Dish Network no longer carrying CSNBA in HD

[jking47]

I sat down to watch the Sharks-Flames game last night and channel 5419 showed Flames at Sharks in the guide, but when the game started all I got was the lame Kenny G music and the default still frame saying "Check back often to see if your favorite team is playing".

After speaking to the Dish customer service rep via chat for about 30 minutes, and banging my head through my coffee table, the best he could tell me is "We don't carry CSNBA HD. You don't get that channel." I tried explaining that I've been watching games in HD for a long time now and asked for the date that Dish stopped carrying the channel. No answer, not even a straight up attempt at answering it.

After digging a bit more on the Sharks website, it does indeed seem like the channel is no longer broadcast in HD through Dish. It's there for Comcast (not available in my area) and DirecTV, but not Dish.

Anyone happen to know when this switch happened, and if it's permanent or if it is in a future pending contract?

[bobl]

No idea what you're talking about. Friday night's Warriors vs. Hawks game was on in HD. Don't know about Thursday's Sharks game.

[garys]

Dish does not seem to broadcast every game in HD even when the HD feed is available. Many think that has to due with the space available on the HD transponders.

[grog]

HD game on right now on 5419 in HD no less. :p
Washington State at Oregon.

[Michael P]

Not every game is carried in HD anywhere (i.e. D* or cable). Here in Cleveland a few Cavs games were not in HD. That was not E*'s decision, but FS Ohio's decision. In the case of the Cavs, the few non-HD games have already been played and now the rest will all be in HD. The ones that were not in HD were not in HD anywhere (excluding the opposing team's RSN or ESPN). They even mentioned this HD situation on the air.

Bottom line: don't blame E*, call CSNBA.

[Taco Lover]

Dish or CSNBA didn't throw the HD switch until 1:52 left in the 1st period. I watched the rest of the game in HD. :)

[Taco Lover]

Sharks and Red Wings in HD right now... ;)

GO SHARKS!

[jking47]

Sharks and Red Wings in HD right now... ;)

GO SHARKS!

Seriously? I didn't even try for the Wings game after all the frustrations I had with Thursday's game. I'll have to copy over the chat I had with the CSR. Both that doofus and Tech Ops said the channel wasn't even available - even though I was looking at it on my TV. What a bunch of freaking idiots they have working there.

[jking47]

Here we go... A little long (yet entertaining), but you can see how many times in this thread that he tells me the CSNBA HD channel doesn't exist.

