NFL RedZone Channel on Dish Network

The NFL RedZone channel will be available for hard core NFL fans this year, and it won’t cost an arm and a leg like the NFL Sunday Ticket package.  Even better, the NFL RedZone channel will be available to nearly 40 million households, as Comcast and Dish Network have jumped on board with the NFL and signed up to carry the new channel.

The NFL originally planned to start its Red Zone channel in 2012, but deals struck with FOX and CBS to extend the current contracts made the network a reality this year.  That is good news for Comcast and Dish Network subscribers, who have balked at switching over to DIRECTV for access the the Sunday Ticket and Superfan packages.  Other cable companies may also be picking up the NFL RedZone channel in the weeks ahead, though they would also have to agree to carry the NFL Network.

The NFL RedZone channel will be completely different then the DIRECTV Red Zone channel that is part of the Superfan package.  The Red Zone channel quickly became a fan favorite as it cut from game to game when teams were threatening to score.  Fantasy football fans and those who had money on NFL games especially enjoyed the non stop action found on DIRECTV’s version of the Red Zone channel, which is hosted by Andrew Siciliano.

While the exact format of the NFL RedZone channel has not been widely publicized, it will probably closely follow the DIRECTV model.  The channel will be produced by the NFL Network, and will be hosted by Scott Hanson who already works for the network.  With deals in place with DIRECTV, FOX, and CBS for coverage, the NFL Red Zone comes to air 3 years earlier than expected.

Both Dish Network and Comcast will offer the NFL RedZone as part of premium sports tier packages.  Dish Network offers a Multi Sport package of regional sports channels for $5.99 per month.   If you subscribe to the Classic Silver 200 or higher and HD access, you will be able to get the NFL RedZone HD channel as well as the standard definition version.

Comcast is also offering the NFL RedZone channel on its Sports Entertainment Package Tier, which also costs customers a few extra bucks each month.  Expect many customers of both Dish Network and Comcast to add the sports tier when the NFL season starts in September, and drop it when the regular season ends in December.

While only Comcast and Dish Network have picked up the NFL RedZone channel so far, expect other cable companies to finally sit down at the bargaining table with the NFL.  Three other big cable companies – Time Warner, Cox, and Cablevision have resisted the leagues asking price for the NFL Network.  Although the NFL RedZone channel will only be on the air for about 8 hours during football season, the product it delivers will have customers calling their cable companies asking for it.  Holdout cable companies would be wise to strike a deal for both networks, thus preventing a mass exit for satellite TV service from Dish or DIRECTV.