Well this is some interesting news. The NFL has finally decided to get into the internet game by teaming up with NBC to stream all 17 of NBC's NFL games online this season. You’ll be able to watch the games on NFL.com as well as NBCSports.comThis is a bit of a surprising move though, considering the NFL banks on its TV contracts and doesn't like to tread on those deals.
However, since NBC will be streaming tons of Olympic events in mid-August, and the fact that they'll only be showing one game a week (that's the real key), makes them a good test case to see how successful this online endeavor can be.
Naturally, other networks that broadcast games, ESPN, Fox, NFL Network and CBS are far from happy about this.
“The NFL is changing the rules as we go,” one network source said. “The right to stream games was not in any of the contracts we signed.”None of these networks are interested in going to online streaming games primarily because the ad money isn't there yet on the internet. And for ESPN and the NFL Network, their games are big tickets on cable systems' plans.
The other unfortunate thing about the streaming NBC deal is that you'll be able to see all these games on TV anyway. So unless you're stuck in an airport somewhere on a Sunday night and the TV's knocked out, there's almost no reason to go online to watch the games.
The real power will be when the NFL decides to start streaming non-regional games, but I wouldn't expect that anytime soon.
Still, this is at least a step in the right direction. Hopefully someday we'll be able to watch whatever games we want to without having to spend a mint.
NFL to stream 17 regular season games live [Sporting News]
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