[ClubSteeler]

I've been a subscriber for many years, and have never seen anything like this. I keep getting out of market games blacked out. For example, I live in Florida, and Cincy/Cleveland was blacked out this week. Last week, Pittsburgh/Philly was blacked out.

I've called approx. 5 times. Sometimes I get absolutely ridiculous answers from DirecTV CSRs. One lady told me that the "Network Players Association" voted to black it out. One lady told me that ANY SELLOUT could be blacked out. However, there is one answer that I get many times. They tell me that it is not DirecTV's fault. They say that my local CBS affiliate (WKMG Orlando) can, anytime they want, "buy the rights" to any game they want, and have it blacked out in their viewing area.

Is this true? NFL Sunday Ticket terms and conditions simply say that only a local team can be blacked out if the game is not sold out 72 hours before kickoff.

I tell them this, and they say sorry about your luck, but I should contact CBS because there's nothing DirecTV can do.

I have emailed the general manager of WKMG, no response yet.

Normally, I would assume that the DirecTV CSR was a moron. However... It is starting to make sense on paper. You see, my local team is Jacksonville, and every blackout that I have complained about has been on CBS at the same time Jacksonville is on CBS.

Can WKMG really black out my games???

There are a TON of steeler fans in central Florida, and I am afraid that this is going to happen throughout the season. I might not have subscribed had this little "network veto" loophole been disclosed to me.

 

[GBFAN]

The only games that should get blacked out are the ones that your local station is carrying. Yesterday CBS carried the Cincinnati/Cleveland game and FOX had the GB/TB game in the Chicago area.

 

[ClubSteeler]

The only games that should get blacked out are the ones that your local station is carrying. Yesterday CBS carried the Cincinnati/Cleveland game and FOX had the GB/TB game in the Chicago area.

That's what I thought....

Yesterday, local CBS carried Jax. Yet Cincy/Clevelandblacked out.
Last week local CBS carried Jax. Yet Pitts/Philly blacked out.

Strangely, JAX has NEVER been blacked out. I keep telling them they are blacking out the wrong channel, yet they tell me it's CBS fault.

 

[saleen351]

here in lauderdale, zero black outs...

Ever... I do think one time 5 years ago the 1st Skins game was blacked out, but I think I had the wrong channel on..

 

[ClubSteeler]

I emailed the general manager from WKMG, and his response was that DirecTV is lying to me:

This is totally false and I would like to know who you spoke with atDirectTV...we carry whatever the network offers us, and we have no say,and hold no rights to any other games...this is a complete lie.....

 

[curt8403]

I've been a subscriber for many years, and have never seen anything like this. I keep getting out of market games blacked out. For example, I live in Florida, and Cincy/Cleveland was blacked out this week. Last week, Pittsburgh/Philly was blacked out.

I've called approx. 5 times. Sometimes I get absolutely ridiculous answers from DirecTV CSRs. One lady told me that the "Network Players Association" voted to black it out. One lady told me that ANY SELLOUT could be blacked out. However, there is one answer that I get many times. They tell me that it is not DirecTV's fault. They say that my local CBS affiliate (WKMG Orlando) can, anytime they want, "buy the rights" to any game they want, and have it blacked out in their viewing area.

Is this true? NFL Sunday Ticket terms and conditions simply say that only a local team can be blacked out if the game is not sold out 72 hours before kickoff.

I tell them this, and they say sorry about your luck, but I should contact CBS because there's nothing DirecTV can do.

I have emailed the general manager of WKMG, no response yet.

Normally, I would assume that the DirecTV CSR was a moron. However... It is starting to make sense on paper. You see, my local team is Jacksonville, and every blackout that I have complained about has been on CBS at the same time Jacksonville is on CBS.

Can WKMG really black out my games???

There are a TON of steeler fans in central Florida, and I am afraid that this is going to happen throughout the season. I might not have subscribed had this little "network veto" loophole been disclosed to me.

blackouts occur for a number of reasons.
1. local games will black out if the stadium is not sold out (only in the local market)
2. IF another channel (Local) buys a game, it will blacked out in the area where the local channel is available. if it is a network that buys the game, like Fox, then it will be blacked out everywhere even if Fox does not carry it in your area.
3. the League can also call a blackout for unknown reasons (rare)

 

[GBFAN]

That's what I thought....

Yesterday, local CBS carried Jax. Yet Cincy/Clevelandblacked out.
Last week local CBS carried Jax. Yet Pitts/Philly blacked out.

Strangely, JAX has NEVER been blacked out. I keep telling them they are blacking out the wrong channel, yet they tell me it's CBS fault.

I would think that they probably do it by Zip Code. Here is a link for NFL Game distribution maps.

http://www.the506.com/nflmaps/

 

[sbelmont]

I've been getting every HD game, even the ones the local stations are showing.

 

[joshjr]

I was recently told by the General Manager of my CBS that they are able to air any game they want. Usually they go with the local market team but are not required to. Our FOX and CBS run out of the same building. I spoke with the FOX GM and he said that even though we are exclsive Rams that he has chosen to pick a few Cowboys games over the Rams instead since the Rams are doing so poorly. Also CBS here aired the the Jets/Dolphins game. I know that was out of market as the KC/NE game was on to at the same time. Usually we always get the Chiefs game here but there was a demand for the Jets game in week 1 so they chose to show it.

