Many are excited about the inevitability of NFL Sunday Ticket landing with a new provider for various reasons, from the possibility of improved customer service over DirecTV’s current “please hold” approach to the potential for expanded functionality and more options for viewing out-of-market games.

Alex Sherman of CNBC.com reports that language in the contracts between the NFL and CBS and Fox preclude a significant reduction in the price point for Sunday Ticket, which currently has a full-season price point in the range of $300.

Likewise, an existing streaming service such as ESPN+ can’t simply add Sunday Ticket at no extra charge in order to boost subscribers.

CBS and Fox want people to watch the games offered in their local markets.

The NFL negotiated new contracts with CBS and Fox last year, knowing full well that the clock is ticking on Sunday Ticket.

CBS and Fox likely would have offered much less to the NFL if it were indeed easier and cheaper for fans to get Sunday Ticket, even though the games available in the local market via CBS and Fox are blacked out.

The NFL likewise positioned itself for a bigger payday for Sunday Ticket, given that anyone who wants it will be forking over significant money for the privilege of watching games other than those offered locally for free.

In other words, the NFL is using the full extent of its broadcast antitrust exemption to maximize revenue from CBS, Fox, and DirecTV by agreeing to and/or imposing terms that make it more expensive for fans who, for example, live in Jacksonville but root for the Steelers to see all Pittsburgh games.

There are inherent antitrust problems with telling fans their only way, if they live in Jacksonville, to see all Steelers games will be to buy the entirety of the Sunday Ticket package.

Why doesn’t the NFL allow someone who pays for Sunday Ticket the option to just pick your favorite team, say for $100.

My problem with the current Sunday Ticket is that you have to subscribe to Directv year round which really makes the cost around $1500/year.

I believe it was at that point where I could no longer get Sunday ticket a la carte.

I’ve always been upset with NFL for taking a big consumer choice (pay TV provider) out of the hands of their fans and forcing Directv on them year round if you wanted the Sunday Ticket.

There were workarounds (apartment, college kids, no view of satellites) but vast majority of people were forced to subscribe to Directv year round (with a vacation hold for part of the off-season)?

The new deal will at least allow the consumer to pick their pay TV provider (if-any) and not be saddled with an additional $1000 a year of junk fees and equipment on their house to get the Sunday Ticket.

I have been able to get free Sunday Ticket almost every year from DirecTV by asking for it.

This year DirecTV gave me Sunday Ticket Max and I didn’t even have to ask.

Cause I can still just buy the Sunday Ticket and not a DIRECTV package for 2 years as well.

My problem with the current Sunday Ticket is that you have to subscribe to Directv year round which really makes the cost around $1500/year.

I subscribed to Sunday Ticket just last year and did not have DirecTV.

First, you don’t have to subscribe year round.

Many people are willing to pay that price point by their own free will to watch their favorite team.

I’m sure the NFL and whoever is going to be broadcasting Sunday Ticket next year have done their market research and have shown that the max revenue is x price point with y subscribers.

I think a lot of people would pay $300 for Sunday ticket, as long as they dont also have to subscribe to some other monthly service(Like Dish or appleTV).

Every year DirecTV has offered Sunday Ticket for free or for a greatly reduced price for new subscribers

Also, every year I would just call DirecTV, wait on hold for a few days, and 100% of the time was able to get them to renew Sunday Ticket for 50% off or better

With the current digital TV landscape, there’s no reason why CBS and Fox can’t present ALL of their Sunday games to all markets, which would allow them to sell significantly more local advertising

Currently, RZ on DirecTV is only available if you buy one of the Sunday Ticket packages, while it’s a standard channel for anybody who buys the relatively inexpensive sports bundle from their cable provider