View Full Version : "Sports Pack" and blackouts
There's been a lot of threads lately about blackouts - NHL, MLB exhibition. Recently there was a (national) NHL game on Versus that should have been available to everyone, but was blacked out in HD to part of the country... that seems like a clear mistake by someone (not necessarily D*). With baseball season starting, and the multitude of games available, it seems like problems with blackouts may continue.
I'm the worst person probably to try to understand this, because I don't have any out of market sports packages, nor do I plan on it. But that allows me to ask the really dumb questions too. :)
So, I'll start with this:
1. The "Sports Pack" allows access to out of market RSNs (regional sports networks), but *not* for live games in the major sports (that is, those sports that are covered by an out of market sports package like "Extra Innings" for MLB). Is that right?
2. The only exceptions I see are ESPNU for whatever college basketball games they show, and NBA TV for the NBA games they show live.
FavreJL04
03-04-07, 12:20 AM
1) That is right. Having the Sportspack will NOT get you any more professional sporting events than you get without it (I think there may be a few exceptions where the Sportspack will get you a team or two).
2) You are correct there also.
Keep in mind that having the sportspack WILL get you a lot of college football and college basketball games that you would ordinarily not have access to, so it's not totally cheesy.
tater71
03-04-07, 12:25 AM
I live in MA and tuned to Sun Sports 632 on the night of 3/3 to check out the arena footballl game and it was blacked out. I understand the major sports but arena football !?!? I also can't figure out the college basketball blackouts. Most of the RSN network games are on and once in awhile one will get blacked out regardless if it's in ESPN's gameplan package or not.
Tony1097
03-04-07, 12:30 AM
the bread and butter in my opinion for the sports pack is the Soccer channels.. FSC and GolTV.. all though, I am highly disappointed to hear about arena football getting blacked out!?!?!?!?!
I assume that since there isn't an out of market AFL (Arena Football League) sports package, you are only entitled to ESPN games or a local/regional game if there is a team in your area. Again, the "Sports Pack" doesn't entitle you to see any live games there.
celticpride
03-04-07, 10:15 PM
ARE you able to watch pre-season baseball games if you get sportspak without mlb-EI?
DCSholtis
03-04-07, 10:40 PM
I assume that since there isn't an out of market AFL (Arena Football League) sports package, you are only entitled to ESPN games or a local/regional game if there is a team in your area. Again, the "Sports Pack" doesn't entitle you to see any live games there.
I was able to watch an AFL game tonight on FSN Bay Area without blackout and Im in Cleveland. In fact I have never seen an AFL blackout on any of the RSNs.
DonCorleone
03-05-07, 05:21 AM
1. The "Sports Pack" allows access to out of market RSNs (regional sports networks), but *not* for live games in the major sports
Just a correction here: it's not just live games, but really any licensed major league games. What I'm trying to distinguish on here is the Encore or Replays they often have. For example, YES will replay the current day's Yankee game that night or the next day. Neither the SportsPack or EI will get you the replay.
Back when I first subscribed to Directv, MLB would allow the everyone to see the delayed broadcast of the day's games. I miss those days.
But TV rights are a cash cow for team owners so they're milking (pardon the pun) them for all their worth. As an example, the NY Yankees had record financial losses in 2004 ($50 million) in their baseball operations, yet their YES network pumped enough cash into their coffers to make them profitable.
DCSholtis
03-05-07, 12:53 PM
Back when I first subscribed to Directv, MLB would allow the everyone to see the delayed broadcast of the day's games. I miss those days.
But TV rights are a cash cow for team owners so they're milking (pardon the pun) them for all their worth. As an example, the NY Yankees had record financial losses in 2004 ($50 million) in their baseball operations, yet their YES network pumped enough cash into their coffers to make them profitable.
Yeah I miss those days too. Remember when the package also included OTA broadcasts?? Those were indeed the days.
That Sports Pack is a strange "animal" indeed :jump3: I have even found some Pro Tennis on some of the channels. That is rare and I had to look very hard, but I have found some :)
I remember last year when we had the Sports Pack briefly you could see replays of, say NBA Laker games at night. Are those blacked out now too?
