A simmering dispute between cable-television providers and NFL Network heated up Wednesday with threats of lawsuits and congressional action to determine which viewers can watch Thursday- and Saturday-night football games.
The issue erupted after Comcast made NFL Network’s Broncos-Texans game last Thursday night available to all its Colorado customers through KWGN-Channel 2’s broadcast of the game.
NFL Network claims that Comcast should have limited access to the KWGN feed to only metro Denver cable viewers. Comcast maintains that its retransmission contract with the station entitled all Colorado customers to watch the game.
“The customers are what’s important here, and we felt they had a right to see the game,” Comcast spokeswoman Cindy Parsons said.
Since 1987, when games were first shown on cable, all participating team markets have been able to see their team’s pay-TV games on an over- the-air station.
KWGN bid for and won the rights to last week’s Broncos game. Its over-the-air broadcast coverage is primarily the Denver metro area.
NFL Network spokesman Seth Palansky on Wednesday termed Comcast’s decision “unbelievable and very short-sighted. There will be long-term repercussions for them.”
While no lawsuit has been filed, he said the network is “reserving all rights and remedies.”
Last week, Comcast filed suit against NFL Network, alleging that the network has been illegally encouraging football fans to cancel their cable contracts and switch to satellite providers that carry the network at no extra charge. Some cable firms don’t carry NFL Network. Comcast offers the network to subscribers in a package that costs an extra $4.95 a month.
Two U.S. senators sent a letter to the NFL on Wednesday warning that Congress may reconsider the league’s antitrust exemption if it doesn’t offer access to more viewers for NFL Network games.
Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., said many fans in their home states will not be able to see games on the network in the next two weeks involving the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Steve Raabe: 303-954-1948 or sraabe@denverpost.com
