NHL Centre Ice Dilemma

[ken0042]

OK, hopefully you guys can help me decide on what to do. The NHL season is right around the corner. As most of you know, the NHL-CI package blacks out you local team's games, giving you all the out of market games. At home I am running both Bell Expressvu as well as Dish Network.

I was originally planning on subscribing to the NHL-CI package on Dish, which would give me all the Flames games. The market where my Dish account is based out of; I don't have any strong ties to that team, so it doesn't matter to me losing those games.

However the one thing that just occured to me, on Dish I only have the 311 receiver (same unit as Bell's 3100) whereas with Expressvu I have both the 5900 as well as the 6100 receivers. (same units as Dish's 510 and 811.) This means if I get NHL-CI on Bell, I'll get any HD games they offer, plus I'll be able to use my PVR for the SD games.

Now, add to all of this that I am a Flames season ticket holder, so I'll probably get to see most of the blacked out games live. Then add the fact that I am a Coyotes fan and the Flames are my number 2 team, so either option will give me the same number of Coyotes games.

I appreciate any help you guys can offer to help me make up my mind.

 

[Oilers]

Cool thing about NHL CI on Dishnet in the past was that they had both teams feeds up ... you could choose either one.

What to do? Cheer for Oilers.

 

[Mr Tony]

I forgot about that part (that if there is 2 feeds they use both)

Since you can PVR them, I would go the ExpressVu route.

 

[ken0042]

Some more food for thought here:

- Got an email from Roger's Sporsnet. They are planning on carrying only 30 Flames games this season.
- Pricing is now out. Dish is $129 US and Bell is $179 CND. Assuming 20% exchange rate that makes Dish about $25 cheaper to give me more games.

Maybe I should just grab myself a 510 and get it over with.

 

[Mr Tony]

holy crap ExpressVu is high!!

 

[Digital Dude]

It seems that the NHL needs to win back more fans in the US than Canada. Hard to believe Direc/Dish is cheaper on Center Ice.

 

[Mr Tony]

normal CI price is 159 but the eaqrly bird is 129

 

[ken0042]

Well, I solved my dilema. Found a mistake on Bell's website:
"http://www.bell.ca/shop/PrsShpTvPPV_SportsDetail.page?PackageId=LNH®%20Centre%20Ice®" (enter the address without the quotes.)

It is in French, but the meat of it says $100 until September 23rd.

 

[Oilers]

it's already been pulled off the website.

 

[bigshew]

Since you guys have subscribed to sports packages before maybe you can help a newbie out. I just got a used Dish 510. Under "Past and Pending Purchases" are two entries:
109.00 NHL (AUTO)
139.00 NHL CI PKG
Are these balance due amounts I would have to pay after activation or are they just an automatic renewal that I can cancel ? Dish customer support wasn't sure. The receiver was last used in April 05.