Originally Posted by
1940757690
I don't hate football. Baseball's my sport but I can also appreciate a good football game and, when baseball's over, I'll watch the NFL occasionally.
Here's the thing though. On one hand, can't blame the TPTB ('Television Powers That Be,' including networks and all cable, broadcast and satellite carriers) on one hand since, of course, their goal is profit maximization.
On the other hand, the TPTB represent an industry that will go the way of the dinosaurs. It has happened with book publishing. It has happened with music labels. Why? Simply because once the technology and regulatory structure exist to give consumers choice, trying to support an outdated and non-customer-centric system ensures downfall. That's exactly what's going on with television now (sports and otherwise). It will not persist. Can remember you read that here.
P.S., In case you need a good example of the TPTB's absolute idiocy and madness, Saturday was Exhibit A. For Reds fans living in NYC, BOS, PHL or, like me, in DC, it was impossible to see the Reds game. Said Reds game had major implications for the pennant race in baseball's hottest division. It featured two of the best pitchers in the game (Latos and Greinke). A paying MLB.TV subscriber couldn't get the game because weekend games are often "blacked out" to MLB due to arragements with national broadcasters (in Saturday's case, FOX). A DirectTV or DishTV satellite subscriber was also out of luck since those large satellite companies can't and don't dictate (usually) what a network like FOX shows. Finally, FOX, who had all the cards for Saturday, decided that college football games, featuring non-regionally-relevant-teams, would be of higher interest to their customers on the eastern seaboard and elsewhere. So, no Reds/Dodgers. Why did FOX make that decision? Based on what market research? Who knows?
Tonight, arguably the hottest NFL matchup of Week 1 will be primetime (RGIII's Redskins versus the Chip Kelly remade, Michael Vick Eagles). But, for me, no problem at all getting Reds/Cubs as I will do. It's Monday, so I can bring it up on MLB.TV no problem. Maddening and unsustainable stuff.