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Why NFL Network isn't on Comcast right now in ESPN dispute
TL;DR
Comcast Xfinity customers can no longer access NFL Network due to a carriage dispute following ESPN's acquisition of the channel. ESPN is reportedly demanding higher fees for the same content, leading to the channel's removal from Comcast's lineup.
Key points
- Comcast dropped NFL Network from its cable lineup.
- The dispute is due to ESPN's acquisition of NFL Network.
- ESPN is demanding higher fees for the channel.
Mentioned in this story
ComcastESPN
NFL NetworkRedZone
Comcast Xfinity customers hoping to watch NFL Network this weekend have been met with disappointment, as the channel was dropped from the cable lineup late Thursday amid a carriage dispute.
At the heart of that dispute is the NFL Network's new ownership.
In August, ESPN announced it was acquiring the NFL Network and RedZone channels from the NFL in a deal that would give the league a 10 percent equity stake in ESPN. Now, ESPN is charged with negotiating a new cable deal for the channels after the previous one expired, and according to a statement from Comcast, the worldwide leader is looking for more money:
“Disney/ESPN acquired NFL Network and Red Zone just months ago and are already demanding double the fees for the same content. Their distribution demands would also make millions more pay for a channel they don’t watch. We remain open to continuing to talk and reach a fair deal for our customers.”
In it's own statement, Disney said it proposed keeping the channels live during negotiations but Comcast declined:
“We understand how disappointing and disruptive this is for football fans who have lost access to NFL Network and RedZone Channel as part of their Xfinity TV lineup. We proposed keeping these channels available while we continued good-faith negotiations, but unfortunately, Comcast declined and took them down. Despite this, we remain fully committed to reaching a fair agreement and restoring access to our best-in-class NFL programming as quickly as possible.”
Whatever the gap in negotiations between the sides, hopefully they can come to some kind of agreement long before NFL training camps get under way in July.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: NFL Network goes dark on Comcast Xfinity amid ESPN dispute
Q&A
Why is NFL Network not available on Comcast?
NFL Network is unavailable on Comcast due to a carriage dispute stemming from ESPN's recent acquisition of the channel, which has led to demands for higher fees.
What are ESPN's new demands regarding NFL Network?
ESPN is demanding double the fees for NFL Network and RedZone channels compared to the previous agreement, which has caused the dispute with Comcast.
What happened to the previous cable deal for NFL Network?
The previous cable deal for NFL Network expired, prompting ESPN to negotiate a new agreement, which has resulted in the current conflict with Comcast.
