A day after ratings for last weeks NFL Network game were released, and NFL executives have to be smiling. Just to review, the game pulled a 14.6 rating according to Nielsen Media Research, despite only being in about 40% of American households. The rating translates into 10.1 million viewers. That compares to and average viewing audience of 4.1 million viewers for last years slate of NFL network games. The extraordinary ratings will no doubt give the NFL network more “political capital” in their ongoing dispute with cable TV companies Comcast and Time Warner.
So what is next? After Jerry Jones finishes smoking his victory cigar, he will get back to business. Certainly we will see a continued push by Jones and the NFL Network, promoting cable TV alternatives. Satellite TV continues to make inroads, with Dish Network and DirecTV deals attracting many home viewers. Another headache for cable companies is coming from telephony providers Qwest, Verizon and AT&T.
Verizon is building its own fiber to the house network called FIOS TV. AT&T has a similar initiative, with its U-verse program, and it also has partnered to resell Dish Network satellite TV. Qwest has a similar resale agreement in place with DirecTV promotions being available to customers in the company’s region.
So cable companies now find themselves being squeezed on two fronts, first from the satellite television industry, and now from the former Bell operating companies. Comcast for its part issued a revenue warning today, saying it will increase only 11% versus prior guidance of 12%. Comcast stock, symbol CMCSA was down more than 12%, trading at $ 18.20 near the close of trading today.
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10.1 million viewers! That’s enough to create panic among the cable companies.
Thanks for the info on the ofc networks from Verizon and AT&T.
The end result should be better coverage and quality at lower rates.