OT: NFL Films on the chopping block

[stewdog1]

This is ridiculous. NFL Films and the Sabols helped make the NFL what it is today and still do.

http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/87932

Report: NFL buyout list includes Sabol



Monday is the deadline for NFL employees at the league office in New York, the NFL Network in Los Angeles and NFL Films in Mount Laurel, N.J., to accept the buyout package the league offered last month. The league is cutting a total of 150 jobs at those three operations. According to sources, they aren't going to come anywhere close to reaching that figure in buyouts. Which means there will be layoffs. The league, which is using the struggling economy as an excuse for the buyouts and layoffs, even though it is making lots and lots and lots of money, already laid off almost 10 percent of NFL Films' work force last March. The league's severance package for layoff victims is an embarrassment. They are offering just 1 week of salary for every year of NFL service, plus 50 percent of the employees' season performance bonus, which is a minimal number. A good number of the job cuts are expected to come at Films. The league, which clearly is trying to phase out Films, even had the audacity to include Films president Steve Sabol on the list of employees who are eligible for the buyout. Sabol and his father Ed founded Films 45 years ago. The company has been instrumental in making the NFL the immensely popular - and profitable - product it is today. Steve has been more important to this league than Paul Tagliabue ever was and Roger Goodell ever will be.
Philadelphia Daily News

 

[LVG]

Stepping over a dollar to pick up a penny, IMO.

 

[arthurracoon]

pathetic

NFL Films is awesome

 

[Dr. Jones]

pathetic

NFL Films is awesome

 

[abomb]

Very sad. Sabol and his father started at Super Bowl I.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Stepping over a dollar to pick up a penny, IMO.

Agreed. That is a HUGE mistake. NFL films is some of the best stuff ever recorded.

I can't wait to see what hack they bring in, if anything at all to be in control of NFL highlights and team packages.

Highlights have already been watered down and a shell of what they used to be.

This is pretty sad.

 

[CardLogic]

I would guess that some bean counter type figures that they can contract out operations to the lowest bidder.

Very foolish move.

 

[Ryanwb]

Sabol can take credit for what the NFL is today

 

[cardsfan89]

They must think that the NFL Network, the internet, and the prolific video highlight packages all can replace that. This isn't acceptable. When do they ask the money paying fans what WE want ? How come a player can't even celebrate a touchdown anymore ? Sad Sad

 

[Jersey Girl]

That sucks. How can you have the NFL and not NFL films?

I've been the NFL Films in Mt. Laurel. It was impressive. They took us where they store the film and we also saw all the awards they've won. The people there were so great.

This move is very short-sighted.

 

[NeverSayDieFan]

This would sadden me...

How can people WHO make soooooooo much $$. WHO have the "proverbial" Golden Goose, be so STUPID!!!! NFL Films immortalized the game!

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Total Bull Crap!!!! Goddell better get his ish together... NFL becoming a typical corporate machine. How sad, for all all the billions they are making...

 

[Shogun]

That will be a dark day for all football fans.

NFL Films is the best.

 

[Shane]

Wow just in tim efor us to get a worthy NFL films video too. AWFUL!

 

[azsouthendzone]

NFL is doing some really stupid things lately and this is the dumbest.

1. Kill off NFL Films
2. Games in Europe
3. Thursday night NFL Network games
4. Blackout rule (rediculous, stupid, idiotic rule that stands the test of time)
5. PSL
6. Officiating rivaling the NBA in disgrace
7. NFL Sunday Ticket Superfan AKA double the f;ing bill
8. Talk of not letting division winners have home playoff games

The sports landscape in America changes and the NFL needs to recognize that. It seems as if they are trying too hard. Just ask boxing.

 

[IAWarnerFan]

This is truly disappointing.

 

[Cheesebeef]

as long as they hold on for one more week to film our epic glory in Tampa, I could care less. Sports will cease to matter once Sunday ends and Bill Bidwill holds up the Vince Lombardi trophy.... that sentence makes me giggle like a school girl.

 

[Gaddabout]

The day is near when there will be a total free media blackout. The NFL is pushing their network because, someday, they envision retaining all their rights. That's why you don't see any NFL film on newspaper websites.

Lately, they've been nailing local TV stations. They make you sign almost impossible-to-understand exclusivity contracts, then they make you wear sponsored gear (Nikon vests for example) on the sidelines. I don't know about the other stations, but I know Ch. 12 has refused to sign the agreements and has told the NFL to take a hike. They use network video for their coverage.

On the web, the NFL (and MLB even moreso) limit images you are allowed on the web. At one point they were prepared for a total blackout (no still images on websites at all), but the public backlash and promise of ignoring their PR department made them back off.

They're not quite there yet, but they are close to controlling their coverage to point of eliminating free/public media entirely. And they're doing this in publicly-funded stadiums.

Some of you may think this is not a big deal, but get ready for the constant gloss-over when it comes to real sports reporting in the future. The NFL has laid the groundwork for all the other pro sports. Some day you'll have to pay to watch a single game on TV -- home or away. Then you'll have to be a paying NFL.com subscriber to receive any coverage.

Truth. It's coming.