ESPN blackouts

[qoncept]

Alright, it's happened every week, but tonight there's actually a game I'm interested in enough to figure out why my game is being blacked out. ABC has the rights to Texas/OSU and USC/Oregon. They've said over and over again on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 that one game will be on ABC depending on region, the other on ESPN2. In my case, USC/Oregon is on ESPN2, and it's inexplicably blocked and not on any other channel I get.

Is there a legitimate reason for thiS? Who determines blackouts? I cant imagine ABC, who owns ESPN, would blackout a game because ABC has the rights, especially if they are going to refer people to that channel over and over. What gives?

 

[Bobby]

Go to one of the ESPN alternates......

 

[tigerfan33]

I am thinking that this one is a Dish screw up. We were supose to get the USC and Oregon game on ESPN2. From what I understand it was supose to be available in sd.



Bobby is right. On channel 146.

I cannot stand the pq on sd. It hurts when I watch.

 

[qoncept]

I contacted support, they told me about channel 146 (even though their find-the-game website didn't mention it). The story is ESPN2 is blacked out because of a late schedule change. I don't know how they were able to get the program information right and not fix the blackout issue, but whatever.

The SD quality really does suck, but my 2 year contract is up in 2 months and after a half hour of talking with support they are well aware of it. Hopefully whatever game they screw up next week will get me some discounts.

 

[ehren]

how did Dish screw up exactly?

 

[qoncept]

They have a game blacked out that shouldn't be.

 

[ehren]

LOL channel 144 says either 1 game or the other, the game that is blacked out on 144 is available on your local ABC, the game on 146 is the out-of-market game, what do you not get?

 

[qoncept]

LOL!!! One game is on ABC, the other is on ESPN2, depending on region. LOL! Tennessee whatever is on ESPN regardless. HAhah!! Figure it out then comment.

 

[ehren]

I knows not whats you just said

 

[8bitbytes]

The problem is that Dish did not explain where to find the alternate game, they just put the Blackout notice up instead of telling people to tune to channel 146.

 

[HokieEngineer]

The problem is that Dish did not explain where to find the alternate game, they just put the Blackout notice up instead of telling people to tune to channel 146.

Yea, that would have been nice. At first I couldn't find the USC game because 98% of the time my EPG is in "HD only" mode. Thus ch.146 isn't even listed.

Which brings me to gripe #2. When is ESPN going to negotiate to get the alternate game up in HD? All Dish has to do is treat it like the part-time RSN networks. Doesn't seem very hard to me. Of course we don't even have ESPNU-HD, so it might be awhile

 

[rthomp03]

Yea, that would have been nice. At first I couldn't find the USC game because 98% of the time my EPG is in "HD only" mode. Thus ch.146 isn't even listed.

Which brings me to gripe #2. When is ESPN going to negotiate to get the alternate game up in HD? All Dish has to do is treat it like the part-time RSN networks. Doesn't seem very hard to me. Of course we don't even have ESPNU-HD, so it might be awhile

+1

 

[tigerfan33]

When I had Direct, you would go to the channel of a game and if it were a black out game it would ask you if you wanted to do a search to find the game on another channel. Dish could take note.

 

[tubkatt]

these are espn and abc issues dish has nothing to do with provider blackouts but of course espn doesn't have an 800 number to complain to so dish techs get to have all the fun

 

[Bobby]

these are espn and abc issues dish has nothing to do with provider blackouts but of course espn doesn't have an 800 number to complain to so dish techs get to have all the fun

Thank you! Dish was not alone in this, cable and Direct had the same issues. It's an ESPN thing not a service provider thing.

 

[tigerfan33]

Thank you! Dish was not alone in this, cable and Direct had the same issues. It's an ESPN thing not a service provider thing.

I disagree. It is a provider issue if the provider does not give subs the information (such as channel change) that is needed to watch the game.

 

[sethwell]

I disagree. It is a provider issue if the provider does not give subs the information (such as channel change) that is needed to watch the game.

College Football TV maps: Week 13 - College Football - ESPN the next time you are not sure what game is on what channel. This is per ESPN so Dish is not at fault.

 

[tigerfan33]

check this page the next time you are not sure what game is on what channel. This is per ESPN so Dish is not at fault.

Does not help. This tells me that there is a "swap" between ESPN2 and ABC. The game was on channel 146.
All week I have been hearing about the "swap" on the radio.

Last I checked ESPN2 is channel 144 not 146.

 

[krauser1]

It was blacked out on Direct last night too. As others have mentioned, this is not Dish's fault. There is a reason you have a channel guide. If a game is blacked out, use your guide and check alternates.