Of all the absurd marketing strategies I've encountered in my life, this has to be the most arrogant.

Comcast, the nation's largest cable company, has sent a cease-and-desist letter to the NFL Network demanding the channel's representatives stop encouraging fans to leave the cable provider.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, the outspoken chairman of the league's NFL Network committee, has urged customers of Comcast and other large cable providers who don't carry the network on a basic tier to switch to satellite or other cable services that do.

The channel's IWantNFLNetwork.com website includes a box titled "MAKE THE SWITCH." Above a field to enter a zip code, the text reads, "Switch to a TV provider that will bring you NFL Network, not hold you hostage."

The letter, dated Monday, contends that such actions violate the contract between the network and Comcast.

The only problem is that Comcast is supposed to be carrying the NFL Network as a basic cable station, but has instead packaged it as a premium challenge. The NFL, seeking to serve the fans, is urging them to shop around for their product and purchase it where they get the best deal -- a strategy which will bring them more fans.

By the way, Comcast -- your service here in Houston has sucked so bad since you took over from TimeWarner that I'm considering a change anyway -- but the NFL Network issue will be a factor in my decision on which alternate provider to get my service from.

Posted by: Greg at 03:39 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 255 words, total size 2 kb.