Consumerist
Reader Steve is displeased with the blackout restrictions that are affecting his ability to watch the Philadelphia Flyers:
My name is Steven [redacted]. This isn't your typical rant about lousy customer service but I think it qualifies anyway.
I live in the Harrisburg, PA area - "Comcast Country" so I shouldn't have to explain my decision to subscribe to DirecTV. As part of my DirecTV service I also subscribe to the NHL Center Ice package so I can watch the Philadelphia Flyers games. I was happy with my service and my TV provider choices until about a week ago...
The NHL in its infinite wisdom (does a sports league qualify for your Worst Company in America contest? If so, I nominate the NHL for next year.) decided to start its own network. They also decided to broadcast 2 of the last 3 Flyers games before the playoffs on that network while also letting the local regional sports channels broadcast them. Therefore, due to the NHL blackout rules and Comcast's policies (more on that later) I couldn't watch the games even after shelling out the extra money. Seems that when a game is on a national network and a local channel, the national network gets blacked out in the local market. Besides the inanity of starting a TV station that fans of the game can't watch, the NHL is also screwing anyone with DirecTV in a Comcast market. Why? you ask. Because Comcast won't allow DirecTV to show ComcastSportsNet on their service. I guess it's not bad enough that Comcast drives customers away (like they did with me) with their corporate greed and stupidity but now they have to screw me again by not allowing a competing service carry their channels. I have emailed DirecTV, the NHL (through their website) and the Flyers with responses from the first two. DirecTV actually responded over a weekend. Their response was to tell me to lodge a complaint to the FCC about Comcast not allowing them access to their channels. I have yet to do that. I was actually somewhat satisfied with their response as it seemed slightly more personal than I really expected (perhaps the threat to turn to FiOS had something to do with that, I don't know.). The NHL actually responded as well, with the previously mentioned blackout rules. The fact that I actually got a response was so shocking that I guess I shouldn't have expected any better answer than what I got. My question is this, do I really have any recourse in this matter or do I just have to suck it up and accept this? I knew when I signed up for the CenterIce package that I wouldn't be getting the Flyers telecasts which I have learned to live with. I didn't read and fully understand the blackout rules when the games were on national TV because, up to this point, I could always watch the national channels showing the games. By the way, they're doing the same thing to me with the first round of the playoffs by showing the games on Versus and ComcastSportsNet. Thank you for your time. SteveWell, Steve, as someone who spends a mindbendingly large amount of money each year for the privilege of watching Rex Grossman misplace footballs like they were his car keys, you have my complete sympathy.
I really do hate to tell you this, but there's essentially nothing you can do. When these sorts of conflicts come up it usually takes intervention or the threat of intervention by a fancy Senator before anything gets done. (Arlen Specter (R-PA), for example, likes to gripe about the Eagles and the NFL, and John Kerry (D-MA) gets embarrassingly emotional over the Boston Red Sox.)
We can't think of any fancy government officials who have a taste for hockey, but if you know of any, we'd suggest starting a letter writing campaign right away. Since you're from Pennsylvania, we'd at least try writing Senator Specter. Who knows, maybe he likes the Flyers? (We suspect it's actually Comcast he likes, but maybe we're just cynical?) If enough like-minded fans join you, perhaps he'll take notice. After all, these are playoff games, are they not?
As much as it pains me to admit this, DirecTV was 100% correct when they suggested you complain to the FCC. Between complaining to them and complaining to your elected officials, it's really all you can do.
Comments
You can do what I do when my Boilermakers play on the big ten network... Swear like a sailor and go to a sports bar :-)
I think I feel sorrier for Meg getting to watch the Bears than this guy for NOT getting to watch the Flyers.
Back in the 90's I knew a guy who had satellite TV on his RV and house. The address that the satellite company had for his billing was actually his friend's house out in Montana. The guy lived in L.A. and never had a sports black out, because the satellite company believed his dish was in Montana.
Just saying.....
