Why so many redundant sports channels / Blackout question

[flyguyj]

I just tried to tune to a Texas A&M v Oklahoma football game on ESPN2 Alternate - it shows up in the "All Sub" guide, but when selected it tells me it's blacked out. The message says to check the regional sports channels (which I think I'm getting due to the $7/month multi-sport package). When I check the regional sports channels in the 400's, there is a butt load of redundant games, and most of them are UTEP v. Rice. I don't know how many they are on - I got tired of selecting each channel to see if it would tune in. I gave up after 11.

So,

1. First of all, why are there even blackouts to begin with? Maybe I'll stop getting so annoyed if I understand the reason (as long as it's reasonable).

2. Why (I'm in AZ) is the A&M game blacked out here, yet two other Texas-based schools playing each other are on 11+ channels? Further, why are those two teams showing up on a Fox Midwest channel and it's not blacked out and I'm not in the midwest?

3. Why are there so many redundancies?


I really wish Dish would reorganize / restructure their channels. With all the different sport channels that work and don't work at the same time, and all the package channels that show up 3 times - in the regular range, the 6000's and then again in the 9000's .... I'm sure I'm not the only average joe that has a hard time understanding all this crap. And on an unrelated note, I don't really care for how 25% of my channels are embedded infomercial channels that are sprinkled throughout the entire guide.

 

[ZachS@DISH]

Black outs are based off of who has purchased the rights to broadcast the game. As for redundancies, there is the SD channel and the HD channel. The HD channel is in the higher range (6000-9000s) but we map it down to the lower channel number to make it easier to locate. The higher number is where the actual channel is located.

*Edit* Also using my old zip code from when I lived in Tempe, I found that

11/05

3:30 PM

Purdue at Wisconsin or Texas A&M at Oklahoma

X

ESPN2

144

-

AT120

So if you are getting Purdue at Wisconsin on ESPN 2 that means that ESPN has decieded to make this game available as a PPV game available on channel 462 in your area. The ESPN alternate channel is for an area that is showing Purdue at Wisconsin on ESPN2 but are in an area that has purchased the rights to broadcast the Texas A&M game.

 

[jimdandyvi]

Zach:

I think you are missing his point.

Texas Vs Rice is listed on the following channels:411,414,415,416,418,419,423,425,426,427,428,429,430,436,437

Duke vs Miami is listed on 417,420,422,424,434

 

[osu1991]

OU/ Texas A&M is an ABC game and an ESPN alt game depending on the market your in. ABC for us in Oklahoma.

College Football TV maps: Week 10 - ESPN

Looks like it is a Gameplan or ESPN 3 broadcast for AZ

 

[Mr Tony]

I just tried to tune to a Texas A&M v Oklahoma football game on ESPN2 Alternate - it shows up in the "All Sub" guide, but when selected it tells me it's blacked out. The message says to check the regional sports channels (which I think I'm getting due to the $7/month multi-sport package). When I check the regional sports channels in the 400's, there is a butt load of redundant games, and most of them are UTEP v. Rice. I don't know how many they are on - I got tired of selecting each channel to see if it would tune in. I gave up after 11.

So,

1. First of all, why are there even blackouts to begin with? Maybe I'll stop getting so annoyed if I understand the reason (as long as it's reasonable).

the ABC games one is on your local ABC, one is carried on ESPN2 and the 3rd is on game plan or ESPN3.
You mention AZ so a map I show A&M/Oklahoma is on game plan for you but ESPN2 for me in MN
However Stanford/Oregon State is on ABC for you and ESPN3/game plan for me...

maps

2. Why (I'm in AZ) is the A&M game blacked out here, yet two other Texas-based schools playing each other are on 11+ channels? Further, why are those two teams showing up on a Fox Midwest channel and it's not blacked out and I'm not in the midwest?

3. Why are there so many redundancies?

on Saturdays each Regional Sports Network carries games...usually 3
This week its UTEP/Rice (now), Missouri/Baylor at 6 Central and Oregon/Washington at 9:30. Unless there is something else on most of the FSN channels will show these 3 games. There is one HD feed (444) for all of them. Now as example in MN the Wild game comes on at 6:30 tonight so we will not see the Missouri/Baylor game on FSN North (436)...But I can see it on 444 (the alt channel). Those games are not blacked out as they are on nationwide.

I really wish Dish would reorganize / restructure their channels. With all the different sport channels that work and don't work at the same time, and all the package channels that show up 3 times - in the regular range, the 6000's and then again in the 9000's .... I'm sure I'm not the only average joe that has a hard time understanding all this crap. And on an unrelated note, I don't really care for how 25% of my channels are embedded infomercial channels that are sprinkled throughout the entire guide.

all of these are just remaps. So the channels in the 9000 area remap down top the "normal" channel version. Same with your locals. They are in the 5000 or 8000 yet remap to your normal channel slots.

As for "joe" he probably doesnt care that ESPN is in the guide 3 times...he just tunes to 140 and sees "HD" in the banner background...thats all he cares about.

 

[Mr Tony]

Zach:

I think you are missing his point.

Texas Vs Rice is listed on the following channels:411,414,415,416,418,419,423,425,426,427,428,429,430,436,437

Duke vs Miami is listed on 417,420,422,424,434

I posted the reasoning...FSN carries 3 games per week on the regional sports networks
Texas/Rice is the "main" one...Duke/Miami is in the RSN's in the SE/ACC territory

Both are in HD on the RSN alternates

Here is this weeks FSN games and what RSN is carrying it
http://mattsarzsports.com/2011/coveragenotes/FSNWk10.pdf

 

[flyguyj]

Thanks a ton fellers. That explains a LOT. Thanks to everyone, most specifically osu1991 and Iceberg for those links and maps. I never knew about those maps. I always thought ABC meant ABC!! My wife and I have to move every 3 years and have been pulling our hair out because every in different state it seems harder to track down our games. The teams' sports pages will say "ABC" but I didn't realize that means "If I live in College Station, TX this game will be on ABC" and that it does NOT mean "Hey, I live in Arizona now, but I will just tune to my local ABC channel and watch the A&M game." Now that I understand how the regions and blackouts work a little better, it should be a little smoother sailing.

As far as mapping HD channels down, I guess my OCD side just wishes Dish could "clean up" the guide a little bit and maybe sort/organize it a little better. And my complaint still stands about the tons of infomercial channels peppered all over.

Again, thanks a ton guys!

 

[mhowie]

the ABC games one is on your local ABC, one is carried on ESPN2 and the 3rd is on game plan or ESPN3.
You mention AZ so a map I show A&M/Oklahoma is on game plan for you but ESPN2 for me in MN
However Stanford/Oregon State is on ABC for you and ESPN3/game plan for me...

I am getting the Wisconsin/Purdue blowout in HD on my local ABC channel. The A&M/OU game in HD is blacked out on ESPN2 but available on Ch. 146 in SD. What I don't understand is if this game is being carried, why not in HD?

On a related note, the fact that all the GamePlan games are telecast in SD is amazing.

 

[Mr Tony]

I am getting the Wisconsin/Purdue blowout in HD on my local ABC channel. The A&M/OU game in HD is blacked out on ESPN2 but available on Ch. 146 in SD. What I don't understand is if this game is being carried, why not in HD?

Dish doesnt give the bandwidth for the game on the alt channel to be in HD while DIrectv does

 

[mhowie]

Dish doesnt give the bandwidth for the game on the alt channel to be in HD while DIrectv does

Thanks for the answer. It disgusts me that Dish has chosen to deprive its customers of a quality video experience for these games. Maybe the new guy will correct this deficiency.

 

[Mr Tony]

I agree.