Please wait while we find a representative to assist you. In order to ensure we are providing you with the highest level of customer satisfaction, this conversation will be recorded.
You have been connected to (24DrDcb) Will D. IXS.
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: Thank you for choosing Dish Network the leader in DVR and HD. I will be happy to assist you today. Please give me 2-3 minutes to access your account and review the information you have already provided.
Jason King: thanks
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: I’m very sorry to hear that you are having an issue. I’d be happy to resolve that for you. Please give me 2-3 minutes to look into this for you.
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: I’d be happy to assist you with this. In order to complete your request I must verify that you are the account holder. Can you please verify your physical address, the amount of your last payment and the last PPV event that you ordered, if any?
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: Thank you.
Jason King: (removed)
Jason King: last payment was $8xsomething
Jason King: no ppv events
Jason King: ever
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: Thank you.
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: One moment
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: Let me check this over
Jason King: just checked again, game still not on 419hd, even though the program guide says it is
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: ok
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: Those game are subject to black outs
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: And the schedule can change
Jason King: ok, skip past that part on the flowchart
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: ok
Jason King: I mentioned the game is on 419, but not 419hd
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: 419 is not HD
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: That is the SD channel
Jason King: can we escalate this problem?
Jason King: HD channels are duplicates of SD channels
Jason King: I'm staring at the guide right now on my tv screen
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: Yes
Jason King: 409 SD
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: On some channels they are
Jason King: 409 HD
Jason King: 319 SD
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: ok
Jason King: sorry... 419 SD
Jason King: 419 HD
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: ok
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: ok
Jason King: all of the channels are duplicated
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: ok
Jason King: just like channel 2, 5, 7, 11, etc
Jason King: and the announcers even just said "we'll be right back on comcast sports net HD"
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: One moment
Currently experiencing network delays, one moment please....
Network connection re-established.
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: I just checked and that channel is just available in SD not HD
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: 419 is only available is SD
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: I apologize for any inconvenience.
Jason King: try this
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: ok
Jason King: it's not an inconvenience. it's an error
Jason King: I've watched the games in HD
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: ok
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: I am looking at the guide
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: And it shows that channel is just available in SD
Jason King: and it even says, on 419HD "check back often to see if your favorite team is playing in hd"
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: ok
Jason King: look for CSNBA in HD
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: I can just tell you what I am looking at
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: and it shows that channel is not in HD.
Jason King: CSNBA?
Jason King: forget I mentioned 419
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: Correct
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: I am looking at the Bay Area Sports Channel
Jason King: comcast sports net bay area
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: correct
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: I show that channel is only in SD
Jason King: I bet you don't see CSNCA in hd either
Jason King: although it is channel 409
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: That is correct
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: I show 409 is in HD
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: COMCAST SPORTSNET CALIFORNIA HD CSNCA
Jason King: 409 is in SD and HD, depending on which channel I pick. the HD channel is currently not showing anything
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: Correct
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: But 419 is not
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: It is just SD
Jason King: the exact same setup is for CSNBA channel 419 on my channel box
Jason King: I'm looking at it
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: ok
Jason King: and I can listen to the bad Genny g music
Jason King: in a big hd picture of nothing
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: I can only tell you what I have in front of me
Jason King: same here
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: And it shows that 419 is just SD
Jason King: the guide even says Flames at Sharks
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: ok
Jason King: and the sharks website says the game is on CSNBA HD
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: That can be blacked out
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: Or the programming can be changed
Jason King: I'm WATCHING the game
Jason King: but in SD
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: ok
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: 419 is just SD
Jason King: from the sharks schedule. Thu Jan 15, 2009 Flames Sharks 0 - 1 7:30 PM SNET-W CSN-BA (HD)
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: Thank you.
Jason King: from their main page... TV: CSN-BA (HD), Radio: KFOX 98.5 FM
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: I can only tell you that 419 is just in SD thru Dish Network right now.
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: I’m very sorry to hear that you are having an issue. I’d be happy to resolve that for you. Please give me 2-3 minutes to look into this for you.
Jason King: you are telling me a channel doesn't exist that I used as recently as a couple weeks ago
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: It could have been dropped
Jason King: If you have stopped providing this channel, please let me know so I can consider cancelling my account
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: We have dropped several of the HD sports channels
Jason King: I would need confirmation though, and the date it stopped being carried
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: Let me check.
Jason King: this is ludicrous
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: Please give me 2-3 minutes to research this.
Jason King: also let me see if you see channel 140 in hd.
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: Yes
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: that is ESPN
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: That is HD
Jason King: how about channel 5419?
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: Would you like me to research channel 419>?
Jason King: 5419 is the same channel
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: ok
Jason King: just the extra hd version. just looked on my guide
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: ok
Jason King: funny enough though, 140 does not show up in hd here TV: CSN-BA (HD), Radio: KFOX 98.5 FM
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: ok
Jason King: sorry... here http://www.dishnetwork.com/packages/detail.aspx?pack=AEP
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: Thank you.
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: I have just asked Tech Ops and they told me that channel 419 is just in SD, if you were getting it in SD then you should not have been since we do not offer that channel in HD
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: That channel is only in SD, it is not offered in HD at this time
Jason King: ask Tech Ops why it's on my guide
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: It was a pleasure assisting you, do you have any more questions for me?
Jason King: that doesn't answer my question
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: ok
Jason King: none of this does.
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: You do not get it in HD
Jason King: why is the channel there then?
Jason King: why have I watched sports on HD on that channel before?
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: if it is on the guide then it should not be
Jason King: why have I called about problems with the HD channel in the past and was helped by your company?
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: ok
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: I show in the notes that was different channels
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: Not 419
Jason King: that was a different hd issue
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: correct
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: This is not the same
Jason King: the problem I had relating to 419 was in regards to setting it to record a minute early and it would screw up the recording
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: 419 is just SD
Jason King: you're killing me here
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: I apologize for any inconvenience.
Jason King: I've had your service for how long, over 2 years right?
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: 1 year 8 month 18 days
Jason King: I used to get FSNBA in HD, then I got CSNBA in HD
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: ok
Jason King: over that full 1 year 8 months 18 days
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: ok
Jason King: you make it sound like it's never been there and I've been smoking crack for two years
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: I apologize for any inconvenience.
Jason King: here's an article when you added CSNBA HD after the switch from FSBA... http://blogs.mercurynews.com/buzz/2008/05/15/dish-network-finally-adds-comcast-sportsnet-in-hd/
Jason King: I'm not making this up
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: I agree that the channel may be in HD
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: But not thru us
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: At least not at this time
Jason King: you're dish network, right?
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: Yes
Jason King: you're in the title of the article
Jason King: so it was through you
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: ok
Jason King: and it's on my effing tv
The agent is sending you to http://ok.
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: ok
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: I can only tell you what I am being told
Jason King: you and your ok's... don't know if I can take more of them
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: They tell me that channel is just in SD
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: ok
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: And I am looking in the guide, and I do not show that channel in HD
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: I am being told that channel is just in SD
Jason King: If so, this channel change was made without telling your subscribers. You can't even tell me when it was no longer carried, or why it's on my guide, or why I get audio and still video on the channel.
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: I have no idea
Jason King: what's my $$ penalty if I cancel my service over this?
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: Let me check
Jason King: I have a 60" HD television and it is now painful to watch my favorite sport/team on tv.
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: 19 months x $10
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: So $190 total
Jason King: this might be worth it.
(24DrDcb) Will D. IXS: If you would like to cancel then you will need to call 1-800-333-3474 to talk to our loyalty team
Jason King: loyalty team. funny.

