NHL gets the shaft?

[bigredcat]

I signed up for U-verse a few months ago, and I was happy at first.  I'm a Rangers fan, and luckily I get MSG (only the SD though, Comcast has the HD one).  

Now there is no NHLN????

Foxsports net games are all blacked out....

No option to buy NHL Center Ice???

AT&T = No hockey?  

Thanks AT&T.  That's three way that AT&T is hurting it's customers, I guess I will have to see what Comcast offers again.... 

I would recommend that AT&T changes this.  I know I am not the only U-verse customer and hockey fan.  I know where my loyalty lies, and it's the NHL. 

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

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bigredcat wrote:

I signed up for U-verse a few months ago, and I was happy at first.  I'm a Rangers fan, and luckily I get MSG (only the SD though, Comcast has the HD one).  

Now there is no NHLN????

Foxsports net games are all blacked out....

No option to buy NHL Center Ice???

AT&T = No hockey?  

Thanks AT&T.  That's three way that AT&T is hurting it's customers, I guess I will have to see what Comcast offers again.... 

I would recommend that AT&T changes this.  I know I am not the only U-verse customer and hockey fan.  I know where my loyalty lies, and it's the NHL. 

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What is "NHLN"?

[Grail]

NHLN is NHL Network, and it is on UVerse 638/1638.

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

NHL Network in included in the U450 Package and the Sports Package.

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

By the way, I watched 2 hockey games tonight.  One on Versus and another on FSN Dallas.  Amazing that I could do that considering that AT&T = No hockey.

[sportsman_1]

so bigredcat what do you think of that?

[msncookie]

It does kind of stink that many games on the Sports package are blacked-out.  But since NHL Network at least carries CBC on Saturday nights, I can tolerate the $10/month.

[oufanindallas]

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msncookie wrote:

It does kind of stink that many games on the Sports package are blacked-out.  But since NHL Network at least carries CBC on Saturday nights, I can tolerate the $10/month.

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You can thank the greedy leagues for the blackouts, NBA, NHL and MLB are the driving factors behind the blackouts.  In a time when families have less discretionary money and attendance is down across the country at professional sporting events, the leagues put in blackouts so that you can only see your home team play unless you fork over anywhere from $200 - $400. 

[PoppieSr]

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texasguy37 wrote:

By the way, I watched 2 hockey games tonight.  One on Versus and another on FSN Dallas.  Amazing that I could do that considering that AT&T = No hockey.

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Well, good for you. Last night I watched some of Toronto vs Isles, Dallas vs TB, Chicago vs St.L, not to mention the Versus game. What a treat, having all the hockey you want.  Look, nobody says that Uverse has no hockey at all. They just don't have enough compared to others. They could have so much more to offer the customers if they got off their duffs and added Center Ice and/or any of the other sports subs pkgs. You don't know what a treat it is to able to pick a game to watch on any given night or even go from game to game. And now, with some games, you get to choose which tv coverage you want to follow, the home team or the visiting team.

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

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PoppieSr wrote:

Well, good for you. Last night I watched some of Toronto vs Isles, Dallas vs TB, Chicago vs St.L, not to mention the Versus game. What a treat, having all the hockey you want.  Look, nobody says that Uverse has no hockey at all. They just don't have enough compared to others. They could have so much more to offer the customers if they got off their duffs and added Center Ice and/or any of the other sports subs pkgs. You don't know what a treat it is to able to pick a game to watch on any given night or even go from game to game. And now, with some games, you get to choose which tv coverage you want to follow, the home team or the visiting team.

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The OP stated "AT&T = No hockey".

[dhascall ACE - Professor]

Sports Blackouts - Okay Wendy, I call for a sticky dealing with Sports Packages and Blackouts.  This is a hot topic and (if it were me), I would have TG37 draft it up.

