Mar 30, 2012: UVERSE BLACKING OUT GAMES AGAIN - Deadline Apr9

[dwinth]

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stlkg wrote:

Another year of missing key games (cards, brewers) through August. I am not sticking around for another year of it!

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/dan-caesar/cardinals-games-blacked-out-on-at-t-u-verse/articl... 

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Obviously you did not bother to read my post above yours where I posted the link to Dan Caesar's column.

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

Hopefully, those who consider receiving those 20 games as a "must have" will go ahead and change to another provider instead of continuing to post about their unhappiness here on the forum.

[BMaySTL]

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texasguy37 wrote:

Hopefully, those who consider receiving those 20 games as a "must have" will go ahead and change to another provider instead of continuing to post about their unhappiness here on the forum.

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Sounds like someone is still a little bitter about the WS.  I'm not sure how y'all do it down in Texas, but we take our baseball pretty seriously up here in Missoura.

Seriously though, aren't forums like this meant to provide feedback. Hopefully someone from AT&T is listening to this and they make a change. All other service providers have made the deal with FSM for the 20 games. Watching those games is important to me and I'm sure it is for others. It was very frustrating last year when I was forced to follow online. I've been happy with U-Verse, however, I would strongly consider switching to Charter or DirectTV if this isn't resolved.

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

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BMaySTL wrote:

Sounds like someone is still a little bitter about the WS.  I'm not sure how y'all do it down in Texas, but we take our baseball pretty seriously up here in Missoura.

Seriously though, aren't forums like this meant to provide feedback. Hopefully someone from AT&T is listening to this and they make a change. All other service providers have made the deal with FSM for the 20 games. Watching those games is important to me and I'm sure it is for others. It was very frustrating last year when I was forced to follow online. I've been happy with U-Verse, however, I would strongly consider switching to Charter or DirectTV if this isn't resolved.

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I see you are new to the forum, so let me catch you up on a couple of things.  First, U-verse did not reach an agreement last year with FSM to carry the additional 20 Cardinal games despite continual postings on this forum from some unhappy Cardinal fans.  This year it will be different for what reason?

Second, yes, the forum is for feedback; however, when the same users continue to the post the same comments expressing their unhappiness, it's becomes useless.

I will repeat my earlier comment.  If those 20 games are considered "must haves" for you, change to another provider who carries those games.  Continuing to post messages on this forum expressing your unhappiness will not be productive.

[oufanindallas]

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BMaySTL wrote:

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texasguy37 wrote:

Hopefully, those who consider receiving those 20 games as a "must have" will go ahead and change to another provider instead of continuing to post about their unhappiness here on the forum.

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Sounds like someone is still a little bitter about the WS.  I'm not sure how y'all do it down in Texas, but we take our baseball pretty seriously up here in Missoura.

Seriously though, aren't forums like this meant to provide feedback. Hopefully someone from AT&T is listening to this and they make a change. All other service providers have made the deal with FSM for the 20 games. Watching those games is important to me and I'm sure it is for others. It was very frustrating last year when I was forced to follow online. I've been happy with U-Verse, however, I would strongly consider switching to Charter or DirectTV if this isn't resolved.

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Let me put it to you like this, if you signed a contract with a company for services and then in the middle of the contract the company decided it wanted more money, would you pay?  This is basically what FSMW is doing.  They already have a legal and binding contract in place and because the local station decided to drop those games FSMW wants more money to air them.  It's called being held hostage and shouldn't be tolerated. If more providers would say no to the broadcast companies then rates wouldn't continue to go up.  Sure Comcast had no issue paying the extra, why, because they just raised everyones rates for the 2nd or 3rd time in a year.

[costanza]

You don't understand why we're unhappy? You think we complain
about the blackouts too much.What about the people still talking
about the Hallmark channel?

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

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costanza wrote:

You don't understand why we're unhappy? You think we complain
about the blackouts too much.What about the people still talking
about the Hallmark channel?

