Anyone whining about Directv securing the deal for NFLST is whining for whining's sake. Someone was going to ante up whether it was Directv, DishNetwork (never had a chance), or Time Warner. If you thought the package was going to get cheaper if it went to another company, you're kidding yourself. Before NFLST you got the games you got and that was that. There was no going to your local bar because they were showing the exact same games you got at home. If it's not worth the money to you, no problem. The NFL has created a product that has become very lucrative and they have no reason whatsoever not to maximize it's potential revenue. The demand will ALWAYS dictate the price. If it gets too out of hand and they lose too many subscribers over it then the price will balance itself out.
We live in a fast food, social media, instant gratification, 20,00 songs on my computer that I didn't pay a nickel for, I want it all now and I want it free society. Those types are at the heart of the whinefest regarding this particular topic. Some people don't even know what it was like BEFORE NFLST even existed. They have no concept of watching whatever your local broadcasts gave you and you could suck it if you don't like it, Because, guess what? There was no where else for you to go to see something else. Not your local bar. Not your brother's house. No "splitting the tab with you buddies every couple of weeks". Pay up or get over it.
As for the basketball, hockey, and baseball packages? Psshhhh, please! If ANY of those leagues could even REMOTELY get away with charging for their package what the NFL charges for NFLST, they would do it in a heartbeat. The truth is that ANY of those packages would tank in year #1 because the interest just isn't there. The NBA, MLB, and NHL execs would cream their jeans if they could get what the NFL gets. It will never happen and they know it. They don't bother. It has nothing to do with "fan friendly". If you actually believe that line of ******** then you're an idiot.