Cory's Corner: No NFL pay-per-view — at least not yet

It has finally happened.

I’ve been wondering when pro sports would take a page from boxing and MMA and offer a pay-per-view model.

The NBA just ended that. Starting next year, you can watch a single game for $6.99. The reason why the NBA is smart is because they are offering the PPV for mobile devices as well.

This is huge. Mainly because I don’t watch and listen to things like I used to. If I know I’m going to miss a show or game, I just DVR it. If I miss one of my favorite radio shows, I just download the podcast.

It’s easier than ever to obtain the information we seek.

But now things are about to change again. First of all, the NFL was televised only on network TV. The entire country could easily watch the games with a pair of bunny ears. Then it went to basic cable and now they’re at a higher tier with the dawn of the NFL Network.

This is a whole new level. But the question is, will casual fans be as apt to plunk down $6.99 if there isn’t a rooting interest? For example, will a Ravens fan spend the money on an Eagles-Saints game if Baltimore is on a bye?

The network and cable/satellite model offers security. Even if the fans don’t watch at all, the NFL has already cashed the checks.

With PPV, leagues are taking a risk. They’re hoping that people will still want to watch the smorgasbord of games that are offered each week.

To some this model will give people a way out. Instead of being chained down by contracts and bundles, people will have the freedom to pick and choose what games they want to see — based on their schedule.

This is a new age of home entertainment. More and more people are opting to cut the cable cord and go with Netflix, Amazon Prime or Apple TV as the sole entertainment provider. It’s not a bad way to go, because Yahoo will stream the Oct. 25 Bills-Jaguars game from London.

The moment that deal happened, many people just scoffed because the Bills and Jaguars wouldn’t bring much of an audience anyway. However, it shows that the NFL is paying attention. They know that screens are changing. They realize that more and more people aren’t watching as much in front of a big rectangle anymore. People are pulling out iPads and iPhones at soccer games, grocery stores and airports.

Even though live sports is still the only bastion of appointment TV left, it’s clouded by things like DirecTV’s DoublePlay, which allows you to watch two things at once or the NFL RedZone which is the pro football version of crack. All of the fluff, commercials and wasted time are taken away and you only see the meat and potatoes of games.

This is the golden age to be a sports fan. It’s gotten too easy to be lazy. Gone are the days when you left the living room room to go to the bathroom. However, when you returned you were shocked to find out that your team just ran a punt back 82 yards to tie the score.

Last year the NBA inked a 9-year, $24 billion media rights deal. In 2011, the NFL signed a 9-year extension worth nearly $30 billion with CBS, Fox, NBC and ESPN. Add in the $12 billion contract over eight years that DirecTV signed in 2014 for its Sunday Ticket package and the NFL is going to have to start building its own bank.

The NFL is still the behemoth of all programming. Last year the NFL had 45 of the 50 most-watched shows in the fall. The regular season averaged 17.6 million viewers, which is the second-most behind the 2010 season with 17.9.

The NFL is going to watch how the NBA PPV model operates. But at this point, I would be surprised if the NFL decided to hold its networks, cable and satellite companies hostage by letting fans choose games a la carte.

It all comes back to money and the NFL isn’t going to turn the gushing spigot off just because another league is trying something new. Commissioner Roger Goodell knows that there are plenty of channels that need programming and they would do just about anything to broadcast the cash cow that is the NFL. 

 

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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn

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Comments (28)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
Jay Hodgson's picture

July 25, 2015 at 08:20 am

The NFL is totally missing out. I live in Georgia, right near Florida, so I'm in both Falcons and Jaguars country. The NFL is getting revenue from those games on tv, but I don't watch them. I would pay to watch the Packers every time they aren't on national tv here. Lost revenue for the NFL.

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NickPerry's picture

July 25, 2015 at 08:50 am

I'm all for it. I live in los Angeles and have to fork out the cost of NFL Sunday Ticket every year to see every game. Because they normally play the best game on the schedule here, I get to see about 5 Packers games plus the National Games. Basically I end up paying about $150.00 to $200.00 for Sunday Ticket depending on the deal I can work, to see 5 or 6 games I otherwise wouldn't see. I do it every year but a Pay Per View system would be awesome for Packer Fans in Los Angeles.

