My Plea to the NFL and Roger Goodell: Increase Out-of-Market Offerings

It appears that the battle between the NFL Network and Comcast is coming to a close. With that behind us, I want to move on to another issue affecting the ability of fans to see as many NFL games as possible.  

It is long past due that the NFL, the most popular sport there is, offers fans a way to watch out of market games beyond just DirecTV.

It is shameful that the NFL does not allow for this, except for the limited number of people who have DirecTV. Both MLB and the NBA offer their out of market package to a much broader group of people, and not just for those with one provider.

Also, both the NBA and MLB offer an Internet package that allows fans to watch most out of market games on their computer. The NFL does not offer this either.

At the very least, the NFL has to provide fans the option of the Internet package. There is nothing worse than being at home on a Sunday and being stuck watching crappy games, knowing that there are so many other games out there I wish I could be following.

I would gladly get DirecTV, but where I live, that is not an option. I can go to a bar to watch out of market games I really want to see, but that is not always the best option. 

Why should I be forced to leave the comfort of my couch to go to a bar where I lose control of what I want to watch, just because the NFL is lagging behind the times? For the most popular sport, there is no reason for this.

I understand there is a deal in place with DirecTV—so what? Offer an Internet package. Charge as much as you want—charge more than DirecTV. But give fans some way to view more than a couple of games on a Sunday. 

Back in 2007, MLB signed an exclusive deal with DirecTV, similar to the deal the NFL has. There was universal outrage and backlash, as well as antitrust concerns. 

Prominent baseball writers, in particular ESPN’s Buster Olney, voiced the complaints of fans and placed pressure on MLB to adjust. By opening day, the deal had been changed, and there was no longer an exclusive deal.  

Yet here we are, 2009, and the NFL chugs along only offering its out of market package via DirecTV, with no Internet option. Those who cover the sport couldn’t care less about this issue. 

Football writers, such as Peter King, have written extensively on the feud between NFL Network and Comcast, yet there's not one word said about the NFL limiting its out of market package to DirecTV only, and not even offering an Internet option. 

So NFL, I am asking that something be done. I love the NFL; I want to watch as many games as I can. Give me and countless others a way to do this if we are unable to get DirecTV—either making deals with other providers or, at the very least, an Internet video option.