Sunday Ticket Out of Market Blackouts

[ClubSteeler]

I've been a subscriber for many years, and have never seen anything like this. I keep getting out of market games blacked out. For example, I live in Florida, and Cincy/Cleveland was blacked out this week. Last week, Pittsburgh/Philly was blacked out.

I've called approx. 5 times. Sometimes I get absolutely ridiculous answers from DirecTV CSRs. One lady told me that the "Network Players Association" voted to black it out. One lady told me that ANY SELLOUT could be blacked out. However, there is one answer that I get many times. They tell me that it is not DirecTV's fault. They say that my local CBS affiliate (WKMG Orlando) can, anytime they want, "buy the rights" to any game they want, and have it blacked out in their viewing area.

Is this true? NFL Sunday Ticket terms and conditions simply say that only a local team can be blacked out if the game is not sold out 72 hours before kickoff.

I tell them this, and they say sorry about your luck, but I should contact CBS because there's nothing DirecTV can do.

I have emailed the general manager of WKMG, no response yet.

Normally, I would assume that the DirecTV CSR was a moron. However... It is starting to make sense on paper. You see, my local team is Jacksonville, and every blackout that I have complained about has been on CBS at the same time Jacksonville is on CBS.

Can WKMG really black out my games???

There are a TON of steeler fans in central Florida, and I am afraid that this is going to happen throughout the season. I might not have subscribed had this little "network veto" loophole been disclosed to me.

[GBFAN]

The only games that should get blacked out are the ones that your local station is carrying. Yesterday CBS carried the Cincinnati/Cleveland game and FOX had the GB/TB game in the Chicago area.

[ClubSteeler]

The only games that should get blacked out are the ones that your local station is carrying. Yesterday CBS carried the Cincinnati/Cleveland game and FOX had the GB/TB game in the Chicago area.

That's what I thought....

Yesterday, local CBS carried Jax. Yet Cincy/Clevelandblacked out.
Last week local CBS carried Jax. Yet Pitts/Philly blacked out.


Strangely, JAX has NEVER been blacked out. I keep telling them they are blacking out the wrong channel, yet they tell me it's CBS fault.

[saleen351]

here in lauderdale, zero black outs...

Ever... I do think one time 5 years ago the 1st Skins game was blacked out, but I think I had the wrong channel on..

[ClubSteeler]

I emailed the general manager from WKMG, and his response was that DirecTV is lying to me:

This is totally false and I would like to know who you spoke with atDirectTV...we carry whatever the network offers us, and we have no say,and hold no rights to any other games...this is a complete lie.....

[curt8403]

I've been a subscriber for many years, and have never seen anything like this. I keep getting out of market games blacked out. For example, I live in Florida, and Cincy/Cleveland was blacked out this week. Last week, Pittsburgh/Philly was blacked out.

I've called approx. 5 times. Sometimes I get absolutely ridiculous answers from DirecTV CSRs. One lady told me that the "Network Players Association" voted to black it out. One lady told me that ANY SELLOUT could be blacked out. However, there is one answer that I get many times. They tell me that it is not DirecTV's fault. They say that my local CBS affiliate (WKMG Orlando) can, anytime they want, "buy the rights" to any game they want, and have it blacked out in their viewing area.

Is this true? NFL Sunday Ticket terms and conditions simply say that only a local team can be blacked out if the game is not sold out 72 hours before kickoff.

I tell them this, and they say sorry about your luck, but I should contact CBS because there's nothing DirecTV can do.

I have emailed the general manager of WKMG, no response yet.

Normally, I would assume that the DirecTV CSR was a moron. However... It is starting to make sense on paper. You see, my local team is Jacksonville, and every blackout that I have complained about has been on CBS at the same time Jacksonville is on CBS.

Can WKMG really black out my games???

There are a TON of steeler fans in central Florida, and I am afraid that this is going to happen throughout the season. I might not have subscribed had this little "network veto" loophole been disclosed to me.

blackouts occur for a number of reasons.
1. local games will black out if the stadium is not sold out (only in the local market)
2. IF another channel (Local) buys a game, it will blacked out in the area where the local channel is available. if it is a network that buys the game, like Fox, then it will be blacked out everywhere even if Fox does not carry it in your area.
3. the League can also call a blackout for unknown reasons (rare)

[GBFAN]

That's what I thought....