None of this has really mattered to me because I have not had a game blacked out yet in HD or SD. Hope you get it figured out.

 

[br408408]

I live right off I-4 about 20 miles west of Daytona. WKMG is my local CBS of course. I watched the Pittsburgh/Philly game on the Sunday Ticket. It was not blacked out for me. My GF is a BIG Eagles fan. I am 100% sure I saw the game.

 

[joshjr]

I emailed the general manager from WKMG, and his response was that DirecTV is lying to me:

This is totally false and I would like to know who you spoke with atDirectTV...we carry whatever the network offers us, and we have no say,and hold no rights to any other games...this is a complete lie.....

Are you trying to watch the games with Sunday Ticket in HD or just SD? Do you have SuperFan as well?

 

[1980ws]

I live off of I-4 near Longwood and I had both games in question. If you are getting the other games on ST maybe you need to hit the reset button. Doesn't make sense.

 

[carnage]

Clubsteeler, sounds like they might have the wrong zip code on your account. I've never had a blackout on ST except for what is on my locals. They would then blackout what they think is your local game by zip but then you would still receive your spotbeam locals.

 

[MIAMI1683]

I've been a subscriber for many years, and have never seen anything like this. I keep getting out of market games blacked out. For example, I live in Florida, and Cincy/Cleveland was blacked out this week. Last week, Pittsburgh/Philly was blacked out.

I've called approx. 5 times. Sometimes I get absolutely ridiculous answers from DirecTV CSRs. One lady told me that the "Network Players Association" voted to black it out. One lady told me that ANY SELLOUT could be blacked out. However, there is one answer that I get many times. They tell me that it is not DirecTV's fault. They say that my local CBS affiliate (WKMG Orlando) can, anytime they want, "buy the rights" to any game they want, and have it blacked out in their viewing area.

Is this true? NFL Sunday Ticket terms and conditions simply say that only a local team can be blacked out if the game is not sold out 72 hours before kickoff.

I tell them this, and they say sorry about your luck, but I should contact CBS because there's nothing DirecTV can do.

I have emailed the general manager of WKMG, no response yet.

Normally, I would assume that the DirecTV CSR was a moron. However... It is starting to make sense on paper. You see, my local team is Jacksonville, and every blackout that I have complained about has been on CBS at the same time Jacksonville is on CBS.

Can WKMG really black out my games???

There are a TON of steeler fans in central Florida, and I am afraid that this is going to happen throughout the season. I might not have subscribed had this little "network veto" loophole been disclosed to me.

This whole thing stinks. I live about 40 minutes from you and I get EVERY game here. Something is wrong with your setup. As someone else has said maybe the zip code on your acct. is the issue

 

[joshjr]

This whole thing stinks. I live about 40 minutes from you and I get EVERY game here. Something is wrong with your setup. As someone else has said maybe the zip code on your acct. is the issue

Actually it might be more simple then that. Here where I live there is 2 different counties with the same zip code. One county gets locals with D* and the other dont but both have the same zip code. You might try that. What is your Zip ClubSteeler?

 

[ClubSteeler]

I am in 32907, only have Orlando channels here. WKMG is all I get.

I asked the CSR to verify my zip code, and he had it correct.

I don't think the box needs to be reset because I don't even have it plugged in except on Sunday.

It's a simple SD box. No HD. No I do not pay for Superfan.

 

[joshjr]

I am in 32907, only have Orlando channels here. WKMG is all I get.

I asked the CSR to verify my zip code, and he had it correct.

I don't think the box needs to be reset because I don't even have it plugged in except on Sunday.

It's a simple SD box. No HD. No I do not pay for Superfan.

Here is what D* says you should get for locals.

 

[MIAMI1683]

Here is what D* says you should get for locals.

View attachment 15777

I only get Orlando locals also. I get all of the ones on that list. Something is wrong for him. Maybe because the Steelers were on nat TV 2 times this year. If it is on your local channel then ST can not show it

 

[ClubSteeler]

Here is what D* says you should get for locals.

View attachment 15777

That is correct. And notice, only 1 CBS. About 20 miles south of me gets both Miami and Orlando locals, but not here.

Even so, why in the world would Cincy/Cleveland be blacked out anywhere in Florida? We have Miami, Jax, Tampa. And considering that Miami had a bye last week, I highly doubt that they chose to air cleveland/Cincy, they probably showed the Bills or Jets, but I will verify.

 

[joshjr]

I only get Orlando locals also. I get all of the ones on that list. Something is wrong for him. Maybe because the Steelers were on nat TV 2 times this year. If it is on your local channel then ST can not show it

You know what you are right. The Steelers played last night on NBC. All Sunday night games on on NBC and are nationally televised and not part of Sunday Ticket. If you tried to tune into the game I am sure there would be problems. I would be suprised if the game was even listed with the other games on Sunday Ticket.