Should the NFL Network air or stream every regular season game?

NFL football is one of the most popular sports in the United States. For many it's a highlight of the year. People look forward to it the same way they do Christmas. The Super Bowl becomes a bittersweet event as it is the culmination of 20 weeks of sports, but it also marks the end until the next Fall.

NFL launches it's very own network

Back in 2003, the NFL launched it's own network, promising all football, all the time. One would think that since you have a whole channel devoted to nothing but football, that people would be able to watch any game that was played over the course of the season. Sadly, this is not the case.

Many fans who live in a different state than where they're favorite team is located find themselves unable to watch their team play due to local channels picking which games to air. If the NFL network were to air every regular season game, fans would be able to support their team, even if they do live in a different state.

Obviously, they can't show all of the games live, but much like they did with the pre-season games, they could air them later on over the course of the week. It might lose some of its suspense for the viewer if they caught the score on ESPN or something like that, but if they avoid that, they could watch the game at their discretion as if it were airing for the first time.

This doesn't necessarily interfere with the local channels as the odds are pretty good that the NFL Network will be showing a game that isn't on the local affiliate. On the off-chance that they do air the same game, it might cut into viewership a little, but I don't think the shift will be that drastic.

What about NFL Redzone?

At first, I thought that this would render NFL RedZone obsolete, but even that isn't the case as that network allows you to watch major plays as they're happening. The downside is that it doesn't stick on any one game so you find yourself jumping from game to game depending on the circumstances.

The people who would be rendered obsolete, however, are people who try to stream the games online. With a network that allows you to watch every game legally, there would be no more need for people to go to these lengths. This would also bring in ad revenue, not to mention the money that would come from increased subscriptions. It's a win/win situation.

The Network had the right idea during the pre-season

I don't get it. During the pre-season, the network really pushed the idea that they were airing every game, and then once the season started, they went back to retrospective documentaries, as well as blooper and highlight reels. That stuff is fine...during the off-season, but when the season starts we want football, new football.

As for rights, it's the NFL's content. They always say that any airings without the express consent of the NFL is prohibited. I think that they'll be able to give themselves permission to re-air the games on their own network. It boggles the mind that the network hasn't already done this as it seems like an idea that sells itself. Apparently, the idea hasn't crossed their minds so, hopefully, this will help inspire them.

Or, better yet, the NFL could stream all of the games online live as they're being played.  While some of the points are the same, I wrote a list of top 5 reasons why they should and they are as follows

5. Why Not?

There's no reason not to do this. If individuals can set up similar systems out of their home, surely an organization with the resources of the NFL can do the same. The internet seems to be playing a crucial role in the future of marketing and entertainment, it would behoove the NFL to keep up so that they can, pardon the pun, stay in the game.

4. Economic Stimulus

Streaming the games would bring in revenue. With this added revenue, you can help a floundering economy. Yeah, I assume some of it would go to the players and executives, but you would still be able to hire more people. 

Heck, with that money, you would be able to justify lowering the cost of tickets, bringing more people back to the stadiums. That, in turn, would bring more business to the local concession stands and help keep the stadiums up and running, again, creating jobs.

3. Wider audience

As I said before, there are some people who can't watch their teams play due to where they live. They fall victim to the whims of the station executives. By streaming every game, people will be able to tune in and root for who they want to without having to rely on highlights and recaps

2. More Money

Streams are easy to monetize. Often times, ads air before someone starts watching a stream, and every time someone does that, it adds a little to the account balance. With all of the viewers across the country, and all of the games that you would potentially be airing, do you know how much money that would bring in? Quite a lot I imagine

Since the commercials that air during the broadcast are reaching a wider audience, you might be able to up the sponsorship rate, or maybe even pick up new sponsors as a result of it.

1. Put a stop to pirate streams once and for all

Right now, the NFL's current policy when dealing with pirate streams is to just shut it down. Seems all well and good until another one pops up. It essentially turns the copyright war into a game of "Whack a mole". 

By streaming the games yourself, you're cutting the pirates off at the knees (unintentional, I swear). There would be no reason for them to exist anymore since fans can just go to the NFL's website, click on the game that they want to watch and be set without any hassle whatsoever.