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WKUPackFan's picture

July 25, 2015 at 09:34 am

Nick, just curious, do you listen to Petros and Money? I loved those guys when they were on nationally, felt like I was vicariously living in LA. Outrageously funny and informative, heard several interviews with Datone and The Mayor while they were at UCLA.

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ray nichkee's picture

July 25, 2015 at 09:49 am

I miss petros and money. Cant find them anymore where i am.

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WKUPackFan's picture

July 25, 2015 at 11:01 am

Happy Frogman Friday a day late Ray! They went back to being only in the LA market, I was devastated. However, go to podbay and you can pick up the podcasts. Probably can do it through KLAC also. Good Luck, and walk your bike!

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TarynsEyes's picture

July 25, 2015 at 01:37 pm

You apparently have internet service so...why can't you find them anywhere?

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ray nichkee's picture

July 25, 2015 at 02:01 pm

I meant radio. I travel a lot for work and im not able to justify paying top dollar for a service i can rarely use. Have you been to the northwoods? If you have an easy answer i would do it but so far the price dont match the service. How can i post here without internet? i get 2gs with 4g service when i can. Thats enough for me. Its a luxury not a necessity. I still have an old tv with a converter box. Thats how much i care. Long live free radio and tv.

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WKUPackFan's picture

July 25, 2015 at 04:47 pm

I hear you! I'm not sure you can get KLAC on satellite radio. My favorite remains White Pants Wednesday, in honor of Mark Sanchez's photo shoot. Sanchez appeared at at least one White Pants Wednesday remote.

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NickPerry's picture

July 25, 2015 at 08:02 pm

Petros and Money? Can't say I do WKUPackfan. I generally listen to Satellite Radio. Both ESPN channels, NFL Channel, Fox Sports, and Howard Stern! (LOL) Tell me where I can find them and I'll check them out. Possibly 710 AM?

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WKUPackFan's picture

July 26, 2015 at 10:23 am

Nick -KLAC - AM570 - 3-7pm LA time weekly if you care to check it out. Are you a college professor? My uncle was the dean of the Divinity School at Acadia University in Nova Scotia Canada.

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SteveCheez's picture

July 26, 2015 at 01:59 pm

I'm with you, Nick, got the same situation up here in the Central Valley. It is nice to be able to pick the best game (according to my standards) on the times other than Packer times, but it's sure not worth the $$$ I have to pay for the whole package. Just let me but the Packers package, or go a la carte.
The good news is that, at least when the Raiders are playing at home, I usually get a good AFC game,

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zerotolerance's picture

July 25, 2015 at 09:33 am

As a Packers fan I won't miss a game live (although I pay for NFL Replay). What games are not on my local cable I watch at a local pub which has the NFL Ticket. But only one game is on the audio, so many times I only see the game. And I usually drop $50 for food and drinks. I would much prefer to spend $10 to watch these games at home and would SAVE money. And although I do monitor games without the Packers, I really don't care if I miss them live - I can always watch NFL Replay later.

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WKUPackFan's picture

July 25, 2015 at 09:40 am

Excellent article Cory, always enjoy your broader perspective pieces. Anything that makes the Packers more accessible is fine with me (for a reasonable price). Like Zero above, I usually go to a local watering hole for the non-televized games. It's actually kind of fun sitting with fans of other teams.

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SteveCheez's picture

July 26, 2015 at 02:00 pm

If I could find a place out here like White's Tavern in Naperville, IL, I'd dump Sunday Ticket in a heartbeat.

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That’sWhatCheesehead's picture

July 26, 2015 at 06:51 pm

Steve - I live in Naperville. Is that a Packer bar?!

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SteveCheez's picture

July 27, 2015 at 12:52 pm

It is, on Ogden Avenue. Or, at least it was 15 years ago when I last lived there!
Good luck, Chz!

