There's no doubt that the right to broadcast the NFL Network is an advantage for any television provider. Personally, it's hard to recall the number of people who have credited their switch to a satellite network due to the NFL package.

So why aren't Time Warner and Comcast, two of the largest cable companies in the U.S., going deep for the rights to broadcast the NFL Network? According to Time Warner and other cable operators, the monthly fees the NFL Network would charge are too high.

Really? Apparently they aren't too high for Verizon and their FiOS IPTV service. Verizon released a press release yesterday rubbing in the fact that they've negotiated rights to offer the NFL Network, which also has rights to broadcast the Texas Bowl this year.

While most Cablevision, Time Warner and Comcast analog-cable television subscribers in New York and New Jersey won't be able to see the Rutgers and Kansas State football teams play in the Texas Bowl on Dec. 28, other consumers in the region will have a better alternative. The game will be available on Verizon's FiOS TV service and for Verizon's DIRECTV customers in New York, New Jersey* and throughout the region.

Unlike Cablevision and Time Warner, Verizon has an agreement to carry the NFL Network on its FiOS TV service. The game will also be available on DIRECTV, a service Verizon sells as part of its suite of voice, data and video services.

"This is a prime example of why choice and competition in the video market is so critical to consumers," said Marilyn O'Connell, Verizon's senior vice president of video solutions. "We're proud to offer consumers in the metropolitan area a chance to see Rutgers - the region's hometown team -- play in Texas. And it's something that won't be seen by Cablevision, Time Warner or Comcast analog-TV customers."

"We look forward to the New Jersey BPU quickly approving Verizon's franchise application and making video choice and the Texas Bowl available to even more consumers in the area," said O'Connell. "For too long, consumers have been held hostage by these all-too-common squabbles between networks and the monopolistic cable-TV providers. It's time to bring an end to these barriers to competition and let the consumer decide."

* Verizon's FiOS TV service is already available to thousands of consumers in New York. Assuming the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities approves Verizon's video franchise application in the next 11 days, even more consumers in New Jersey will be able to watch Rutgers play Kansas State on TV.

Time Warner Tackles DirecTV

Time Warner Cable has launched a lawsuit today against DirecTV, who they said launched an advertisement that lied to customers. The advertisement stated that viewers would only be able to watch the Dec. 30th game between the New York Giants and the Washington Redskins if they joined DirecTV.

The lawsuit alleges that DirecTV has performed similar acts in Green Bay and Cincinnati. "These false ads were obviously targeted at markets where DirecTV believes that loyalty to the local football team will drive consumer purchasing decisions."

Senator Arlen Specter Wants to Play Ball

Meanwhile, Sen. Arlen Specter spoke out today stating, "he would sponsor legislation to eliminate the antitrust exemption that allows the National Football League to negotiate broadcast rights for all of its 32 teams."

The NFL Network Blitzes Comcast

Also from the same article, "The NFL Network is suing Comcast over the Philadelphia cable company's refusal to carry eight late-season football games in a programming tier widely available to customers. Comcast wants to put those games in its sports tier, which costs $5 more monthly, to compensate for higher fees the NFL wants to charge."