I was recently watching the NFL playoffs and the commentators kept talking about how you can watch games on the NFL app. I was intrigued and decided to check it out. I quickly realized that it wasn’t going to be as straightforward as it sounded. After downloading the app, I searched for the airplay functionality to watch the games on my larger tv, but it didn’t seem to be anywhere to be found.
This was really a bummer, and it made me wonder why the NFL would have such a clunky app with such limited options. It seemed like cutting off the ability to watch games on a bigger screen completely missed the point of how important the in-home experience can be to passionate fans. Who was the app really designed for if I couldn’t actually use it to do its intended purpose?
I became even more frustrated when I found out that the app does block airplay and it can’t be used to watch games on your tv. I hadn’t heard a single thing about this before signing up for the app. To make matters worse, the only way to watch NFL games on a bigger screen seemed to be signing up for the expensive NFL game pass. In my opinion, this seems like a huge bait and switch tactic by the NFL to extract more money from loyal fans.
The thing that really makes my head spin is that the NFL is such a profitable organization. With the amount of money they make year after year, is it really that hard to create an app that can let fans watch games on their tv without having to pay an arm and a leg for it? It seems like the NFL could do so much better to cater to its customers, but instead it just continues to take advantage of people.
I will still use the NFL app to watch games, but I will be very careful about any other features or extras that are “required” to do so. It’s unfortunate that I have to be so cautious, because I love the excitement and enthusiasm that comes with NFL games, but sadly it seems like the app just adds a layer of roadblocks and extra money out of my pocket in the end.
Unfortunately, it looks like blocking Airplay is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the NFL app and how it’s designed to make money. Another issue that often gets overlooked is the way the app is designed to track user behavior and data. This type of data tracking is used to monitor location and viewing habits, and then to sell the data to third-party companies, which in turn use it to market products or advertisements to us fans.
This practice is not only unethical, but it’s also a downright violation of our privacy. The fact that the NFL is actively trying to invade our personal lives with little to no consent is something I can hardly stomach. And the more they inflate the cost of game passes each year, the more our privacy is at risk.
On top of all this, the NFL’s app isn’t exactly user friendly. The interface isn’t intuitive, and it’s often quite glitchy, making it hard to actually use. Many times I’ve found myself locked out of my account after too many failed attempts to sign in, and it all just seems like an intentional barrier put up to protect their own interests.
The NFL’s approach to using digital technology to tailoring their fan experience has been anything but ideal. With the monopoly they have over so many franchises and their abundance of money, it’s absurd that they don’s prioritize their customers more than they do. From blocking Airplay access, to tracking user data, to unreliable app designs, it almost seems like the league doesn’t even want us to keep up with their games. It’s truly an unfriendly way to treat their loyal fans.
The NFL’s tactics to block Airplay and restrict viewing to their own terms reflects poorly on them, and it’s a huge inconvenience for their fans. It seems only logical that they would allow us to use the tech platforms of our choice to watch games,, but instead they’ve been pulling the wool over our eyes time and time again. Not only that, the inflated prices and invasive data tracking make the experience even more unpleasant. It’s no surprise that so many NFL fans are fed ‐ up with the game the title stands for.
It doesn’t feel good to be taken advantage of or shortchanged, and that’s exactly what the NFL is doing. And now, with the way the app blocks Airplay, it’s as if we have to dig a hole in our wallets just to watch our favorite teams in the comfort of our own homes. The NFL’s obsession to squeeze every penny out of their customers needs to stop before its reprehensible tactics drive away what may be their most devoted fan base.