Yesterday, local CBS carried Jax. Yet Cincy/Clevelandblacked out.
Last week local CBS carried Jax. Yet Pitts/Philly blacked out.


Strangely, JAX has NEVER been blacked out. I keep telling them they are blacking out the wrong channel, yet they tell me it's CBS fault.

I would think that they probably do it by Zip Code. Here is a link for NFL Game distribution maps.

http://www.the506.com/nflmaps/

[sbelmont]

I've been getting every HD game, even the ones the local stations are showing.

[joshjr]

I was recently told by the General Manager of my CBS that they are able to air any game they want. Usually they go with the local market team but are not required to. Our FOX and CBS run out of the same building. I spoke with the FOX GM and he said that even though we are exclsive Rams that he has chosen to pick a few Cowboys games over the Rams instead since the Rams are doing so poorly. Also CBS here aired the the Jets/Dolphins game. I know that was out of market as the KC/NE game was on to at the same time. Usually we always get the Chiefs game here but there was a demand for the Jets game in week 1 so they chose to show it.

None of this has really mattered to me because I have not had a game blacked out yet in HD or SD. Hope you get it figured out.

[br408408]

I live right off I-4 about 20 miles west of Daytona. WKMG is my local CBS of course. I watched the Pittsburgh/Philly game on the Sunday Ticket. It was not blacked out for me. My GF is a BIG Eagles fan. I am 100% sure I saw the game.

[joshjr]

I emailed the general manager from WKMG, and his response was that DirecTV is lying to me:

This is totally false and I would like to know who you spoke with atDirectTV...we carry whatever the network offers us, and we have no say,and hold no rights to any other games...this is a complete lie.....

Are you trying to watch the games with Sunday Ticket in HD or just SD? Do you have SuperFan as well?

[1980ws]

I live off of I-4 near Longwood and I had both games in question. If you are getting the other games on ST maybe you need to hit the reset button. Doesn't make sense.

[carnage]

Clubsteeler, sounds like they might have the wrong zip code on your account. I've never had a blackout on ST except for what is on my locals. They would then blackout what they think is your local game by zip but then you would still receive your spotbeam locals.

[MIAMI1683]

I've been a subscriber for many years, and have never seen anything like this. I keep getting out of market games blacked out. For example, I live in Florida, and Cincy/Cleveland was blacked out this week. Last week, Pittsburgh/Philly was blacked out.

I've called approx. 5 times. Sometimes I get absolutely ridiculous answers from DirecTV CSRs. One lady told me that the "Network Players Association" voted to black it out. One lady told me that ANY SELLOUT could be blacked out. However, there is one answer that I get many times. They tell me that it is not DirecTV's fault. They say that my local CBS affiliate (WKMG Orlando) can, anytime they want, "buy the rights" to any game they want, and have it blacked out in their viewing area.

Is this true? NFL Sunday Ticket terms and conditions simply say that only a local team can be blacked out if the game is not sold out 72 hours before kickoff.

I tell them this, and they say sorry about your luck, but I should contact CBS because there's nothing DirecTV can do.

I have emailed the general manager of WKMG, no response yet.

Normally, I would assume that the DirecTV CSR was a moron. However... It is starting to make sense on paper. You see, my local team is Jacksonville, and every blackout that I have complained about has been on CBS at the same time Jacksonville is on CBS.

Can WKMG really black out my games???

There are a TON of steeler fans in central Florida, and I am afraid that this is going to happen throughout the season. I might not have subscribed had this little "network veto" loophole been disclosed to me.


This whole thing stinks. I live about 40 minutes from you and I get EVERY game here. Something is wrong with your setup. As someone else has said maybe the zip code on your acct. is the issue

[joshjr]

This whole thing stinks. I live about 40 minutes from you and I get EVERY game here. Something is wrong with your setup. As someone else has said maybe the zip code on your acct. is the issue

Actually it might be more simple then that. Here where I live there is 2 different counties with the same zip code. One county gets locals with D* and the other dont but both have the same zip code. You might try that. What is your Zip ClubSteeler?

[ClubSteeler]

I am in 32907, only have Orlando channels here. WKMG is all I get.

I asked the CSR to verify my zip code, and he had it correct.

I don't think the box needs to be reset because I don't even have it plugged in except on Sunday.

