When are the Padres coming to U-Verse in San Diego?

sdguero · ‎09-10-2010

Back in May, an At&T representative told me that the Padres would be available on U-Verse "before the end of the season." He ascribed it to a recent court ruling that Cox/Time Warner had to share the rights with other providers. He was adamant about the Padres coming THIS year. And now I have U_Verse and there are no padres and I can't find out anything about it on the web.

So my question to this forum is: When can we expect to see our beloved Padres on U-Verse in San Diego?

Thanks,

Ryan

kryptonite · ‎04-10-2009

Apparently, it will happen. You may want to search your guide for things like "Padres" or "MLB." You may want to check your channels in the 690 range and in HD in the 1690 range as well.

Other than that, perhaps a google search or search of this forum could yield more answers.

texasguy37 · ‎05-18-2009

From Wikipedia:

4SD, commonly referred to as Channel 4 San Diego (also known as Channel 4 Padres, or COX 4 and originally known as KCOX) is a local origination cable channel based in San Diego, California, United States, and is owned and operated by Cox Communications, through its San Diego-based cable television system.

In addition to Cox Communications, 4SD is available on San Diego County's other cable provider, Time Warner Cable. 4SD is not available on DBS providers, DirecTV or Dish Network, nor is it available to IPTV provider, AT&T u-verse. This is because 4SD is distributed via fiber and does not use satellite to uplink it's signal, similar to that of CSN Philadelphia. By doing so, they were complying with Cable and Telecommunications Act of 1992 by using the "terrestrial loophole". By using the loophole, Cox was able to avoid making the channel available on DBS or IPTV providers. On January 20, 2010, the FCC voted 4-1, to close the terrestrial loophole.[1] On June 15, 2010, Cox Communications has announced its intentions to negotiate with DirecTV, Dish Network, & AT&T u-verse to license 4SD to those providers.[2]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4SD#cite_note-1

sdguero · ‎09-10-2010

Thanks Kryptonite. I have seen that the national broadcast games are now available (as they are on satellite), and the Giants/Padres game will be on Fox tomorrow. I'm jsut trying to figure out when they will start showing EVERY game like Cox and Time Warner do (i.e. Channel 4 padres coverage).

It'd be nice if AT&T would make some sort of timeline so I have an idea of when it may happen. Even somehting rough like Q2 2011 or whatever would be better than nothing...

-Ryan

sdguero · ‎09-10-2010

Thanks Texasguy but that doesn't answer my question.

I'm trying to find out WHEN the padres games will be brought to U-Verse. From what I can see, the only thing that has changed is that the nationally broadcast games are no longer blocked out. I was told that it would be just like Ch.4 padres on the cable networks down here... Which it most definitely is not right now.

texasguy37 · ‎05-18-2009

Actually, it does answer your question. As the Wikipedia article mentions, Padres games are carried locally on Channel 4, which is owned by Cox Cable. Prior to June 15, 2010, Cox refused to allow any TV provider in the San Diego area to carry that channel except for Cox Cable and Time Warner Cable. On that date, Cox agreed to enter into negotiations with DirecTV, Dish Network and U-verse to add Channel 4 to their lineups. So far no agreements have been negotiated, and it is unknown when any agreements will be entered into for the other TV providers in the San Diego area to carry Channel 4.

paul416 · ‎10-10-2008

sdguero wrote:
Thanks Texasguy but that doesn't answer my question.

I'm trying to find out WHEN the padres games will be brought to U-Verse. From what I can see, the only thing that has changed is that the nationally broadcast games are no longer blocked out. I was told that it would be just like Ch.4 padres on the cable networks down here... Which it most definitely is not right now.