GeorgeLV
03-05-07, 10:13 PM
1) That is right. Having the Sportspack will NOT get you any more professional sporting events than you get without it (I think there may be a few exceptions where the Sportspack will get you a team or two).
..or four...
Without Sports Pack:
FSN West (Ch. 652)
# Los Angeles Angels (SD Only)
# Los Angeles Galaxy (SD Only)
# Los Angeles Kings (SD Only)
# Los Angeles Lakers (SD Only)
# Los Angeles Sparks (SD Only)
FSN Prime Ticket (Ch. 653)
# Anaheim Mighty Ducks (SD Only)
# Chivas USA (SD Only)
# Los Angeles Clippers (SD Only)
# Los Angeles Dodgers (SD Only)
With Sports Pack:
FSN Arizona (Ch. 649)
# Arizona Diamondbacks (SD Only)
# Phoenix Coyotes (SD Only)
FSN Bay Area (Ch. 654)
# Oakland Athletics (SD Only)
# San Francisco Giants (SD Only)
DCSholtis
03-05-07, 10:38 PM
I remember last year when we had the Sports Pack briefly you could see replays of, say NBA Laker games at night. Are those blacked out now too?
No only MLB replays get the black out treatment.
..or four...
<snip>
With Sports Pack:
FSN Arizona (Ch. 649)
# Arizona Diamondbacks (SD Only)
# Phoenix Coyotes (SD Only)
FSN Bay Area (Ch. 654)
# Oakland Athletics (SD Only)
# San Francisco Giants (SD Only)
So George, have you gotten any preseason games? The info above seems to indicate that MLB prefers to blackout every game including replays.
(I haven't opened my next thread yet, "Sports blackouts and HD"... stay tuned...)
garn9173
03-06-07, 07:59 AM
Here's the lowdown on my area, I think this works for anyone in Iowa. Hopefully next year, when the new FSN Midwest deal kicks in for the KC Royals, the Royals, the closet MLB market to me and my favorite team, will be included in this package. Also, the sports pack works for me because too many times, Big 12 football is blacked out on CSN Chicago for either Bulls b-ball or Blackhawks hockey, don't have to worry Big 12 blackouts on FSN Midwest.
SD: Standard Definition
HD: High Definition
With any TOTAL CHOICE® package:
Comcast SportsNet (Chicago) (Ch. 640)
Chicago Bulls (SD Only)
Chicago Cubs (SD Only)
Chicago Fire (SD Only)
Chicago White Sox (SD Only)
With any TOTAL CHOICE® Premier package or any TOTAL CHOICE® package plus SPORTS Pack, you also get:
Comcast SportsNet (Chicago) (Ch. 640)
Chicago Bulls (SD Only)
Chicago Cubs (SD Only)
Chicago Fire (SD Only)
Chicago White Sox (SD Only)
FSN North (Ch. 641)
Milwaukee Brewers (SD Only)
Minnesota Lynx (SD Only)
Minnesota Timberwolves (SD Only)
Minnesota Twins (SD Only)
Minnesota Wild (SD Only)
FSN Midwest (Ch. 647)
St. Louis Blues (SD Only)
St. Louis Cardinals (SD Only)
I get:
Comcast Sportsnet Chicago:
Bulls, Blackhwacks (only away games, thank you Writz family), Cubs, White Sox, Fire
FoxSports Midwest:
Blues, Cardinals.
sharkay
03-06-07, 12:34 PM
I get:
Comcast Sportsnet Chicago:
Bulls, Blackhwacks (only away games, thank you Writz family), Cubs, White Sox, Fire
FoxSports Midwest:
Blues, Cardinals.
I live Just about 25 mi south of Bloomington and get the Decatur/Springfield localls and have to subscribe to the Sports Pak for $12 just to get the Cards on Fox 647. How do you get that channel without paying? A CSR told me I should get that channel free but don't , any ideas or suggestions?
HockeyKat
03-06-07, 01:29 PM
ARE you able to watch pre-season baseball games if you get sportspak without mlb-EI?
