I don’t understand why the sound of football games on the NFL Network is so poor. CBS, NBC, ABC, ESPN, none of them ever had a problem with their sound. The announcers broadcasting the NFL Network, Thursday Night Football game, sound like aren’t even at the game. It’s like they are announcing the game from a hotel room in New York while watching the game feed. The sounds from the playing field are muted, you don’t get any real sense of the on-field action, and it honestly sounds like it has been overdubbed.
NFL Networks should study the games on the real networks to see how to mix the audio from the field with the commentary from the both. It’s bad enough that we have to listen to Bryant Gumball anyway. Couldn’t we at least feel like he took the effort to attend the game.
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I agree the sound is terrible. I watch the NFL HD channel on Direct TV. The sound of the graphics coming on screen just about blows the windows out, but you can barely hear the “play by play”. It is very unprofessional and anoying.
Richard on October 24th, 2008 at 6:37 pm | Link
Get with the times!!! The audio on the NFL Netwrok combined with the awful announcers makes your exclusive ames not worth worrying about not seeing. Tip: Even CBS broadcasts in Dolby 5.1.
Goodboy on November 9th, 2008 at 8:04 am | Link
Quit complaining.
Barry on November 9th, 2008 at 4:30 pm | Link
Quit complaining and learn how to spell. “Netwrok” “ames” What a loser!
Barry on November 9th, 2008 at 4:32 pm | Link
Hey Mary…I mean Barry….You must be a Lions fan and own a 13 inch color TV or else you would understand better what my complaining is about. Sorry my typos upset you too. Cheer up fella. Figure skating season is almost here and maybe you won’t be so upset over my typos and complaining.Hang in there!
goodboy on November 10th, 2008 at 5:48 am | Link
Mary, where did you go?
Goodboy on November 10th, 2008 at 12:19 pm | Link
The description of the NFL Thursday night game fits the annoying sound failure to a T. I feel like I’m watching highlights of the game the next day. There is no REAL FEEL like on the other networks!
larry on November 13th, 2008 at 6:57 pm | Link
Found this thread after googling “nfl network game audio problems
The audio is terrible and gives an amature feel to the broadcast.
I find myself losing interest in an otherwise good game (Jets/Pats) and getting tired of riding the remote between game and commercial volume.
NFL Network, get it togther!
leakybrain on November 13th, 2008 at 7:08 pm | Link
I am watching the Thursday Night Game on the NFL Network and the sound volume is way out of control. I am only having this problem on this one channel…so I am sure it’s not the TV. One point I have the volume up to 46 and then I have to bust it down to 14…???WTF???
mjpcobb on November 13th, 2008 at 7:53 pm | Link
100% agree… the audio mixing on this channel is absolutely terrible.
In my opinion, HD has had a bigger impact on football than any other type of programming… the experience is substantially better. And here we have an entire channel of HD football, and they do a horrible job at it…. and charge for it! I’m strongly considering dropping it.
Tom on November 13th, 2008 at 7:55 pm | Link
It’s been like this for at least three years and the network HAS to be well aware of it. I’m thinking some type of conspiracy theory, notice how they kept advertising for XM radio, and telling you how you can get all the games etc… Oh well, I never watch the games on NFL network, it’s simply unwatchable because of the blast in volume when the commercials come on. The only thing it’s good for is when your team is on and you dont live in the local broadcating area, otherwise your better off watching grey’s anatomy and waiting for the highlights the next day.
chris on November 14th, 2008 at 9:18 am | Link
Another NFL Network debacle last night. The audio is a horror show. Actually, next to the announcers the audio is awesome. Those not following, the audio and announcers suck! I was able to watch the game on a local station (ABC) who had it in 5.1 Dolby but last week and the next 6 weeks are going to blow! Back to the announcers now…they suck! Back to the audio now, it sucks! Hey NFL Network, if you are going to corner viewers like you have, at least make it worth our while to watch.
Goodboy on November 14th, 2008 at 10:19 am | Link
I’m glad I’m not going crazy and you guys see the same thing. What comes to mind is Mystery Science Theater meets the NFL. They also talk over the cheers after the big plays so you don’t get the feel of the game what so ever. Seems very fixable. I wonder what their deal is.
