[JDubbs413]

I know SportsTime Ohio is pretty meaningless to most subscribers but to those in the region watch 95% of the Indians games and programming on this channel. It is more or less just another RSN. But interestingly enough even with the new satellite DirecTV continues to choose not to carry the STO HD.

I e-mailed STO about this and got a reply that stated:

"We offer STO HD to all of our affiliates. DirecTV has decided to only carry our LIVE HD Indians games.


STO began broadcasting STO HD full-time 24/7 on April 1st. DirecTV did announce that they will be offering 30 more HD channels in August to their subscribers. Unfortunately, they informed us that STO HD was not one of them. We expressed our disappointment with this decision."

Now why would DirecTV not want to carry this RSN full time like the rest of them? I don't like hearing about DirecTV turning down HD channels and adding PPV channels.

 

[DCSholtis]

Another thread speculated that it will be around Spring Training before STO is given the 24/7 treatment by D*.

 

[inkahauts]

How many of the games are shown in HD? All, or just a few here and there? Both by STO and by Directv on there game only RSN channel for that station? And do they show anything other than those games in HD?

 

[jwt0001]

All Indians games on STO (150 games) are in HD. They also have other programming in HD and should have college basketball in HD this fall. They basically are no different than NESN or YES as to the amount of HD programming they have.

How many of the games are shown in HD? All, or just a few here and there? Both by STO and by Directv on there game only RSN channel for that station? And do they show anything other than those games in HD?

 

[skylab]

I'm in Ohio and can't get "Sports Time Ohio." Maybe DirecTV isn't carrying it because the channel has everything to do with Cleveland and nothing to do with Ohio.

 

[jwt0001]

It is an RSN (Regional Sports Network). If you don't live in the service area (basically northern ohio), you must subscribe to the sports pack in order to get it. Of course, you won't get the Indians games unless you live in the service area or subscribe to the MLB package. You would get other programming though.

 

[TANK]

It is an RSN (Regional Sports Network). If you don't live in the service area (basically northern ohio), you must subscribe to the sports pack in order to get it. Of course, you won't get the Indians games unless you live in the service area or subscribe to the MLB package. You would get other programming though.

If the Indian's games on STO are blacked out in a large part of Ohio, then it becomes a very small regional sports channel area ( how many D* subs in northern Ohio ? ).

 

[CKNAV]

All Indians games on STO (150 games) are in HD. They also have other programming in HD and should have college basketball in HD this fall. They basically are no different than NESN or YES as to the amount of HD programming they have.

Their pre and post game shows are not HD. They are widescreen SD. They are not like YES or NESN. However they should be on 24 hrs, since they are much better than other crappy FOX RSN's.

 

[JDubbs413]

My point is that they are carrying every other RSN in HD there is no reason they wouldn't carry this one.

 

[jefbal99]

My point is that they are carrying every other RSN in HD there is no reason they wouldn't carry this one.

This is a very inaccurate statement...

DirecTV doesn't carry the following RSNs at all:
Cox Sports (New Orleans)
4SD (San Diego)
Charter/Comcast SportsNet Southeast (College South Eastern US)
Comcast SportsNet Northwest (Oregon, Pacific NW)
Comcast SportsNet Philly

DirecTV game time only HDs include:
Comcast SportsNet Bay Area
Comcast SportsNet West
Comcast SportsNet New England
SportsTime Ohio
FSN Houston
FSN Utah
FSN Wisconsin
FSN Ohio
FSN Cincinnati
FSN Florida
FSN Indiana
FSN Kansas City
FSN Southwest - San Antonio
Altitude Sports (Denver)
Mid Atlantic Sports Net
MSG - Buffalo

As you can see, there are many RSNs that are not carried or are Game Time Only feeds on DirecTV, not just STO. It sucks for you and the peeps in the STO area that you are not getting a 24x7 HD slot, but the only thing you can really do is encourage people in Cleveland to keep writing and calling. Or, if a full time STO is that important to you, then you should look at switching providers.

 

[dtrell]

i have 24/7 STO on time warner cable...seriously all you people that keep starting these threads....other than bruce drennan on 5 hours a day, theres really nothing on that channel other than the indians...and the way they played this year, thats nothing either..LOL...so seriously people, dont worry about it...youre not missing a thing. and last year, when they showed high school football, it was only in SD anyway.

 

[Newshawk]

I e-mailed STO about this and got a reply that stated:

"We offer STO HD to all of our affiliates. DirecTV has decided to only carry our LIVE HD Indians games.

STO began broadcasting STO HD full-time 24/7 on April 1st. DirecTV did announce that they will be offering 30 more HD channels in August to their subscribers. Unfortunately, they informed us that STO HD was not one of them. We expressed our disappointment with this decision."

Translation:

"We will let anyone carry STO HD 24/7 if they will give us all the money we demand. DirecTV has decided that the amount we are demanding is outrageous and has opted to stick with the current contract, which we negotiated poorly and doesn't give us enough profit for our tastes."

"STO began broadcasting STO HD full-time 24/7 on April 1st. DirecTV did announce that they will be offering 30 more HD channels in August to their subscribers. Unfortunately, they informed us that they would not bend over and take it in the shorts to carry STO HD. We told them to pound sand."

This is a very inaccurate statement...

DirecTV doesn't carry the following RSNs at all:
Cox Sports (New Orleans)
4SD (San Diego)

Which Cox refuses to give to any competitor.

Charter/Comcast SportsNet Southeast (College South Eastern US)

Which I have never heard of before this thread

Comcast SportsNet Northwest (Oregon, Pacific NW)

Which is in negotiations for carriage.

Comcast SportsNet Philly

Which is the most famous case of an unethical use of monopoly powers in TV sports history, fully supported by the Senator from Comcra... er, Comcast, Arlen Specter.

 

[n3ntj]

Is D* working with STO on 24/7 HD carriage?

 

[jefbal99]

Newshawk, i agree with all your statements there (cept for not knowing about CSS), I was just trying to refute what the quoted post said about DirecTV carrying all the other RSNs 24x7 HD channel.