Don't hold me to this, but I THINK we've been able to see pre-season MLB games on the Sportspak channels before. It may be something like a free preview (I know Center Ice does at the beginning of the season and again at mid-season), or it may be a case of MLB licensing not being applicable yet.
Dunno for sure in either case. And if I'm not making it up that I've seen pre-season games before, there's no knowing if that will happen again. :whatdidid
DonCorleone
03-06-07, 01:37 PM
ARE you able to watch pre-season baseball games if you get sportspak without mlb-EI?
Might have been a fluke but for some reason I couldn't see the Yankees replay on YES last night, but I could see the Mets replay on SNY
DCSholtis
03-06-07, 02:08 PM
Don't hold me to this, but I THINK we've been able to see pre-season MLB games on the Sportspak channels before. It may be something like a free preview (I know Center Ice does at the beginning of the season and again at mid-season), or it may be a case of MLB licensing not being applicable yet.
Dunno for sure in either case. And if I'm not making it up that I've seen pre-season games before, there's no knowing if that will happen again. :whatdidid
Yeah MLB licensing doesnt kick in for pre-season.
matty8199
03-06-07, 09:37 PM
All spring training games I've checked so far this year have been in the clear - it was real flaky last year though.
One thing I have noticed is that all of the spring training games are now labeled in the guide as "MLB Preseason Baseball", while last year they had the team names (i.e. "Mets @ Red Sox" or something of that sort) - not sure if that has anything to do with it...
matty8199
03-06-07, 09:39 PM
No only MLB replays get the black out treatment.
NBA replays are blacked out for me - oddly enough though I am able to watch NHL replays, IIRC...
Regardless, what really bugs me is when "classic" games from years ago are blacked out. Not sure what the point of that is...
DCSholtis
03-06-07, 10:31 PM
You get NBA replays blacked out?? Weird I dont here.
DCSholtis
03-06-07, 10:33 PM
All spring training games I've checked so far this year have been in the clear - it was real flaky last year though.
One thing I have noticed is that all of the spring training games are now labeled in the guide as "MLB Preseason Baseball", while last year they had the team names (i.e. "Mets @ Red Sox" or something of that sort) - not sure if that has anything to do with it...
First few days have been hit or miss. I noticed a few that they would miss by error and lift their mistake by the 3rd inning or so. Not bad.
tater71
03-06-07, 10:58 PM
The Mets on SNY have been blacked out every game so far. The show Yankeeology on the YES network has also been blacked out but the Yankee games aren't. I'm a new D* subscriber so all this blackout stuff is new to me. Why would a tv show be blacked out?
DCSholtis
03-06-07, 11:02 PM
The Mets on SNY have been blacked out every game so far. The show Yankeeology on the YES network has also been blacked out but the Yankee games aren't. I'm a new D* subscriber so all this blackout stuff is new to me. Why would a tv show be blacked out?
The last few SNY live games there has been technical errors made by D* which are caught by the 3rd inning and the accidental blackouts are lifted. As far as Yankeeography thats true, YES MUST black out non game Yankee programming out of market per MLB.
AnonomissX
03-07-07, 12:41 AM
Don't forget, even if you have a pro sports game that normally by the rules would be shown in your area, can get a black-out by the league at the last minute if they decide they want it to be, ie, if the stadium didn't sell out, or some such.
Remember, Directv doesn't black anything out unless they are ORDERED too.
ALSO remember, there is NO way to yell AT THE TIME OF THE BROADCAST up the food chain to change anything about a black-out, the phone reps have NOBODY to speak to other then reporting it to a sup, and they can then log it and after 5 or more reports, send it to the engineers...they will NEVER be available to ANYONE at the call center level...much less get on the phone with a customer.
The best you can do is ask them to do a "direct from you" report (a nice tool for customer service to provide direct feedback frm the customer) and email it in as well with specific info.
left jeff
03-07-07, 09:02 AM
So where can I find if adding the Sports Package will get me "an extra team or two"?
I live right outside St. Louis and I get the FSN-MW that shows Cards and Blues games, but I wouldn't mind getting the other FSN-MW that shows some Royals games, and an even bigger bonus would be being able White Sox games.
Is there a territory map or something that would allow me to see if adding it would give me an extra team or two?