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ray nichkee's picture

July 25, 2015 at 10:06 am

All good points here. I prefer to listen to wayne and larry and watch tv on mute unless joe buck is on. Janet jackson effed that up with the delay now but i can do something else now and know when a good play happens just in time to look up and see it on tv. Many times i get stuck working and have to listen to the radio anyway. Its not hard now to see replays and i still get that live game time experience. Watching the game after its over dont do it for me. If i am able i go to a bar to watch on mondays or thursdays, thats the only time i go out these days. Anyhow, my point is there are so may ways to enjoy the game now instead of finding out what happened the next day. To each there own.

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4thand1's picture

July 25, 2015 at 11:05 am

Money money money. Could this be the tip of the iceberg? Will we be paying for every game in the future? I hope not. They've made it virtually impossible for the average fan to go to a SB, but if you want to max out a few credit cards to do so, its your choice.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

July 25, 2015 at 11:13 am

By and large the out-of-towners have written. I would pay a decent amount if I had to in order to watch 16+ Packer games. In fact, my birthday present to myself this year will be NFL rewind or All-22.

Despite growing up as a huge MLB and NBA fan, I've already proven that I won't pay diddly to watch the NBA, and now I don't even watch the NBA playoffs. I've proven that I won't pay to watch the Brewers on TV, too. I don't suppose the NBA and MLB are shaking in their boots about my desertion, but then, my two boys also don't watch any baseball or basketball - zero, and I am guessing their children won't either. Eventually a sport can get too smart for its own good. It is an interesting issue in economics. Right now the NFL is getting big TV deals because it is America's past time (IMO), but that can change.

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J0hn Denver's Gavel's picture

July 25, 2015 at 11:54 am

" They realize that more and more peopled aren’t watching as much in front of a big rectangle anymore. People are pulling out iPads and iPhones at soccer games, grocery stores and airports."

I've had a computer hooked up to my TV for the last 15 years. Most people these days do too. I understand that you're talking about viewing versatility but no way I'm watching a Packers game on a little iPad. The rectangle rules for watching NFL action (if not at the game, of course). And it can be done with a traditional TV that's hooked up to the web.

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Ibleedgreenmore's picture

July 25, 2015 at 12:20 pm

I have done this for about 5 yrs and stream the live games to the big screen. It is not hard to do and if I can do it anyone can.

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4thand1's picture

July 25, 2015 at 01:41 pm

TY, I'm technologically illiterate. I have teenage kids and grandkids to show me what to do,lol.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

July 25, 2015 at 10:11 pm

If I had my way any time a TV executive sat down in a restaurant they'd have to order the entire god damn menu before they even got a glass of water.

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ray nichkee's picture

July 26, 2015 at 12:16 am

Dont forget a round of drinks for everybody including the staff.

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Irish_Cheesehead's picture

July 26, 2015 at 02:37 pm

There is never a week that I can't find 5-6 streams of the Packers game online - many in HD. But I'd certainly be willing to pay per-game if they offered it. I won't play their BS game of paying for the entire Directv package.

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NewNikeShoes's picture

July 27, 2015 at 02:46 am

bro, u need to tell me about these HD streaming sites
all the ones I go end up spamming my page with viagra ads

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Damdefoe's picture

July 27, 2015 at 08:10 am

Living across the river from Wisconsin, and in a market that favors the purple, it is an annual decision on whether to buy/renew NFL Sunday Ticket. Depending on the number of games that don't conflict with the queens schedule will determine what I do. This year only 2 games will not be televised, so the Ticket is not worth any negotiated price ($150-$249.95). They won't do $100. Watching at a local bar I figure I spend $40 per game on lunch and brews. I would like the ala carte option if it's a reasonable cost.

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FITZCORE1252's picture

July 27, 2015 at 03:46 pm

DTV has had me by the short hairs for almost a decade, since i left the Midwest. Sunday Ticket is literally the only reason im still a costumer. I would love another legitimate option (streams are buffering, ad pushing, pains in the ass).

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