Rich Fiscus
26 Aug 2007 19:08
DirecTV's NFL Sunday Ticket service will be making the leap to computer screens across the country this fall.
NFL Sunday Ticket already allows viewers to watch NFL football games that wouldn't normally be available on their local TV stations. The company has now announced that anyone signing up for their SuperFan package will also be able to stream live games directly to their computer. This is expected to be a first step towards the NFL extending their broadcast reach to realms beyond the television screen.
The platform requirements and the $368 price tag provide a steep barrier to entry for the NFL's streaming package, but that may be exactly what the NFL wants. The NFL has taken a very protective approach to online video, more so than just about any other sports league. That's why you'll be hard pressed to find any recent game footage online anywhere other than NFL.com.
So why would they want to price the product out of the reach of many consumers? It may come down to a couple of factors. First, by keeping the price high, participation will be low enough to help avoid potential broadcast issues. It's also possible they simply don't want to make the program mainstream until everyone is agreed on how the details for the service will work out. That may not happen until after a season or more of experimentation.
Source: Ars Technica