HD Tier sports blackouts

[SuSaN03]

After numerous calls to customer service??..is that what they call them, I was assured that no more than 25 total games would be blocked out this season for my Atlanta Braves...hello..it's already up to 12 and counting...you do the math! I'm paying extra for thisfor this (dis)service! Come on people get your act together. I wonder if att knows or even cares that Time Warner is doing an "in your face" commercial telling other cable subscribers to switch to their service to receive all the baseball games they're missing.

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

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SuSaN03 wrote:

After numerous calls to customer service??..is that what they call them, I was assured that no more than 25 total games would be blocked out this season for my Atlanta Braves...hello..it's already up to 12 and counting...you do the math! I'm paying extra for thisfor this (dis)service! Come on people get your act together. I wonder if att knows or even cares that Time Warner is doing an "in your face" commercial telling other cable subscribers to switch to their service to receive all the baseball games they're missing.

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The correct number is 45 not 25.  These are games that are broadcast on Peachtree TV locally in the Atlanta area and simulcast on Fox Sports South in the Braves' territory outside of the greater Atlanta area.

Also, if you are in the Atlanta Braves' territory, Fox Sports South (FSS) and SportSouth should be local RSN's in your base package (U100, U200, U300, etc.) not in the HD Premium Tier Package, and there should be no need for you to pay extra to receive those RSN's.  

If you are outside of the Atlanta Braves' territory, you would need to subscribe to the HD Premium Tier Package in order to receive those 2 RSN's; however, per MLB rules, all of the Braves games broadcast on those 2 RSN's would be blacked out in your area.  This is an MLB rule not the rule of AT&T or any other TV provider. To see your local RSN's, enter your zip code in the link below:

http://www.att.com/Common/iptv/files/dkpages/sportsnetworkinfo.html

[SuSaN03]

Then, please explain why we have the HD premium tier at extra cost if we cannot access the games as we were told?? This is an extra expense is it not? Your menu guide on the controller would indicate that Root sports was accessible for certain games. I'd switch to that channel 1730 or 1760 and it was airing right up to game time when the black out screen would appear.Does MLB realize what a disservice they are doing to baseball fans? Do they even care? How do we get to them? I am quite certain to not be the only one who is angered by this.

[SuSaN03]

Do we have to switch back to Time Warner Cable that we had for over 18 years before our u-verse conversion almost two years ago?

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

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SuSaN03 wrote:

Then, please explain why we have the HD premium tier at extra cost if we cannot access the games as we were told?? This is an extra expense is it not? Your menu guide on the controller would indicate that Root sports was accessible for certain games. I'd switch to that channel 1730 or 1760 and it was airing right up to game time when the black out screen would appear.Does MLB realize what a disservice they are doing to baseball fans? Do they even care? How do we get to them? I am quite certain to not be the only one who is angered by this.

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The MLB blackout rules have existed since the beginning of time!  The NBA and NHL have similar blackout rules for games outside of a team's home territory.  Those out of market games are only available with the purchase of the out of market packages (i.e. MLB Extra Innings, NHL Center Ice, NBA League Pass, etc.).  The only one of those out of market package available for purchase on U-verse is NBA League Pass.  If you have issues with the blackout rules of the various professional leagues, I would recommend that you direct your complaints to the commissioners of those leagues.

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

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SuSaN03 wrote:

Do we have to switch back to Time Warner Cable that we had for over 18 years before our u-verse conversion almost two years ago?

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Unless you plan to purchase the out of market packages from Time Warner Cable, the same out of market blackout rules for professional games applies to Time Warner Cable and it does every other TV provider.  The blackout rules are set by the leagues not by the TV providers.  Do whatever you feel is in your best interest.

[bugmenot121]

Keep in mind that Time Warner (through iN DEMAND) has those various games, but NOT the out-of-market channels.

Most (all?) of the pro leagues sell the packages through their websites. If you have a modern TV, you can hook a computer or other device such as Roku, PS3, XBOX 360 up to your TV to watch the games on there as opposed to a computer screen.

