In the Best Interest of the Game..

On the eve of the biggest game (so far) in the Green Bay Packer's season, (which will only be seen locally by Green Bay and Milwaukee markets and anyone who owns a satellite and a subscription to NFL network), it causes me to wonder out loud whether the NFL is acting in the best interests of the game or in the best interest of the owners.

If you're attempting to optimize short term revenues, they're probably on the right track... auction off broadcasting rights to the highest bidder - regardless of the impact on the fans.

Let's not take into account the fact that by hosting the game on the NFL Network, you automatically exclude 66% of the country from watching. After all, it's all about the money and (if you're the NFL Network) forcing fans to subscribe to your service or worse yet, migrate from cable to satellite AND subscribe to your service. Here's ESPN explaining the situation.

In the short term, there will be griping and grumbling, but if you really want to watch the game I'm sure you can find a bar willing to broadcast it.

NFL games are already divided up among CBS, ESPN, NBC, FOX and the NFL Network. If the trend continues, watch for the birth of the NFC Central channel or the AFC East channel or maybe the Kansas City Chiefs channel.

Yes folks, there's no end to the market segmentation that this trend could produce. Taken to the extreme, the NFL could eventually migrate to an entire pay per view model.

Tomorrow morning, fewer than half of the normal number of Wisconsonites will be talking about the big game after having watched it.

And I cannot understand how that is in the best interest of football.