Students will be able to view the Super Bowl after all

by Michael Davies

Fears that students would not be able to watch the Super Bowl were resolved Thursday January 26th at around 6 p.m.

(Photo: Michael Davies)

DirecTV and Sunbeam Television had been in contract negotiations, but had not been able to agree to any terms for a renewal. DirecTV believed that Sunbeam Television was being greedy and avoiding the 300 percent fee increase, while Sunbeam contended that DirecTV refused to stick with the market rate.

Until an agreement was reached, it appeared there would be no NBC for DirecTV customers, including Franklin Pierce University students. Information Technology (IT) had received phone calls from half a dozen students about the blackout, most of which were concerned about the Super Bowl.

“We have no control over the situation between the local affiliates and [our cable provider] DirecTV,” said Joanne Normandin interim director of IT.

Prior to the contract dispute resolution, Normandin had said, “We are working with DirecTV to find a work around so the channel is available in time for the Super Bowl. If we find a solution, we will definitely let students know.”

April Barker creative services producer at WHDH-TV is relieved that the dispute was settled because her job is to promote the station and have people tune in to watch the channel. “Big events like the upcoming Super Bowl added even more weight to the debate,” said Barker.  “For someone in my position, I had a hard time believing we would deny any viewers the opportunity to watch the Super Bowl, and all of 7News extra Super Bowl coverage.”

WHDH-TV was about to go into its third week of the blackout. The dispute affected over 200,000 customers in the Greater Boston Area.

“I’m glad it seems to now be all cleared up so that we can get away from the negative publicity and try to make it up to our DirecTV viewers,” said Barker.

The Super Bowl will be streamed online for the first time ever.