FavreJL04
03-07-07, 09:19 AM
http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPageIF.jsp?assetId=P3000004
Click on that and put your ZIP in and it will tell you what teams you get without the Sports Pack and what teams you get with it. Most times they are identical, but sometimes there will be extra teams through the Sports Pack that you can get.
left jeff
03-07-07, 09:39 AM
http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPageIF.jsp?assetId=P3000004
Click on that and put your ZIP in and it will tell you what teams you get without the Sports Pack and what teams you get with it. Most times they are identical, but sometimes there will be extra teams through the Sports Pack that you can get.
thanks. Of course I didn't get the answer I wanted form that link....:nono2:
garn9173
03-07-07, 09:59 AM
So where can I find if adding the Sports Package will get me "an extra team or two"?
I live right outside St. Louis and I get the FSN-MW that shows Cards and Blues games, but I wouldn't mind getting the other FSN-MW that shows some Royals games, and an even bigger bonus would be being able White Sox games.
I see you're in Illinois and Illinois isn't in the Royals home TV market. If you want the Royals, you'll need MLB EI.
The Royals home market is the following states:
Nebraska
Iowa
Kansas
Missouri
Oklahoma
Arkansas
Even then, folks in Iowa, Oklahoma, and Arkansas are blacked out on the Royals. When RSTN reached an agreement with FSN Midwest to handle distribution of RSTN (Royals Sports Television Network) games, the Agreement only included Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri. Since the other 3 states are a part of the Royals home market, RSTN games are blacked out on MLB EI and MLB.TV. So essientaly, half of the Royals home market is shut out of being able to watch their team.
Hopefully next year this will be changing as RSTN is shutting down at the end of the year and a new long term contract with FSN Midwest will go into effect.
DonCorleone
03-07-07, 10:16 AM
As far as Yankeeography thats true, YES MUST black out non game Yankee programming out of market per MLB.
Just for clarification, it's not all non-game Yankee programming. Yankeeography and some of the others whose names I'm spacing on right now, but you can still see Kids on Deck, pre-/post-game shows, the classic games, etc.
DCSholtis
03-07-07, 11:27 AM
Just for clarification, it's not all non-game Yankee programming. Yankeeography and some of the others whose names I'm spacing on right now, but you can still see Kids on Deck, pre-/post-game shows, the classic games, etc.
Your right its Yankeeography and Yankee Magazine those are the 2 big ones I was thinking of that do not escape the blackout monster.
matty8199
03-07-07, 11:39 AM
The Mets on SNY have been blacked out every game so far. The show Yankeeology on the YES network has also been blacked out but the Yankee games aren't. I'm a new D* subscriber so all this blackout stuff is new to me. Why would a tv show be blacked out?
Is it possible that a Nets game you were blacked out from ran long, causing Yankeeography to appear to be blacked out (when in actuality it was the overrun of the basketball game that was still blacked out)?
DonCorleone
03-07-07, 11:55 AM
Is it possible that a Nets game you were blacked out from ran long, causing Yankeeography to appear to be blacked out (when in actuality it was the overrun of the basketball game that was still blacked out)?
No, Yankeeography has been like that for the last few years. It's MLB trying to squeeze more $ out of the franchise.
left jeff
03-07-07, 12:19 PM
I see you're in Illinois and Illinois isn't in the Royals home TV market. If you want the Royals, you'll need MLB EI.
The Royals home market is the following states:
Nebraska
Iowa
Kansas
Missouri
Oklahoma
Arkansas
Even then, folks in Iowa, Oklahoma, and Arkansas are blacked out on the Royals. When RSTN reached an agreement with FSN Midwest to handle distribution of RSTN (Royals Sports Television Network) games, the Agreement only included Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri. Since the other 3 states are a part of the Royals home market, RSTN games are blacked out on MLB EI and MLB.TV. So essientaly, half of the Royals home market is shut out of being able to watch their team.
Hopefully next year this will be changing as RSTN is shutting down at the end of the year and a new long term contract with FSN Midwest will go into effect.
yeah see, I don't really want to watch the Royals per se, as much as I would love to have any access to regular AL games.
Although...
