cardinal service blackout in St Louis

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

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mcm319 wrote:

 I agree if it was 1 or 2 games I would make arrangements with them to scale back my bill since they are unable to deliver the service but this is for 152 games I bought the service to watch those games 180 dollars a month I am such a slug I am looking into other service this is crazy

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The dispute between U-verse and FSMW does not involve all 152 games.  It only involves 20 games.  See the article in the link below.

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/article_16903232-623d-11e0-84dd-0019bb30f31a.ht...

[OAK4329]

I don't care who  is at fault.  It needs to be fixed.  I signed up for uverse with the undertanding that my package would include all of theCcardinals games on  FSM.  It makes me mad that I am going to have to switch back to Charter.  I love my uverse.  But with a homebound Cardinal fan in my family, I will have no choice.

[howard_beale]

This issue should NEVER have come up.  ATT obviously doesn't care about Cards fans.  20 games is over 12% of the schedule. 

The one hurt in this household is a totally handicapped person whose joy is watching Cards and Blues and playing solitaire on the computer.  That is all they can do.  Take away the Cards games and you take away the joy.

We got Uverse due to Charters uncaring attitude.  We will get rid of Uverse due to ATT uncaring attitude and go back to Charter. 

Boil the issue down and you get greed on the part of 2 companies but the fault is with ATT since they should have resolved this BEFORE the season began. 

The suits could care less until enough people drop their subscriptions. 

"I'm as mad as {word filter evasion}, and I'm not going to take this anymore!"

[wufpk2]

This is outrageous.  I will be calling and complaining like every other cardinal fan should do who has Uverse.  I have been giving them praise to all of my friends who switched from Charter because they truly have the best service.  I'm very upset at this because they haven't given me a discount on my bill. 

[ncriechman]

Imagine my surprise when I tried to watch the Cardinals-Giants game and then the Cardinals-Diamondbacks and learned they were not being carried by U-Verse due to a dispute over money.  I am sure AT&T has sufficient funds to add the 20 games to their schedule.  Is the amount really worth angering your customers over and possibly losing their accounts??????  I suggest you get this dispute resolved quickly or I as well will start looking for other providers who do have some consideration for their customers.  By the way, if you are not going to show the games, then take them off of the U-Verse guide and indicate what you will actually be showing instead. 

[bighoppa]

this needs to be resolved now we all pay way to much money for cable anyway

[ronsmith]

Did you notice the cable companies listed that will not carry the 20 Cadinals games? All big names, huh? Ever heard of any of them - EXCEPT U-Verse? I can't believe that all the other major providers in the St. Louis area  have agreed to the terms for Fox Sports Cardinals coverage and the biggie didn't? I guess there's not enough AT&T presence in St. Louis. A company the size of AT&T and touting this great new service and they're pinching pennies. Way to go AT&T. Who cares about what your customers want - and deserve...and thanks for giving me an easy way to voice my displeasure at your decision.

[FSU3111]

I think ATT needs to pay Fox Sports so I can watch the baseball games I am

[triedle]

This is ridiculous. Got a beer and turned on what i thought was the game and they had Jim Courier vs. Bjorn Borg on. I don't pay to see to old guys play tennis. I don't pay extra to watch any tennis. I called and complained and told them i would be switching next week if they didn't get it resolved. not sure my little fee will affect ATT. Did they not learn from all the complaints and people changing from Dish network when the blues were blacked out on there? FSM added 20 games that were on Channel 5 and now we lose them completely. Not happy. Hate charter but will go back to them to watch these cards games. I know they are showing them. 

[dwinth]

This thread could be as entertaining as the Hallmark and HGTV threads. The One Post One and Done Wonders have emerged with all of their threats and hysterics, posting in CAPITAL LETTERS,  etc.

Where is that guy who gave a countdown on how many days Hallmark was gone? We need him now.

I still have faith a solution will be worked out. U-Verse is not in business to get their customers mad and/or chase them away no matter what a lot of people who have posted on this thread think.

And no, I am not a U-Verse employee, nor do I live in Texas. I am a Cardinal fan living in St. Louis who attends 25-35 games a year who is enjoying listening to Mike Shannon and John Rooney tonight on the KMOX.

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Owning a computer and not having the internet is like buying a refrigerator and not stocking it with food.

[befus]

Exactly right ronsmith! {Please keep it courteous} and of course our own Uverse. First you make me pay extra for FSM without any notification, and now you block over 10% of the games........sounds real fair. [Per Guidelines:  Keep it Relevant and Appropriate and do not evade the word filter].

