WSBK is blacked out this afternoon!

[MarkL]

I am so pissed right now I could scream. This is the first time I have ever seen any superstation content blacked out. Why didn't Dish let us know that this would be happening? It had better just be a 1 time error or I will be furious. I am calling Dish as we speak to voice my displeasure about this, I encourage the rest of you(that care) to do the same.

[MarkL]

I am on hold with Dish waiting to talk to a supervisor, but I just went to WSBK's website(upn38.com) and wrote them a message informing them of my displeasure about the situtation. Here's what I said:

Hi, I am a Dish Network subscriber and I recieve WSBK as part of Dish's "Superstations" package. I have been enjoying WSBK since the late '80s when I had a large C-Band dish. WSBK is one of my most viewed stations, and I was quite disappointed to turn on my television this afternoon(Sunday March 16) only to see that you guys had blacked out the Red Sox/Pirates exhibition game. Blacking out an exhibition game??? WHY? Whose decision was this, WSBK's or Dish Network's? When you guys used to carry the Sox, I didn't see these ridiculous blackouts. I am hoping this is a one time problem, and that Sox baseball will be viewable on WSBK for the rest of this season. Like I said, WSBK is one of my favorite channels, but if these blackouts continue, I may decide to no longer watch ANYTHING on your network as a result. If blacking out an exhibition baseball game is worth losing longtime loyal viewers to your station, then all I can say is more power to you. By the way, I am not just upset with WSBK. As soon as I saw the game was blacked out a 1PM today, I called Dish and made my displeasure quite clear to them and asked them to please work out something with WSBK where Red Sox games can be shown this season. Thanks for your time, and I'd appreciate any information regarding this matter that you can share with me.

If/when I get a response from WSBK on this, I will post it here.

[Mike123abc]

WSBK probably does not have a choice in the matter either. MLB is probably demanding it. They want to be able to sell out of market games and make more money.

[MarkL]

Originally posted by Mike123abc
WSBK probably does not have a choice in the matter either. MLB is probably demanding it. They want to be able to sell out of market games and make more money.

What does that have to do with anything? WSBK's games aren't available through Extra Innings anyway, only the Fox Sports games are. So what benefit would blacking out WSBK bring to MLB? Unless this is a sign that Dish will be adding Extra Innings, there is no sense in these blackouts. If I recall correctly, the sticking point of EI coming to Dish was blackouts on superstation baseball.

[Geronimo]

As I reported in another thread on this topic DISH is claiming it was not responsible. There were stories of blackouts ever since the deal with Viacom was announced. I tried several times to get the right story---including on the Charlie Chat.

But WSBK is the one who told me the games would be blacked out.

And BTW the WSBK games WILL be on EI. They are televised by NESN in New England outside the Boston DMA. NESN is not a Fox Sports statiosn but several games from non Fox RSNs are available.

I think what makes this whole situation different is that the rights are still held by an RSN---they are allowing WSBK to broadcast the games in a specific DMA. There was alot of conflicting info out there. Contrary to accusations here I did not suggest the blackouts I checked out rumors of same.

[James_F]

MLB has stated they want you either to subscribe to MLB EI or MLB.TV (http://www.mlb.tv).

[Scott Greczkowski]

WSBK is also blacked out here, and we are in the middle of Red Sox territory. (Of course on Cable is NOT blacked out on WSBK)

Something stink here?

To follow up the game on WGN is not blacked out here.

[James_F]

Give it time Scott. According to a WSJ article I read about 4 months ago, MLB is trying to reign in their TV games. Unless the teams that are on the supers are willing to share the extra revenue from commercials, MLB has decided to do away with the games. I doubt too many teams are willing to share the revenue.

[Joe Capitano]

Originally posted by Scott Greczkowski
WSBK is also blacked out here, ... (snip!)

Something stink here?

To follow up the game on WGN is not blacked out here.

Speaking of blackouts, WSBK wasn't alone. Turns out Galavision was also showing a blackout notice today around 11 AM here. The offending program: Lucha Libre (Mexican wrestling) - and this is NOT the first time.

It may be someone is just not paying attention over at dishville.

[Steve Mehs]

I was kind of surprised when I saw the blackout message. Anyone have the supers on BEV? Was it blacked out on Bell?

[BobMurdoch]

Originally posted by James_F
MLB has stated they want you either to subscribe to MLB EI or MLB.TV (http://www.mlb.tv).

Fine, MLB. I'm a Dish Network subscriber. How do I sign up?

Yeah, I know. I CAN'T. Then I'll pay for Extra Innings. Oh yeah, I CAN'T!

Why is it that antitrust regulations PROHIBITED E* from POTENTIALLY turning into a monopoly, yet they ignore the TRUE monopolies like MLB?

[James_F]

Believe me, you'll have MLB EI next year. Its just the contract they signed with DirecTV. Even Cable has MLB EI.

[Scott Greczkowski]

my question is why was the Sox Game blacked out on Dish yet it was shown on WSBK on cable without being blacked out?

What am I missing here?