Actually, this is just a Philadelphia thing. DirecTV carries all the Comcast SportsNets EXPECT Philly, which is only available on Comcast (and now FiOS). Comcast can deny SportsNet Philly to DirecTV due to a loophole in the FCC rules that otherwise require cable companies to offer local sports channels that they own to the satellite companies.
Is this kind of like how I can have DirectTV and not be able to watch Penguins games without ordering a sports pack? DirectTV has every other Fox channel included in their pack, except for FSN Pittsburgh, which is the channel that airs Penguins games. Silly, DirectTV.
I am fortunate(?) to get the Bears for free off the rabbit ears, but I can't watch the Cubs anymore (also fortunate?).
Complaining to the FCC about Comcast on DirecTV's behalf seems silly to me. It appears to me as though you have just become DirecTV's volunteer lobbyist. It certainly looks like a futile endeavor.
Maybe you could rally some fellow fans at your local sports bar - I know here in Indy enough people complained about the Colts game being on the NFL Network last year that one of the local stations coughed up the dough to buy rights to broadcast the game. That was just a regular season game, no less. If it had been the playoffs, people probably would have donated to the station to do it.
@Toof_75_75: It's exactly like that. Reason #2 I canceled DirecTV was the old Sports Package - tons of Fox Sports Channels but only blacked out games, that Stupidest Dang Sports Show, and High School Football from Florida.
I don't really understand the point of choosing one giant monopoly company over another. For me, Comcast offers the lowest prices and best combination of service. While they are indeed one of the worst companies on God's Green Earth, I don't think they're all that better than Verizon, any satellite company, etc.
Eff the Flyers. Seriously. Eff them all to hell.
Ah well, I hate sports, so ...I guess they can keep their shows on lockdown and I get to continue not giving a crap. Maybe try and listen to them on the radio, and cancel your expensive sports package that you can't watch?
I would actually suggest starting with local politicos. I am betting significant amounts of tax dollars are used to support the building that your team plays in. You should at least be able to watch some of those games.
I feel your pain, Steve. I hate Comcast, don't want to subscribe to their crappy service, so I sacrifice being able to watch Flyers games unless they are on UPN or VS. As far as I know, this is the ONLY market that this happens in. I'll write the FCC today. And Specter. I mean, he's a big enough baseball "fan" to get involved with the whole steroid thing; maybe he'll fight for our right to watch the Flyers?
Stupid Comcast. I hate you and hope you rot in hell.
As someone who gets Philly Comcast - let me tell....wha???
I've never had a problem with Comcast. When they bought out Garden State back around 1998-1999, the transition was smooth and the service MUCH better.
I then had @Home cable internet service. When it became Comcast@Home again, smooth sailing. I've had a few hiccups with internet service with Comcast - all issues that the tech has come out and fixed free of charge. They even have replaced my cable modem for free... despite the fact that I don't rent my modem from them. (yes, I kept the old one)
Oh and I can watch the Flyers any time I want.
Change your address with DirecTV. Find a college dorm address in Indiana, sign up for direct billing, and viola. You'll lose any local stations DirecTV was providing, but if you have Comcast also, then its redundant.
I gotta be honest...when the Capitals crush the Flyers on Friday and Sunday he's going to be glad he didn't have to watch.
yeah, and coke should be forced to sell me pepsi! Funny how many people will scream that government should stay out of business until it comes to sports - sports fans are the most self-entitled jerks around. You think THIS is what our government officials should be worried about? Comcast and DirectTV compete for viewers. One key aspect of that is to show content the other guy doesn't have. It's all part of something we Americans refer to as capitalism.
As for tax dollars being used to build stadiums so a bunch of steroid pumping idiots can get even more rich...don't get me started. Funny how many people will scream that government should stay out of business until it comes to sports.
As bad as I feel about him and his inability to watch the Flyers, they won't last through the first round unfortunately. Ovechkin has been on a roll lately.
Welcome to the world us MLB fans have been in for over a decade. The national blackout rules for MLB have been ludicrous since they were created. I'm an Astros fan that lives in Dallas but, for some reason, I am still in the Astros "local market" (over 250 miles away). According to the MLB blackout rules, I am supposed to be able to see Astros games on Fox Sports Net Houston, but it is up to the mercy of my cable provider to carry that channel... and it's well known that cable companies have never ever ever ever ever ever done ANYTHING out of the goodness of their hearts to make a customer happy. So why don't I get DirecTV and stop crying? Because I live in an apartment that doesn't have a clear view of the southern sky, so no satellite for me.
