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Cubs Marquee Network & AT&T/DIRECTV Reach Agreement for carriage.

19K views 326 replies 35 participants last post by  cmasia 
#1 ·
#6 ·
THE ridiculous hole in the whole system. All they need is ONE HD feed with the Reds, Cavs, and Blue Jackets, with an appropriate -1 and -2 feed, like every other region, on the VERY RARE occasion that there are two, or almost never occasion that there are three games at the same time. Simply black out the Reds in NE Ohio, the stuff that is on the other feed is just garbage no one is going to watch anyway.

Meanwhile the other RSN, Fox Sportstime Ohio, is full time HD, with no pro sports between October and late March.
 
#11 ·
I have no clue on that one. I'm guessing NBC Sports Chicago is either want to keep being paid the same amount or more despite losing the Cubs games. AT&T however is just taking their usual "hard stance" which drags out the negotiations now. I just checked NBC Sports Chicago's website to see if any AT&T video services were added as providers but they were not however PSVue was depreciated from the front page to the "Additional providers are available" list.
 
#16 ·
I am currently looking to get DirecTv just for the Sports Pack to watch Marquee Sports Network. Does anyone have any advice as to the cheapest way to just subscribe to the Sports Pack. I assume I would have to get some kind of basic package to add on the Sports Pack, but I don't have any experience with DirecTv, as I have always been a Dish Network subscriber. Thanks for any advice!
 
#20 ·
#18 ·
It'll be an RSN (Regional Sports Network), meaning that if you don't live in the market then you won't see the games on that network. Like the PP said, either MLB.TV or the Extra Innings offering, which is available on DirecTV and Dish.

FWIW, none of the regional sports channels will show any games from other areas, they will be blacked out. Like, if I wanted to watch the Dodgers but I live in Florida my only options are the two above, the regional network for that team is blacked out except for those who live in that viewing area. That's why I never subscribed to the Sports Pack, not worth it.
 
#24 ·
Like, if I wanted to watch the Dodgers but I live in Florida my only options are the two above, the regional network for that team is blacked out except for those who live in that viewing area. That's why I never subscribed to the Sports Pack, not worth it.
I assume you just picked a team at random, but I just want to clarify that the Dodgers isn't a good example here, because their regional network isn't carried by DirecTV at all. The MLB Extra Innings package on DirecTV includes most (if not all) of the Dodgers games as seen on that network, but the ancillary programming is not available with Sports Pack. (And the games are blacked out in the Los Angeles area.)
 
#28 ·
Cool map,

Washington/ Baltimore/ VA is MASN

O wait I miss read the map . I thought it said no data for VA

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#21 ·
If I try that zip code finder the only team it lists for me is the Indiana Pacers with no baseball teams mentioned at all. My area has always been defined as Cubs, White Sox, and Cardinals.

If I use the zip code finder at MLB-TV is shows my team as the Cardinals and not the Cubs and White Sox. Have they changed their boundaries lately?

MLB.TV Out-Of-Market Packages

If the MLB-TV boundaries are right then I will not be able to get the Cubs on the Marquee Network or the White Sox on NBC Sports Chicago. In years past I always got the Cubs and White Sox on NBC Sports Chicago. The Marquee Network zip finder also tells me that "zip code is outside of the network territory". So it appears they have changed the boundaries.

Providers - Marquee Sports Network
 
#29 ·
If I try that zip code finder the only team it lists for me is the Indiana Pacers with no baseball teams mentioned at all. My area has always been defined as Cubs, White Sox, and Cardinals.

If I use the zip code finder at MLB-TV is shows my team as the Cardinals and not the Cubs and White Sox. Have they changed their boundaries lately?

MLB.TV Out-Of-Market Packages

If the MLB-TV boundaries are right then I will not be able to get the Cubs on the Marquee Network or the White Sox on NBC Sports Chicago. In years past I always got the Cubs and White Sox on NBC Sports Chicago. The Marquee Network zip finder also tells me that "zip code is outside of the network territory". So it appears they have changed the boundaries.

