NBC has agreed to allow DIRECTV to air next season's episodes of Friday Night Lights before they debut on the network.
DIRECTV will air 13 new episodes of FNL in High-Definition on The 101 channel, starting October 1. Then, NBC will begin broadcasting the shows in early 2009. Until the agreement, the show's future was in doubt. Starring Kyle Chandler as the coach of a successful but flawed Texas high school football team, Friday Night Lights has struggled in the ratings.
The deal gives DIRECTV another exclusive programming venture to attract new subscribers and keep current ones. The satcaster now has the exclusive rights to the National Football League's Sunday Ticket pay package.
Today's announcement might suggest that new DIRECTV owner Liberty Media will seek out more original and exclusive content to distinguish the satellite TV service in the marketplace. With most cable and satellite operators likely to offer the same SD and HD basic cable channels, consumers may seek out TV providers that offer something different
