DEAR NFL....as a Packer Fan....I say.......""""""""LOCK EM OUT """"""""""""

[3irty1]

How do you figure that no team has more to gain from a lockout than the Packers? You know how quickly these windows can close--the Packers would be losing a year when the team is in its absolute prime. I'd say nobody has more to lose than the Packers.

[prime311]

Expectations of growing from 9 to 20 Billion in the near future sounds like pipe dreams. Even if it could happen, much of that would have to be a result of inflation. Are we going to be able to start investing in NFL futures so the net worth can be artificially inflated? The only realistic way to increase net worth like that is if they could become globally popular and I just don't see that happening.

[MJZiggy]

Ah but they think they're going to become globally popular. That's why the games in London and Germany. That's what NFLE was all about. I don't see them reaching 20 billion dollars--I know too many people who have reached the limit of how much money they're willing to put out. An average of $400 for a family of four to have 3 hours of fun on a Sunday afternoon is already a lot to ask, and then you run into Jerry Jones who bent the fans over for twice that last season. They're depending on a lot of rich people who really aren't that rich anymore.

[Tony Oday]

I have to pay a ton to watch Packer Games...still cheaper than going to the bar to do it

[bobblehead]

From some form of "pay per view". Ten years ago, the NFL started building toward a model in which we will all have to pay to watch or listen, in some way or another. There was an interview with a league marketing guy a couple years ago. I have wondered if he was fired for doing it, or if it was intentional as an ice-breaker of sorts. Basically, he said it is not fair that one fan pays $100 to watch at the stadium, and another sits at home and watches for free. As he asked, shouldn't it be worth a couple dollars for any fan to watch or listen? He even mentioned pay per listen radio.

They are heading that way. I suspect more and more games will go to the NFL Network, and subscription radio will start getting games. As the momentum builds, the cost to have it will increase. Currently, cable providers pay relatively low fees for NFLN. That will change.

boxing promoters felt the same way...I don't see how this could possibly go wrong.

Ok, seriously, most of us are addicted to the NFL and will pay...our kids will not. Too much entertainment available. You can't hook the kids by selling the product, you have to give them a taste for free. (that really sounded bad)

[MJZiggy]

I have to pay a ton to watch Packer Games...still cheaper than going to the bar to do it

Not for me anymore. I pretty much only watch network TV and netflix in the offseason and not all that often either. Therefore I have to add in the total cost of satellite service and the per-game figure jumps substantially. I can go to the bar, eat and drink every game for less than it costs for satellite and Sunday Ticket.

[pbmax]

From some form of "pay per view". Ten years ago, the NFL started building toward a model in which we will all have to pay to watch or listen, in some way or another. There was an interview with a league marketing guy a couple years ago. I have wondered if he was fired for doing it, or if it was intentional as an ice-breaker of sorts. Basically, he said it is not fair that one fan pays $100 to watch at the stadium, and another sits at home and watches for free. As he asked, shouldn't it be worth a couple dollars for any fan to watch or listen? He even mentioned pay per listen radio.

They are heading that way. I suspect more and more games will go to the NFL Network, and subscription radio will start getting games. As the momentum builds, the cost to have it will increase. Currently, cable providers pay relatively low fees for NFLN. That will change.

Also from the next round of Network TV contract renewals. ESPN just paid a huge increase and the other networks will likely follow suit. NFL ratings have climbed back to numbers that haven't been seen since the early days of the cable explosion. And given the fractured TV universe now, those number are even more valuable because they are almost unique.

I would be surprised if they don't achieve 1/3 of their expected gain from the next round of TV negotiations.

[pbmax]

dp