NFL to Make Blacked-Out Games Available Online

by Sean Yuille on Sep 10, 2009 4:18 PM EDT in Detroit Lions News

The NFL isn't getting rid of its blackout policy, but it is doing the next best thing by relaxing it a bit.

NFL games that are blacked out in home team markets this season will be shown on NFL.com in their entirety on a delayed basis, the NFL announced Thursday.

The league's new NFL Game Rewind package on NFL.com will make all games available on an on-demand, subscription basis throughout the 2009 regular and postseason. However, games blacked out locally for failing to sell out 72 hours in advance will be available on NFL.com at no cost in the affected home markets.

These free "re-broadcasts" locally of blacked-out games will be available at NFL.com beginning at midnight on the day of the game and remain available for 72 hours (except during ESPN Monday Night Football telecasts).

I guess this is better than not seeing the game at all, but I don't think it will be possible for me to watch the game without finding out the result beforehand. I probably wouldn't want to wait until midnight to see what happened anyway, but at the very least this will give fans a chance to watch entire games. People in the blackout zone last year only got to see what happened via highlights, so being able to watch a full game will be better in that regard.

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I really think you are under-emphasizing this

a great deal. This is huge. When I worked Sundays in the past, I would avoid the outcome of the game like a plague before I got home and had a chance to watch the recording. For the NFL to allow fans that have their game blacked out to watch it online is a huge leap in the right direction. i commend the NFL and commissioner goodell. You may not care as much, Sean, because you have a blog to consider and waiting may not be an option, but I think their will be many appreciative fans around the country that disagree w/ you.

by Scotty G on Sep 10, 2009 6:27 PM EDT reply actions

I think it is great that the NFL is reaching out to fans

And allowing those less fortunate fans in black out areas to see the game online for free….as far as the subscription idea (for people outside of a certain area), I think that is pointless. I can watch the game where I live, sold out or not, and if I couldn’t be home to see it, I would DVR it….I would NEVER pay to see a game on NFL.com.

by KDawg on Sep 10, 2009 7:06 PM EDT up reply actions

i agree i am not waiting till midnight to see if we win or lose and who does what

Kevin Smith let em kno, Ernie Sims Break em, Calvin Johnson you already Kno
2009 Detroit Lions 6-10 to 8-8

by DetroitLions 4 life on Sep 10, 2009 6:51 PM EDT reply actions

I agree with Sean...

It’s just too hard to avoid seeing the outcome… basically, you can’t watch any other football. If the Lions are blacked out, I’m heading over to JustinTV.com and finding a live, grainy stream. Better than waiting out the entire day and staying up until 3 o’clock in the morning. Thanks, but no thanks. How ‘bout instead, you get rid of the entire ridiculous fan-chastisement that is the blackout policy? That’s a real solution.

Scotty G… I can kind of see your point regarding those who can’t see it during the day because of work or something, but unless it’s blacked out, the game won’t be shown on the net… as I understand it. So in that case, just DVR it.

by DrewsLions on Sep 10, 2009 7:00 PM EDT reply actions

Exactly

by KDawg on Sep 10, 2009 7:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Yup

Pride of Detroit, SB Nation's Lions Blog

by Sean Yuille on Sep 10, 2009 7:07 PM EDT up reply actions

I wouldn't use this to see the outcome of games

I think this is a great way to just SEE the game. Before, you were left with a radio feed and highlights at the end of the game. At least, this way, you can watch the game and do your own analysis. ESPN usually does a pretty poor job of covering Lions games, just showing the big play they gave up, or Orlovsky stumbling out of the endzone. This way I can judge the Lions’ entire body of work, rather than the couple of highlight reel plays.

The only thing worse to me than not watching a game live, is never getting to watch a game in its entirety at all. This is HUGE news to me (if I were still living in the Detroit area). Great decision by Goodell.

Read my Lions analysis at: http://www.studyofsports.com/?cat=142

by simscity on Sep 10, 2009 7:38 PM EDT reply actions

I have Sunday Ticket...

But it still is a problem for me because it doesn’t allow me to watch it on Sunday Ticket if it is blacked out… Which makes no fucking sense and yes, I have complained to Directv.

Luckily, they have a computer app, so I can watch it live on my laptop. Unfortunately I won’t see it in crystal clear HD.

by ZWC11 on Sep 10, 2009 9:51 PM EDT reply actions

This is precisely

why I won’t pay for Sunday ticket! All that money and you STILL can not get the one game that you really want to watch. I’m better off buying a cheap seat on StubHub.

by Mushy on Sep 13, 2009 8:56 AM EDT up reply actions