NightLink: NFL Sunday Ticket On Your iPhone

by Dane Noble on Jul 15, 2009 5:00 PM CDT

When it comes to keeping up with modern day technology, I fell behind several years ago. My job has forced me into owning a BlackBerry, but unfamiliar am I with all of the bells and whistles that come with owning such a toy. I know many of you out there probably own an iPhone, and I have seen from friends all of the crazy applications that can be added to those things (I mean really, a "level" for when you are hanging a picture on the wall?).

Well, it appears that DirecTV is going to offer an application for iPhone users to watch the Sunday Ticket (was this a demand-based decision?) right in the palm of their hands.

DirecTV (DTV) has unveiled plans to launch an Apple (AAPL) iPhone app that will allow subscribers to its Sunday Ticket Superfan service to watch NFL games via both 3G and WiFi. To use the service, you’ll need to pay for both the satellite TV provider’s $280 Sunday Ticket subscription, and a $100 add-on Superfan upgrade. The service is subject to local blackout rules.

Is this something that you think people will take advantage of? Seems relatively expensive to me, but I suppose there are people out there who are unable to watch the games otherwise, and might love the idea. Down in the comments section of the linked article, one blogger made the remark that the NFL should offer an application that would allow any game to be streamed to the iPhone, and cut out the middle man.

What are your thoughts on all of this?

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Comments

Yikes!

I was hoping it’d be similar to the MLB At-bat app, which is really cool. And only $10.

Note to the NFL: if MLB is doing something better than you for the fans, you’re doing something VERY wrong.

Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it. -George Halas

by Allie on Jul 15, 2009 5:14 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

LOL

I agree. That is way more expensive than I would want (or could) pay – especially being in college…

"A lot of fans were drawn to me because they knew that whatever the score was, I was going to run as hard as I could on every play. You don't have that now, you have guys waiting for next week or even next year." - Walter Payton

by Ashley Czuba on Jul 15, 2009 5:34 PM CDT up reply actions

Man I still have a razor!

Is direct TV better than cable? I am thinking about switching.

If you live in Chicago you are a bears fan, if you move from chicago you stay a bears fan, if you move to chicago you will be a bears fan.

by chi-town on Jul 15, 2009 5:41 PM CDT up reply actions

Super pricey

but I could feasibly watch four games at once at my house. One on my big screen, another on my bedroom tv, one on my laptop, and another on the iphone. Although, I think I’d have a system overload from all the various media going on at the same time.

"A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject." -Sir Winston Churchill

by propheteer on Jul 15, 2009 5:45 PM CDT up reply actions

Six of one...

…half a dozen of another.

I have DirecTV, and it’s fine. Sometimes during a heavy storm it cuts out, but with a DVR it’s not a big issue. But it’s not particularly better or worse than cable. I have it so that I can get Sunday Ticket, because I don’t live in Chicago. If I did live in Chicago, I probably would just get cable, since I think it’s easier to hook up a Tivo up to it. DirecTV’s homebrew DVR, like most that aren’t Tivo, sucks. There was word they were going back to a DirecTivo but I haven’t heard anything for a year.

Honestly, though, I’m coming close to just dropping cable entirely, getting SBC’s Fiber package, and going off Netflix and Hulu for everything. I can catch the Bears at Sports Bars.

by TCBullfrog on Jul 15, 2009 6:18 PM CDT up reply actions

I had DirecTV too.

And just dropped it because it was getting way too effin’ pricey. For some reason my packaging hadn’t increased but my bill kept getting exponentially larger. We were paying 100+ a month for their standard package (HD, of course) and HBO. Not to mention the $400 a year we were dishing out for the NFL Super Fan package. $1,600 / year for television – when all I really want is to see is my Bears play – no thanks. Got do what you said and watch Hulu / Netflix and hit up some bars on game day.

I wish the NFL didn’t have a monopoly with DTV and we could just by the games online. You can buy them like that in other countries, why can’t you in the country where the freaking games are held. Not all of us can live by the team we pull for. Damn, DTV and the NFL are pissing me off. /rant

- Smudgers

"Newbie, if the next two words out of your mouth aren't 'See ya' then the third word will be 'Oh my god. My crotch. You've punched me in my crotch." - Dr. Percival Ulysses Cox

by David Taylor on Jul 16, 2009 3:15 PM CDT up reply actions

yes

i live in maryland i have had it for 10 years im 19 right now its the only way i can watch my bears games i NEVER lost signal on sunday(knock on wood) good prices people are nice as hell i love it

by Bear Lovin 21 on Jul 15, 2009 6:52 PM CDT up reply actions

Nice

actually the direct TV is over $30 amonth cheaper for first year, and 15 cheaper yr 2 w/more hd channels and the ever impt nfl network

If you live in Chicago you are a bears fan, if you move from chicago you stay a bears fan, if you move to chicago you will be a bears fan.

by chi-town on Jul 15, 2009 5:57 PM CDT reply actions

I live in cali...

and out of Direct TV areas so this would work for me but its over $300!!!! I would seriously do it if it were say 100 bucks

When I played I was a triple threat.... Stumble.... Fumble.....Grumble....

by scespy12 on Jul 15, 2009 6:11 PM CDT reply actions

Weird

You have to have DirecTV to use this, right? So, it’s not like you can get this without already having access to watch the games…is this really that useful?

Oh well. Maybe I’ll check it out.

by TCBullfrog on Jul 15, 2009 6:19 PM CDT reply actions

FTA

you’ll need to pay for both the satellite TV provider’s $280 Sunday Ticket subscription, and a $100 add-on Superfan upgrade

Or just go to a sports bar that has the Ticket.

LSU Tigers Baseball... NCAA National Champions- 2009.

by Dane Noble on Jul 15, 2009 6:21 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah that makes more sense to go to a sports bar/restaurant.

