just in time, though, as you won't be able to subscribe to NFL RedZone until one day after the first Sunday of football on September 10th. Either way, this is huge news if you're a fan of the most popular sport in the US -- but not so much for Timer Warner Cable which is the single biggest cable provider who doesn't carry it, and happens to compete against Google for subscribers in Kansas City.
Cablevision set to offer NFL Network, RedZone Channel after finally striking a deal
It certainly took a lot longer than we expected it to, but it's here at last: Cablevision and the National Football League have finally struck a viewing deal -- a multi-year agreement, no less. Earlier today, the aforementioned TV provider announced it will start offering the well-known NFL Network and RedZone Channel to its Optimum TV customers starting tomorrow, with both channels being available in standard definition and, of course, high-def as well. Naturally, Cablevision users will have to be subscribed to the proper IO package in order to get the action included in these channels, but something tells us you won't mind upgrading your bundle if need be. The official word from the cable company's in the PR below, and now you have something else to look forward to tomorrow.
NFL Network, Redzone Channel could be coming to more cable companies
If your cable company hasn't offered NFL Network so far, keep an eye out, as the league's station and the National Cable Television Cooperative are opening it and NFL Redzone up to the co-op's members. The group claims 17 of the 20 largest cable companies in the country as it's members (including Suddenlink, Cablevision, Cox, GCI and more -- but not Time Warner), so while it's not a straight shot to seeing this channel in your guide, the option is out there so call your provider if you're interested.
NFL Network brings summer football, Canadian style
Happy Canada Day everyone, usually we just skip right on by to our own Independence Day but we're giving our up north neighbors props since their football is coming our way this summer, and in high definition. The NFL Network announced it is airing 14 Canadian Football League games in 2010, starting tonight with a monster Montreal Alouettes / Saskatchewan Roughriders matchup. Of course, we have no idea if that's a big game or not, but it is a rematch of last year's Grey Cup championship game. After tonight's debut, there will be three Saturday night games before things come back on Fridays in September. Take this time to read up on the rules (12 men per side? insanity) and the crazy wide field those Canucks play ball on over on the Shutdown Corner -- we'll see you at 7 p.m.
NFL Redzone Channel to air in stadiums during games
Add another use to the high definition scoreboards and displays liberally spread throughout every sports stadium these days, since the NFL announced its NFL Redzone channel will be shown during games. Replacing the NFL Films highlights package, fans at the game can see teams inside the 20 somewhere else as they happen. The RedZone channel has been an excellent addition for sports viewers at home, we'll see if it's enough to lure people away from their couch and the big screen to the stadium with its "real game atmosphere" and $10 beers.
NFL Mobile comes to Verizon with livestreaming RedZone channel
We'd heard that the NFL would be bringing the RedZone channel to phones this season, and it looks like Verizon was the highest bidder: NFL Mobile will launch on Big Red next month with the draft, complete with live streaming video of the event, on-demand video analysis from NFL Network, a pick-by-pick draft tracker, and other content. Once the season starts, customers will get RedZone, live streams of Sunday night and Thursday night games, on-demand video highlights and analysis, live home and away radio broadcasts, fantasy info, and the usual nasty ringtones and graphics. That's a ton of content, and it certainly makes Sprint's NFL package seem a little light in comparison -- we'll have to see what pricing is like and what devices this'll run on closer to launch, however. Bring on the draft! Update: We just confirmed that NFL Mobile will be exclusive to Verizon for the next four years, which means Sprint customers are out of luck. Verizon paid a pretty penny for the rights: the Wall Street Journal values the deal at $720 million.
NFL's new RedZone channel won't be seen by most
We love the NFL in HD, and have often wondered why we've paid $300 for the NFL Sunday Ticket in HD, and then spend 90 percent of the time watching the RedZone Channel. So you can imagine how excited we were to hear that thanks to the NFL renegotiating its contracts with DirecTV, Fox and CBS; that the RedZone channel would be available to every provider in the US instead of just to DirecTV Sunday Ticket subscribers. But the more we learn about the new channel, the more annoyed we felt. There is just something fundamentally wrong about a full time cable channel that only broadcasts 119 hours out of the 8760 hours a year. This is especially true when you realize that this is the very same 119 hours a year when the existing NFL Network broadcasts almost nothing at all. There simply is no other reason then pure greed to have two separate NFL channels. So as much as we'd love to enjoy this channel during the season, we completely respect all the providers out there refusing to sign a carriage deal -- Comcast is the only one that wil carry it at the moment -- at least until the two channels are combined, and then the programming can't get here soon enough.
