NBC Moving Some ND Home Games to Versus

[IrishLax]

Lax, Whiskey: definitely had the same thought. I think it would have been comforting if they had won their bid for the rights to Pac12 football. As it is now, ESPN has no reason to promote us. The only difference going forward would be that we would be aligned with a network in direct competition with ESPN, rather than indirect competition. I think ESPN might have some good reasons to hold off on declaring war on ND, including the fact ND's contract with NBC is up in a few years and ESPN could want to get involved to drive the price up on their competitor, or to steal their marquee draw. By that time, ND will have a better idea of whether the NBCSports channel is a legit competitor or if they need to take their national following to another outlet.

All very, very good points. Going to be a complex and interesting situation.

 

[Cali_domer]

I don't believe you are accounting for the relevant facts. I suspect that most people have cable. The first problem is that versus is not even carried by the local cable company for many people. Second, even when you can get versus, you usually have to buy one of the more expensive cable packages to get it.

Yep I get it but I pay thru the nose just so I could have hockey on Vs and Sprout for my kids.

 

[enrico514]

Not liking this one bit! On top of things, I don't even think Versus is available in Canada!!!

I'm curious, if ND was approach by Versus today to go on their network... I'm sure they would ask big $$$$$$ for taking a risk on a relatively unknown network and being used in the way that they seem to be. This could be dilutive to the brand long term if Versus doesn't do well. + I'll be royally pissed off if I have to catch a game online!!!

 

[Veer option]

They have TV in Canada? News to me...

 

[phork]

For those who say its only 1 or 2 games a year, thats roughly 10% of their games. There are only 12 games a year! This better be streamed online and in HD. A SERIOUSLY STRONG WORDED LETTER IS ABOUT TO BE CRAFTED.

 

[CanadalovesND]

I may get it....

If I dont, Im gonna flip

#pissed off

 

[RyCo1983]

I hope this doesn't happen this season. I just downgraded my Directv package and currently don't have VS. I don't want to have to get it again but I guess I will have to. This is very stupid in my opinion.

We downgraded ours too...no VS...SNAP!
Well...I'll have to go to the bar for whichever game/games they have on VS.


MMMMM
bar...

 

[Rhode Irish]

NBC Universal/Comcast should be taking whatever steps necessary to get NBCSports into every home that gets ESPN. If that makes the channel a loss leader for them in the short term, so be it. And ND should have demanded that NBCU/Comcast agree to make their best efforts to get NBCSports included as a basic cable channel before agreeing to go along with this.

I guess there is a bit of a chicken-or-the-egg situation here, though, in that it will be harder for NBCSports to negotiate with cable providers to get their sports channel into the basic packages unless and until it has some programming that is sure to generate viewership (and ad revenue for the cable provider). Like Lax said, going to be VERY interesting to see how all of this TV and conference stuff plays out over the next 5-10 years. We are definitely in the midst of some major changes, whether everyone is fully aware of it yet or not.

 

[RyCo1983]

NBC Universal/Comcast should be taking whatever steps necessary to get NBCSports into every home that gets ESPN. If that makes the channel a loss leader for them in the short term, so be it. And ND should have demanded that NBCU/Comcast agree to make their best efforts to get NBCSports included as a basic cable channel before agreeing to go along with this.

I guess there is a bit of a chicken-or-the-egg situation here, though, in that it will be harder for NBCSports to negotiate with cable providers to get their sports channel into the basic packages unless and until it has some programming that is sure to generate viewership (and ad revenue for the cable provider). Like Lax said, going to be VERY interesting to see how all of this TV and conference stuff plays out over the next 5-10 years. We are definitely in the midst of some major changes, whether everyone is fully aware of it yet or not.

I'm sure in a year or two that NBC sports will be included in alot of basic cable packages...but up until then some people are gonna get hit and will have to go somewhere to see the game.
Fine by me honestly...

 

[Whiskeyjack]

NBC Universal/Comcast should be taking whatever steps necessary to get NBCSports into every home that gets ESPN. If that makes the channel a loss leader for them in the short term, so be it. And ND should have demanded that NBCU/Comcast agree to make their best efforts to get NBCSports included as a basic cable channel before agreeing to go along with this.

Comcast itself is a huge provider, so it will be simple enough for them to add Versus to their basic packages. Currently, Versus isn't part of DirecTV's Basic package; it requires the next step up. If they start offering Versus as part of the Basic, they'll be in a huge amount of homes right there.

I guess there is a bit of a chicken-or-the-egg situation here, though, in that it will be harder for NBCSports to negotiate with cable providers to get their sports channel into the basic packages unless and until it has some programming that is sure to generate viewership (and ad revenue for the cable provider). Like Lax said, going to be VERY interesting to see how all of this TV and conference stuff plays out over the next 5-10 years. We are definitely in the midst of some major changes, whether everyone is fully aware of it yet or not.

NBC will have to put enough desirable content on Versus to make people start demanding it as part of their basic packages. If and when that happens, it'll start to snowball. Hopefully the Irish faithful make a lot of noise over this issue.

 

[phgreek]

I cannot believe this is allowable under the contract we signed with NBC. Must not have had the foresight to say only the NBC main channel.

Yea, what he said....

I can't imagine ND took this w/o some push back...must be something else in it for us...Geez I hope so anyway.