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

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ronsmith wrote:

Did you notice the cable companies listed that will not carry the 20 Cadinals games? All big names, huh? Ever heard of any of them - EXCEPT U-Verse? I can't believe that all the other major providers in the St. Louis area  have agreed to the terms for Fox Sports Cardinals coverage and the biggie didn't? I guess there's not enough AT&T presence in St. Louis. A company the size of AT&T and touting this great new service and they're pinching pennies. Way to go AT&T. Who cares about what your customers want - and deserve...and thanks for giving me an easy way to voice my displeasure at your decision.

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Actually, yes.  I have heard of Cable One which one of the major TV providers.

[ksl1975]

i know right? i mean there are so many cardinal fans.. and a lot of us can't afford to pay the ticket prices so seeing them on tv is the only way to see them... this is so annoying.. like you i always praised uverse.. but this is ridiculous over 20 games..

[telperion69]

I missed being able to record the Cardinals opening day game this year because FSMW was moved to another programming package ( without notifying me as the customer of course ).  I spent one and one half hours on the phone with a robot menu that would not/could not answer my questions or solve my problem.  I finally contacted someone in tech support and was escalated to tier two support when I finally discovered that ATT had decided in their all powerful wisdom to place FSMW into the prime tier HD package ( in order to get another 5$/month from Cardinals fans in Arkansas no doubt ).  No big deal, I thought.  I'm an original bat boy for the church of the St. Louis Cardinals, I'm willing to take the hit (pun intended).  So, I purchased the premier tier package and I get a scrolling message on the bottom of my 'supposed' Cardinals game tonight that explains that ATT has decided not to broadcast this game ( after I have paid the 5$/month of course! ), so now I can't record them on my DVR.  I have cursed folks up and down, I have tried to win bees with honey, {Please keep it courteous} but this about does it.  If I can't get a response that satisfies me, [Per Guidelines:  Keep it Relevant and Appropriate] but not televise all of the broadcasts they offer, then I will be FORCED to swim further upstream to obtain satisfaction.  I have been an ATT customer for over 10 years, and the service has steadily degraded and gotten heavy with the bureaucracy of becoming a global entity, and I am extraordinarily 'miffed' to use much kinder and gentler term than my thoughts are barking!!  I would suggest that whoever reads this email, if you have been out of school for more than a year or two, should immediately seek out your supervisor, their supervisor, their supervisor, and someone [Per Guidelines:  Keep it Relevant and Appropriate].  You guys have a BIG BIG problem here.

Sincerely,

Jay {Personal content removed for your safety}

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

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ksl1975 wrote:

i know right? i mean there are so many cardinal fans.. and a lot of us can't afford to pay the ticket prices so seeing them on tv is the only way to see them... this is so annoying.. like you i always praised uverse.. but this is ridiculous over 20 games..

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Actually, it was exactly 20 games, but after tonight, there are 18 remaining games in dispute.

[ksl1975]

i totally agree with you.. the reason we kept our current package is to watch st. louis baseball.. we couldn't afford the movie channels anymore but was happy to see 152 games being broadcast on fsmw.. so we made sure to keep the sports channels when we got rid of the movie channels.. and then i turn on my tv tonight and see this.. some stupid program i have no interest in and a casual message at the bottom of the screen... either give us a discount during the baseball season (heck i'd take five dollars a month at least it is something to compensate).. or deal with fsmw... if fsmw is being extremely unreasonable.. then att tell us!!! i'll go complain to them!! baseball has teed me off the past several years with the greed of money... and this is just another example... i am really upset about this.. it is almost a slap in the face of cardinal fans.. the most devoted fans in baseball.... i have been on hold for an HOUR waiting to talk to someone.. i guess i'm not the only cardinals fans that is extremely annoyed....

[telperion69]

NO SHIMP ATT!!!!!!!!!!!!!   ANOTHER DISGRUNTLED 10 YEAR 'CUSTOMER'

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

The HD version of the out of market RSN's were moved to the HD Premium Tier Package in December of last year.  Notification was send to all affected customers in November.  An example of the notification letter can be seen in the link below:

http://forums.att.com/t5/TV-Programming/Out-of-market-RSN-s-moving-to-HD-Premium-Tier/m-p/2546555#M6...

[kjupka]

I think it is important for customers to let At & t know that they are upset with the service they are providing. For many in St. Louis Sunday baseball is a tradition and an important one and I have no doubt in my mind that not carrying those 20 games is reason enough to switch for some fans.

Unfortunately we have all of our services wrapped up in At&t because it is cheaper then having three different companies provide phone, internet and cable and would pay a hefty fine for dropping our phone at this point.

