As for the NFL, they shouldn't go blameless in this situation either. They have responsibility insomuch as they sign the deals with the respective networks. As a part of selling the rights to broadcast the games, they presumably have the right to deal in many aspects of the contract. According to an AP article on the Sports Illustrated website, the NFL signed deals with Fox and CBS worth roughly $4.3 billion and $3.7 billion respectively for six years. Those deals were signed in 2004, but I think that the NFL still has some responsibility to the fans who partake in the NFL product at home every Sunday to ensure that the games are available in HD.
This doesn't speak to the inequity of the situation amongst certain groups of fans who might root for a team that is historically lower on the totem pole. (Ahem, the Browns.) I can understand that Colts fans or Patriots fans, for example, might not feel the sting of non-HD broadcasting, but there are plenty of cities out there who do. In this day and age where the competition for entertainment time and dollars is at an all-time high, the NFL should be maximizing the quality wherever possible.
Article comments
1 - Ty
Go to avsforum.com and read the threads in a section called HDTV Progamming. This issue has been discussed ad nauseum.
2 - Ron S
To all at cbs,
While we appreciate " as fans " the fact that you do broadcast the NFL football games on Sunday. We would appreciate if you would refrain from doing so in the future. Your broadcasting station is stuck in the 70’s and you cannot afford to upgrade your equipment to broadcast the games in high definition.
Fox, NBC, and ESPN all broadcast the games in high-definition. Yet you only broadcast a few games in high-definition. One of the biggest games in the Nation " Pittsburgh vs. New England " is not being broadcast in High Definition.
I am not certain that I understand your situation " or care to… But I would ask that you don’t sign any additional contracts with the NFL and that you would no longer be a disservice to the NFL Community.
If you need to raise money in order to be able to afford new equipment, I would be willing to host a telethon or a televisithon and I am certain that fans would come through for you.
Sincerely,
Dissatisifed in Florida
Ron