This is just a guess. I would expect that if any service gets those Padre games, it will be DirecTV. At least the first one to get them. Direct is the service that offers the most complete , best sports programming out there. DISH tends not to go out and get the best sports programming. For instance, they still don't carry YES for New York fans. U-verse seems to be following the DISH model. So don't expect them to get the Padre games for certain. Hopefully, for you. I'll be proved wrong, but you may have to switch next season if U-verse won't step up.

kryptonite · ‎04-10-2009

sdguero wrote:
Thanks Kryptonite. I have seen that the national broadcast games are now available (as they are on satellite), and the Giants/Padres game will be on Fox tomorrow. I'm jsut trying to figure out when they will start showing EVERY game like Cox and Time Warner do (i.e. Channel 4 padres coverage).

It'd be nice if AT&T would make some sort of timeline so I have an idea of when it may happen. Even somehting rough like Q2 2011 or whatever would be better than nothing...

-Ryan

The bad thing about timelines, no matter who makes them regarding whatever service or feature or whatever is that when they miss the "estimated date" then people start complaining.

It's always better to say "We're working on it" and not give a date than it is to give a date and miss it time after time again.

For example, I don't believe DirecTV gave a date on FSC HD until it was 99.999999% sure that they would have it. And even then, the "date" was 1-2 weeks away, meaning that everything "behind the scenes" had been done.

sharksfansd · ‎09-26-2009

There might be newer articles, but I remember coming across this one (I too am in San Diego):http://www.examiner.com/sports-in-san-diego/cox-open-to-licensing-padres-broadcasts-to-competitors

We will probably have to wait for the start of next season though.

BTW, COX (and TWC as well) are in no hurry for this to happen, so they are going to take the opportunity, if it is there, to drag their feet.

sdguero · ‎09-10-2010

So we are now approaching the 2011 season. Soon Ch. 4 Padres are going to airing spring training games. I haven't heard any news about U-verse picking up the Padre games. Has there been an update?

texasguy37 · ‎05-18-2009

sdguero wrote:

So we are now approaching the 2011 season. Soon Ch. 4 Padres are going to airing spring training games. I haven't heard any news about U-verse picking up the Padre games. Has there been an update?

You might be interested in the following article below. It seems that negotiations are stalled between Cox, AT&T, Directv and Dish Network.

http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/this_just_in/article_1f198778-ff46-11df-8623-001cc4c002e0.html

Also, there is a possibility that Cox might lose the rights to broadcast the Padres games after 2012. Thus, if the stalemate does not end this year, you may see no changes until next year.

http://www.sandiegomagazine.com/media/San-Diego-Magazine/October-2010/Playing-Hardball/

erazoner · ‎12-08-2008

Oh, my.

sdguero · ‎09-10-2010

Thanks for the links. Too bad they are so disheartening. It sounds like the consumers are getting screwed by corporate greed. Again. I just wish the AT&T installer that talked me into U-verse hadn't been so convincing (he claimed U-verse would likely carry the last month or so of 2010 season).

I emailed Ch.4 last week, when I updated this thread. This is the response I recieved today:

Dear Ryan,

Thank you for your interest in Channel 4 San Diego and for visiting our web site. We have made Channel 4 San Diego, including all of our Padres telecasts, available to other video providers in the San Diego market. Currently, no other provider has negotiated a deal to carry the channel, but our offer remains in place.

Sincerely,
Danielle Hilbert
Channel 4 San Diego

In all likelyhood, I'll jsut cancel U-Verse in May when the NHL is over and switch to Cox for the padres season. Then next year switch back to DirectTV or Uverse or something. Long term, it must cost these jokers a lot of overhead to keep sending techs out to my house to switch around their services. Lol.

texasguy37 · ‎05-18-2009

LOL. You should e-mail him back and suggest that Channel 4 make an offer that the other providers would be willing to accept. It's interesting that not a single one of those providers have accepted the offer.

sdguero · ‎09-10-2010

I agree. To me, the stickler is in the VoSD link in the thread above:

"Federal law requires cable companies to offer access to channels that they own to competitors at reasonable rates."

