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MLB Network blackout rules

3K views 19 replies 8 participants last post by  Laxguy 
#1 ·
I live in Florida, but follow the Arizona Diamondbacks. Last night at 10PM the guide showed that MLB Network would be showing either Boston at Anaheim, or Colorado at Arizona. I was of course hoping I would get to see the Arizona game, but it instead both games were blacked out.

Can anybody explain to me why that was?
 
#2 ·
I live in Florida, but follow the Arizona Diamondbacks. Last night at 10PM the guide showed that MLB Network would be showing either Boston at Anaheim, or Colorado at Arizona. I was of course hoping I would get to see the Arizona game, but it instead both games were blacked out.

Can anybody explain to me why that was?


Both were blacked out? That's unusual. You should get one and only one of the games. Either on the main channel or on the alternate. And exception happens if both games involve local teams but it looks like neither did.

I assume you checked both channels?
 
#4 ·
tonyd79 said:
Both were blacked out? That's unusual. You should get one and only one of the games. Either on the main channel or on the alternate. And exception happens if both games involve local teams but it looks like neither did.

I assume you checked both channels?
I didn't have the alternate channel in my favorites list, so I forgot about it. I will change that today. Thanks for the suggestion.
 
#5 ·
tjguitar said:
Sounds like a mistake. As to which game you should have gotten, I have no idea, could have gone either way. Id lean towards Boston-Angels because Boston is a divisional rival of the Rays.
Thats' what I was expecting also. As tonyd79 suggested, I will check the alternate channel, even though the game was showing in the guide on 213.
 
#6 ·
Thats' what I was expecting also. As tonyd79 suggested, I will check the alternate channel, even though the game was showing in the guide on 213.


Yeah. The guide data for MLB sucks. It is the same on every provider I've ever seen. You'd think they'd get it cleaned up but they always show an or condition. On cable systems, you get what you get. On satellite, you have to check both channels. While the game is on.
 
#8 ·
...or at least let everyone in on the "secret" of which game is going to be seen in which parts of the country.
That's only half the problem for satellite since the guide data never says which channel is which. The main always says one game OR the other and the alternate just says "alternate programming" which may be a game (of they are doing two, which they usually do) or other stuff if there is only one game going on (like the Nats on the Fourth of July).

It would be a big help to cable customers, though.
 
#9 ·
Access to fresh goat entrails is rather limited these days, it is tough for folks at home to have any way of divining what game going to be on.

Maybe Psychic Friends Network could set up either accurate listings on a website, or broadcast highlights of the game live ??



:biggthump
 
#11 ·
David Ortiz said:
http://mlb.com/network/schedule/July_Games.jsp

The schedule on MLB Network's site denotes the primary and alternate games. On DIRECTV the alternate games are on 214-1 (HD). You can usually watch the primary game, unless your local team is playing. In that case, the alternate game should be available.
The regionalization is more complex than that. if it is a showcase game (one where MLB Network sends their own announcers), you get the primary game unless your local team is broadcasting. For the other games, all bets are off, MLB N will usually show the game of most natural interest to your region, such as a division rival to your local team.
 
#15 ·
tjguitar said:
I would guess that most people watch sports live, so that shouldn't be an issue.
Yes, but then it is still an issue since we get people like the OP who miss a game because of bad guide data and confusion. And even if you watch sports live only, you still want to plan what you are going to watch. May make a difference if I am thinking of renting a movie or going out.
 
#17 ·
FLWingNut said:
It is to me. I don't watch live, I like to zip thru the commercials, the pitching changes and the talking heads. I DVR all my sports so it's an issue for me.
You are in a small minority though. That's why sports are so valuable to the networks - the vast majority of viewers are live, and thus have to sit through the commercials.
 
#18 ·
tjguitar said:
You are in a small minority though. That's why sports are so valuable to the networks - the vast majority of viewers are live, and thus have to sit through the commercials.
I'd bet that Wingnut is in the majority among DVR owners.

TJ- Do you have any cites to confirm what you assert? Any studies or statistics? You may well be right on the majority, but how vast that is may be in question!
 
#19 ·
Laxguy said:
I'd bet that Wingnut is in the majority among DVR owners.

TJ- Do you have any cites to confirm what you assert? Any studies or statistics? You may well be right on the majority, but how vast that is may be in question!
http://www.theverge.com/2013/7/15/4524502/sports-networks-a-la-carte-high-costs-att-csn-houston

The Journal reports that nearly all sports content is watched live - an important point for cable providers that now have to compete with the likes of Hulu and Netflix. Sports programming is one of the few holdouts tying viewers to their television sets, and until it's broadly available online, it may be one of the best ways for cable providers to prevent viewers from cutting the cord.
 
#20 ·
Thanks. Looks like the Houston people say they're quoting the WSJ, but I can't access the original article without subbing. The article also states that 4% watch sports. That's a figure I can't believe, even if printed in the WSJ.
 
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