Providers - Marquee Sports Network
if you typed in your Zip Code and it shows "Cardinals" then what that means is you are in "Cardinals" territory and no longer Cubs & White Sox. You would have to purchase a package like MLB Extra Innings to see Cubs & White Sox Games. Cardinals Games you would have to watch on Television on FOX Sports Midwest. You'll be Blacked Out from Cardinals Games on MLB.TV
 
#22 ·
Thanks for the feedback. I feel like I should have clarified my post more. I know I need to subscribe to MLB Extra Innings/MLB.tv to watch the games. What I want to subscribe to the Sports Pack for is the ancillary programming that is not blacked out (pre-post game shows, documentaries, etc.). Just was curious for those of you that have much experience with DirecTv is if there is a cheaper way to just subscribe to the Sports Pack, or if I would need to subscribe to a certain tier of basic programming package to be able to add the Sports Pack. I'm still locked in to a contract with Dish Network for another year, which is why I don't want any extra programming packages.
 
#23 ·
As far as I know - I think DirecTV is the only provider that provides such a setup (if you live out of market, but want to see the pre/post game content for certain teams). And you get that with the Sports Pack.

I really, really had high hopes that since Marquee launched during the peak of the streaming wars that they would come up with some type of OTT system for this, so that you can subscribe to it without having an attached TV package.

I'm not sure which DirecTV packages are eligible for the Sports Pack - but I don't think the cheapest plan is. I think you have to be on a package that gives you at least one RSN in order to be eligible to get the Sports Pack, but maybe I'm wrong with that. I'm not sure where that starts, Choice?

If it's Choice - then you're looking at $73/mo ... just to get the Marquee Network pre and post game shows. Which is rather absurd! (and you'll have an RSN fee and other fees attached to that... so probably more like $85/mo ... and that's just for the first year).
 
#30 ·
As far as I know - I think DirecTV is the only provider that provides such a setup (if you live out of market, but want to see the pre/post game content for certain teams). And you get that with the Sports Pack.

I really, really had high hopes that since Marquee launched during the peak of the streaming wars that they would come up with some type of OTT system for this, so that you can subscribe to it without having an attached TV package.
.
Well the MLB has a lot of say over them doing that.
 
#42 ·
I've never had sports pack, but aren't the pre and postgame shows blacked out also?
When I've had Sports Pack during baseball season in the past, the pregame and postgame shows have not been blacked out. (If you're a fan of one particular out-of-market team, those shows are arguably the biggest reason to get Sports Pack in addition to the pay-per-view game package.)
 
#35 ·
The MLB (and other major sports) will abolish blackouts when they can make more money by not selling the games exclusively in market.
 
#37 ·
DirecTV hasn't updated their mlb coverage areas yet. I would wait until Marquee network is up and running on the 22nd. If mlb.tv says your in the cubs viewing area and you don't live in the chicago market, you'll probably have to get sports pack. What state do you live in?

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#39 ·
MLB may have updated their viewing area for each team. I have always had the Cardinals, Cubs, and White Sox in my viewing area and I checked that yesterday on MLB, NBC Sports Chicago, and Marquee and only Marquee said I was not in the Cubs viewing area. Today all 3 of them show me as not in the Cubs and White Sox viewing area. So at least if that holds true I can watch Cubs and White Sox when they are home on MLB-TV at least. My wife won't be happy about that though. :mad:
 
#43 ·
I know for a fact that MLB does not follow blackout rules the way that they really should BECAUSE If you will just follow me for a minute to explain. I live in Cardinals, Braves, & Reds Territory. There have been times when FOX Saturday Baseball Night In America starts in May There were nights when the Cardinals & Braves BOTH were on FOX. I would get the Cardinals Game on my local FOX channel BUT They would blackout the Braves game & I had no other way to see the Braves game. They treat those games just like if they were on MLB.TV & Blackout the game. That needs to be remedied this year. But I have a feeling it won’t.
 