So either Cox is not offerring access at a "reasonable rate", or U-Verse et al are unwilling to pay a "reasonable rate" for access. I think its probably something in between. Meanwhile, we (Joe Public) get screwed and our hatred for the Cable/satellite providers is stoked anew. It's not good business, and is why I have few qualms with digital piracy anymore. The business has turned into a war amongst content providers; consumers, laws, and the sactity of local sports be darned.

Maybe U-verse could launch a new station dedicated to pitting cable company executives fighting to the death in cage matches. Just give them some blunt instruments and tell them the winner gets $100K and a BMW. I'd pony up $50 for pay per view to see that in HD!

sdguero · ‎09-10-2010

So I got to listen to the home opener on AM 1090. It was awesome, felt like I was living in 1934.

Any news on this?

I saw the road opener on Fox last week, so obviously coverage is no longer blocked but it appears U-cerse isn't willing to pay to get us all the games. This is the opposite of what I was told by a U-Verse represenative when we signed up for the service almsot a year ago. Weak sauce.

texasguy37 · ‎05-18-2009

Get your facts straight. Cox has not negotiated the carriage rights for the games shown on Channel 4 with any other provider. The only place where you will see the games carried on Channel 4 is Cox.

sdguero · ‎09-10-2010

The facts are:

1. I was verbally promised that the Padres would be on Uverse by a AT&T representative last year. He actually said it was likely the end of the 2010 season would be available in mid-August, and "we will definitely will carry the 2011 season." {Content Removed: The forum is not a venue for legal discussions} And so we switched from DirectTV based on his assurance back in June 2010, signed up for a one year contract (~$1000 worth of service).

2. I have a friend that was also promised by a Uverse representative in January that the Padres games would be on Uverse for the 2011 season. He was stoked on that news and signed up for a one year contract with high speed internet etc. Basically another $1000+ contract.

3. Uverse ahs failed to negotiate a contract with Cox to bring the Pares to San Diego customers.

4. Uverse has not responded to any of my inquiries about the situation.

5. Cox says that AT&T has not even attempted to talk about getting the Padres on their service.

6. Cancelling before 1 year gets you a $180 early termination fee.

So, Uverse has renigged on verbal promises made to 2 of their customers which landed contracts worth over $2000. And thats only for me and one of my buddies. I'm sure there are dozens if not hundreds of other San Diegans that fell for this same trick. Trying to cancel the contract based on those broken promisses results in a massive fee. Luckily for me, Uverse has broken our contract with a variety of other issues (spotty internet service, poor HD quality) that I think I can wrangle us out of the early termination fees. However, I think a lot of people, like my friend, have perfectly OK service and therefore their only gripe for cancelling is Uverse's failure to follow up on the Padre promises.

{Content Removed: The forum is not a venue for legal discussions}

If anyone else was also promised Padre coverage by Uverse representatives, send me an email at {Personal Information Removed}. {Keep it Relevant}

Regards,

Ryan

Dread Pirate Ro… · ‎12-06-2010

sdguero wrote:

The facts are:

1. I was verbally promised that the Padres would be on Uverse by a AT&T representative last year. He actually said it was likely the end of the 2010 season would be available in mid-August, and "we will definitely will carry the 2011 season." {Content Removed: The forum is not a venue for legal discussions} And so we switched from DirectTV based on his assurance back in June 2010, signed up for a one year contract (~$1000 worth of service).

2. I have a friend that was also promised by a Uverse representative in January that the Padres games would be on Uverse for the 2011 season. He was stoked on that news and signed up for a one year contract with high speed internet etc. Basically another $1000+ contract.

3. Uverse ahs failed to negotiate a contract with Cox to bring the Pares to San Diego customers.

4. Uverse has not responded to any of my inquiries about the situation.

5. Cox says that AT&T has not even attempted to talk about getting the Padres on their service.

6. Cancelling before 1 year gets you a $180 early termination fee.

So, Uverse has renigged on verbal promises made to 2 of their customers which landed contracts worth over $2000. And thats only for me and one of my buddies. I'm sure there are dozens if not hundreds of other San Diegans that fell for this same trick. Trying to cancel the contract based on those broken promisses results in a massive fee. Luckily for me, Uverse has broken our contract with a variety of other issues (spotty internet service, poor HD quality) that I think I can wrangle us out of the early termination fees. However, I think a lot of people, like my friend, have perfectly OK service and therefore their only gripe for cancelling is Uverse's failure to follow up on the Padre promises.

