The BoormanBlog

Looks like the ongoing war between the NFL and most cable providers took an unexpected turn toward the least likely participant: the fans.

The NFL was broadcasting selected games on their own NFL Network, using these games as leverage against the cable companies to carry the network as part of their packages. Most cable and satellite companies offer the NFL Network, but not as part of the basic package. Some don’t offer it at all. The NFL network wanted the cable companies to offer the network as part of their basic packages, but didn’t want to come down on the price they were asking.

Enter the final regular season game for the 15-0 New England Patriots vs. the playoff locked New York Giants. Looks like Bill Belichick is going for the record. If the Pats win on Saturday night, it will be the first time in the history of the 16 game season that an NFL team has gone undefeated (the `72 Dolphins had a 14 game season). The fans wanted the chance to witness history, and they didn’t want to be held hostage by either the NFL or the cable company. After receiving millions of complaints, the NFL relented and will allow the Patriots/Giants game to be broadcast on the NFL network, as well as CBS and NBC. This is the first time a regular season NFL game will be broadcast on 3 networks.

Mind you, I’m a free market supporter all the way. The NFL had every right to restrict broadcasting of this game to their network. I admire the NFL for relenting “just this once” and letting the fans witness history. Sometimes the little guy wins when he gets together with 999,999 of his closest friends. It’s going to be a heck of a night.