DIRECTV's Billion Dollar Gamble
When you think of DIRECTV you think of sports, nobody does sports like DIRECTV. DIRECTV’s main sports franchise is the NFL Sunday Ticket, a package that give DIRECTV customers every regular Sunday season NFL game available on their televisions.
Over the years the NFL package has kept NFL fans glued to DIRECTV. Fans have stood by DIRECTV as the price of the NFL package continues to climb each year as they want their NFL and they want it all.
The NFL has been such a good partner with DIRECTV that the nations largest satellite provider is willing to gamble a billion dollars on the NFL for next years season. The issue is however that there might not be an NFL season next year, and if there is not DIRECTV will still be required to pay the NFL.
All signs are pointing that their will be a lock out of players by owners for next season. Reports are that talks between the NFL and the NFL Players Association are going no where, and that the NFL has hired Bob Batterman to help plan out their lockout strategy. Batterman is no stranger to lockout battels as he oversaw the lockout of the NHL in 2004 – 2005 which resulted in the cancellation of the season.
Under the deal with the NFL, DIRECTV is required to pay the NFL one billion dollars regardless if NFL football is played in 2011. With this payout alone team owners can afford to sit around and have this lockout while they get what they want from the players and their union.
This is one we will be keeping an eye on.
What is It?
If you an electronics geek like I am then no doubt you are waiting for tomorrows huge announcement by the folks at Apple. It is expected that tomorrow they will finally announce their long awaited table which is expected to be called the iPad.
From all the rumors circling about this thing this product could be one of the most revolutionary devices to be released in a long long time. And while the rumors have been telling all the great things that it may be able to do the one thing that interests me is that this product may change the way you watch television. If the rumors are correct you will be able to view your favorite shows on your iPad, and instead of paying providers such as DIRECTV, DISH Network or your cable company you would instead pay a small monthly fee to Apple.
This could be a game changer. I will be watching tomorrows announcement with baited breath.
YOURE KILLING ME! commented:
I really doubt they'll take a billion dollar gamble like this, get real dude.
It kills me when someone says - may change the way we watch television.
LMAO
I really doubt anyone is going to pay a small monthly fee to Apple to watch their favorite TV shows on an Apple imaxiPad.
Ben commented:
Just like Fox and TWC this deal will get done, just not anytime soon.
How do you know they owe the money still? commented:
That makes no sense. I'm going to guess that if there is no season then D* gets a year added on to the contract, hence they are spending $1B without getting something in return.
bear commented:
As far as the iPad (sounds like a feminie hygeine product) -
Changing the way we watch television ??
Come on Scott. I have been a member of your site for years and have read this column since you started it, but I don't think I'll be using an iPad to watch the Super Bowl. Even if it could be connected to a large display, multi-purpose devices used as media centers are strictly for hobbyists (sp?). Of course, real change is eveolutionary, not revolutionary and this may be one of those steps, but we have heard these sort of statements before.
As far as the spelling and grammar, I am a little more critical of mainstream media than blogs and journals. Not a big deal to me.
hefter commented:
Scott, the lockout would not be next season. It would be the 2011-12 season that has some potential to be a lock out...next season being the 2010-11 season will be an uncapped year if an agreement is not met in about 5 weeks.