Shortie on November 27th, 2008 at 8:04 pm | Link
Audio sucks but graphics blow even more. What’s with the score and clock running off top of screen in HD mode? Way past annoying. Why the heck can’t these knobs fix this?
hoops on December 17th, 2008 at 8:10 pm | Link
Watch NFL Network on Directv. The audio is constantly cutting out throughout the broadcast. The announcers, as many have noted, are horrible. You’d think if the NFL is trying to put this channel over, it’d be first class, but that is far from the case. However, ANY other channel I’ve watched on Directv has never had audio drops like they do on this channel. NFL Network needs to step it up or give it up. There’s no excuse for this unless they are trying to commemorate what it was like to watch games back in the AFL days. GET WITH IT!
JC on August 21st, 2009 at 2:02 pm | Link
I just subscribed to DirecTV about one month ago and also find the sound quality, (or lack thereof), disappointing to say the least. I notice the complaints prior to mine date back to Nov 2008. Obviously no one at the NFL Network feels these complaints are valid since they still have done nothing to correct the issue. That’s too bad. Get it together fellas. The season starts soon!
anonymous on September 9th, 2009 at 5:19 am | Link
2009 NFL Season is about to begin and the NFL network is till in days of mono televison and ****ty announcers. Wonderful!!
Goodboy on September 9th, 2009 at 7:07 am | Link
On a similar note .WABC’s college football is horrible. On several saturdays the sound is way too low that you have to sit with remote in hand to mute the ear splitting commercials. 1080p dolby 5.1 all flushed down the tubes with poor technical production. This is an OTA broadcast without DTV or comcast involved. Go figure
chooch502 on October 17th, 2009 at 11:00 am | Link
Ok, so it’s the first Thursday night game and I can’t even hear the announcers!. Ridiculous. I’m watching the game and all I hear is the crowd and the occasional call from the ref. WTF?
anon on November 12th, 2009 at 6:38 pm | Link
Watching tonights game and the audio did not work for the first 10 minutes of the game. What a blessing….
Delightfully Dangerous on November 12th, 2009 at 6:42 pm | Link
Is it real…..did I really watch the 1st TNF game on the NFL Network in true High Def with Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround sound? I believe I did!!! Thank God they are on board now!!!!! Those still complaining must have something not hooked up correctly. Call your Audio tech right away!!!
Goodboy on November 13th, 2009 at 2:51 pm | Link
What they need is a nice compressor on the mics. You would think they would know that
The TV show is well done. Who is running the game audio? I’ll do twice as good a job for 1/2 of what they are paying the guys in the NFL truck. and that would quadruple my current income.
Ron on December 3rd, 2009 at 8:34 pm | Link
Why doesn’t the NFL network realize how HORRIBLE Matt Millen is?? Get him OFF the air for crying out loud. I do not know ANYONE who thinks he is listenable. He never SHUTS UP. And his points always seem off. I can’t take it. About two weeks ago, I began watching NFL network games with no sounds. Bob Papa is good, but Millen is a know it all dope who knows nothing and is hurting the network. Replace him!!
martin lalli on December 14th, 2009 at 10:40 am | Link
Hey everyone. Looks like the audio issues on the NFL Network are not going away anytime soon. I have a direct connection there and spoke to her Sunday. The 1st game this year on the NFL Network was perfect but as she said…they still have issues to work out.Gee, ya think? Can’t they like call ESPN or any other network for a little advise?I also agree you Martin…..Matt Millen is a nice guy but he sucks as a commentator. He’s too nice in fact and needs to do ice skating or something else.
Goodboy on December 14th, 2009 at 10:48 am | Link
I just want the guy to SHUT the F&@ up for ONE play. Ever hear of letting the game breath a little? GEEZ.
martin lalli on December 14th, 2009 at 10:53 am | Link
Well it’s Dec 17th and the NFL Network is still not broadcasting in 5.1 here on my Comcast HD channel. Are they hurting financially? Maybe they should apply for some stimulus money.
V on December 17th, 2009 at 7:51 pm | Link
The play by play guy Papa and matt millen are horrible. Its torture to listen to. How can thee nfl network hire these clowns. I mute the game. And yes the sound is terrible as well. So mute the channel and listen to the radio cast. Dan Fouts is very good as a colour commentator.
Csant on December 20th, 2009 at 8:48 am | Link
Bob Papa is worse than matt millen. That doesnt say much because millen sucks.
Csant on December 20th, 2009 at 8:50 am | Link
CBS announcer volume level is too low. I hope they never get another Super Bowl again.
Tom Brady on February 7th, 2010 at 7:02 pm | Link