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The move by the NFL to exclusively air this weekend's game between the New England Patriots and New York Giants on their own NFL network, which reaches only 40% of US households, was met with much criticism and frustration. With a win this weekend, the Patriots would become the first team to go undefeated in a 16-game season (the Dolphins did it in the 14-game '72 season).

Now it looks like pressure from Washington has changed their mind and suddenly the game is airing on NFL Network and both NBC and CBS. Of course, several local affiliates to the two teams had already negotiated exclusive rights to the game and sold ads at inflated rates, so they can't be too happy about having to share the game now with CBS and NBC.

Tonight, the NFL Network broadcasts its first game, pitting the Denver Broncos against the Kansas City Chiefs. It promises to be a hard battle, with two longtime and bitter rivals fighting to stay in the playoff picture. This will also mark Bryant Gumbel's return to sports play-by-play, something he hasn't done in many, many years (he was NBC's NFL studio host before he got the Today job; this may be his first play-by-play work since the seventies), and it will be fun to hear the always-opinionated Cris Collinsworth back in the booth. Should be a good game.

Here's the problem: I won't be able to watch it. And neither will the majority of fans.

Starting next season, football fans across the country can prepare to be annoyed when the game they want to see isn't on. Especially if they live outside the team's home market.

The NFL Network has now signed on to air eight regular season games for the 2006-2007 NFL Season, including a Thanksgiving evening game. The games will still be shown on their local in-market stations, but don't expect to see it if you live on the other side of the country, and it was originally set to be nationally televised as most Saturday NFL games are. That is, unless... perhaps you might now be willing to subscribe to the NFL Network? Owned and operated by the league, they're hoping that's exactly what will happen. So it's expected that the current number of around 40 million subscribers will grow.

This makes sense, at least. I mean, if the NFL owns the station then why wouldn't they try and air some of the games?

[via ESPN]