BedfordChisox
08-08-2005, 06:57 PM
Folks,
On my DirecTV feed, the Sox broadcast of the 8/8 game vs. the Yankees is blacked out on Ch. 640 (Chicago Comcast Sports Net). No biggy... I have purchased the MLB Extra Innings package, so I tune over to Ch. 735 to watch the game. Well, it's the Yankee broadcast that they're showing on Ch. 735. I'd prefer to listen to Hawk and DJ, but in the grand scheme of things, I'm just happy to see the game.
On a whim, I decide to flip back around the channels (something about not wanting to watch baseball's richest man's home run trot). Lo and behold, the same game is being shown on Ch. 622 - the YES Network (the Yankees network). Note: While getting any of the channels in the 600s requires a premium package, the MLB Extra Innings package costs a lot more (for all practical purposes, it's a pay-per-view package)
Now, riddle me this: If DirecTV is going to black out a game on the sports package (the 600s), and move it to the MLB Extra Innings package (the 700s) wouldn't it make sense to:
1) Black out ALL broadcasts of the same game on the sports package (i.e. in this case, black out both Ch. 622 and Ch. 640) to create an incentive for the viewer to purchase the MLB Extra Innings package; or
2) If you're going to black out only one of the available broadcasts for a particular game, shouldn't you show the "blacked out" broadcast on the MLB Extra Innings package. In that way, you would create an incentive for the fans of a particular team to purchase the MLB Extra Innings package when their regular broadcast is one of those chosen for black out.
I noticed this same thing a few weeks ago during our series at Detroit. The Detroit Fox Sports Net station was showing the game (Ch. 636), but Ch. 640 was blacked out. Of course, the Detroit broadcast was what was fed to the MLB Extra Innings package.
I realize that this is not an issue when the Sox are on WGN (they're never blacked out on WGN), and I also know that I have no shot of getting the Sox broadcast if the game is showing on Ch. 26.
I would like to say that DirecTV is just being stupid, but I think I'm the fool. Since just about every MLB team has their "own" station, is there any incentive at all to purchasing the MLB Extra Innings package if the "powers that be" continue to black out only one of the two available feeds? It's too late to do anything about it now (no refunds after the season starts - Thanks DirecTV), but before I waste money next season, I thought I'd ask others here if they have noticed the same thing. If you have, and if you've dropped the MLB Extra Innings package on account of it, how many games have you not been able to see (discounting those games on Ch. 26) because of your decision to cancel it?
On my DirecTV feed, the Sox broadcast of the 8/8 game vs. the Yankees is blacked out on Ch. 640 (Chicago Comcast Sports Net). No biggy... I have purchased the MLB Extra Innings package, so I tune over to Ch. 735 to watch the game. Well, it's the Yankee broadcast that they're showing on Ch. 735. I'd prefer to listen to Hawk and DJ, but in the grand scheme of things, I'm just happy to see the game.
On a whim, I decide to flip back around the channels (something about not wanting to watch baseball's richest man's home run trot). Lo and behold, the same game is being shown on Ch. 622 - the YES Network (the Yankees network). Note: While getting any of the channels in the 600s requires a premium package, the MLB Extra Innings package costs a lot more (for all practical purposes, it's a pay-per-view package)
Now, riddle me this: If DirecTV is going to black out a game on the sports package (the 600s), and move it to the MLB Extra Innings package (the 700s) wouldn't it make sense to:
1) Black out ALL broadcasts of the same game on the sports package (i.e. in this case, black out both Ch. 622 and Ch. 640) to create an incentive for the viewer to purchase the MLB Extra Innings package; or
2) If you're going to black out only one of the available broadcasts for a particular game, shouldn't you show the "blacked out" broadcast on the MLB Extra Innings package. In that way, you would create an incentive for the fans of a particular team to purchase the MLB Extra Innings package when their regular broadcast is one of those chosen for black out.
I noticed this same thing a few weeks ago during our series at Detroit. The Detroit Fox Sports Net station was showing the game (Ch. 636), but Ch. 640 was blacked out. Of course, the Detroit broadcast was what was fed to the MLB Extra Innings package.
I realize that this is not an issue when the Sox are on WGN (they're never blacked out on WGN), and I also know that I have no shot of getting the Sox broadcast if the game is showing on Ch. 26.
I would like to say that DirecTV is just being stupid, but I think I'm the fool. Since just about every MLB team has their "own" station, is there any incentive at all to purchasing the MLB Extra Innings package if the "powers that be" continue to black out only one of the two available feeds? It's too late to do anything about it now (no refunds after the season starts - Thanks DirecTV), but before I waste money next season, I thought I'd ask others here if they have noticed the same thing. If you have, and if you've dropped the MLB Extra Innings package on account of it, how many games have you not been able to see (discounting those games on Ch. 26) because of your decision to cancel it?