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Cable Companies Get One Free Week of NFL Network*

Dec 12, 2006 – 9:34 PM
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Michael David Smith

Michael David Smith %BloggerTitle%

*But no live NFL games.

There's always something in the fine print. Yes, the NFL announced today that it is giving away NFL Network for free to every cable company for one week, from December 24 to December 30. But that won't include the Giants-Redskins game on Saturday, December 30. So if you're a fan of one of those teams -- and you don't live in the Washington or New York market -- you still won't see that game if you don't have NFL Network.

You will see Rutgers, which is what this is all about. The Texas Bowl between Rutgers and Kansas State is on NFL Network, and Rutgers fans weren't happy about the prospect of missing it. Everyone from the governor of New Jersey on down leaned on NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, and he capitulated. He's not doing it to be nice, though; he's hoping that fans will get addicted to NFL Network after this free taste and demand that their cable companies provide it permanently. I don't think that's going to happen, and I think NFL Network (which I love) will continue to be a niche channel.
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