Every single preseason game will be on the NFL Network in HD
You read that right, starting in just a few weeks all 65 NFL preseason games this year will be presented in HD on the NFL Network. That is music to any NFL fan's ears and something we only wish we could get during the regular season. Of course the preseason is a whole different ball game, because unlike the regular season, most games don't air at the same time and are produced by local affiliates all around the country instead of by four national networks. We can only assume that because of the fact that all but twelve of these are re-broadcasts, that the live presentations in your local market will be in HD as well, but we'll have to wait and see. Speaking of waiting, we're still waiting to hear if this will be the first NFL season without a single SD game -- an HD snob can dream can't he?
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.
NFL Network & Comcast could be close to a deal, moving channel to digital basic
Not that we usually put much stock in Peter King's NFL rumors, but word is the NFL Network and Comcast are close to working out a deal that will put the channel right where the NFL wanted it all along, on the regular digital cable package instead of the added-price sports tier. Since the channel didn't disappear May 1 as threatened, it would seem an agreement on pricing has been reached and according to King things were nearly finished on Thursday and Friday but the two have been hammering out final details even today. We'll see if this really happens, and not a moment too soon negotiations also under way with Fox, CBS and NBC and labor talks due to get under way with the Players Association.
NFL Network remaining on Comcast, for the time being
As you already know, the NFL Network's contract with Comcast expires tonight, and while the two fight it out over where the channel belongs, on basic cable or a sports tier, it's been threatening to leave the cable company's lineup altogether. Not quite at the 11th hour however, comes word from the Comcast Voices blog that the two are still trying to work things our and due to currently "productive discussions" NFL Network will stay on Comcast systems for now. It'll still be some time be some time before their court case has a ruling, but we're sure your voice on the matter has already been heard.
Poll: Who is right in the NFL Network / Comcast battle?
The hearing is over and both sides have presented their cases to the judge, but it could be up to a month before there's a ruling on the NFL Network vs. Comcast case, and with the channel due to disappear in just a few more days we're leaving the decision up to you. Who do you roll with, the sports channel arguing the cable giant won't open up its lucrative massive subscriber base while keeping them tied to its own useless channels, or the cable company protesting too high subscriber fees for a niche product? Submit your amius briefs in the comments.%Poll-29301%
DISH & NFL work out a new multiyear agreement
Things haven't all been sweet between DISH Network and NFL Network, wrangling over details of their agreement since '06, but a new deal should keep the channel on the Classic Silver 200 package for years to come. Combined with DirecTV's new Sunday Ticket deal satellite dish owning football fans can rest easy, but it still looks like Comcast subs will be sweating it out 'til the end of the month.[Via USA Today]
NFL Network, Comcast slapfight could see channel yanked May 1
This Hatfield & McCoy-like dispute has been going on for years now and it might be ready to come to a head. In case you haven't seen the ads, the NFL Network could leave Comcast altogether May 1. As always, the NFL wants to be on the basic tier in every subscriber's house alongside ESPN and, less popular, Comcast owned channels, and Comcast wants to keep it on the sports tier, where only those willing to shell out extra will see what it claims is the 4th most expensive channel it has. We like the NFL, but we also hate higher basic cable bills for stuff not everyone wants to watch. Of course, an 11th hour reprieve is always possible -- see Viacom, Big Ten Network and more, but next month Comcast subs may have to choose which large, greedy corporation they love more.Read - NFL, not Comcast, is behind dispute over NFL NetworkRead - I Want NFL Network
Sprint prepares to phone-cast entire NFL games, starting tonight
The National Football League and Sprint have been tied up in one form or fashion for years now, but the relationship is finally rounding third and heading for home. All mixed analogies aside, what we're saying is that the feature you've been clamoring for has finally arrived, and beginning tonight, select Sprint subscribers will be able to watch the entire Cleveland Browns vs. Denver Broncos tilt on their handset. Obviously, you'll need a Sprint TV-capable handset and an Everything Plan (or a $15 per month add-on) in order to tune in, but tonight's game -- which kicks off at 8:00PM ET on the NFL Network -- will be the first of eight games (televised solely on that network) to air via Sprint. Whether or not The Now Network can keep up with the action, however, remains to be seen.
NFL Network launches HD information screen to jazz up SD material
At this point, it's really tough to imagine NFL in SD. That being said, some of the material that airs on NFL Network is still in standard-def, but the network is making strides to pretty it up a bit before it goes all-HD next year. Starting today, the channel has launched its new HD information screen on NFL Network HD, which "appears on [the] network when there is standard-definition programming on the air and displays all the latest NFL scores, standings and injury reports." Also of note, a spokesman for the channel pinged us to say that NFL Network is "currently in the process of migrating to 100% HD programming by sometime in 2009," which ought to send chills down the spines of all you NFL junkies looking for even more of your favorite sport in high-def. Now, if we could all just stop talking about that Brett fellow, everything would be cool.