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I don't think anyone has said that they don't understand why you would be unhappy or that you should not be unhappy. The point is that if you are unhappy, take some action.  If it is important to you to have access to the additional 20 games, change to a provider who will carry them.  Continuing to post about your unhappiness on this forum is not productive, and as you can see from last year, it will not change AT&T's position on this matter. AT&T continues to take the stance that they should not have to pay an additional fee to FSM to broadcast those games.  Their position has not changed since last year.

[hma]

If you look on Fox Sports Midwest site, it states that they have made available all Cardinal broadcasts except for the ones being televised on ESPN and Fox.  They also give the list of the few cable companies that have "elected" not to show the ST Louis Cardinal games. So if you look at their website and choose to believe FSM, it is AT & T that is being hard-nosed in this whole situation.

[oufanindallas]

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hma wrote:

If you look on Fox Sports Midwest site, it states that they have made available all Cardinal broadcasts except for the ones being televised on ESPN and Fox.  They also give the list of the few cable companies that have "elected" not to show the ST Louis Cardinal games. So if you look at their website and choose to believe FSM, it is AT & T that is being hard-nosed in this whole situation.

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That's FSMW putting their spin on the situation.  What FSMW has done is elect not to honor a valid carriage agreement contract.  AT&T has elected to call them on it and not pay the ransom money.

[cardjon]

What a rip. We were particularly interested in Cardinals Games on FSM when we signed up. Now we find that 20 Games are blacked out.2012.. I don't think well be  staying long with this kind of quality service.   Charter never failed in delivering FSM. We also get periodic blackouts on St louis channel 5We pay good money for service and we expect it.

[KenStLouis]

I'm gonna have to switch to another provider.  Everyone has settled with FSM except Uverse.

http://stlcardinals.scout.com/2/1161345.html

[Cardsfan01]

They did this crap last year.  It's bull that they are again blacking out 20 games this year.  I hope my contract is up, my husband is screaming for change.  I don't want to go back to charter buat I might have to!!!!!!!!!!

[Ktof1984]

I really believed that AT&T would get the message from all the st Louis fans last year that this year they would resolve the issue. Considering the number of fees we pay for Uverse, offering a 20 game fee adjustment for those who want it (Cardinals fans) should have bee made an option. Instead I face changing my Uverse to another carrier because my husband is furious. As a longtime AT&T customer, it's time for AT&T to LISTEN. Make the opportunity available by market!!

[harry3rd]

It really is time for ATT to resolve this problem.  All other providers in the area carry all the games.  Please ATT give us the service we deserve!

[dennymojo1951]

excuse me for complaining,but Im a new customer and was not told anything about cardinals broadcast not being shown because of a dispute with FOX. not my problem , this is the 21st century and I havent missed a game in years until i signed up with u-verse ,fixit or Im cancelling.Its also my understanding,tomorrows game is also blackedout,THIS SUCKS! 04/09/2012

[wjbutl]

What a better place than St. Louis to air the Cardinals game.  Everybody I know would have watched.

[RhondaHMo]

I'm wondering too....it says on their MLB.com schedule and Yahoo Sports that it's supposed to be aired on Fox Sports Midwest.........I am NOT a happy camper!!

-Rhonda

[rashjoka]

I love everything about AT&T U-verse except for the fact the black out certain STL Cardinal games.  They are the World Champs.  I am to a point where I am considering going back to Charter (even though they suck) since they show all games.  Come on AT&T work out whatever the issues are and provide the best service to your customers.  I don't want to watch Poker, UFC reports, or any other filler programs.

[capawa]

My husband is furious that AT&T chose not to carry the Cardinal games.  He wants to move to Charter also.  He said he wouldn't even mind paying a little something extra to be able to view the games.  AT&T, I think you blew it with all the Cardinal fans.

