Question about sports alernate channels.

[pangderx]

I was just surfing through the guide and I noticed that there are some sports on the ALT 1-Alt 5 channels on chs 445-449. I have never seen programming on these channels before, but then again I don't check these channels often. I understand the Espn and ESPN2 alternates but I don't quite get the others.

For example, right now on ch 445 is Royals vs Red sox. Even though I don't live in either of their home territories, the game is still blacked out. On channel 447 is college baseball which isn't blacked out. I'm guessing the MLB game is blacked out because of MLB Extra Innings, but the questionis: why is it there in the first place?

[boba]

I was just surfing through the guide and I noticed that there are some sports on the ALT 1-Alt 5 channels on chs 445-449. I have never seen programming on these channels before, but then again I don't check these channels often. I understand the Espn and ESPN2 alternates but I don't quite get the others.

For example, right now on ch 445 is Royals vs Red sox. Even though I don't live in either of their home territories, the game is still blacked out. On channel 447 is college baseball which isn't blacked out. I'm guessing the MLB game is blacked out because of MLB Extra Innings, but the questionis: why is it there in the first place?
It is there to provide programming to those in blackout areas, an alternate program to watch.

[Charles Oliva]

The Alt. Sports channels also exist for spillover coverage that may exist from time to time. Example: FSN Midwest serves KC, St. Louis and Indianapolis. Today both the Royals and Cards are playing at virtually the same time. So the Cards game is on FOXMW Ch. 418 and an alt. channel is needed to show the Royals game to those in KC.

Makes sense.

[Rursery]

I live in northern Arkansas which apparently is claimed by the Kansas City Royals as well as the Cardinals, Astros, and Rangers. I subscribe to EI, but the KC games are always blacked out and they are also blacked out on the Alternate Sports channels. I never get a chance to see the Royals even though they claim my area. Is this right?

[Mark Holtz]

More examples....

Until the rights expired at the end of the 2002-2003 season, the R$N Fox Sports Bay Area also broadcast the Sacramento Kings games. The cable systems in the Sacramento market would substitute this feed for the regular Fox Sports Bay Area feed. On Dish Network, this was carried on an Alternate Sports channel. (There was no R$N contract in place for the Kings for the 2003-2004 season, so the games were either broadcast on a national $ports networks or were broadcast whenever possible (and permission) on News 10). Golden State Warriors games are blacked out in Sacramento.

Also, Fox Sports Bay Area has the R$N rights to both A's and Giant's games, so you could have the Giants game on the regular channel and the A's game on the alternate channel.

[JohnH]

The Royals are always on the Alternate. It is RSTN via FSN Midwest Alternate.

The Brewers are on the Alternate from FSN North Wisconsin. I beleive they call it FSN North Pro Alternate for Satellite.

When the Orioles are on CSN MidAtlantic you will also find them on the Alternate. FSN South, Carolina Alternate.

When the Mariners are on KSTW you will find them on the Alternate. FSN Northwest Portland Alternate.

When the Bay area uses the Plus Channel you will find it on the Alternate.

When Chicago uses the Plus Channel you will find it on the Alternate.

A rare situation this season caused FSN Ohio to use an alternate rather than place the game on the Cincinnati feed.

Situations arise in Texas where either the Astros or the Rangers are on the Alternate.

None of these feeds are there because of MLB Extra Innings. These feeds have everything to do with getting the game to the local teams viewers and are blacked out to everyone else.

These feeds are used in MLB Extra Innings for viewers outside the participating teams territories.

There are some Zipcode discrepancies which cause some viewers not to get the game in either way.