Michael Busuttil, Valletta
NFL games on cable television (2)
The National Football League, a North American sporting institution, has over a billion supporters of this great game and its spin-offs called "Fantasy Football" in all the nooks and crannies of the world.
So I am pleasantly surprised to learn there are others who are complaining about the XL package being provided on channel 207.
Originally, the ESPNAmerica website had the Malta listing with all NFL games and programmes for the year and the monthly printed Melita Cable Guide have NFL Sunday games listings. I sent the CEO and programme manager an e-mail with a wonderfully polite letter sharing my discontent. In less than 48 hours, I received a reply from the programming manager. I quote:"As our Customer Care have duly explained to you, ESPN AMERICA have changed our feed since they do not own the rights for NFL in Malta throughout this season only. They have assured us that NFL will be back on ESPN AMERICA as of next season and rights are then secured for 4 seasons.
"We have voiced all of our customer complaints to ESPN AMERICA and I have also asked them to send us an official letter on their position so that we can back up our communication to clients, in this case, you. To date I do not have this letter in hand, but I can assure you that we are being as transparent as possible. I have yet to receive a copy of this letter or any satisfaction from this situation."
By the way, RAI Sport show a game on Sunday night, time-delayed between 10.45 p.m. and 1.45 a.m. and also show the Monday night football game on Tuesday at 2.45 p.m.
The local cable provider must be consolidating their buying power with a TV programming buying organisation in the UK and maybe also with other foreign companies to cut down on expenses and supply repetitive programming feeds to Malta.
Of course the rapidly improving computer technology will give us the opportunity to enjoy all entertainment through the internet for a fairer price!
2 Comments
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c gatt
Nov 20th 2009, 15:37
I'm trolling again, but these kind of letters really get up my nose. The CEO no less of Melita Cable takes time out to write to this chap and explain to him that ESPNAmerica DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHTS FOR NFL GAMES IN MALTA, and this chap does not get it.
It is not Melita but ESPN that does not have the rights. No doubt Melita can possibly buy the rights for this season from the owners, but i suspect that the cost would be such that the few subscribers interested would not bother buying the package. That's the free market for you.
Jon Vercellono
Nov 20th 2009, 11:08
Where was the feed coming from in the first place. Right now, unless you enjoy the talk shows and Hockey - there's really no point to ESPN America. If there's transparency - surely they know their subscribers names and can communicate the problems themselves. Good customer service will maintain their current levels of customers. (and they can work on getting basketball (NBA) on melita sports as well).