[pmaxhen]

The problem is ATT won't pay Fox Sports South the fee to retransmit the 45 games per season that are broadcasted on peachtree TV. Really no other way to spin it.

[SuSaN03]

I don't believe, but then I'm not as well versed as Texas people seem to be, but Peachtree TV (strictly Braves games) is monopolized by Time Warner Cable...don't know about FSS. It is truly frustrating and I've even put in a call to the commissioner of baseball (doubt that will bring satisfaction) and other than the the FCC, don't know what else to do. I hated the "other" cable company and sincerely doubt going back. You have a cable problem, maybe we can fit you in early next week was their usual response...who in their right mind would put up with that??

[TruthbKnown]

I think you are so right Pmaxhen, I just wonder why AT&T doesn't just come out and address the issue to put everyone on notice that they are aware of the demand and why we don't have it.  They seem to put a spin on things.  The poor customer service people I've spoken with seem so uncomfortable even having to address the concerns.  It's very apparent they've gotten lots of calls and complaints.  If they fixed this sports package problem, mainly the baseball issue, they could be king of the hill as far as cable TV is concerned and attract a sizable number of TW and Comcast customers.  Maybe we should tell them! 

[SuSaN03]

I agree with you 100%. If we had the choice to pay a little extra, most of us would agree to that. Yes, the poor people on the other end of the phone don't really know how to placate att customers regarding sports blackouts. I even had a lady from the Phillipines (global representative) one night who didn't know that we are crazy about baseball in the U.S.A.  and thought I was talking about soccer!

[SuSaN03]

How do you know that..is it a verifiable fact we can throw back at Texas Guy who seems to be the be all and end all of cable{keep it courteous} If we wanted, we could easily change cable providers but we were sold a bill of goods regarding sports channel accessibility. Someone needs to stand up to the powers that be and we need to do it with one voice and get to the bottom of this. Sign me up. I have no problem bringing my A game.

[pmaxhen]

In case nobody else noticed, Dish Network is broadcasting the peachtree games again. Way to go AT&T you're now the only one left.

http://blogs.ajc.com/radio-tv-talk/2012/05/16/peachtree-tv-is-back-on-dish-network-after-three-month... 

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

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pmaxhen wrote:

In case nobody else noticed, Dish Network is broadcasting the peachtree games again. Way to go AT&T you're now the only one left.

http://blogs.ajc.com/radio-tv-talk/2012/05/16/peachtree-tv-is-back-on-dish-network-after-three-month... 

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I'm afraid you are a bit misinformed. Peachtree TV is a local broadcast station in the greater Atlanta area. Dish dropped the station from the channel lineup in the Atlanta area due to a dispute over retransmission fees. Thus, those is the greater Atlanta area have not been able to watch Braves games carried on that local TV channel.

On the other hand, U-verse has always and continues to carry Peachtree TV in the greater Atlanta area. Thus, Braves fans in the Atlanta market, where Peachtree is a local channel, have always had access to the 45 Braves games broadcast on that channel.  Now the Dish customers in the Atlanta area will once again have access to those games.

By the way, did you notice that Dish has announced that they will drop AMC, IFC, WE-TV and the Sundance Channel from it's lineup at the end of June?

[pmaxhen]

Not surprising considering that netflix has so many shows avalible on demand. But I don't understand how I am misinfomed, I simply said AT&T is the only network that won't jump at the moment to fix a problem like this.

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

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pmaxhen wrote:

Not surprising considering that netflix has so many shows avalible on demand. But I don't understand how I am misinfomed, I simply said AT&T is the only network that won't jump at the moment to fix a problem like this.

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The problem that Dish "fix" isn't a problem for U-verse because Peachtree TV (WPCH-TV) is already in the U-verse channel lineup in the Atlanta market.  All TV providers in the Atlanta market except for Dish Network had WPCH-TV (channel 17) in the channel lineup.  Thus, what problem does U-verse need to fix that Dish just fixed?

By the way, Netflix does not carry current season episodes of the original series that are shown on the channels that Dish has announced will be removed from the lineup as of at the end of June.

