Free Publicity for NFL Network? (December 31, 2007)

I saw this coming from a mile away and I knew that the NFL Network was going to take advantage of the fact that they made the game available on two broadcast networks nationwide to, not really to broadcast the historic game, but to get the word out that NFL Network is available 24 hours a day and viewers should get the cable operators to put the network on its basic tier.

I find it strange that a cable company would rather run four shopping channels instead of putting NFL Network, Boomerange, Game Show Network, and Fuse on its basic tier. I find it more appalling that the NFL Network would use the NFL game to tout its 70 cent a month ad-supported channel and use the viewers to get them to put them on the cable system.

First off, it's not my job to get a cable system to carry a network that I rarely watch except when, of course, when there are live games on. With a cost of 70 cents a month, and very few live events in a year to cover prime-time viewing for five days, it doesn't make financial sense for a cable company to carry a network that would get as much of a rating for the non-sports programming as ESPN Radio 800 when they're not broadcasting ballgames: 0.0.

To the NFL Network, I say this. You need to get some more games on the network by creating a sub NFL league with A-league teams in cities that don't have an NFL franchise, and use those teams to fill out the schedule. Play the teams beginning in July and end the regular season before Thanksgiving, then have a playoff afterwards. Then you'll have some more football games to air.

For the NFL off-season, aside of reruns of NFL Films games and other stuff, create something like a cross country tour featuring all of the best NFL players split up into two teams representing the East or West, North or South, or whatever, and have them play games in the NFL cities across the nation so that the fans can pay and see the stars of the NFL that they don't often see play against their home teams, except during interconference games. This will be like a touring Pro Bowl, except that it's weekly and it will air on NFL Network.

Another alternative is to expand the NFL season by five weeks. Begin exhibition play in July and the regular season in August. Teams would get two byes instead of one during the season, and no team that played on a Sunday will play on a Thursday, so that Detriot and Dallas will play their annual games on Thanksgiving Day, but have a bye week for the Sunday preceding the day.

I would rather have NFL Network and the three other networks I mentioned instead of the shopping channels I never watch on my system, In fact, I tuned my TV so that it skips over the shopping channels and I never watch them. NFL Network needs to get some better programming on year round so that their 70 cent carriage fee could be justified.

Feedback (December 31, 2007)

From Robert:

I just went to 91X's paqe to vote on the Top 91 for 2007, and decided not bother to register to vote there. Why? Because there is a dropdown menu to pick five choices out of a list that includes only two songs that I would definitely put my list and a write in box for just one extra song.

Where are...

Flourescent Adolescent - Arctic Monkeys
Chelsea Dagger - The Fratells
Whistle For The Choir - The Fratells
Goodby Mr A - The Hoosiers
So Low, So High - Maps
Ain't No Party - Orson
I Found Out - The Pigeon Detectives
America - Razorlight
Elvis Ain't Dead - Scouting For Girls
She's So Lovely - Scouting For Girls

That's ten excellent songs that fit into the rock alternative genre, and there are dozens of others I should be able to choose from that are better than about 80% of the pre-chosen songs on 91X's dropdown list. I only get to pick one as a write-in, so whatever I choose would be unrepresentative of my picks. Most of those songs probably didn't get airplay on our terrestrial stations last year anyway which is a shame.

Patriots Go 16-0 (December 30, 2007)

91X Top 91 of 2007 (Dec 31, 2007)

A combination of the votes from the listeners and radio airplay during 2007 determines the top songs of the year.

The countdown will be broadcast live from Big Night San Diego. The #1 song will play just before midnight.