[bigredcat]

Lucky for those of you that can get the games.  I can only watch games on Versus, MSG, and NESN (New England Sports Network).  Although if I want to watch Pengiuns and Leafs play, the game is blacked out?  I live in Connecticut.  I don't think I am going to make it to Toronto to watch the game.....  Is it pure greed that drives the blackouts?  I almost wonder why I even have the sports package sometimes.  Center Ice would be great.  

  So yes, there is some hockey on TV.  I can watch some of the Rangers games, all of the Bruins games I guess, and what ever is on Versus.  I just dislike the all of these blackouts on the FSN channels since we don't even have an option of purchasing Center Ice.  

  Easy solution AT&T, offer Center Ice......

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

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bigredcat wrote:

Lucky for those of you that can get the games.  I can only watch games on Versus, MSG, and NESN (New England Sports Network).  Although if I want to watch Pengiuns and Leafs play, the game is blacked out?  I live in Connecticut.  I don't think I am going to make it to Toronto to watch the game.....  Is it pure greed that drives the blackouts?  I almost wonder why I even have the sports package sometimes.  Center Ice would be great.   

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The blackouts are per the rules of the NHL.

[bnichols_1]

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texasguy37 wrote:

The blackouts are per the rules of the NHL.

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The NHL set up those rules so that it could sell NHL Center Ice which as we all know U-Verse can't or won't make available for us to buy.

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

Actually, NHL blackout rules do not exist because of NHL Center Ice.  The blackout rules for the NHL and the other professional sports existed long before NHL Center Ice or the other out of market sports packages came into existence.  The blackout rules have always been about protecting a team's home territory and not about selling out of market sports packages.

[bnichols_1]

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texasguy37 wrote:

Actually, NHL blackout rules do not exist because of NHL Center Ice.  The blackout rules for the NHL and the other professional sports existed long before NHL Center Ice or the other out of market sports packages came into existence.  The blackout rules have always been about protecting a team's home territory and not about selling out of market sports packages.

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Please explain how putting a game on local cable while blacking it out for the rest of the country is "protecting a team's home territory".

Once upon a time home games of sports were blacked out (or did not exist) to protect home attendance. The Chicago Blackhawks hockey team was the last to get over that a couple of years ago. Only the NFL has home blackout rules to protect sellouts.

[oufanindallas]

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bnichols_1 wrote:

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texasguy37 wrote:

Actually, NHL blackout rules do not exist because of NHL Center Ice.  The blackout rules for the NHL and the other professional sports existed long before NHL Center Ice or the other out of market sports packages came into existence.  The blackout rules have always been about protecting a team's home territory and not about selling out of market sports packages.

---

Please explain how putting a game on local cable while blacking it out for the rest of the country is "protecting a team's home territory".

Once upon a time home games of sports were blacked out (or did not exist) to protect home attendance. The Chicago Blackhawks hockey team was the last to get over that a couple of years ago. Only the NFL has home blackout rules to protect sellouts.

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Per the NHL   NHL Website

"WHY ARE THERE BLACKOUTS?
Blackout restrictions exist to protect the local telecasters of each NHL game in the local markets of the teams. Keep in mind that blackout policies and restrictions are different for every sports package that your system may carry. (NHL CENTER ICE is designed for the NHL fan who wants to see NHL games in addition to those which involve the team(s) in their local markets).

If you are located in a team's television territory, check your local listings for all locally televised games. NHL CENTER ICE is not able to televise these games.

If you are located in a team's television territory and their local regional sports network is not available on your current cable or satellite provider, you will not be able to see these games in NHL CENTER ICE. This is a distribution issue between the regional sports network and the cable/satellite provider. The blackout remains intact as the local regional sports network has the rights to these games in your area.

Blackouts are not based on arena sell-outs."

Granted UVerse does not carry Center Ice, it has nothing to do with blackouts.  Center Ice was designed by the NHL as a way to make money just as MLB Extra Innings, NBA League Pass, and NFL Sunday Ticket.

