The OFFICIAL NFL 2012 Thread

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

Possible announcement tomorrow according to NFLUK. If it's not on Sky/ESPN then I will either have to cancel them to get Gamepass, or watch practically no NFL this year.

Gamepass is an excellent substitute. Really good quality pictures, trouble is you can spend your whole life watching it as it covers every game...

 

[Set of Tracksuits]

Gamepass is an excellent substitute. Really good quality pictures, trouble is you can spend your whole life watching it as it covers every game...

Yup. I love it though.

 

[Hotchilidog]

What is going on with the TV contract? It seems odd that Sky have not sorted this out yet. I get the feeling that the sport is becoming more popular in the UK with each passing year and any messing around with the coverage will only hurt it.

I've got Gamepass this season so ironically I would benefit from a sky-free season as there would be no blackouts, but for the more casual or new fan no deal would be terrible.

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

What is going on with the TV contract? It seems odd that Sky have not sorted this out yet. I get the feeling that the sport is becoming more popular in the UK with each passing year and any messing around with the coverage will only hurt it.

I've got Gamepass this season so ironically I would benefit from a sky-free season as there would be no blackouts, but for the more casual or new fan no deal would be terrible.

Lets hope we do not end up with a post season Black out or highlights only. I thought SKY were bought in long time, and although I only have it one from Wildcards onwards its coverage has become very good.

 

[Hotchilidog]

Lets hope we do not end up with a post season Black out or highlights only. I thought SKY were bought in long time, and although I only have it one from Wildcards onwards its coverage has become very good.

I think the current Sky deal ran out and they negotiating the current deal now. I'm sure it will be sorted by tomorrow night and the season opener. ESPN and C4 have Monday night and the late sunday night games respectively and the BBC still has the Superbowl so some coverage is already guaranteed. I wonder if the NFL is trying to reduce the restrictions on game pass and that this is a sticking point for sky.

I'm already enjoying the college coverage on ESPN this season, I would not be upset if they stole some of Sky's rights to the NFL if that deal falls through.

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

I think the current Sky deal ran out and they negotiating the current deal now. I'm sure it will be sorted by tomorrow night and the season opener. ESPN and C4 have Monday night and the late sunday night games respectively and the BBC still has the Superbowl so some coverage is already guaranteed. I wonder if the NFL is trying to reduce the restrictions on game pass and that this is a sticking point for sky.

I'm already enjoying the college coverage on ESPN this season, I would not be upset if they stole some of Sky's rights to the NFL if that deal falls through.

I have not caught any college football this season, which is a shame as I really enjoy the games, far more open and exciting than NFL. I love trick plays and colledge football often has more. You can see why so many Rookies can come a croper once they walk into the defensives in the NFL.

Only positive about not seeing having colledge footy on ESPN is that it does guarentee I leave the house...

 

[Hotchilidog]

Only positive about not seeing having colledge footy on ESPN is that it does guarentee I leave the house...

It can be compulsive viewing even if it is not your team. I find it so easy to watch as a neutral and it is fun trying to spot the future stars.

Very impressed with Alabama this weekend.

 

[Gritt23]

I have Gamepass as well as Sky and ESPN, so my coverage wouldn't be affected, but I'd still be gutted if Sky don't repeat the sort of coverage they have had over teh last few years, as it's been excellent, and does a lot to enhance the interest in the game over here.

Having said that, I would love a terrestrial channel - especially the Beeb - to step up and take a package of live games. AND, I think we could do with a decent highlights show somewhere, because it must be hard for new fans to get into the game when the only coverage is a full 3 hour+ live game, with all the stoppages that new fans struggle to get past.

Someone needs to dig out the old Nicky Horne shows, take a look, and do something similar, but less than the 7 day delay we had in those days.

 

[Hotchilidog]

I have Gamepass as well as Sky and ESPN, so my coverage wouldn't be affected, but I'd still be gutted if Sky don't repeat the sort of coverage they have had over teh last few years, as it's been excellent, and does a lot to enhance the interest in the game over here.

Having said that, I would love a terrestrial channel - especially the Beeb - to step up and take a package of live games. AND, I think we could do with a decent highlights show somewhere, because it must be hard for new fans to get into the game when the only coverage is a full 3 hour+ live game, with all the stoppages that new fans struggle to get past.

Someone needs to dig out the old Nicky Horne shows, take a look, and do something similar, but less than the 7 day delay we had in those days.

I totally agree with all of that, i guess if the Beeb could afford it they'd love to do it. The NFL guys at the BBC have a genuine enthusiasm for game which is well suited to newer fans of the game and it would surely raise the profile of the sport even further. If they could get 1.5-2million watching a highlights show with some of those also tuning into the live game on sports extra on a sunday it would be a big boost to NFL numbers in the UK.