It's a simple SD box. No HD. No I do not pay for Superfan.

[joshjr]

I am in 32907, only have Orlando channels here. WKMG is all I get.

I asked the CSR to verify my zip code, and he had it correct.

I don't think the box needs to be reset because I don't even have it plugged in except on Sunday.

It's a simple SD box. No HD. No I do not pay for Superfan.

Here is what D* says you should get for locals.

15777

[MIAMI1683]

Here is what D* says you should get for locals.

15777

I only get Orlando locals also. I get all of the ones on that list. Something is wrong for him. Maybe because the Steelers were on nat TV 2 times this year. If it is on your local channel then ST can not show it

[ClubSteeler]

Here is what D* says you should get for locals.

15777

That is correct. And notice, only 1 CBS. About 20 miles south of me gets both Miami and Orlando locals, but not here.

Even so, why in the world would Cincy/Cleveland be blacked out anywhere in Florida? We have Miami, Jax, Tampa. And considering that Miami had a bye last week, I highly doubt that they chose to air cleveland/Cincy, they probably showed the Bills or Jets, but I will verify.

[joshjr]

I only get Orlando locals also. I get all of the ones on that list. Something is wrong for him. Maybe because the Steelers were on nat TV 2 times this year. If it is on your local channel then ST can not show it

You know what you are right. The Steelers played last night on NBC. All Sunday night games on on NBC and are nationally televised and not part of Sunday Ticket. If you tried to tune into the game I am sure there would be problems. I would be suprised if the game was even listed with the other games on Sunday Ticket.

[ClubSteeler]

You know what you are right. The Steelers played last night on NBC. All Sunday night games on on NBC and are nationally televised and not part of Sunday Ticket. If you tried to tune into the game I am sure there would be problems. I would be suprised if the game was even listed with the other games on Sunday Ticket.

No the steelers play tonight on MNF.

My blacked out game yesterday was cleveland vs. cincy. I looked up the maps and the enitire state of florida showed the Jax game on the locals, yet I got the cleveland game blacked out?????????

The steeler game blacked out was 2 games ago, 4:00 in Philadelphia.

Tonight the steelers are on national tv thank goodness...

[joshjr]

No the steelers play tonight on MNF.

My blacked out game yesterday was cleveland vs. cincy. I looked up the maps and the enitire state of florida showed the Jax game on the locals, yet I got the cleveland game blacked out?????????

The steeler game blacked out was 2 games ago, 4:00 in Philadelphia.

Tonight the steelers are on national tv thank goodness...

Yeah okay the game is tonight and it is nationally televised. I just looked up your area and is said that the Jags game was televised. I would call D* back and ask again why it was bloacked out.

[ClubSteeler]

Thanks.. I've called 5 times. every time it's not their fault.

[ClubSteeler]

I live right off I-4 about 20 miles west of Daytona. WKMG is my local CBS of course. I watched the Pittsburgh/Philly game on the Sunday Ticket. It was not blacked out for me. My GF is a BIG Eagles fan. I am 100% sure I saw the game.

Sheesh. I am raising hell with both WKMG and DirecTV and .. could it be... just me??? How could I get every NFLST game except for 1, every week? So strange.

I'm on some steelers board trying to find someone with my zipcode to see if they had this problem.

[bobkvjr]

MY ZIP 32927
No blackouts
Orlando Locals

Strange

[cariera]

This does sound strange indeed, since it seems everyone around you is getting the games.

What was the message on the screen when you tried to watch the Cincy/Cleveland game?

721? 727?

"I don't even have it plugged in except on Sunday"

Since you are plugging and unplugging your box often, maybe they just need to authorize your box for the programming.

And I just wanted to make sure- You said that you were getting Orlando locals, I assume that this is through the Directv box and not with an antenna or another service, correct?:)

[bonscott87]

I know it sounds crazy but have your receivers access cards reauthorized. Stranger problems have been fixed by doing this.

[StangGT909]

Sorry if this reply speaks to the obvious.... but what channel were you watching? The 700 something channel or your local channel?

Like the others stated, it's not available on the NFL-ticket channel if it's available on your local stations. I would not personally call it a "black out" , rather your local area would prefer (or should I say force) you to watch it on their channel than on the NFL-ticket channel so you'll be able to view local used car dealership type commercials.