I can't even get the Astros games on MLB Extra Innings ($$$) because they are blacked out since I'm in the Astro's "local market".
So MLB hates $$$ apparently.
A rule designed to create MORE FANS has alienated more fans than it has created. RETARDED!
On the other hand, he can get the NFL Ticket, which Comcast doesn't offer. So glad I'm moving back to Chicago in time to see every one of Kyle Orton's touchdowns this fall AND the Cubs winning the Series.
@mobbo: Have you tried MLB.tv, or do you get blacked out on that too? It's not TV quality, but it's good.
@mobbo:
I'm an Astros fan in Boston, but I'm also fairly cheap and don't have cable or satellite TV. My MLB fix pretty much comes entirely from XM Radio. I don't get to see the action, obviously, but usually the good play highlights are online the next day and I can do other things while I listen to the action. Definitely not the same as watching the whole game, but it works for me.
By the way, can we just have a moment of silent commiseration at what's going to be a loooooooong season?
I realize that this won't give any immediate effect, but you should also complain to the Flyers. Ultimately they're the ones who want you to watch them. Neither Comcast, DirecTV, or even the NHL have enough skin in the game.
The Flyers front office won't fix it for you, but they are more likely to be a partner / advocate to help you lodge appropriate complaints - it's in their best interest.
As an NHL fan, I sympathize. I was thinking about getting Center ice if the Blues made the playoffs. Thank god this is charter country out here and they are too poor (inept) to have their own dedicated sports channel.
Comcastic should be re-defined with negative connotations.
@knightbass - You are comparing apples to oranges. The difference here is that Comcast has exclusive broadcast rights to the Flyers and Sixers and therefore they get away with this. If you want to be exclusive and have a monopoly on a particular region's broadcasts you should have to share it with other providers. Remember last year the stink that Comcast raised over the whole Big Ten network? They were crying over just which package they could include the network in. Ditto NFL network. You can't have it both ways Comcast.
My understanding is this goes back to sour grapes that Comcast has with Directv over Directv's exclusive NFL Sunday Ticket package.
@The Count of Monte Fisto: So glad I'm moving back to Chicago in time to see every one of Kyle Orton's touchdowns this fall AND the Cubs winning the Series.
Are you moving to Chicago or Fantasyland?
Maybe get a set of rabbit ears to get the local channels?
@knightbass: Right. Only the professional sports leagues get preferential treatment from the government.
@jtkooch: Even better: Find a random address in NYC that isn't actually an apartment but shows up on Google Maps (I suggest a slum or government subsidized housing as they are unlikely to actually purchase DTV if you accidentally get a real address) and set your billing address to your current address. This will get you the "National" local channels (WNBC, WCBS, etc.) and you'll get all but the NYC blackouts removed.
@Toof_75_75: I ordered the sports pack, only to find that, since I live in the baseball-free abyss of the southeastern US, I couldn't watch ANY GAMES AT ALL, not even Braves games.
On one hand this is a valid complaint. On the other hand everyone hates the Flyers.
@The Count of Monte Fisto: "@mobbo: Have you tried MLB.tv, or do you get blacked out on that too? It's not TV quality, but it's good."
MLB.tv is subject to blackout in the local market, nationally televised games, and the post-season. Gameday Audio is allegedly blackout free, but then you're just getting radio anyway. I just read about MLB's blackout policy since the local Cubs Radio affiliate dropped off the face of the earth during the off-season.
Well I'll be able to watch the game Friday.. but not in HD. Comcast Philly will blackout the Versus HD feed and show the ComcastSportsnet Philly feed which will be in digital wide-screen. Seems silly that ComcastSportsnet DC will show all the games in HD but where Comcast is headquartered they are unable to show the road games in HD.
