Will this week's game be postponed or moved due to Ike? [Yes]

[Keith]

Well, according to a quote from Aiello on PFT.com, the game will not be on DirecTV. And frankly, I'm questioning the accuracy of the Texans' email saying it will also be on ESPN2. Hmmm...

From PFT:

“Sunday Ticket is only available on Sunday,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told us via e-mail. “The Ravens-Texans game will be televised on the CBS stations in the primary and secondary markets of the Ravens and Texans.”

Here’s the problem. The NFL and DirecTV market Sunday Ticket as a way for fans of teams who don’t live where their favorite teams play to watch their favorite teams’ games. Many folks buy the entire DirecTV package not for the ability to watch every Sunday game, but to watch the one each week that involves the team whose games rarely if ever shows up on the broadcast networks in their area.

So as to all Ravens and Texans fans who don’t live in Baltimore or Houston, they’ll getting screwed out of the main reason they bought the Sunday Ticket package.

And they should get partial refunds.

We recommend not holding your breath. ...

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2008/...sunday-ticket/

[popanot]

Man, this is sad... I'm debating whether to start Flacco this week in my FFL because of the crappy showing the Texans D' put on us last week.

[TheMatrix31]

Originally Posted by Keith

Well, according to a quote from Aiello on PFT.com, the game will not be on DirecTV. And frankly, I'm questioning the accuracy of the Texans' email saying it will also be on ESPN2. Hmmm...

From PFT:


http://www.profootballtalk.com/2008/...sunday-ticket/

That is ****************ed up.

[popanot]

FYI, for the Sunday Ticket folks.

RAVENS-TEXANS GAME WILL AIR ON DIRECTV
Posted by Mike Florio on September 12, 2008, 4:32 p.m.
Well, we’re not quite sure why or how it happened, but the good folks at the NFL and ESPN have decided that the Monday night game between the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans will be available to DirecTV customers.

“After taking a closer look at it, we have decided that our Sunday Ticket subscribers will receive Monday night’s telecast of the Baltimore Ravens at Houston Texans game,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told us by e-mail a few moments ago.

The game won’t be available via DirecTV in Baltimore or Houston, but it wouldn’t be available via DirecTV in those cities if they played the game on Sunday. In those cities, it can be seen on the local CBS affiliate.

Kudos to the league and ESPN for doing the right thing.

[HPF Bob]

It doesn't indicate that Austin is getting the game on KEYE. I still don't understand where ESPN is factoring into this unless they are picking up the telecast but if they are, why should DTV and other satellite options be necessary?

[Keith]

Chron.com article on game being televised on DirecTV for Sunday Ticket subscribers.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/5998295.html

DirecTV spokesman Robert Mercer said NFL Sunday Ticket customers around the nation will be able to see the Ravens-Texans game live Monday night.

ESPN has exclusive rights to the Monday night window but agreed with the decision to make the Texans available on Sunday Ticket.

"We had conversations with the NFL today and determined this was the appropriate decision in order to best serve football fans," said ESPN spokesman Bill Hoffheimer. "Also, we will update our national viewers during the regularly-scheduled MNF game between the Eagles and Cowboys with in-game highlights of the Ravens-Texans."

From McClain's blog:

The Ravens are scheduled to come to Houston on Sunday. They could wait as late as Monday. NFL rules say visiting teams are supposed to be in a city 24 hours before the game, but in emergency situations like this, that rule is relaxed.
Depending on what happens with Ike, of course, there's always a chance the game could be postponed again. The NFL always has a plan, but right now, it hasn't been disclosed to us. ...

The last thing the Texans and Ravens want to do is to move the game. Remember last season when there was so much speculation about where the Texans and Chargers were going to play because of the fires that burned out of control in the San Diego area? They ended up playing it when and where they were supposed to. The Texans might as well have forfeited because they played such a horrible game against the Chargers.

[HPF Bob]

So that's where ESPN comes in. They had to consent for another game to butt into their protected time slot (obviously any competition, no matter how minor, pulls a percentage of viewers from the game they're showing thus diminishing the value of the ads they are selling).

So I guess that means you'll get the Texans if you have Sunday Ticket or if you are in the local markets for Houston and Baltimore.

[Keith]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5999358.html

Reliant Stadium has been damaged. There will be no game on Monday. More to come once teams discuss with the league.