 

[Gritt23]

I totally agree with all of that, i guess if the Beeb could afford it they'd love to do it. The NFL guys at the BBC have a genuine enthusiasm for game which is well suited to newer fans of the game and it would surely raise the profile of the sport even further. If they could get 1.5-2million watching a highlights show with some of those also tuning into the live game on sports extra on a sunday it would be a big boost to NFL numbers in the UK.

It just seems that they have everything in place except the contract. They do take the SB live, so they have contracts with the likes of Mike Carlson. Colin Murray is on the payroll, and is a big NFL fan, he'd be an excellent host, and they also have a team of guys who have done the radio coverage. It's all in place, and I'm sure it would get a decent audience. Doesn't need to be on BBC1, it could be 9pm, Tuesday Night on BBC2, and get the sort of viewing numbers they'd never get for "The Midwives" and other such rubbish.

 

[Bladders]

It just seems that they have everything in place except the contract. They do take the SB live, so they have contracts with the likes of Mike Carlson. Colin Murray is on the payroll, and is a big NFL fan, he'd be an excellent host, and they also have a team of guys who have done the radio coverage. It's all in place, and I'm sure it would get a decent audience. Doesn't need to be on BBC1, it could be 9pm, Tuesday Night on BBC2, and get the sort of viewing numbers they'd never get for "The Midwives" and other such rubbish.

Please not Colin Murray, he always comes across as taking the piss when it comes to the NFL.

 

[Gritt23]

Please not Colin Murray, he always comes across as taking the piss when it comes to the NFL.

You think? Doesn't come across like that to me at all. How about Fletch then, who does the "Inside the Huddle" podcasts with Neil Reynolds? I prefer Murray, but Fletch is quite good.

 

[Bladders]

You think? Doesn't come across like that to me at all. How about Fletch then, who does the "Inside the Huddle" podcasts with Neil Reynolds? I prefer Murray, but Fletch is quite good.

Its not going to happen anyway. The BBC do not go all out to get the mainstream sport so they wont be paying anything for a niche sport or make room in the schedule for it.

 

[Stat Brother]

Fletch does the BBC 5live Sports extra commentary on the radio.

There are always live feeds to fall back on.

 

[Bladders]

So who caught any College games this weekend. I did slightly over indulge myself to be honest.

Watched:

Boise State @ Michigan State

Notre Dame vs Navy ( though wasn't really concentrating as the Albion game was on at the time)

Ohio @ Penn State

Southern Miss @ Nebraska

Michigan vs Alabama

Arkansas St @ Oregon ( halfway through this at the moment. Looks like Oregon might score 100!)

Still to watch: Georgia Tech @ Virginia Tech

 

[Bladders]

I think the current Sky deal ran out and they negotiating the current deal now. I'm sure it will be sorted by tomorrow night and the season opener. ESPN and C4 have Monday night and the late sunday night games respectively and the BBC still has the Superbowl so some coverage is already guaranteed. I wonder if the NFL is trying to reduce the restrictions on game pass and that this is a sticking point for sky.

I'm already enjoying the college coverage on ESPN this season, I would not be upset if they stole some of Sky's rights to the NFL if that deal falls through.

You could be right, there's been a lot of fuss over the blackouts, Gamepass is only worth it if you support a crap team who's never on TV.

Most people understand SKY's reason for blackouts but then you cant watch the game for something stupid like 7 days.

Ridiculous.

 

[shaolinpunk]

I've decided that the only way I'm going to actually follow NFL is if I pick a team to support, so I've gone for the Denver Broncos as there are a few Denver-based businesses following me on twitter

 

[Stat Brother]

I've decided that the only way I'm going to actually follow NFL is if I pick a team to support, so I've gone for the Denver Broncos as there are a few Denver-based businesses following me on twitter

Well there's your first mistake

 

[shaolinpunk]

So I hear from my Green Bay supporting friend. Oh well, I have faith that the Orange Crush will rise again.

Or something

 

[Hotchilidog]

So who caught any College games this weekend. I did slightly over indulge myself to be honest.

Watched:

Boise State @ Michigan State

Notre Dame vs Navy ( though wasn't really concentrating as the Albion game was on at the time)

Ohio @ Penn State

Southern Miss @ Nebraska

Michigan vs Alabama

Arkansas St @ Oregon ( halfway through this at the moment. Looks like Oregon might score 100!)

Still to watch: Georgia Tech @ Virginia Tech

watched Arkansas st v Oregon, bits of South Carolina v Vanderbilt, Clemson v Auburn and the Northwestern v Syracuse game is a beauty. I have no life Roll on week 2!