Posted on Thursday 5 November 2009
We all know that football (American football, not to be confused with other kinds of football where one uses their feet) is America’s true past-time. From the bashing of helmets, to the yelling in the sidelines and screaming from the crowds, watching NFL action on television has become the new live attendance.
Now audiences can view the gridiron action from the comfort of their comfy leathery couches, a nice bar stool or even online at work (don’t let your boss see, that could be hazardous to your current employment).
Football fans have a few choices when it comes to watching Sunday entertainment. For most viewers it means watching your local team and a handful of games that Fox and CBS choose for you.
You can pick up a free digital signal or use Comcast or Dish Network. All are fine choices if you’re a regular run-of-the-mill NFL fan but what must the hardcore, paint-your-body-blue-and-orange, type fan must do? The choice is easy: DirecTV
The NFL Sunday Ticket
For many lovers of all things NFL, DirecTV has long been an oasis of football coverage. Their prized package, NFL Sunday Ticket airs around 14 football games every Sunday and up to 200 games during the season.
Tired of watching the Jets throttle the Jags? Switch over to the Steelers game. It’s heaven unless you’re the significant other of that nutty football fan. DirecTV also carries the games on Demand if you’re unable to sit in front of your 50″ plasma this Sunday.
Watching NFL Games Online
In 2007, a deal between the NFL and DirecTV gave Sunday Ticket subscribers the access to watch games online, provided that the viewer has a broadband internet connection, but was only available for existing NFL Sunday Ticket subscribers.
DirecTV heard the complaints and now offers access to view games online through the purchase of a separate package which costs around $100 for the season.
One has to be a pretty big super-fan to really appreciate watching games on your computer. Like Hulu, the potential is great and if viewers are able to make this package work, it’s a pretty good deal. Still, pulling the big leathery couch in front of your computer monitor doesn’t sound all that appealing.
DirecTV’s deal with the NFL for broadcasting games online ends in 2014. The online NFL Sunday Ticket package can either be paid monthly or with an annual payment.
If you’re a current DirecTV subscriber, the NFL online package comes slightly discounted but don’t expect all the other bells and whistles you get with the full NFL Sunday Ticket package on your TV.
What Else?
The NFL Sunday Ticket package also brings the NFL Network, which runs programming 24/7 with game analysis, commentary and games you may have missed during the weekend. The NFL Sunday Network also carries classic games so if you’re a Bears fan and you have an urge to watch Super Bowl XX, you may get your fix.
The network is carried by Comcast and Dish Network so it’s not exclusive to DirecTV. Still, if you’re paying around $300, you probably want the most bang for your buck.
The channel provides a considerable amount of time to fantasy football players too and even a “Player Tracker” which allows fans to select their favorite players and follow their performance during game-day. This is done through the DirecTV interactive receiver and it comes packaged with “Big Play” alerts.
If you call yourself a NFL “super-fan” and you’re sitting on a fat wad of cash, consider the Sunday NFL Ticket or at least the paler online version.
ZillionTV has had some trouble moving from being a good idea to an actual product. This has led to some particularly critical articles around the Web concerning the company, its management, and whether ZillionTV will actually ever deliver. ZillionTV is now fighting back, but the fight hasn’t started well.