MLB Blackout Rules

Major League Baseball Blackout Rules  Rules and policies of local and national media

Major League Baseball blackout rules are different than the NFL's. In the Nation Football League, games are blacked out within a 75-mile radius of an NFL stadium and may be broadcasted if the game is a road game or if the game sells-out 72 hours or more before the start of the game. In the MLB, things are a bit different. Games are blacked out based on three criteria.

1. Local broadcast and cable stations which have contracts with a team have priority over national broadcasters. If a game is televised on ESPN, but the a local station like Fox Sports SW also hold the rights to the game, ESPN will be blacked out.


2. Fox has exclusive nationwide rights for MLB games on Saturdays between 3:55PM ET and 7:00PM ET. ESPN has the same rights for games on Sunday after 8:00PM ET. Games beginning during these time periods can only be telecast by the network holding the exclusive national rights (games that run long are not cut off). For example, if a game is being shown on MLB Extra Innings and the game runs past 7PM ET on Sunday, the game is allowed to be shown for its remainder. The Texas Rangers and Florida Marlins are exempt from the exclusive nationwide policies because a majority of their games are played at night when playing at home on Sundays due to the weather. TBS does not hold nationwide exclusivity to their Sunday afternoon game-of-the-week.


3. Radio stations (including flagships) are not allowed to include MLB games in the live Internet streams of their station programming.

[bnichols_1]

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oufanindallas wrote:

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bnichols_1 wrote:

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texasguy37 wrote:

Actually, NHL blackout rules do not exist because of NHL Center Ice.  The blackout rules for the NHL and the other professional sports existed long before NHL Center Ice or the other out of market sports packages came into existence.  The blackout rules have always been about protecting a team's home territory and not about selling out of market sports packages.

---

Please explain how putting a game on local cable while blacking it out for the rest of the country is "protecting a team's home territory".

Once upon a time home games of sports were blacked out (or did not exist) to protect home attendance. The Chicago Blackhawks hockey team was the last to get over that a couple of years ago. Only the NFL has home blackout rules to protect sellouts.

---

Per the NHL   NHL Website

"WHY ARE THERE BLACKOUTS?
Blackout restrictions exist to protect the local telecasters of each NHL game in the local markets of the teams. Keep in mind that blackout policies and restrictions are different for every sports package that your system may carry. (NHL CENTER ICE is designed for the NHL fan who wants to see NHL games in addition to those which involve the team(s) in their local markets).

If you are located in a team's television territory, check your local listings for all locally televised games. NHL CENTER ICE is not able to televise these games.

This explanation from the NHL website refers to games blacked out on NHL Center Ice, not on Regional Sports Networks in areas outside of that region which was the subject of the discussion. The MLB information is not really relevant to the hockey discussion.

[oufanindallas]

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bnichols_1 wrote:

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oufanindallas wrote:

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bnichols_1 wrote:

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texasguy37 wrote:

Actually, NHL blackout rules do not exist because of NHL Center Ice.  The blackout rules for the NHL and the other professional sports existed long before NHL Center Ice or the other out of market sports packages came into existence.  The blackout rules have always been about protecting a team's home territory and not about selling out of market sports packages.

---

Please explain how putting a game on local cable while blacking it out for the rest of the country is "protecting a team's home territory".

Once upon a time home games of sports were blacked out (or did not exist) to protect home attendance. The Chicago Blackhawks hockey team was the last to get over that a couple of years ago. Only the NFL has home blackout rules to protect sellouts.

---

Per the NHL   NHL Website

"WHY ARE THERE BLACKOUTS?
Blackout restrictions exist to protect the local telecasters of each NHL game in the local markets of the teams. Keep in mind that blackout policies and restrictions are different for every sports package that your system may carry. (NHL CENTER ICE is designed for the NHL fan who wants to see NHL games in addition to those which involve the team(s) in their local markets).

If you are located in a team's television territory, check your local listings for all locally televised games. NHL CENTER ICE is not able to televise these games.