So if you're flipping through 705, 706, 707, etc. you may hit a black screen but you just have to flip to the local station (whatever it is).

It happened to me for the Cincy/Cleveland game so I'd have to guess that's exactly what happened to you.

[dtv757]

i did not have any blackouts as far as HD games..

i'm in DMA 43 (redskins country) and i was able to watch the SKINS game in HD with the D* interactive menu yesterday. i did notice on my R15 the blackout message came up midway into the 1st QT.

[ClubSteeler]

The games that are blacked out are NEVER the games that are on my locals. In fact, I have yet to ever have a blacked out game this year that WAS on my local CBS or FOX.

To further complicate things, I am a Sunday Ticket ONLY subscriber, grandfathered in from many years ago when you could get it a la carte. So I ONLY get channels 700-720 and NFL Network only.

[ClubSteeler]

Hey, I got a response from my email.

IS anyone shocked by this great response:

Thank you for writing and I can address your concerns. I realize how frustrating this must be for you and certainly understand your concern. I want to clarify that if a local affiliate in your area purchases the rights to any NFL game, we must black it out on the NFL SUNDAY TICKET channels. However, you will receive these games on the local affiliate who purchased the right to the game. Please check your local station for these games. These national networks can broadcast as many as three NFL games on Sundays, please check your local listings for these broadcasts. If you have more questions about blackout restrictions, please visit www.directv.com/blackouts. Then click on the NFL SUNDAY TICKET link at the bottom of the page. Thank you again for writing and I hope that I was able to help you. As always our goal is to provide you with excellent customer service and world class entertainment. Sincerely, Kirk S.U9311DIRECTV Customer Service

[ClubSteeler]

My response, which will certainly fall on deaf ears:




No, you obviously did not read my letter, and have not done a single thing to try to solve the problem. You offered the same canned response that 5 CSRS have already offered me over the phone now.

My games that are being blacked out are:
Are NOT my local teams.
Are NOT games that are televised on my local channels.
and are NOT games purchased by my local affiliates.

This has happened to me every single Sunday this season.

I have contacted the General Manager of my Local CBS affiliate and he confirmed that this in NOT the case. I have his response in writing. His response says, and I quote, that you are LYING to me. I can email or fax his letter to you if you would like. He said his station has NEVER purchased any rights to any other games to black them out. He said his channel is required to show certain games, and he shows them, period.. He has never purchased any out of market games, including the specific games that I have had blacked out!!! In fact he is pretty upset that you are making this claim and he is personally contacting DirecTV to try to help get to the bottom of this.

Let me be VERY CLEAR HERE.....
My LOCAL AFFILIATE IS NOT SHOWING ANY OF THE GAMES THAT ARE BEING BLACKED OUT ON MY TV.

MY LOCAL AFFILIATE GENERAL MANAGER HAS DENIED IN WRITING THAT HIS CHANNEL IS BLACKING OUT out-of-market GAMES, or purchasing rights to any other games other than my local AFC teams, Jacksonville and Miami. Call him yourself, WKMG Orlando, ask for General Manager Moldando.

I can NOT be any clearer here.

Every single week I am getting games blacked out that are NOT shown on local channels, not purchased by local affiliates, and not involving local teams, and not games that did not sell out 72 hours before kickoff. There is no rhyme or reason to which games are blacked out. It appears to me random.

My TV says: Program not available in your area.

On top of all of this, I have contacted other Sunday ticket subscribers in my area, who have the EXACT SAME LOCAL channels as me, and they are NOT having games blacked out. So why am I? A friend in 32927 gets these games. I don't in 32907. We share teh exact same locals. Can you explain that?

Is it just me? Am I the only person on the planet having this problem? Is everyone in zip code 32907 having this problem? Does anyone care or hope to help me find the answer?

And who is actually going to do something to fix this rather than quote some canned response that does not apply to my problem?

My next call is to the VP of Customer Service. So please try to read and understand my letter before giving me the "canned response" about blacked out games being on the locals. I UNDERSTAND THIS. This does not apply to me. Please don't give me the canned response about the local affiliate purchasing rights. It's not true in this case.

Let me make this clear, one more time...

I live in Florida, zip code 32907.
I am getting games such as Cleveland vs. Cincinatti and Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia blacked out. These games ARE NOT ON LOCAL TV. Mr. Moldonado, General Manager of my local CBS affiliate, agrees that these games should not be blacked out, and is very upset that you are blaming his channel.