[James_F]

Well who is right? I'm thinking its Dish and Cable will be along in a few weeks.... I hope for you guys that its not the case...

[tampa8]

I posted at the begining of Spring Training that WSBK told me the games would be blacked out everywhere except the Boston DMA. Also noted was that NESN was carrying almost every game this season so for those that are in the NESN carriage area the blackout should be no big deal assuming DISH can finalize the deal. I also wrote at that time that DISH wrote me back that comments I wrote to them trying very hard to keep NESN were the type of comments they needed to hear.

This is IN NO WAY anything to do with Dish. In fact I predict if they get enough calls complaining Supers will become history. Even without the calls if Dish has to do the blacking out it may become too combersome anyway. WSBK had said MLB made them black them out.

Scott has two good questions. Why are we still getting baseball from other supers (which I also addressed in that previous posting) and why is cable still not being blacked out outside the Boston DMA? My guess - just a matter of time in both cases.

[Geronimo]

Thanks Tampa. But this is still a problem for Sox fans who live OUTSIDE New England. We can't see NESN and the announcement about Friday night games got our hopes up.

As for why the antitrust rules don't affect MLB---blame the Supreme Court. They gave baseball a special exemption a long time ago.

[Steve Mehs]

In fact I predict if they get enough calls complaining Supers will become history. Even without the calls if Dish has to do the blacking out it may become too combersome anyway. WSBK had said MLB made them black them out.

Way to think positive :)

BTW, Only other super to carry the MLB is WPIX showing a limited number of Mets games.

[FTA Michael]

Originally posted by tampa8
Why are we still getting baseball from other supers (which I also addressed in that previous posting)...?
Remember that WSBK got a weird deal with NESN so that when WSBK carries a game, it's really carried by both channels. As someone suggested in the sports forum here, it's probably NESN that insisted on the blackout.

WPIX's deal with the Mets is (presumably) more straightforward, since the WPIX games are not carried by any RSN.

Deeper thought: When I chose Dish over DirecTV less than two years ago, it was for the following reasons:

1) National PBS feed carried all PBS Kids programming.
2) HBO Comedy was the only place to get Larry Sanders reruns.
3) Extra baseball games on the superstations.
4) Significantly cheaper programming.
5) Funky education channels.

Maybe I'm down to one reason to stay. :( If I were buying a new system now, I'd definitely pick DirecTV. As it is, we'll see.

[tampa8]

Originally posted by Steve Mehs


Way to think positive :)

BTW, Only other super to carry the MLB is WPIX showing a limited number of Mets games.

Prior to this forum I used to post to the DBS FORUMS. People for months and months predicted the demise of the Supers. I would ask what they were basing this on. Of course it has been a couple of years now and they are still here. However, I stated this now because I speak from experience of losing WSBK exactly for this reason - people complaining of blackouts. In Eastern Connecticut Charter Cable dropped WSBK when they had it with complaints everytime a program was blacked out. They also dropped a Worcester Mass station for the same reason.

Also WPIX is not the only other out of market station still showing games. WGN at least up till now has been showing both Cubs and White Sox games, and of course TBS showing Braves games. I unfortunatly believe if blackouts become more common place the desire to carry these stations will diminish.

While I do not always believe everything I'm told, it keeps coming up that it is NESN that is insisting on the blackout. I of course cannot know for sure one way or the other, but WSBK did tell me at the begining of Spring Training that the games were going to be blacked out and if you look back there were some disbelievers. And at that time WSBK was very clear it was becasue of MLB rules. I'm not sure there is a connection, but when the Fox station in Boston was carrying some of the games (NESN did not carry those games) Charter Cable was given permission by the Connecticut station carrying some of those same games(channel 59) to carry that Fox station when channel 59 did not carry their share of the games. After two games were shown via the Fox station they stopped, according to the Willimantic Chronicle because there was an infringement right claimed by MLB. I know this sounds quite strange but they really did carry the Boston Fox station only when the Red Sox were on and only for a couple of games. It started when the Red Sox were playing the Braves in Atlanta and that game was blacked out on TBS on Charter Cable. People were very very mad because Channel 59 was not carrying it even though they could.

[markh]

Originally posted by BobMurdoch


Fine, MLB. I'm a Dish Network subscriber. How do I sign up?

Yeah, I know. I CAN'T. Then I'll pay for Extra Innings. Oh yeah, I CAN'T!

Why is it that antitrust regulations PROHIBITED E* from POTENTIALLY turning into a monopoly, yet they ignore the TRUE monopolies like MLB?

I think MLB has a special anti-trust exemption. Call your Congressman. :(

[Chris Freeland]

Games on TBS and WGN should be safe, technically they are a basic cable network and no longer Superstations and have National contracts on their games. WPIX is still a Superstation but I do not know if their baseball contract is National or Regional, if it is a National contract their should not be anything to worry about, if it is a Regional contract, their may be black- outs here too.

[Steve Mehs]

WGN at least up till now has been showing both Cubs and White Sox games, and of course TBS showing Braves games.

WGN (240) and TBS (230) are national channels, not technically supers.