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Some MLB Extra Innings questions

B

bjthadj

Guest
This is the third season I've purchased the package from Dish Network, and would never think for a moment of not getting it. That being said, though, there are some annoying things with it.

Why does it seem that only games that are carried on a regional sports net get thrown into the package? For example, tomorrow's Texas/Angels game. In Texas, it is on KDFI, while in SoCal it is on KCOP. It is not on my program guide tomorrow. Dish carries both channels as part of their locals for those markets, so why can't they air the game as part of the package?

I have seen the same issue at my local bar with DirecTV not airing games that are only on OTA channels. Do cable subscribers to this package get games that are only on distant OTA channels?

One last point, it seems to me that the NBA has control over it's NBA League Pass package, with EVERY game being aired, and even the channel numbers for each game updated on NBATV. Why doesn't MLB do the same?
 
Directv had a free preview of Extra Innings last week so I caught a few games. I did notice the Twins game on Sunday was on WFCT-29 (or something similar) so Extra Innings does carry some games that are on broadcast TV. I don't know if it's MLB or the network that decides what games to make available.



> Why does it seem that only games that are carried on a
> regional sports net get thrown into the package? For
> example, tomorrow's Texas/Angels game. In Texas, it is on
> KDFI, while in SoCal it is on KCOP. It is not on my program
> guide tomorrow. Dish carries both channels as part of their
> locals for those markets, so why can't they air the game as
> part of the package?
>
 
> Directv had a free preview of Extra Innings last week so I
> caught a few games. I did notice the Twins game on Sunday
> was on WFCT-29 (or something similar) so Extra Innings does
> carry some games that are on broadcast TV. I don't know if
> it's MLB or the network that decides what games to make
> available.

That's WFTC-TV (UPN) channel 29 of Minneapolis. They were the market's FOX affiliate.<P ID="signature">______________
The 2006 New York Yankees...on to title #27!</P>
 
I had Extra Innings last season on Comcast here in Philly.

The only games that were ever blacked out (that I noticed, at least) if they were blacked out at all were Phillies games.

I had no problem with that. :)
 
> Why does it seem that only games that are carried on a
> regional sports net get thrown into the package? For
> example, tomorrow's Texas/Angels game. In Texas, it is on
> KDFI, while in SoCal it is on KCOP. It is not on my program
> guide tomorrow. Dish carries both channels as part of their
> locals for those markets, so why can't they air the game as
> part of the package?
>
Local stations do not put their signal up via satellite, whereas the regional sports nets do and that's how the signal is distributed to Dish, Direct TV and cable companies.
 
> > Directv had a free preview of Extra Innings last week so I
>
> > caught a few games. I did notice the Twins game on Sunday
>
> > was on WFCT-29 (or something similar) so Extra Innings
> does
> > carry some games that are on broadcast TV. I don't know
> if
> > it's MLB or the network that decides what games to make
> > available.
>
> That's WFTC-TV (UPN) channel 29 of Minneapolis. They were
> the market's FOX affiliate.
>
What they do is simulcast the WFTC feed on FSN North for areas outside the Twin Cities, but within the Twins designated broadcast territory. That's how they were able to put the WFTC broadcast on Extra Innings. FSN North did the same things with Brewers over-the-air telecasts (when they had them, the Brewers have been cable-exclusive since 2003), with the WCGV feed on in metro Milwaukee, while it was also shown on FSN North outside of metro Milwaukee.

Anyways, two of the biggest flaws of Extra Innings is not including the over-the-air telecasts (which readily available via satellite, that how they can transmit the games to other markets) and not including Fox's Saturday regional games of the week. In the NHL and NBA, they make sure EVERY televised game (local over-the-air and cable) is available on their pay-per-view packages, while MLB in their always short-sighted reasoning doesn't.
 
In the NHL and NBA, they make
> sure EVERY televised game (local over-the-air and cable) is
> available on their pay-per-view packages, while MLB in their
> always short-sighted reasoning doesn't.
>

I have the Center Ice package...their preference is as follows:
1. Canadian (CBC, TSN, Rogers) broadcasts
2. FSN regional broadcasts
3. Non-FSN regional broadcasts (NESN, MSG, etc)
4. Local OTA broadcasts (although only a handful of teams still have OTA TV deals)
 
> Anyways, two of the biggest flaws of Extra Innings is not
> including the over-the-air telecasts (which readily
> available via satellite, that how they can transmit the
> games to other markets) and not including Fox's Saturday
> regional games of the week. In the NHL and NBA, they make
> sure EVERY televised game (local over-the-air and cable) is
> available on their pay-per-view packages, while MLB in their
> always short-sighted reasoning doesn't.

MLB.tv includes the OTA broadcasts, I've seen two Dodgers games on the KCAL feed this season. Personally, I think MLB.tv gives you much better bang for the buck than Extra Innings, if you can handle watching the game on a computer monitor: not only is it cheaper, but the games are archived so you can watch them when YOU want to, very convenient for a Dodgers fan in the Eastern time zone like myself.

MLB.tv, however, does black out Fox Saturday and ESPN Sunday night broadcasts, and also is subject to "local" blackouts which are often ridiculous (for example, the Reds are blacked out in Toledo despite having NO games televised here, FSN Ohio having been pulled from our cable this past winter after the Indians announced they were starting their own network).
 
> MLB.tv includes the OTA broadcasts, I've seen two Dodgers
> games on the KCAL feed this season.

This is what frustrates me even more. If these games are carried on mlb.tv (which I subscribe to as well for while I'm working) there must be some stupid reason they are not in the EI package. Does anyoen know who I could contact at either MLB or Dish to talk to about this?
 
Hi everyone:

> I had Extra Innings last season on Comcast here in Philly.
>
> The only games that were ever blacked out (that I noticed,
> at least) if they were blacked out at all were Phillies
> games.
>
> I had no problem with that. :)

Here in Denver, Comcast has (For some oddball reason) the MLB EI package sharing channels with the NHL CI package. The channel allotment is Chs. 461-470.

This means that during times such as this, MLB games are put on the HIGHER 5 or 6 channels (Depending on the amount of NHL action there is) while the NHL takes the LOWER 5 or 6 (Depending on the amount of MLB action there is). The end result is some games not being available in Denver EVEN THOUGH they may be available elsewhere.

An example of this was last week when the Colorado Rockies game were playing the Arizona Diamondbacks. The game wasn't even listed EVEN THOUGH the game is local (Several other MLB games were listed as well as some NHL games, but no Arizona-Colorado game).

Honestly I think they'd be better off SEPERATING MLB EI and NHL CI in Denver. Channels 451-460 are open (NBA LP has 441-450). Makes me wonder WHY Comcast doesn't just simply move either MLB or the NHL to 451-460.

Those of you who live in Denver, does it make YOU wonder too? Alec? Dawn?

I don't wanna make a local cable company issue out of this, but it seems to me that Comcast, if they really wanted to, could flex its muscles a bit to make EVERY MLB game available ALL SEASON LONG like it's advertised by the fine people at Sports On-Demand.

Thoughts anyone?

Cheers :)

Pat<P ID="signature">______________
patspodcast03a.jpg

http://patspodcast.blogspot.com/
Radio? Uhh.....What's THAT?? :)</P>
 
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