For people who simply cannot get enough of the NFL, there are two options -- the NFL Sunday Ticket "SuperFan" package on DirecTV and NFL Network "On Demand" through Comcast digital cable -- that should go a long way in satisfying the thirst for highlights and stats, everything from A (Atlanta Falcons) to Z (Miami defensive tackle Jeff Zgonina).
One of the main attractions of the NFL Network "On Demand" feature is a four-letter word: free. Comcast digital-cable subscribers don't have to pay anything more to receive the NFL Network programming.
That programming ranges from market-specific offerings (in the Bay Area, that means 49ers and Raiders fare) to shows with league-wide appeal.
For the fan interested in 32 teams, the offering that most likely will get his or her attention is "Weekly Replay." Scheduled to be available at 12:01 a.m. Mondays, "Weekly Replay" provides about 12 minutes of highlights of each Sunday game (and, as the schedule dictates, games played Thursday and/or Saturday).
For the fan who filters things through either red-and-gold or silver-and-black glasses, there is "Local Replay," which will have highlights of each 49ers and Raiders game available throughout the season. In other words, if in late November you want to review the Raiders-Patriots opener, you can access clips of that game on "Local Replay."
As of Saturday, the NFL Network "On Demand" page for a San Francisco digital-cable customer listed three sections: 1) 2005 NFL Preview, which had season-preview features of 3-4 minutes for every team; 2) NFL Network Xtra, which had programming ranging from NFL Network's signature show, "NFL Total Access," to a three-part series on the Miami Dolphins' cheerleaders; and 3) Local Zone, which one would assume is where the 49ers' and Raiders' "Local Replay" editions will be found.
Local Zone also provides NFL Films shows featuring the Bay Area teams. The three offerings available Saturday: the highlight film of the 1976 Patriots-Raiders playoff game, the highlight film of the 1977 Raiders-Colts "Ghost to the Post" playoff game and a highlight film of a November 1985 Broncos-Raiders matchup listed as "DEN vs. OAK."
Those three offerings indicated two "lacks" in Local Zone at that point: one, programming about the 49ers and two, a sense of history. That's because a 1985 Broncos-Raiders game should be listed as "DEN vs. L.A." Or, more accurately, it shouldn't be offered in a Bay Area Local Zone.
In any event, DirecTV subscribers who purchase the NFL Sunday Ticket package (access to all the morning and afternoon Sunday telecasts costs $280 for the season) can acquire the "SuperFan" upgrade for an additional $99.
One key component of the "SuperFan" tier is called "Game Mix," which provides a checkerboard-like screen with eight telecasts. Customers who have interactive receivers can click on one of the eight telecasts to get that game full-screen, then can click back to the eight-telecast checkerboard.
Another intriguing feature of the "SuperFan" option is the "Red Zone Channel," which provides highlights throughout the day and switches to possibly dramatic moments in various games. One drawback, though, is only Fox games get the "Red Zone" treatment; CBS games aren't part of the deal.
"SuperFan" customers also receive "Short Cuts" on Mondays and Tuesdays. These are versions of entire games; with almost all non-action trimmed, the "Short Cuts" last 20-30 minutes.
So, say, on Dec. 19, the "Short Cuts" version of the 49ers-Jaguars game could have everything from A (49ers defensive tackle Anthony Adams) to Z (Jacksonville long-snapper Joe Zelenka) in 25 minutes.
Briefly: Blackout restrictions still apply to Sunday Ticket subscribers; in other words, if a Raiders game is blacked out in the Bay Area, Sunday Ticket subscribers won't see it, either. ... The Monday news conferences of Raiders head coach Norv Turner and 49ers head coach Mike Nolan will get live TV coverage this season. At noon, Comcast SportsNet (digital-cable Channel 400 in the Bay Area) has Turner's conference from Alameda. At 12:30 p.m., KBHK (Channel 44) airs Nolan's conference from Santa Clara.
One of the main attractions of the NFL Network "On Demand" feature is a four-letter word: free. Comcast digital-cable subscribers don't have to pay anything more to receive the NFL Network programming.
That programming ranges from market-specific offerings (in the Bay Area, that means 49ers and Raiders fare) to shows with league-wide appeal.
For the fan interested in 32 teams, the offering that most likely will get his or her attention is "Weekly Replay." Scheduled to be available at 12:01 a.m. Mondays, "Weekly Replay" provides about 12 minutes of highlights of each Sunday game (and, as the schedule dictates, games played Thursday and/or Saturday).
For the fan who filters things through either red-and-gold or silver-and-black glasses, there is "Local Replay," which will have highlights of each 49ers and Raiders game available throughout the season. In other words, if in late November you want to review the Raiders-Patriots opener, you can access clips of that game on "Local Replay."
As of Saturday, the NFL Network "On Demand" page for a San Francisco digital-cable customer listed three sections: 1) 2005 NFL Preview, which had season-preview features of 3-4 minutes for every team; 2) NFL Network Xtra, which had programming ranging from NFL Network's signature show, "NFL Total Access," to a three-part series on the Miami Dolphins' cheerleaders; and 3) Local Zone, which one would assume is where the 49ers' and Raiders' "Local Replay" editions will be found.
Local Zone also provides NFL Films shows featuring the Bay Area teams. The three offerings available Saturday: the highlight film of the 1976 Patriots-Raiders playoff game, the highlight film of the 1977 Raiders-Colts "Ghost to the Post" playoff game and a highlight film of a November 1985 Broncos-Raiders matchup listed as "DEN vs. OAK."
Those three offerings indicated two "lacks" in Local Zone at that point: one, programming about the 49ers and two, a sense of history. That's because a 1985 Broncos-Raiders game should be listed as "DEN vs. L.A." Or, more accurately, it shouldn't be offered in a Bay Area Local Zone.
In any event, DirecTV subscribers who purchase the NFL Sunday Ticket package (access to all the morning and afternoon Sunday telecasts costs $280 for the season) can acquire the "SuperFan" upgrade for an additional $99.
One key component of the "SuperFan" tier is called "Game Mix," which provides a checkerboard-like screen with eight telecasts. Customers who have interactive receivers can click on one of the eight telecasts to get that game full-screen, then can click back to the eight-telecast checkerboard.
Another intriguing feature of the "SuperFan" option is the "Red Zone Channel," which provides highlights throughout the day and switches to possibly dramatic moments in various games. One drawback, though, is only Fox games get the "Red Zone" treatment; CBS games aren't part of the deal.
"SuperFan" customers also receive "Short Cuts" on Mondays and Tuesdays. These are versions of entire games; with almost all non-action trimmed, the "Short Cuts" last 20-30 minutes.
So, say, on Dec. 19, the "Short Cuts" version of the 49ers-Jaguars game could have everything from A (49ers defensive tackle Anthony Adams) to Z (Jacksonville long-snapper Joe Zelenka) in 25 minutes.
Briefly: Blackout restrictions still apply to Sunday Ticket subscribers; in other words, if a Raiders game is blacked out in the Bay Area, Sunday Ticket subscribers won't see it, either. ... The Monday news conferences of Raiders head coach Norv Turner and 49ers head coach Mike Nolan will get live TV coverage this season. At noon, Comcast SportsNet (digital-cable Channel 400 in the Bay Area) has Turner's conference from Alameda. At 12:30 p.m., KBHK (Channel 44) airs Nolan's conference from Santa Clara.