[GrumpyBear]

East/west translation problems. What is funny, is, 419 was SD only that night for that game. I wonder if in India, they us the map downs, for channels

[Taco Lover]

East/west translation problems. What is funny, is, 419 was SD only that night for that game. I wonder if in India, they us the map downs, for channels
Not for the entire game. As I mentioned in my first post, it switched to HD right before the end of the first period. :)

[jking47]

Not for the entire game. As I mentioned in my first post, it switched to HD right before the end of the first period. :)

Which further enhances my frustration/confusion as to why I would be told the channel didn't exist.

Hmmm... I wonder if DirecTV will eat any of that cancellation fee??

[GrumpyBear]

Not for the entire game. As I mentioned in my first post, it switched to HD right before the end of the first period. :)

Hehehehe,
That is true. We need to find out if in India they use the map down feature, so they understand about 419 issue. I know they will tell you 140 is espn sD, and 9424 is ESPN HD, as I have had that talk with somebody online at dish before. I was looking for the mappings for MGM HD and Smithsonian, in the 9xxx block, Just to find out there aren't any.

[Paul Secic]

I sat down to watch the Sharks-Flames game last night and channel 5419 showed Flames at Sharks in the guide, but when the game started all I got was the lame Kenny G music and the default still frame saying "Check back often to see if your favorite team is playing".

After speaking to the Dish customer service rep via chat for about 30 minutes, and banging my head through my coffee table, the best he could tell me is "We don't carry CSNBA HD. You don't get that channel." I tried explaining that I've been watching games in HD for a long time now and asked for the date that Dish stopped carrying the channel. No answer, not even a straight up attempt at answering it.

After digging a bit more on the Sharks website, it does indeed seem like the channel is no longer broadcast in HD through Dish. It's there for Comcast (not available in my area) and DirecTV, but not Dish.

I've been getting that message since Comcast bought the FOX sports channel over a year ago. I don't watch much sports, but it's still strange.
Anyone happen to know when this switch happened, and if it's permanent or if it is in a future pending contract?

77

[Taco Lover]

Which further enhances my frustration/confusion as to why I would be told the channel didn't exist.

Hmmm... I wonder if DirecTV will eat any of that cancellation fee??
You just have to realize that a majority of CSRs are idiots, and come here for help. :) You most likely will not get better service there.

[jking47]

You just have to realize that a majority of CSRs are idiots, and come here for help. :) You most likely will not get better service there.

Yeah, I hear you there. It's unfortunate that they employ morons for their lvl 1 support when it's that level that interacts with the customer.

[Taco Lover]

Yeah, I hear you there. It's unfortunate that they employ morons for their lvl 1 support when it's that level that interacts with the customer.
Quick tip: The TECH CSRs have a better grip on reality. You may get the answers you want through them... if you have to call.

[wolfjc]

Which further enhances my frustration/confusion as to why I would be told the channel didn't exist.

Hmmm... I wonder if DirecTV will eat any of that cancellation fee??

If I were you I go and check the Direct forums on this site because the Direct version of Center Ice is really screwed up at times like cutting a game off that goes into overtime, not caring a game when they are supposed to, blacking out customers who are not supposed to be blacked out Not having the whole Hockey Night in Canada broadcast, not a problem now since HNIC is now carried by the NHL Network.
Direct's customers also are screaming about their HD or lack of HD coverage.
But be glad that you don't have Time Warner cable because, at least in Cincinnati, TW only has ONE HD channel for the CI package.