[pmaxhen]

Again, I said that At&t is the only company that won't fix problems like this. Dish also lost CBS a few years ago and it only went on for maybe a week and they fixed it. At&t obviously has not fixed this in 3 years and you know what I am trying to say yet you keep trolling this thread telling everybody they don't know what they are talking about even though you very well know what they mean.

[pmaxhen]

It feels like AT&T uses this same "customer is always wrong" policy!

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

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pmaxhen wrote:

A

gain, I said that At&t is the only company that won't fix problems like this. Dish also lost CBS a few years ago and it only went on for maybe a week and they fixed it. At&t obviously has not fixed this in 3 years and you know what I am trying to say yet you keep trolling this thread telling everybody they don't know what they are talking about even though you very well know what they mean.

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That is not what you said at all.  Your comment was "In case nobody else noticed, Dish Network is broadcasting the peachtree games again. Way to go AT&T you're now the only one left."

Your comments have nothing to do with the content of the article in the link that you provided.  The article is discussing Dish's return of WPCH-TV (i.e. Peachtree TV) to the local lineup in the Atlanta market.  U-verse and all other providers already have this channel in it's lineup in Atlanta.  The article has nothing to do with simulating Peachtree TV games on Fox Sports South.  In fact, Fox Sports South is not even mentioned in the article.  You read what you wanted to read in the article as opposed to what was actually stated.  Your comments are totally irrelevant and do not reflect the facts stated in the article.  

[pmaxhen]

Keep defending yourself, you're off topic everytime you post a reply. AT&T is the only one left that won't fix it's baseball broadcast (for the forth time). Even dish knew nobody gives a hoot about AMC when Netflix and the internet broadcast everything.  You have sucessfully avoided the point of this whole thread by trolling and going way off topic, you just don't want to admit how blantently wrong AT&T is for not showing the games they're supposed to show in this market yet they sponsor this team nationally. 

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

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pmaxhen wrote:

Keep defending yourself, you're off topic everytime you post a reply. AT&T is the only one left that won't fix it's baseball broadcast (for the forth time). Even dish knew nobody gives a hoot about AMC when Netflix and the internet broadcast everything.  You have sucessfully avoided the point of this whole thread by trolling and going way off topic, you just don't want to admit how blantently wrong AT&T is for not showing the games they're supposed to show in this market yet they sponsor this team nationally. 

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Enjoy your new TV provider  

http://forums.att.com/t5/Features-and-How-To/Peachtree-TV-Braves-games-on-FSN/m-p/3165313#M92915

[pmaxhen]

Speaking of not reading everything 

"Re: Peachtree TV-Braves games on FSN?

Options

05-04-2012 01:22:41 PM

I ended up having to settle down and get MLB TV... It's 25$ per month through my xbox and you can get rid of it any time. I've gone ahead and downgraded my att uverse to the bare minimum and the word is Fios is being installed in my area so maybe I can switch over to them in time and not have to deal with colax cable."

Great job of reading to you too bud. 

[pmaxhen]

I ended up having to settle down and get MLB TV... It's 25$ per month through my xbox and you can get rid of it any time. I've gone ahead and downgraded my att uverse to the bare minimum and the word is Fios is being installed in my area so maybe I can switch over to them in time and not have to deal with colax cable."

Great job of reading to you too bud. 

[JoeCola]

sure would be nice to be able to watch the BRAVES retire the #29 tonight......thanks AT&T!!!!

[TruthbKnown]

Texasguy37, just curious, based on all your immediate responses loaded with sarcasm, do you work for AT&T? I'm relatively new to this whole process and most of the time I think visitors are just trying to understand, but you seem really annoyed by the questions.

[SomeJoe7777 ACE - Geek]

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TruthbKnown wrote:
Texasguy37, just curious, based on all your immediate responses loaded with sarcasm, do you work for AT&T? I'm relatively new to this whole process and most of the time I think visitors are just trying to understand, but you seem really annoyed by the questions.

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None of the Community Leaders (CLs) work for AT&T with one exception (Escapee), and he has the AT&T disclaimer in his signature.

I don't think anyone can blame TexasGuy for becoming frustrated in this thread.  He has tried numerous times to explain to people the facts of what is going on, and repeatedly the other posters in the thread willfully ignore those facts and post inaccurate statements.

