New AFL1 games to NFL Network

**garn91** · 02-08-2010, 09:08 PM

More pressure on Mediacom to add NFL Network.

AF1 to air on NFL Network | STAA

he upstart AF1 has signed a television deal with the NFL Network, giving the nascent indoor football league an instant dose of credibility.

The deal is a one-year agreement, with another one-year option. Terms call for AF1 to sell the advertising inventory, with the indoor league and the NFL Network evenly splitting all revenue.

The NFL Network will provide the on-air talent. The league’s games will be aired live on Friday nights from 8 to 11 p.m. ET beginning April 2 through the league’s championship game in late August. The AF1 game on April 23 will be pre-empted by the network’s draft coverage.

**alarson** · 02-08-2010, 09:11 PM

I hope mediacom still says no unless its on a sports tier. And frankly, i doubt a significant portion of the iowa audience will want AFL that didnt already want the nfl network for NFL, so if they didnt do it before, i doubt they will now.

**Al_4_State** · 02-08-2010, 09:13 PM

Originally Posted by alarson

I hope mediacom still says no unless its on a sports tier. And frankly, i doubt a significant portion of the iowa audience will want AFL that didnt already want the nfl network for NFL, so if they didnt do it before, i doubt they will now.

Seeing as there's an Iowa team, I think they'd be pretty interested.

**garn91** · 02-08-2010, 09:16 PM

Originally Posted by alarson

I hope mediacom still says no unless its on a sports tier. And frankly, i doubt a significant portion of the iowa audience will want AFL that didnt already want the nfl network for NFL, so if they didnt do it before, i doubt they will now.

Comcast airs the NFL Network on what would be Mediacom's Digital Plus tier. I realize Mediacom is a small company with no leverage what so ever, but if Digital Plus is good enough for Comcast, I don't know why Mediacom cann't accept those arrangements. No one is forcing you to have Mediacom's Digital Plus package.

**TRZA** · 02-08-2010, 09:51 PM

It sounds like the NFL network deal is just for one game a week. Something tells me the NFL Network won't be choosing the Iowa Barnstormers for the "game of the week" anytime soon. Even by AF1 standards, Des Moines is a small market.

**Broodwich** · 02-08-2010, 09:56 PM

Hey, it's not perfect but going from internet only to a nationwide weekly audience is a big deal.

As a Barnstormers season ticket holder, this is a big confidence booster in the AF1.

**garn91** · 02-08-2010, 09:57 PM

Originally Posted by TRZA

It sounds like the NFL network deal is just for one game a week. Something tells me the NFL Network won't be choosing the Iowa Barnstormers for the "game of the week" anytime soon. Even by AF1 standards, Des Moines is a small market.

Iowa Barnstormers carry alot of history and tradition......

**theshadow** · 02-08-2010, 11:39 PM

NFL Network is doing games on Friday nights, but all the Barnstormer home games are on Saturdays. All the home games will be probably be on Mediacom again. I'm guessing that NFLN will play to the larger cities that also have NFL teams or were part of the old AF -- Arizona, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, etc.

**Al_4_State** · 02-09-2010, 07:19 AM

Originally Posted by TRZA

It sounds like the NFL network deal is just for one game a week. Something tells me the NFL Network won't be choosing the Iowa Barnstormers for the "game of the week" anytime soon. Even by AF1 standards, Des Moines is a small market.

True, but I believe the Barnstormers lead AF2 in attendance the last 2 years, and thanks to Mr. Warner, we're one of the most recognizable franchises in Arena Ball. Sort of like how the Packers play in a tiny market (yes, I know that the only reason they can stay in Green Bay is because Wisconsin has Milwaukee down the road), but they're one of the most recognizable/followed teams in the NFL.

**Broodwich** · 02-09-2010, 09:46 AM

Originally Posted by theshadow

NFL Network is doing games on Friday nights, but all the Barnstormer home games are on Saturdays. All the home games will be probably be on Mediacom again. I'm guessing that NFLN will play to the larger cities that also have NFL teams or were part of the old AF -- Arizona, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, etc.

I'm at home games. So that's no big deal. I'm just glad that there's a possibility of me being able to watch the Barnstormers away on HD on DirectTV.

**brentblum** · 02-09-2010, 09:49 AM

The deal is a one-year agreement, with another one-year option. Terms call for AF1 to sell the advertising inventory, with the indoor league and the NFL Network evenly splitting all revenue.

The NFL Network will provide the on-air talent. The league’s games will be aired live on Friday nights from 8 to 11 p.m. ET beginning April 2 through the league’s championship game in late August. The AF1 game on April 23 will be pre-empted by the network’s draft coverage.

Good for the AFL. But this sounds like a sweet deal for the NFL Network as well. The AFL has to do the work to sell all of the advertising and the NFLN gets to split half of it. Low risk for them for sure.

**d4nim4l** · 02-09-2010, 10:07 AM

Originally Posted by brentblum

Good for the AFL. But this sounds like a sweet deal for the NFL Network as well. The AFL has to do the work to sell all of the advertising and the NFLN gets to split half of it. Low risk for them for sure.

This is what happens with fringe sports. The Network gets most of the reward and hardly any of the risk. See: NBC deal with NHL.

**Al_4_State** · 02-09-2010, 10:15 AM

Originally Posted by Broodwich

I'm at home games. So that's no big deal. I'm just glad that there's a possibility of me being able to watch the Barnstormers away on HD on DirectTV.

This. I'm not a season ticket holder, but if I'm in Des Moines when a home game is going on, I'm probably there. Summer weekends can get busy with weddings, visiting friends etc, so that's why I don't have season tickets, but single game tickets are very reasonable, and they only went up $3/seat this year with the new AF1, and increased exposure.