This explanation from the NHL website refers to games blacked out on NHL Center Ice, not on Regional Sports Networks in areas outside of that region which was the subject of the discussion. The MLB information is not really relevant to the hockey discussion.

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No, this doesn't pertain to Center Ice. It is letting you know how to get around the regional/local blackouts. (Pay us money and we'll let you watch out of area games)  Read it again.  Center Ice was designed and is run by the NHL as an addition method of generating revenue.

The reference to the MLB was because the previous post mention other sports and blackouts.

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

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bnichols_1 wrote:

Please explain how putting a game on local cable while blacking it out for the rest of the country is "protecting a team's home territory".

Once upon a time home games of sports were blacked out (or did not exist) to protect home attendance. The Chicago Blackhawks hockey team was the last to get over that a couple of years ago. Only the NFL has home blackout rules to protect sellouts.

---

These are not my rules or my decisions.  The decisions are made by the leagues.  As I said, blackout rules existed before the out of market packages came into existence.  If you want the leagues' rationale for the blackout rules, you can contact the leagues.

[al0123]

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texasguy37 wrote:

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bnichols_1 wrote:

Please explain how putting a game on local cable while blacking it out for the rest of the country is "protecting a team's home territory".

Once upon a time home games of sports were blacked out (or did not exist) to protect home attendance. The Chicago Blackhawks hockey team was the last to get over that a couple of years ago. Only the NFL has home blackout rules to protect sellouts.

---

These are not my rules or my decisions.  The decisions are made by the leagues.  As I said, blackout rules existed before the out of market packages came into existence.  If you want the leagues' rationale for the blackout rules, you can contact the leagues.

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Ok. Point made about blackout rules BUT, NHL Center Ice is a solution and one AT&T should be looking at adding. For those willing to pay, it would give them the games they want to watch.

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

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al0123 wrote:

Ok. Point made about blackout rules BUT, NHL Center Ice is a solution and one AT&T should be looking at adding. For those willing to pay, it would give them the games they want to watch. 

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This topic has been discussed ad nauseum here on the forum.

[al0123]

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texasguy37 wrote:

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al0123 wrote:

Ok. Point made about blackout rules BUT, NHL Center Ice is a solution and one AT&T should be looking at adding. For those willing to pay, it would give them the games they want to watch. 

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This topic has been discussed ad nauseum here on the forum.

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I'm sorry- I must have gotten confused. I thought this board was called "TV Programming", as in a place where AT&T users can discuss said topic. If you don't have anything useful to add, then just skip posting a reply. Subscribers clearly want to watch hockey from other markets and if they are upset at AT&T's lack of programming, they have a right to inquire about adding NHL Center Ice.

[oufanindallas]

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al0123 wrote:

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texasguy37 wrote:

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al0123 wrote:

Ok. Point made about blackout rules BUT, NHL Center Ice is a solution and one AT&T should be looking at adding. For those willing to pay, it would give them the games they want to watch. 

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This topic has been discussed ad nauseum here on the forum.

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I'm sorry- I must have gotten confused. I thought this board was called "TV Programming", as in a place where AT&T users can discuss said topic. If you don't have anything useful to add, then just skip posting a reply. Subscribers clearly want to watch hockey from other markets and if they are upset at AT&T's lack of programming, they have a right to inquire about adding NHL Center Ice.

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Yes, you are correct to some extent, however a simple search would also bring up more than a dozen threads on the same topic and the exact same answers.  No AT&T UVerse does not carry Center Ice, yes there are a few who would actually pay for the service if offered. No we don't know if it will ever be offered on UVerse. No AT&T will not announce it until it actually shows up.

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

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al0123 wrote:

I'm sorry- I must have gotten confused. I thought this board was called "TV Programming", as in a place where AT&T users can discuss said topic. If you don't have anything useful to add, then just skip posting a reply. Subscribers clearly want to watch hockey from other markets and if they are upset at AT&T's lack of programming, they have a right to inquire about adding NHL Center Ice. 