 

[GowerND11]

I know for me, we have VS at home with a local company (not in a package), and where I am now at school (on Comcast). So for me personally, this is a non-issue.

For other people, I think NBC should/will do this right. They are going to make the channel accessable, and not part of extra packages. If you want to jumpstart a network the best way to do that is to get it out to as many people as possible. This is all relatively new, with the network not being rebranded until January. Also with the Olympics on the network expect a lot of providers to bring it into low level packages.

 

[TDHeysus]

....I just downgraded my Directv package and currently don't have VS....

I did as well...My Directv bill had crept up to $125/month which I thought was ridiculous. So just after the spring game, I downgraded my Directv package.

isnt about time that ND has its own network?? if Texas can have their own, then surely ND can.

 

[drewrg]

I hope this doesn't happen this season. I just downgraded my Directv package and currently don't have VS. I don't want to have to get it again but I guess I will have to. This is very stupid in my opinion.

I worked there one summer in college..

Call up customer support a few hours before the game, upgrade to whatever package has VS, and then switch back after the game (before 24 hours). No charges, no penalties.. You just have to deal with hold and 'customer support' people.

I did a few times at the start of the Indycar season, but sometime around the 500 I forgot to call in to cancel so for the past few months I've been paying whatever RIDICULOUS price for 1. one hour of Breaking Bad a week, 2. maybe an episode of Pawn Stars a week, and 3. one hour qualify/three hours of racing every two weeks. Thanks to this thread.. I'll be giving them a call tonight.

 

[eNDzone]

If NBC was truely interested in getting as many viewers as possible for ND games they would put them on both NBC and Versus. But that is not their intent and we all know it. As much as it is hard to believe , there are more than 38 people that don't have some kind of pay TV. They want everybody paying for what we used to get for free.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

If NBC was truely interested in getting as many viewers as possible for ND games they would put them on both NBC and Versus. But that is not their intent and we all know it. As much as it is hard to believe , there are more than 38 people that don't have some kind of pay TV. They want everybody paying for what we used to get for free.

That would be pointless. Everyone that has Versus also has NBC. The point of switching a few games to Versus is to force viewers to tune in that otherwise would just watch it on NBC.

 

[irishrecruiting]

Does anyone know if this goes into effect starting this season (2011), or does it not start till 2012?

 

[BeauBenken]

Let's just get the ND Network already. lol

 

[GreatGolson]

This can be looked at in a good way or a bad way, im worried about being relegated to cable. However i assume they will start with 2-3 lesser games.

 

[eNDzone]

That would be pointless. Everyone that has Versus also has NBC. The point of switching a few games to Versus is to force viewers to tune in that otherwise would just watch it on NBC.

The point is to force viewers getting it for free to pay for it.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

The point is to force viewers getting it for free to pay for it.

Yes. ND Football, like all big CFB programs, is a business looking to maximize profit. If NBC and ND can make more money by moving to cable, they'll do it. This is the test case.

 

[dshans]

... gotta have our piece of the pie

Even if the pie is toxic?

 

[JadeBrecks]

I do get VS as is though so I don't think I'm too worried about this. Maybe people should just do what the article suggests and call up their cable provider (and bitch) if they don't get the channel...

What about the ND fans that cant afford cable or dish? We get screwed over so they can push their crappy cable station? I say screw NBC next contract if this goes through. This will hurt the recruiting point too. We used to be able to say all home games will be aired on public tv.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

What about the ND fans that cant afford cable or dish?

What about the fans that can't afford tickets and merchandise? It's a business, not a charity.

We get screwed over so they can push their crappy cable station?

ND and NBC are both looking to maximize revenue from broadcasting home games. In the past, that was accomplished via a public broadcast. In the future, the most profitable option may be cable. No one is getting screwed over.

I say screw NBC next contract if this goes through. This will hurt the recruiting point too. We used to be able to say all home games will be aired on public tv.

Our NBC contract is golden. What alternative would you propose?

 

[JadeBrecks]

How does changing to verse make more money? The contract price is the price. They arent running a charity putting it on NBC they are making the same amount.
Games and merchandise werent free before. The games being aired were. Im not asking them to stop charging for something they always have im just asking them to continually not charge for them.
I cant say which one but I bet the other stations would be interested. Especially if we are doing good around 2015.

 

[pumpdog20]

For those who say its only 1 or 2 games a year, thats roughly 10% of their games. There are only 12 games a year! This better be streamed online and in HD. A SERIOUSLY STRONG WORDED LETTER IS ABOUT TO BE CRAFTED.

The percentage is going to be higher since NBC only does home games. So now they will take 1 or 2 games out of 6 or 7.

 

[ryno 24]

I'm dissapointed that NBC is using us but if we start winning and I mean really winning this wouldnt be happening

 

[rikkitikki08]

If this happens this season it will be pure bush league. It makes me sick sometimes, why does everything have to be about money.......in my opinion do not fix what doesnt seem to be broken

 

[rikkitikki08]

Nevermind i have versus haha My above comment is now moot

 

[NDPhilly]

I'm dissapointed that NBC is using us but if we start winning and I mean really winning this wouldnt be happening

yeah it would because people would want to pay to see ND play if they were at BCS champ level so verses might put even more games on.