NBC determined to broadcast Saturday’s wild card matchup that includes Kansas Metropolis and Miami solely on their streaming channel Peacock. This was the primary time an NFL playoff sport was televised in such a means and, should you’re like most people, you weren’t too thrilled about it. It sucked for hundreds of thousands, however you may as nicely get used to it. Saturday night time’s sport, which may solely be seen on Peacock, was only the start of networks gouging followers for entry to huge video games.
Now, fortuitously for Saturday’s sport, the primary quarter was additionally proven partly on NBC. However should you hadn’t signed up for Peacock by 8:30pm ET, you had been S.O.L. When you imagine that the saying about any publicity being good publicity is true, then these in cost at Peacock needs to be blissful, as a result of that’s what everybody was speaking about earlier than and after the sport.
The NFL and NBC pushed this sport — and its exclusivity to the colourful fowl model — laborious. Don’t anticipate it to cease there. Whereas this was the one sport scheduled to be unique to Peacock this postseason, don’t suppose it received’t occur once more. This felt like a take a look at run to see how individuals react. Whereas many complained about it, most discovered a method to watch and absolutely forked over their $5.99.
We’ve already been “primed” for this transition having Thursday Night time Soccer solely on Amazon Prime. Common season video games are one factor, however forcing individuals to pay further to look at choose postseason video games is grasping — particularly once you’re a significant community and already broadcasts video games. They’re working a enterprise, comprehensible, however this was a cash seize.
Many streaming channels will supply a free trial of some days up to a couple weeks earlier than you really need to pay something. Not this time. When you didn’t have already got Peacock or know any individual (amongst different methods that may stay unnamed) who did you had to enroll or miss out. Don’t be shocked if subsequent yr we see a number of video games solely broadcast on a community’s streaming service.
That is the world we dwell in, and it’s solely going to worsen. Soccer usually, however particularly the NFL, is just too ingrained in our society for individuals to only say “no.” Whether or not it’s sheer fandom, fantasy soccer, or betting functions, the NFL means an excessive amount of and generates a lot income it’ll be not possible to cease this subsequent growth. As a result of that’s what that is all about. The league is increasing to the place we’re finally okay with paying for particular person video games every week. Most of you’ll snicker at this, but it surely’s coming, simply maintain watching.