I am asking for help. I'm not asking for a refund. I am not scamming for free programming. I have not asked 1 thing from DirecTV other than to tell me why I am getting NFL games blacked out that neither involve local teams, are not on local TV channels, and have not been purchased by local affiliates. I pay a lot of money for NFLST, and simply getting what I paid for is not asking too much in my opinion.

[Greg Bimson]

I agree that your receivers probably need the access card rehit. It sounds like the zip code is confused.

[SD65]

Hey Club...I'm a long time lurker and I had the same issue here in San Diego this weekend. I recorded the Redskins-Cowboys game, which was not on the local Fox as it was on the same time as the Chargers (CBS) game). I came home to watch the game around 4:30 and got "searching for authorized access". WTF???

I called and was told by Directv that this game was blacked out a lot of places (uh huh) and they were sorry for that but it was not their doing. I said..."I live in San Diego, the game is Washington vs. Dallas and it's blacked out here. What's the point of having Sunday Ticket and Superfan if I can't watch games that are not available in my area?"

I was sooooo frustrated by this. No resolution other than an apology and a credit on my account. Hopefully this was a one time event for me. Sounds like you've got bigger issues.

[Blitz68]

The worst is when the Cin/NYG was being shown on CBS and it went into overtime or something. So they did not switch to the seconds CBS game which was Pitt/Philly.

I went to NFLL ST channel and it was blacked out. The BS part is if you are not going to switch to the next game on tile lift the baclout until the game is on the local channel.

This pisses me off to no end.:mad:

[lflorack]

So far, I've not had ANY games blacked out on NFLST. This includes includes the ones that the locals are carrying.

[rahlquist]

My response, which will certainly fall on deaf ears:

Make sure you contact the NFL as well. Make sure they know the pain that blackouts cause their fans.

[bonscott87]

Hey Club...I'm a long time lurker and I had the same issue here in San Diego this weekend. I recorded the Redskins-Cowboys game, which was not on the local Fox as it was on the same time as the Chargers (CBS) game). I came home to watch the game around 4:30 and got "searching for authorized access". WTF???

I called and was told by Directv that this game was blacked out a lot of places (uh huh) and they were sorry for that but it was not their doing. I said..."I live in San Diego, the game is Washington vs. Dallas and it's blacked out here. What's the point of having Sunday Ticket and Superfan if I can't watch games that are not available in my area?"

I was sooooo frustrated by this. No resolution other than an apology and a credit on my account. Hopefully this was a one time event for me. Sounds like you've got bigger issues.

Hmmm, according to the NFL distribution map the Redskins-Cowboys game was shown *everywhere* on local TV except right around St. Louis. So it appears that it was indeed on the local Fox station in San Diego.

Map for Fox 4pm game: http://www.the506.com/nflmaps/2008-04-FOX2.html

Overall Maps for every week: http://www.the506.com/nflmaps/

Always a good check to see what on your locals, or should I say what your local *told* the NFL they would be showing. They could change their mind at the last minute.

[paco1986]

I had the same issue here in San Diego this weekend. I recorded the Redskins-Cowboys game, which was not on the local Fox as it was on the same time as the Chargers (CBS) game). I came home to watch the game around 4:30 and got "searching for authorized access". WTF???

Actually the game was on the local Fox in all of SoCal. This past weekend was a FOX doubleheader. Since the Chargers were on the road, the Skins-Cowboys game could be (and in fact was) shown on the local Fox affiliate. Therefore, you were blacked out on the ST channels (you had to record your local Fox affiliate).

If the Chargers had been playing at home, then that specific game could not have been shown on the San Diego Fox affiliate (and therefore only available to ST subscribers in your market). I know, very confusing and dumb NFL blackout rules!:mad:

[ziggy29]

Several people have mentioned reauthorizing the access card. Has this been tried yet?

[ClubSteeler]

Several people have mentioned reauthorizing the access card. Has this been tried yet?

No.

I will be out of toen this Sunday, so it might take 2 weeks for me to see what is blacked out and try this solution. Although the card was reauthorized just 4 weeks ago.

[Greg Bimson]

Reauthorized? Did you used to live in the Pittsburgh area last time the card was used?

[bonscott87]

No.