[RhondaHMo]

As an update, I just checked the FSMW site and there  is the SAME notice as we had last year....MOST providers picked up the 20 extra games offered BUT ATT DID NOT.  COME ON!!! THis is ridiculous. I called NUMEROUS times last year to complain and got NADA.  Why can the other providers pony up and ATT doesn't??? Especially when my bill can go up for NO MORE SERVICE???? AND if we had this issue last year, you had a whole year to make a deal, offer the extra 20 games to us for a small fee or raise the price a bit to offer them.  I am SERIOUSLY thinkign of going with another provider considering I am paying $200 a month for limited home phone, mid-speed internet and a 200 package with no premiums.  I'd think that is PLENTY of money for ATT to offer us these measly 20 games. 

A VERY unhappy customer,

-Rhonda {personal content removed for safety}

St. Louis, MO

[joebearosu]

If at&t doesn't start carrying the cardinal games soon, I will be more than happy to find some other company that will!

[cardjon]

Hey is anyone at ATT listening ? Or are we just shouting down a well. I was never told that the games would be blacked out when I signed up last month.. Let the buyer beware, I guess. Anyhow, someone has to fix this! Maybe BBB should get inundated with complaints about deceptive practices by ATT salespeople who don't level with the customers.

[gmb314]

I will be canceling att uverse very soon.  I can't watch the Cardinals game tonight and couldn't last night either!!  BULL I will be getting Charter very soon.

[craig2914]

absolutely GD unbelievable - i just had Uverse installed at the new townhouse about a month ago and was told SPECIFICALLY by the rep doing the phone work that no Cardinals games would be blacked out in St. Louis

i asked the question because i was concerned about ATT being based in Atlanta and how that would play out with a team in another market

basically, I was directly lied to - the kicker is, the game tonight in Cincinnati would be carried as a regional game in st louis on the MLB Network ... except that they don't want to step on the toes of FSN Midwest and carry the game in their market!

I will be switching back to Charter asap

[mikeldis9]

well I guess we are on the first att blackout of cardinal games 4-10-12.

Have been on hold with att for 12 1/2 minutes...this is crazy

[wysiwyg1a]

I live in St.Louis, Mo. I just tried to tune in to watch our World Champion Cardinals play the Reds in Cincinati only to find the game is blacked out. Got chatted up by a service rep just to find out that there are a total of 20 games blacked out this season. All of the other tv service providers are broadcasting the game but ATT............NOOOOOOOOOOOOO. This sucks and I am seriously considering going back to satelite. ATT, for all of their size and power just didn't want to cough up the $. They went on the cheap at the expense of the fans.

{post merged}

[mikeldis9]

the reps dont know crap about this situation, I was told the same thing last year, and then was told it would be fixed this year for sure...not sure what I'm going to do next

[oufanindallas]

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cardjon wrote:

Hey is anyone at ATT listening ? Or are we just shouting down a well. I was never told that the games would be blacked out when I signed up last month.. Let the buyer beware, I guess. Anyhow, someone has to fix this! Maybe BBB should get inundated with complaints about deceptive practices by ATT salespeople who don't level with the customers.

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Complaining on here, while it may make you feel better isn't going to get a response from AT&T.  BBB has absolutely NOTHING to do with whether a provider AT&T can be held hostage by a network FSMW.  Except for the breach of contract by FSMW.

[oufanindallas]

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craig2914 wrote:

absolutely GD unbelievable - i just had Uverse installed at the new townhouse about a month ago and was told SPECIFICALLY by the rep doing the phone work that no Cardinals games would be blacked out in St. Louis

i asked the question because i was concerned about ATT being based in Atlanta and how that would play out with a team in another market

basically, I was directly lied to - the kicker is, the game tonight in Cincinnati would be carried as a regional game in st louis on the MLB Network ... except that they don't want to step on the toes of FSN Midwest and carry the game in their market!

I will be switching back to Charter asap

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AT&T is based out of Dallas, not Atlanta.  As long as contract is in place AT&T shows all the games that are on a network, EXCEPT for FSMW which decided in the middle of a valid contract to want more money.  AT&T politely told them to pack sand. 

[tech_support]

U-Verse is playing with fire in blacking out Cardinal games in Cardinal Nation. We are legion. This is the quickest and surest way to lose customers in the vastness that is Cardinal Nation.