I can't figure out though why my FSN never shows Royals games...ever. We are not that far away from KC, and I would think it wouldn't be a bad idea to have an AL and NL home team in every market. I mean if the other FSN-Midwest is showing a Royals game and there happens to be no Cards game on, why not show it? The show the Royals Insider show or whatever...
I live Just about 25 mi south of Bloomington and get the Decatur/Springfield localls and have to subscribe to the Sports Pak for $12 just to get the Cards on Fox 647. How do you get that channel without paying? A CSR told me I should get that channel free but don't , any ideas or suggestions?
I have the sportspack and yes I agree, its a crock that I can't get my in-market sports team without having to pay xtra.
Maybe I'll call and complain tonight. :)
lwilli201
03-07-07, 03:51 PM
I have the sportspack and yes I agree, its a crock that I can't get my in-market sports team without having to pay xtra.
Maybe I'll call and complain tonight. :)
Not sure who you are going to call. D* does not control blackouts. I guess you can call MLB but im sure they really care (tic).
I stated this in a previous thread. I live in Orlando, FL and with MLB EI I got all the Yankee home games on YES the only blacked out games were the away games.
DonCorleone
03-07-07, 06:34 PM
I stated this in a previous thread. I live in Orlando, FL and with MLB EI I got all the Yankee home games on YES the only blacked out games were the away games.
If you had EI, there shouldn't have been any Yankee game blacked out for you. The only games you wouldn't have seen would have been the Saturday Fox games where the Yanks weren't playing on the local Orlando station or the Friday night UPN games. Home or away wouldn't have anything to do with it.
I stated this in a previous thread. I live in Orlando, FL and with MLB EI I got all the Yankee home games on YES the only blacked out games were the away games.
Oh so if you have MLB EI you might get the game you want on a channel like YES? I didn't know that.
Well since I last posted. I tried very, very late last night to watch Yankee Magazine and it was blacked out. I have never had the shows blacked out on Yes before only the games :confused:
Pink Fairy
03-08-07, 11:01 AM
YES network is finicky - According to Directv :
As with other RSNs, out-of-market customers( basically anyone not in NY) can get YES Network with Sports Pack, Premier, or Selección Premier, but they won't have access to professional games.
Out of Network (Not NY)
-Will not get programming such as New York Yankees Encore games (replays), Yankeeography, Yankees Classics, Yankees Magazine, and This Week in Baseball.
-Will get other YES Network programs including Pre/Post game shows, Mike and the Maddog, Centerstage, YES Network Magazine, college sports, and more.
And for those in New Jersey:
New Jersey customers within ZIP code range 08000-08699 get YES Network, but won't get Yankees baseball games on YES Network.
Sounds like it sucks if you dont live in NY!!!
DCSholtis
03-08-07, 01:13 PM
YES network is finicky - According to Directv :
As with other RSNs, out-of-market customers( basically anyone not in NY) can get YES Network with Sports Pack, Premier, or Selección Premier, but they won't have access to professional games.
Out of Network (Not NY)
-Will not get programming such as New York Yankees Encore games (replays), Yankeeography, Yankees Classics, Yankees Magazine, and This Week in Baseball.
-Will get other YES Network programs including Pre/Post game shows, Mike and the Maddog, Centerstage, YES Network Magazine, college sports, and more.
And for those in New Jersey:
New Jersey customers within ZIP code range 08000-08699 get YES Network, but won't get Yankees baseball games on YES Network.
Sounds like it sucks if you dont live in NY!!!
One correction even if you Live out of market you DO still receive Yankees Classics in the clear. Im in Cleveland and I watch them all the time never with a blackout.
Well last year on Yes I could see the delay tape of the Yankees games, but by that time I already knew the score so what was the point in watching the game :whatdidid
Pink Fairy
03-09-07, 12:56 PM
Thanks for the correction, just basing it on what D* has said. :)
DonCorleone
03-09-07, 01:15 PM
Well last year on Yes I could see the delay tape of the Yankees games, but by that time I already knew the score so what was the point in watching the game :whatdidid
That's weird because the replays are supposed to be blacked out. I can't get them. You're in the Garden State, though, so maybe that's different.
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