Passing Out the Free Candy

Even Peter King couldn't believe whether or not a Rutgers Bowl game was shown in the NY/NJ area had become a big deal. Well, the matter has been settled.

The network said yesterday it accepted Time Warner's offer to make a "freeview" available from Dec. 24-30 to customers who subscribe to the cable TV operator's digital basic tier.
Time Warner confirmed that 75 percent of its New York-area customers receive that particular service.

The "freeview" will also include the Insight Bowl between Minnesota and Texas Tech on Dec. 29, but not include the Dec. 30 Giants-Redskins game.

The NFL Network has also agreed to let Cablevision show just the Texas Bowl of Rutgers-Kansas State on December 28 along with the pre- and post-game coverage.

So, what about other places that don't get the NFL Network? After seeing New Jersey Democratic Senator Frank Lautenberg play a public role, Kansas Republican Senator Pat Roberts shows that political grandstanding for the constituents is a bi-partisan affair that knows nothing of the principle of limited government:

"Every Kansan should be able to cheer on their team, be it the Wildcats, the Jayhawks, or the Shockers. K-State fans should not be kept from watching the Texas Bowl just because they subscribe to a particular cable company," Senator Pat Roberts said. "That's not right. So I hope an agreement can be reached. The Commissioner told me he would have an answer next week. Let's hope it's the right one. And I told the Commissioner if it was not the right one, that's why we have hearings."

Nothing like the threat of government subpoenas over televising a football game.

The NFL has reacted accordingly.

"In addition, we have let Time Warner know, if they are interested, we would extend this same freeview to subscribers of Time Warner in affected regions in Kansas and Texas" on similar terms, the NFL Network added.

Minnesota, it seems, is still left out in the, uh, cold.