I will be out of toen this Sunday, so it might take 2 weeks for me to see what is blacked out and try this solution. Although the card was reauthorized just 4 weeks ago.

You can rehit your cards yourself online so try that.

You can also try and record some games and see what you get for a test this weekend.

[karlhenri]

Reauthorized? Did you used to live in the Pittsburgh area last time the card was used?

Other ideas and theories:

- By not connecting the box except on Sundays is the OP missing updates or guide downloads that may impact this?
- ClubSteeler: Is it consistently the same channel number that gets the blackouts?
- Could it be that that channel is borrowed from PPV on a sat that his setup cannot access?
- If the guide data is incorrect could that impact the behavior of the box? For example, the channel was supposed to be offline (maybe used for testing or other prgramming) so the box is unable to read past that?

One time my box even had the wrong time (1 hour behind) and my guide was out of whack. I needed a couple resets to make it go away.

[karlhenri]

Other farfetched idea:

22907 is Charlottesville VA. maybe that's in OHIO NFL market. Maybe someone miskeyed your zip code on your account?

[SD65]

So it appears that it was indeed on the local Fox station in San Diego.

Actually the game was on the local Fox in all of SoCal. This past weekend was a FOX doubleheader. Since the Chargers were on the road, the Skins-Cowboys game could be (and in fact was) shown on the local Fox affiliate. Therefore, you were blacked out on the ST channels (you had to record your local Fox affiliate).


But that's just it, it was not on my local Fox affiliate (I swore I checked that, as I always check the locals first). I also thought that whenever the Chargers were playing, home or away, they would never show the other networks game against it (unless, of course, the Chargers were blacked out). I've got to go back and check somewhere to see if that damn game was on locally.

This drives me batty.

[trainman]

I also thought that whenever the Chargers were playing, home or away, they would never show the other networks game against it (unless, of course, the Chargers were blacked out).

Nope, that's only true of home games.

However, when the Chargers are away and it's a CBS doubleheader week, your local Fox affiliate will most likely choose, for their one game, a game that's not in the same time slot as the Chargers game -- the theory being that most people in the area who would choose to watch the NFL are going to want to watch their home team. That makes it look like the affiliate can't compete with the Chargers games, but the truth is that they just don't want to.

As far as I can tell, the maps on this site (http://www.the506.com/nflmaps/index.html) (already linked to by someone else in this thread) are very accurate with regard to which game was being shown by which affiliate.

[ClubSteeler]

The guy who I blasted with that email called.
Actually was very kind, professional and helpful. I apologized if I was rude in my email.

Anyway.. No solution, but at least both sides agree that there is a problem.

I got a discount, plus a free service charge on a Sunday afternoon coming. We are also going to try another box that I have in attic. (GEEZ I hope I can find its remote, but highly doubt it).

He offered me a new HD-DVR. I had to be honest and inform him that I couldn't accept that because I was a Sunday-Ticket ONLY subscriber, and couldn't meet their commitment contract terms. (He should have tried to make a sale at the point, it might have worked).

So, at least I have gotten past the scripted generic responses to getting some actual technical help, which is all I really was asking for.

[gusmahler]

I've been getting every HD game, even the ones the local stations are showing.

It worked that way for me last season. If the local station was showing the 49ers game, the SD version on Sunday Ticket was blacked out. But the HD version came through fine.

This season, though, both SD and HD channels get blacked out.

[Ryan]

The games that are blacked out are NEVER the games that are on my locals. In fact, I have yet to ever have a blacked out game this year that WAS on my local CBS or FOX.

the fact that games that should be blacked out due to local coverage are not, yet 'distant' games are, plus the fact you've had trouble with Pittsburgh and Cleavland games leads me to suspect that something is basing your blackouts on a location in that region (eastern Ohio, western PA)...

Where did you get this receiver? Did you ever live up there? Did the receiver? Looking at maps from 'the506' for the game mentioned, it looks like blackouts were being enforced as if you were in the Pittsburgh DMA. If you look through all those maps from the past three weeks, do you find that consistant?

You say your GF is a Pittsburgh fan? Are you (is she) transplanted from there? Is the receiver?

[joshjr]

The guy who I blasted with that email called.
Actually was very kind, professional and helpful. I apologized if I was rude in my email.

Anyway.. No solution, but at least both sides agree that there is a problem.

