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DirecTV Agrees to Pay $4B to Extend Exclusive NFL Sunday Ticket Deal

The National Football League clearly knows the power of its brand and DirecTV clearly knows the power of exclusivity.  The two entities have reached a deal to extend the contract allowing the satellite television provider the sole rights to carry NFL Sunday Ticket for four years.  The agreed upon price: $4 billion!  According to the Wall Street Journal, that is an increase of $300 million over the current deal, which expires after the 2010 season.

I am a longtime DirecTV subscriber.  I signed up in February 2000, shortly after the conclusion of the 1999 NFL season.  The driving force behind my decision was a substandard cable service within the apartment complex where I was living.  It was not Time Warner Cable which serves the rest of the local community.  Equally important in my decision-- NFL Sunday Ticket.  I relished the notion that I could watch my beloved, however mired in sub-mediocrity, Detroit Lions from the comfort of my living room each week.

To this day, DirecTV keeps my business because of NFL Sunday Ticket.  But with each contract renewal between the provider and the NFL has come subscription price increases.  I seem to remember paying about $170 per season when I first signed up for Sunday Ticket.  Now, it's pushing $300.  If this 43% rights fee increase translate into a 43% subscription fee increase, fans are looking at a possible $429 per season tab.

The NFL has already priced most fans out of the stadium experience.  I hope they don't do the same to Sunday Ticket customers.

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NFL Draft: The Lions Are On The Clock

The NFL Draft is next month.  The Detroit Lions, who went 0-16 last season, have the #1 pick.  There are reports that team management has already started negotiation with their choice, they just aren't saying who that choice is at this point.  All I can say is, THEY BETTER NOT SCREW THIS UP!!!!!

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Lions begin negotiating with No. 1 overall draft pick

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GM Puts Light Duty V8 Turbo Diesel Engine on Hold

Another casualty of General Motors' financial crisis is the Duramax 4.5L V-8 turbo diesel engine. GM released a statement last week saying the engine is now on indefinite hold. "GM remains optimistic that the Duramax 4.5L V-8 diesel may be a viable option in its future portfolio," the statement, released March 11th, said.

GM had planned to introduce this engine in the 2010 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks. Chevrolet and GMC will continue to offer a heavy duty Duramax 6.6L V-8 diesel, which GM claims is class-leading in both horsepower and torque.

I was eagerly anticipating this light duty diesel because it had also been mentioned as a likely engine option on the HUMMER H2, possibly an Alpha model. But, we all know that won't happen since HUMMER isn't going to survive, at least not with GM.

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GM Launches 2010 Chevy Camaro

The chief engineer for the Camaro provides a video tour of the new muscle car.

This car is HOTT! Check out the Camaro Microsite.

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