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Do you have something new to add to the discussion that has not been said dozens of times on the forum?

[al0123]

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oufanindallas wrote:

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al0123 wrote:

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texasguy37 wrote:

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al0123 wrote:

Ok. Point made about blackout rules BUT, NHL Center Ice is a solution and one AT&T should be looking at adding. For those willing to pay, it would give them the games they want to watch. 

---

This topic has been discussed ad nauseum here on the forum.

---

I'm sorry- I must have gotten confused. I thought this board was called "TV Programming", as in a place where AT&T users can discuss said topic. If you don't have anything useful to add, then just skip posting a reply. Subscribers clearly want to watch hockey from other markets and if they are upset at AT&T's lack of programming, they have a right to inquire about adding NHL Center Ice.

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Yes, you are correct to some extent, however a simple search would also bring up more than a dozen threads on the same topic and the exact same answers.  No AT&T UVerse does not carry Center Ice, yes there are a few who would actually pay for the service if offered. No we don't know if it will ever be offered on UVerse. No AT&T will not announce it until it actually shows up.

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Dozens of threads just means that the topics should be merged. Keeping an open dialogue enables customers to show AT&T that they want additional programming. I understand that Center Ice is not available and that there is no word on whether it will be offered but at least this gives us an opportunity to be heard.

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

It you want to make a formal request, submit it at the website found in the link below.  Saying the same thing over and over again here on the forum is not a formal request.

http://uversechannels.att.com/

[wendigo]

Just because something may have been discussed many times before doesn't mean that any time a new user brings it up that it's not a valid topic. If you aren't interested in certain channels, NHL, NBA, MLB, etc I suggest you skip these threads. Thanks!

-Wendy

[Dead_Terrorist]

Sometimes you get the SHAFT .. other times you get the PUCK ...

Everyone who's been here a while knows the one shortcoming to UV is Subscription Sports (Extra Innings, League Pass, Center ICe)...  Please read the JD Powers report and you will see that while subscription sports folks are EXTREMELY passionate about them, they are quite the small minority. In fact, most providers who offer subscription sports actually LOSE $$$ on them.  They are more for customer retention than profit.

Hockey Fans, don't take it personally .. It's business .. plain an simple.  (I mean UV had the NHL Network years before they got NBA TV and we still don't have MLB).

The respective leagues want more than AT&T is willing to pony up.  Give AT&T time to get the subscriber base large enough to where they can eat the difference for a small vocal minority to get their subscription sports without the majority of us having to subsidize it.

As for those who say AT&T 'has deep pockets' and should give us what we want no matter what the cost .. last time I checked, this was a capitalist society .. and capitalist are to make $$$ for their stockholders (of which I am proudly one) .. so I applaud them for not bending to the vocal minority and keeping our stock price high.

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

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Dead_Terrorist wrote:

Sometimes you get the SHAFT .. other times you get the PUCK ...

Everyone who's been here a while knows the one shortcoming to UV is Subscription Sports (Extra Innings, League Pass, Center ICe)...  Please read the JD Powers report and you will see that while subscription sports folks are EXTREMELY passionate about them, they are quite the small minority. In fact, most providers who offer subscription sports actually LOSE $$$ on them.  They are more for customer retention than profit.

Hockey Fans, don't take it personally .. It's business .. plain an simple.  (I mean UV had the NHL Network years before they got NBA TV and we still don't have MLB).

The respective leagues want more than AT&T is willing to pony up.  Give AT&T time to get the subscriber base large enough to where they can eat the difference for a small vocal minority to get their subscription sports without the majority of us having to subsidize it.

As for those who say AT&T 'has deep pockets' and should give us what we want no matter what the cost .. last time I checked, this was a capitalist society .. and capitalist are to make $$$ for their stockholders (of which I am proudly one) .. so I applaud them for not bending to the vocal minority and keeping our stock price high.

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There are those who would argue that since only those who want the subscriptions would pay for them, how would the non-subscribers be subsidizing the subscribers?