I got a discount, plus a free service charge on a Sunday afternoon coming. We are also going to try another box that I have in attic. (GEEZ I hope I can find its remote, but highly doubt it).

He offered me a new HD-DVR. I had to be honest and inform him that I couldn't accept that because I was a Sunday-Ticket ONLY subscriber, and couldn't meet their commitment contract terms. (He should have tried to make a sale at the point, it might have worked).

So, at least I have gotten past the scripted generic responses to getting some actual technical help, which is all I really was asking for.

You probably could of gotten a free regular reciever out of them or even a SD DVR. It did not really need to be HD. The HD DVR would be worth it to me but thats just me. You would have a chance of getting the HD games even when the SD are blocked. I dont have a HD tv yet but I have SuperFan. I get the HD channels and I can still tell a big difference in PQ even though my tv is not HD. I understand you dont want a 2 year contract plus $10 a month for HD content and then just hoping that you can get them to throw in free SuperFan. Let us know what happens. You mentioned that you were not going to be home this sunday. Is the service call set for next Sunday?

[996911]

If this is a NFLST only package that was grandfathered from the past then could your ORIGINAL zip be the problem even though you live in Florida? Or have you always been at your current zip? At anytime were you living in the "blackout" area for the games you keep getting blacked out? I have a feeling that might be the problem and even though they have your FL zip there might be the old one still in there similar to how insurance companies, etc, can have a billing zip and a mailing zip for you. The old one might still be in there.

[scottp461]

I am in 32907, only have Orlando channels here. WKMG is all I get.

I asked the CSR to verify my zip code, and he had it correct.

I don't think the box needs to be reset because I don't even have it plugged in except on Sunday.

It's a simple SD box. No HD. No I do not pay for Superfan.

Sorry, but I want to clarify that your box is only plugged in on Sunday itself. Is this actually what you meant to say, or did I misunderstand you? If this is true, I expect that your guide data may not be current since the box is not plugged in 24/7. This could cause ALL SORTS of authorization issues with ST and could quite easily result in channels being blacked out that shouldn't be, since the box is working with incomplete or incorrect information regarding the schedule. I might be wrong about this, but find it odd that no one else considered this a potential problem. So, I just thought I'd bring it up!

[joshjr]

Sorry, but I want to clarify that your box is only plugged in on Sunday itself. Is this actually what you meant to say, or did I misunderstand you? If this is true, I expect that your guide data may not be current since the box is not plugged in 24/7. This could cause ALL SORTS of authorization issues with ST and could quite easily result in channels being blacked out that shouldn't be, since the box is working with incomplete or incorrect information regarding the schedule. I might be wrong about this, but find it odd that no one else considered this a potential problem. So, I just thought I'd bring it up!

Someone else did bring that up already.

[bonscott87]

Why not keep the receiver plugged in 24/7? This most definately can cause tons of problems. Plug that thing in, rehit your cards with authorization and just leave it plugged in, including the phone line because while rare, they *can* enforce the phone line requirement and that could also be a problem since it's only on one day a week DirecTV may have flagged the receiver as a possible issue.

So plug it in, reauthorize, leave it plugged into the phone line for a week and let it dial out to make DirecTV happy and leave it plugged in and see if that helps.

[HDinMA]

I'm not sure if this has come up in this thread or not, but one thing I recently discovered about my HR22 is it will automatically switch to the local station carrying the game to record when it is blacked out on the ST channel. This is a wonderful enhancement I did not enjoy with my HR10-250 and it kept me from missing much of a game I was not home to see. :)

[DevoDave]

Often times the local affiliate is asleep at the switch and fails to broadcast in HD after a break (hey it IS the Bengals), and last year, I could switch to NFLST Superfan for a nice clear HD picture and sound. This was a very handy backup for the seemingly limitless broadcast issues from the poor quality local CBS broadcaster.

Also, being forced to watch from the local broadcaster prohibits me from enjoying an SF feature: fantasy football scoring updates.

[bwaldron]

I'm not sure if this has come up in this thread or not, but one thing I recently discovered about my HR22 is it will automatically switch to the local station carrying the game to record when it is blacked out on the ST channel. This is a wonderful enhancement I did not enjoy with my HR10-250 and it kept me from missing much of a game I was not home to see. :)

Yes, the Game Search feature is nice (and works on all sports blackouts).