Today I received an envelope in the mail from Comcast. It was addressed to “Comcast Customer” and through the window in the envelope I could see the words “Important update re: your programming.”
I expected it to be a procedural letter of minimal importance, but I opened it anyway. At the top of the letter there was some more text: “POSSIBLE NFL NETWORK CHANGES.” If you haven’t read about it in the news, Comcast (abd I believe all of the cable companies) are in disagreement with the NFL over whether NFL Network is a premium channel or a basic channel, how much the NFL should charge the cable operators, and how much the operators should charge customers for the channel.
Also from the letter: “The NFL Network may stop providing its programming to Comcast on May 1, 2009.”
Because of this, the letter offers me Starz free for 12 months, or an Internet speed upgrade free for 12 months. Starz isn’t bad, but it only offers one HD channel, so I went with the speed upgrade.
When the NFL Network started showing live NFL games, I added a package to my Comcast service so that I could see it. I wonder if this offer has been extended to all Comcast customers, or only those who currently pay to have the NFL Network as part of their service.