Beef O’Brady’s have been good places to catch a game for me in the past. For those of you who don’t know live in the armpit of America known as Mississippi. I don’t have DTV down here because I can’t get any of the local stations but if I could I would. I don’t have an Iphone either, so this Iphone DTV thing really doesn’t help me out at all. what would help is if NFL.com or something like that would stream out of market games so I wouldn’t be stuck with the crappy Saint games.

I'm teaching fools some basic rules.- MR.T

by Ditkavsworld on Jul 16, 2009 12:38 PM CDT up reply actions

think about it though

you’d have to spend less than $25 per trip to the sports bar to make it “cheaper”

by DartmouthCubsFan on Jul 16, 2009 1:30 PM CDT up reply actions

Very true.

But for some folks, it would be easier to save during the week and spend $35 at a bar rather than a few hundred all up front (although, I did notice in a comment that they spread the payment out over a few months, so I guess that works out too.).

I read an article on NPR last year (and then heard Colin Cowherd rant about it) about how much Americans are willing to spend on things that are a convenience, versus saving money and doing more work. Personally, I prefer the sports bar, and am willing to pay more money over a period of time, simply for the fact that I don’t have to cook the food, wash the dishes, or any of that.

LSU Tigers Baseball... NCAA National Champions- 2009.

by Dane Noble on Jul 16, 2009 1:39 PM CDT up reply actions

prices out the same

unless you’re drinking water. i like rolling out of bed at 930 and the game almost being on instead of having to get to the bar early (assuming something’s open) and actually being up. although with half the games being national or i’ll be at them in person, i may not bother.

by mike b on Jul 16, 2009 8:08 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah, I forgot you were west coast too.

It was really awesome moving up here from the central time zone and having games start at 10am.

LSU Tigers Baseball... NCAA National Champions- 2009.

by Dane Noble on Jul 16, 2009 10:03 PM CDT up reply actions

basically

if you already have superfan from direct tv theyll give you an app to watch it on your i phone
THE APP IS NOT 300 DOLLARS the subscription is though and its spread over 6 months for me so its like 50 bucks a month TOTALLLY worth it if you arent blessed to live in chicago

by Bear Lovin 21 on Jul 15, 2009 6:55 PM CDT reply actions

Yes I realize that it is not three hundred dollars

I don’t have DTV so it would cost me around 380 dollars and monthly subscription too.

When I played I was a triple threat.... Stumble.... Fumble.....Grumble....

by scespy12 on Jul 15, 2009 8:07 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

I love football

but no sport is worth $50/4 games.

That doesn’t fly. Not when I could follow online for no additional charge. And without having to change my satellite for the privilege of getting an app.

Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it. -George Halas

by Allie on Jul 15, 2009 9:40 PM CDT up reply actions

This.

@bs_uf15bosox9be:OverTheMonster-ALLERGEN WARNING:May contain PB.

by bdalebs on Jul 15, 2009 10:19 PM CDT up reply actions

i would already have both packages

so just a nice bonus.

by mike b on Jul 15, 2009 9:36 PM CDT reply actions

I had a hard time watchin the ncaa tournament

games on the iphone app that connected only through wifi. Glad to see it will be available over the 3G. $380 to watch any football game live in the palm of my hand from just about anywhere?! I’m gonna start saving now yo!!!

Football players, like prostitutes, are in the business of ruining their bodies for the pleasure of strangers. -Merle Kessler

by MauryBufordSF on Jul 15, 2009 9:55 PM CDT reply actions

MLB > NFL on this.

$10 bucks for an app, no need to change TV providers, no extra channels or anything like that. Only issue is that your team may not be one of the lucky 4 shown on any given day, but hey, I’d watch any game I could, if I had an iPod touch.

@bs_uf15bosox9be:OverTheMonster-ALLERGEN WARNING:May contain PB.

by bdalebs on Jul 15, 2009 10:21 PM CDT reply actions

Yep

Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it. -George Halas

by Allie on Jul 15, 2009 11:00 PM CDT up reply actions

Yep - Squared

- Smudgers

"Newbie, if the next two words out of your mouth aren't 'See ya' then the third word will be 'Oh my god. My crotch. You've punched me in my crotch." - Dr. Percival Ulysses Cox

by David Taylor on Jul 16, 2009 3:15 PM CDT up reply actions

50 different ways to watch the Bears in the states, but get stationed overseas… see if DirecTV can hook you up then! i think not.

Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.

by BearNecessities on Jul 16, 2009 3:23 AM CDT reply actions

well, there's two ways in country.

have it played in your local market or get sunday ticket.

i have heard overseas you can stream it live over yahoo at least, i’m sure there’ more. this is a monopoly issue.

by mike b on Jul 16, 2009 8:10 PM CDT up reply actions

Agree whole heartedly.

- Smudgers

"Newbie, if the next two words out of your mouth aren't 'See ya' then the third word will be 'Oh my god. My crotch. You've punched me in my crotch." - Dr. Percival Ulysses Cox

by David Taylor on Jul 17, 2009 1:30 PM CDT up reply actions

I Think This Is A Great Idea

If you stop and think about the very few replays some stadiums play (my trip to Indy on opening night last season comes to mind), being able to see what actually happened on certain plays with the broadcast @ your fingertips is genius! Especially better for MLB not only because of price, but to be able to SEE the strike zone from your phone and be able to boo more if an umpire is incompetent. All in all this technology is GREAT, except I think ALL stadiums need to have WiFi since some people only have an iTouch and not everyone has Internet at all times with the iPhone.

But my main reason for being a proponent of this technology is being able to feel like you’re still at home watching the games while ATTENDING the games. GENIUS!

by Bear_Down on Jul 16, 2009 11:59 AM CDT reply actions