NFL chastizes a church
By msbyte
@msbyte (219)
United States
February 4, 2007 2:35pm CST
A church wanted to put a big screen tv up so its members could watch the the big football game on the 4th. The NFL OVENIGHTED a package to the Pastor demanding that the church party be cancelled.
I think this is a shame. For some churches they are like a family. When they gather together they have a good time with one another and enjoy themselves. I guess you have to have beer and other fluids flowing freely to be able to show certain football games on a big screen.
I wonder how the sponsors who are paying millions for 30 second spots on the game feel about the 20% of potential customers being excluded from their viewing audience.
2 people like this
3 responses
@chuckt9881 (469)
• Canada
4 Feb 07
The NFL didn't object to the church showing the game. They objected to the church charging admission to see an event that they (the NFL) have sole licensing rights to. Churches in question are allowed to show the game and host parties as long as there is no admission charge and the game is not shown 'on a tv other than that commonly found in homes'. This last one seems to refer to any screen over 55".
The ban doesn't only affect churches, but any other commercial establishment including hotels, theatres, museums, schools, arenas, etc.
And this is not new. It has been a long standing policy of the NFL and all other major league sports.
@msbyte (219)
• United States
5 Feb 07
As I remember the article specifically stated that even though they dropped using the super bowl name - not realizing that they weren't allowed to - and dropped the charge (which was probably just a fund raiser for the church anyway - and would have helped the community) they were STILL told that they could not show it because it was on a big screen (which could easily be set up in a home) and the number of people that would be viewing it.
I still think the NFL was ruled by greed in this matter.
Churches contribute to the community - the people that go to the church will still go to church, and they lost those viewers.
@LindaLou (483)
• Canada
4 Feb 07
Wow, I have to wonder about the reasoning behind the NFL's objection to this. Why is it okay to go to a bar to watch but not a Church? Is there something that makes worshipping and football mutually exclusive? Sounds like pretty flawed reasoning to me.
@wilsonsir12 (494)
• United States
4 Feb 07
this is dumb i think that the nfl was stupid just because they didnt want them to watch the game at a church big deal i thought they wanted to make money i mean people can do what they want the chruch somepeople might live there who nows so the nfl was stupid on their part