Once again, AT&T carries PeachTreeTV in the Atlanta market, along with all the Braves games.  Thus, there is nothing to "fix" there.  Why this statement continues to be ignored by pmaxhen is beyond me.

The fly in the ointment here is that AT&T does not have retransmission rights for 45 Atlanta Braves games that are normally carried on PeachTreeTV.  With those rights, AT&T could show those games outside the PeachTreeTV market (but inside Atlanta Braves MLB market) on the Fox Sports South channel, like several other providers do.

The truth is that TexasGuy refuses to sugar-coat these facts for you.  He states them as is, and that makes you mad.  Your 1st problem is that while you're actually mad at AT&T, you're taking it out on TG.  Ever hear of the phrase "don't shoot the messenger"?

Your 2nd problem is that you refuse to take action to remedy your situation.  Instead of complaining to AT&T or to us on this forum, why don't you go get what you want?  Change to a provider who shows these games if they are that important to you.  There is no reason for you to stew in your house and be unhappy.

This is a very typical thing that's affecting this generation of people in this country.  If you don't like provider A, your reaction should be to switch to provider B who has what you want.  Instead, the current generation thinks they should be able to broadcast their displeasure with provider A on Twitter/Facebook/etc. and then have the problem fixed for them.  Sorry, the world doesn't work that way.  Invoke another phrase, "if you want something done right, do it yourself."

[pmaxhen]

The Atlanta market and the Braves market are two different things completely, don't tell people I ignored something when the fact is Peachtree tv is a local channel in atlanta that you can pick up with an antana. At&t is showing only the cincinati game here tonight when I live in a part of a market that is supposed to be showing braves games. When it comes down to ignoring people, At&t has ignored this issue as much as they can and the fact that they sponsor braves baseball and are trying to get people to switch and miss games is a scam. Maybe TG shouldn't post in a thread full of people mad about something telling us it's our problem not theirs, is this site not ran by At&t?!?!?!?!? COME ON!

[pmaxhen]

Btw, I currently have to watch the games I miss on my xbox, and my problems have been solved but every time I see these At&T sponsored Baves moments throughout the games, I want to vomit.

[winestein]

Sorry SomeJoe7777, but the messenger (nor yourself) address the fact that we were sold a bill of goods that turned out not to be what was described; and for that they should complian and complain loudly...facebook, twitter, et al.

I do not have a problem taking action to remedy my situation either. I do have a problem having my time and money wasted switching to a provider that stated they had the programming I was interested in, but omitting the fact that the programming was incomplete.

[motejod]

Somejoe - you talk as if switching providers is as simple as choosing McDonalds over Burger King because the bathrooms aren't clean.  There are very high switching costs to switching providers, in both monetary terms AND in terms of it being usually a gigantic hassle.

My biggest problem continues to be that AT&T is being borderline FRAUDULENT by continuing to be a MAJOR Braves sponsor while being one of the only major providers to be too cheap to carry all of the games.  In all of the responses that you and the other community leader apologists have given, not a single one has addressed that issue....  and you won't, because you know its fraud as well.

I know AT&T is trying to gain customers by sponsoring programs and commercials with its Uverse brand.... but how about picking a show or event that AT&T can show 100% of it, not 66%.  I mean, what if AT&T did this with some Soap Opera or TV show?  "General Hospital is brought to you by AT&T Uverse"......  but we hope you're OK missing every Thursday and Friday's episode.

[SomeJoe7777 ACE - Geek]

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winestein wrote:

Sorry SomeJoe7777, but the messenger (nor yourself) address the fact that we were sold a bill of goods that turned out not to be what was described; and for that they should complian and complain loudly...facebook, twitter, et al.

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What makes you think that's our job to address?  Neither of us work for AT&T.  AT&T is the one who (according to you) misrepresented your sale, not us.  So, again, why are you mad at us?

And again, complaining on Facebook, Twitter, and here about AT&T's policies or channel carriage has about as much chance of remedying the situation as the sky changing colors.  It's wasted effort, in my opinion.