{Content Removed: The forum is not a venue for legal discussions}

If anyone else was also promised Padre coverage by Uverse representatives, send me an email at {Personal Information Removed}. {Keep it Relevant}

Regards,

Ryan

You got that guarantee in writing Mr. Mason? I don't think verbal promises allegedly made over an alleged telephone will stand up in court. The contract is for pricing, not a guarantee you will receive every channel in your chosen line up, the entire time you have the service. Channels come and go, Hallmark went, while 30 others came. So based on that, does at&t HAVE to contractually provide you with the new channels? They weren’t part of that “contract” when you signed up, so again, based on the theory, I should have everything in my package the whole time I have service, and you won't get the new channels, because it's not in your contract. It never said, “will include” new channels and services offered. Makes sense???

Ryan, this is a peer to peer fourm.

DPR

SomeJoe7777 · ‎01-30-2008

sdguero wrote:

The facts are:
3. Uverse ahs failed to negotiate a contract with Cox to bring the Pares to San Diego customers.

5. Cox says that AT&T has not even attempted to talk about getting the Padres on their service.

Facts? Hmmm ...

<Miyagi> Me think ... ahh ... facts ... ahh ... mixed up. </Miyagi>

In 2010, the FCC ruled that Cox cable, which owns broadcast rights to Padres games through 2011, could not refuse to allow other providers to carry Padres games. At least 3 major providers (DirecTV, Dish, and U-Verse) have been attempting to get Padres games since then. (See this article).

Even DirecTV, who calls themselves "king of sports" has failed. DirecTV has 15M subscribers or more, and can't seem to come up with enough money to convince Cox to let them rebroadcast the Padres games.

If 3 different major providers (2 of them with a lot more customers than U-Verse) can't get Cox to budge, then you tell me who is the check valve in this piping system. (Hint: It's not AT&T. )

sdguero · ‎09-10-2010

In my posts above I quote emails that Cox sent me about the Padres contracts being available to Uverse but AT&T has not stepped up to the table.

Whatever, we are cancelling. Early termination fees be darned. We were getting 1mbps internet for over 24 hours last weekend (not the first time thats happened), and have been having reception problems for about 1/2 our HD channels for the last 2 months.

{Please keep it courteous} AT&T sales reps lied to me and my friend so we'd sign up. The HD quality looks as bad as Dish (which is pathetic). {Please keep it courteous} I tried it twice in two different San Diego neighborhoods (Clairemont and Mission Hills). Never again.

-Ryan

erazoner · ‎12-08-2008

I heard a local radio report yesterday that the new Padres owners are severing their relationship with Cox at the end of this season. I could not find a written report confirming this, but if true, U-verse may be able to carry games next season.

This is interesting, considering how much Cox contributed toward the construction of Petco Park. But the new Padres management was never happy with the TV exclusivity.

mscelfo · ‎11-21-2007

great news for 2012! for 2011, well, the Padres don't look like they can contend. http://www.examiner.com/sports-in-san-diego/padres-may-throw-out-cox-favor-of-new-t-v-deal-with-fox-...

texasguy37 · ‎05-18-2009

If true, that is great news for Padres fans. Despite it's efforts over the pas decade to use the Padres as a competitive advance, Cox Cable becomes the loser in the end.

CTEL08 · ‎08-26-2009

cox 4 in san diego is made available to all subscribers. our friends in down in chula vista got to see all the padres games with their basic $15/mo starter package.

if cox were to lose those games, that'd most likely be a bad thing, b/c then your 99% looking at having to fork out for a package with a RSN to see the local team.