By Jay Skurski
The long wait is over for Time Warner Cable customers. The cable behemoth and the NFL have struck a multi-year deal to carry the NFL Network and RedZone channel. The league made the announcement official this afternoon in a press release.
NFL Network will begin airing Sunday, with a full lauch by Thursday, according to the release.
NFL Network will be available on Time Warner's digital basic tier, while the RedZone will be on a special package called the Sports Pass.
Even players in the league weren't immune to the dispute.
"It's funny, there are so many customers who choose their TV provider based on that kind of stuff, me included," Bills linebacker Bryan Scott. "I used to have Time Warner, and I switched."
Time Warner has more than 12 million subscribers, making it the second-largest cable company in the U.S. The NFL also reached a deal with Bright House Networks, the sixth-largest cable company in the country. Time Warner and Bright House are major cable providers in the home markets of 11 NFL cities (Buffalo, Carolina, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas, Green Bay, Indianapolis, Kansas City, New York, San Diego and Tampa Bay).
"It's always great for fans the more exposure the game can get," Scott said.
It's also good timing. NFL Network this season is televising a 13-game Thursday night schedule.