#49 ·
Well I live in actually what would be called the southern part of central Illinois or the northern part of southern Illinois. I work about 60 miles east of St. Louis. This has always been Cardinals territory only. I live one county east of where I work. It has always been in Cardinals, Cubs, and White Sox territory. For example last year I could watch all games on Fox Sports Midwest and NBC Sports Chicago. NBC Sports Chicago carried both the Cubs and White Sox games last year but the Cubs had quite a few games that were not on NBC Sports Chicago where they were on ABC 7 in Chicago, WGN (in Chicago only), and I think WLS TV. I did not get any of those games as those stations are only available in Chicago. After checking Marquee, NBS Sports Chicago and MLB today it seems where I live has been removed the Cubs and White Sox territory and is now only in the Cardinals territory. I am NOT a Cardinals fan (F the Cardinals :D ) and may have to move now! :mad:
 
#50 ·
but the Cubs had quite a few games that were not on NBC Sports Chicago where they were on ABC 7 in Chicago, WGN (in Chicago only), and I think WLS TV. I did not get any of those games as those stations are only available in Chicago.
Unfortunately, the reason why you could NOT see those games, is because evidently you are located in the St.Louis DMA...& NO OTA stations in the St.Louis DMA could be licensed to carry any of those Cubs games, as obviously St.Louis proper is definitely OOM for Cubs.
But those games WERE, in fact, on several OTA stations in downstate IL & even out of state - in our market, the WLS (which IS ABC7 Chicago, BTW) games were on WCFN-49 & the WGN games were scattered across WBUI-23, WRSP-55 & WBUI-23.2. (all are run by our local Sinclair TV cartel :rolleyes: ) Here's the list you can see for yourself:
Cubs Regular Season Broadcast Affiliates Guide
 
#51 ·
Yeah I know some people north of me were able to view the games of the Chicago only stations on affiliates in their area. There are none where I am at though so I was looking forward to Marquee to get ALL of the games and now MLB has moved me out of the Cubs territory. Well actually they moved the Cubs and White Sox out of my geographical location. :(
 
#53 ·
Remember when the NFL used to have a Blackout Policy on NFL Sunday Ticket that the game would be Blacked Out in a 75
Mile Radius of the Actual Stadium that game was being played at. Anything beyond 75 miles the game was "in the clear" to be seen. That is what I think Baseball should adopt as their Blackout Policy. Because here is the real problem. There are Baseball teams that "Claim" territory sometimes 2 and even 3 States Away from the actual city they originate at. A PERFECT example of this is the Cardinals "Claim" my Territory BUT I am 400 miles away from St. Louis. Them "Claiming" my area of Northern Mississippi is absurd. They shouldn’t be able to "Claim" "Home" Territory that FAR away! What needs to be revised is the amount of area baseball clubs can claim as "Local" because at more than 400 miles away, that isn’t "Local" at all. And you are correct. Rob Manfred needs to get with the program and force teams to "Revise" and shorten their "Local" Broadcast Areas. If he would do this there would be places where there wouldn’t be any blackouts at all.
 
#54 ·
Remember when the NFL used to have a Blackout Policy on NFL Sunday Ticket that the game would be Blacked Out in a 75
Mile Radius of the Actual Stadium that game was being played at. Anything beyond 75 miles the game was "in the clear" to be seen. That is what I think Baseball should adopt as their Blackout Policy. Because here is the real problem. There are Baseball teams that "Claim" territory sometimes 2 and even 3 States Away from the actual city they originate at. A PERFECT example of this is the Cardinals "Claim" my Territory BUT I am 400 miles away from St. Louis. Them "Claiming" my area of Northern Mississippi is absurd. They shouldn't be able to "Claim" "Home" Territory that FAR away! What needs to be revised is the amount of area baseball clubs can claim as "Local" because at more than 400 miles away, that isn't "Local" at all. And you are correct. Rob Manfred needs to get with the program and force teams to "Revise" and shorten their "Local" Broadcast Areas. If he would do this there would be places where there wouldn't be any blackouts at all.
what about an half way say if you are out side of the inner ring and your system that has MLBEI but does not have the RSN for that team then you can Get games on MLBEI.
 
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