I however up to this point have recommended At&t U-verse to many friends and family members. I can safety say that that will stop now. It was At&t's decision not to carry those games (what ever their reasoning) and so the blame is not misplaced in this case. I hope they change their mind. This could definitely affect our future decisions about all at&t services not just u-verse. There are just too many options out there to stick with one that won't provide the services that I want.

[f101f4f16]

ATT&T decision not to carry all STL Cardinal ball games is unacceptable. For the amount of money I pay for U450 and HD, I should get alot more. As much as I hate Charter, I may be forced to return to them or a satellite provider even with their contract periods.

[gscal]

Texas Guy,  your reply {Please keep it courteous} caused loads of people to leave Charter Communications.  Saying that its only 20 games shows that you, as a representative of AT&T, do not care what your customers care or treasure.  AT&T needs to buck up and broadcast the Cardinal games, or I and ho[efully many many many others will leave your service for a better product.  Its odd that you are making Charter Communications seem like it might be a better option.  Its sad that you hold your customer hostage in such a p[etty dispute.  Please pass on to your superiors that Cardinal fans will leave you, and go to whatever service will provide them with their games.  For Cadinal fans, the most important feature of their TV service is how easy it is for them to be able to watch ALL the games available.

[milkman]

Perhaps the Cardinal Organization should be contacted. I mean, they pulled their games off local channels after the season had started (that's dirty pool in my book) to Fox Sports. It wasn't because they love their fan base. It was because they love their money! Had the Cards honored their original agreement none of this would be happening. They could have waited until next season to change providers after negotiating through the off season. Cards could have given notification to the fans of new providers who then could make alternate viewing plans. Fox Sports would still have been at the door next season with checkbook in hand.

Oh? Can't talk mean about the Cards here. The cash register swings both ways.

No. I'm not an AT&T employee. Just pointing out the obvious.

[cf0451]

At&t u-verse took Fox Sports Midwest out of the package I had last year and put it in the HD Premium Package.  I had to pay extra for it this year.  Now I find out they are going to blackout these games because they're cheap and don't want to pay like the other Major Cable/Sat providers....I pay $230 a month for my service....I'll be calling Directv tomorrow....

[coyleks]

  To say that I am upset about the blackouts of Cardinal baseball games would be a huge understatement. I am furious.  It is the ONLY reason I added high definition to my options and now I will be missing TWENTY games????  That just stinks.  I'm really upset and I'm seriously considering changing providers.  Blacking out games and the steady increase in cost almost every month (which is exactly what Charter did) is making me very angry and sorry that I have recommended U-verse to so many people.  So now, when asked about U-verse, you can be sure that I WILL NOT recommend it.

[bilkn1]

Having Cardinal games blacked out is totally unacceptable, there are other provider choices.

[lovethelou]

I will call Charter and get in the queue tomorrow.  If ATT doesn't think people will switch they are naive.  We pay a ridiculous amount for this service and we can pay someone else if this doesn't get worked out by the end of the week.  Time is ticking att....

[mcm319]

I apologize for saying it was 152 games I thought that is what I read yesterday while steam was pouring out of my ears rage can do that to you Now I am just boiling 180 dollars a month is a lot of money for TV service in my opinion. I would think ATT builds a little wiggle room for this type of situation I question their commitment to their customers The U Verse product helped save them from complete meltdown seeing as  a lot of people are dropping their hard lines to the house in Lieu of Magic JAck and other computer based phone services I am disillusioned with their decision making team and commitment and yes I understand it is ONLY 20 games  WHY

[kjupka]

Okay - Just a note. While I am not a fan of the cardinals moving their package off local televisions the decision was made in July of 2010.  The link below is a story posted on Stltoday.com on July 15th, 2010.

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/article_36e902c5-dff9-5d18-a423-b8d194286e19.ht...

This was not something sprung on At&t. This was a calculated decision they had plenty of time to make. I think the decent thing for At&t to do was to a least let their customers know instead of all of us having to go to fox sports midwest to find out. 

[jjces2012]

I feel like I have been completely ripped off.  I am a new subscriber to U-verse after a long time user of DirecTV.  My one request was to get Fox SPorts MIdwest and ALL of the Cardinals games.  When I signed up, ATT promised that I would get all of the games, and now, without any warning, I find out that 20 something games are blacked out.  This is unacceptable.  ATT can give me money back and reduce my bill, but I am not satisfied.  If this does not change soon, I will go back to DirecTV, DISH or whomever will be honest and give me back the Cardinals games.  ATT has done wrong by their customers and should be ashamed.