But remember Comcast has more HD then DirectTV.. lol
I'm a native Philadelphian living in New Mexico. I have DirecTV and the NHL Center Ice package to watch the Flyers out here. I get to watch the national games and the games broadcast on Center Ice, however, Comcast won't allow home broadcasts to be carried on other providers so even when the Flyers play at home, I'm watching the other team's broadcast of the game.
A friend that used to work at Comcast said that the Wachovia Center is hardwired to Sportsnet and doesn't broadcast over satellite, meaning there's no signal to broadcast outside of the specific channels Comcast allows.
I've learned to deal with it, and sometimes not being forced to hear Gary Dornhoeffer, a.k.a Captain Obvious, is a plus, but it would nice if the broadcasters didn't sound disappointed ever time the team I'm rooting for scores a goal.
Somehow, I always imagine Comcast headquarters to resemble the Death Star...
@Toof_75_75: this has nothing to do with DirecTV and everything to do with the NHL being the most poorly run major sports league in existance.
Exhibit A: they play on the Versus network
Comcast is doing you a service by blocking those dirty filthy stinkin cheatin flyers. Philly fans are pretty much disgusting people too.
I didn't quite follow the whole thing, but that sucks big time. Fuck comcast.
1 more comment. Can't you just pay to watch the game online ? I think its actually part of center ice... Center Ice online.
Flyers are all jagoffs.
Go Pens!
@mikemar42: The game would be blacked out online for him as well.
@qitaana:
Now there's a comment I can get behind!
To whomever said it's not Comcast's fault and it's the Flyers, guess what - it is Comcast's fault. Comcast now owns the Flyers and the Sixers. That's how they got exclusive rights.
And apparently you don't have to make your content available to DirectTV if it isn't transmitted over a satellite. So how did Comcast get around that - the put ComcastSportsNet in the stadium that the teams play.
Been in that situation. Try going to Comcast Sports online, I was able to watch all the local broadcasts of the playoffs there. Even those that weren't Comcast broadcasts.
Comcast has an ongoing disagreement with our local CBS station and this means I can't get CBS in high definition here. It's the only local station that has this problem and it's a bit irritating.
I know the competition is usually a good thing, but in the case of the NHL and DirecTV, it seems to prevent customers from getting what they want as companies bicker over who can and cannot do what.
We paid for the center ice package and can't watch some Penguins games because they are only on the NHL Network, which is an extra $5 or so a month, after the $200 or so we spent on Center Ice.
I HATE Comcast!
i lived in philly for years before moving to austin. i subscribed to comcast for a long time just to watch the flyers games. I finally had enough after my basic, analog cable bill for 2 TVs crested $55 a month. Now i'm a dish network fan and will be watching the playoff games on Versus in HD
I feel your pain (sort of, anyway)... My dad and I are huge college hockey fans, specifically, we're huge Wisconsin Badger Hockey fans. This year UW-Madison hosted the Midwest Regional, and since the Badgers made it into the playoffs, they automatically get placed in the regional they're hosting. Well, a week before the regional, my dad broke his leg at work, and there really wasn't any way he was going to make it to the game. He was glad to find out that Direct TV was going to have the Midwest Regional on one of their sports channels. Nope. It, along with the West Regional were blacked out for no particular reason, so he was stuck watching the East Regional. Luckily, ESPNU did show the Midwest Regional Final, unfortunately, we lost in OT 3-2.
having a flyers game blacked out is a good thing...trust me.
What happened exactly?
In 1997, Comcast took over the PRISM local PPV network...
...so they used the land line-only infrastructure PRISM already had and turned it into CSN Philly. By doing so, it is able to avoid an FCC regulation that requires most television channels to be offered to direct broadcast satellite companies. Thus, DBS customers in the Philadelphia region do not get access to the local team's games.
NHL Network does have something to do with it, but the main issue is the land line problem. Comcast would actually need new infrastructure just to be forced to give this channel to DirecTV, Dish, et al.
Cable's Extra Innings HAS been able to use CSN Philly beginning late last baseball season, along with Rogers SportsNet Toronto, which was never carried as a feed on Extra Innings before that.