Baseball games on DirecTv

wonkadog · 04-08-2008, 09:31 PM

So I currently have the "sports pack" on DirecTv which includes all of the Fox Sports Net Channels along with other random sports channels such as Comcast and the YES Network. Last week I enjoyed watching a lot of baseball games on these channels with no blackout problems. Now tonight I try to watch a couple of definite out-of-market games (Oakland-Toronto & T.B.-Seattle) and they aren't showing up. I called DirecTv and all they could tell me is that they don't have anything to do with the blackout restrictions, which I already knew. Since DirecTv offers the MLB Extra Innings Package do they also blackout all the other games off of these channels so you are forced to buy the expensive package to get the games? Was last week a free trail of Extra Innings and I just didn't know about it so the games were showing up on the FSN channels too? Any explanation would be appreciated.

isucyfan · 04-08-2008, 09:37 PM

Originally Posted by wonkadog

So I currently have the "sports pack" on DirecTv which includes all of the Fox Sports Net Channels along with other random sports channels such as Comcast and the YES Network. Last week I enjoyed watching a lot of baseball games on these channels with no blackout problems. Now tonight I try to watch a couple of definite out-of-market games (Oakland-Toronto & T.B.-Seattle) and they aren't showing up. I called DirecTv and all they could tell me is that they don't have anything to do with the blackout restrictions, which I already knew. Since DirecTv offers the MLB Extra Innings Package do they also blackout all the other games off of these channels so you are forced to buy the expensive package to get the games? Was last week a free trail of Extra Innings and I just didn't know about it so the games were showing up on the FSN channels too? Any explanation would be appreciated.

You are exactly right. Since last week was the free preview of MLB Extra Innings, you could watch games on all the regional channels. Not so now with the preview being over. They want you to shell out for the big package. Sucks, doesn't it?

wonkadog · 04-08-2008, 09:40 PM

Yes it does. So why do I get the Cubs games on Comcast? They give you one regional channel that always shows up?

isucyfan · 04-08-2008, 09:48 PM

Originally Posted by wonkadog

Yes it does. So why do I get the Cubs games on Comcast? They give you one regional channel that always shows up?

I think that's right, too. Here in the Twin Cities, I get FSN North free of any Sports Pack or anything like that, so I can see Twins games. But if I want to see my NY Mets, even though they are constantly on SNY, which is part of the Sports Pack that I subscribe to, they are blacked out.

tidbit · 04-08-2008, 09:55 PM

Originally Posted by wonkadog

Yes it does. So why do I get the Cubs games on Comcast? They give you one regional channel that always shows up?

If you have the fox sports pack you should get;
cubs and white sox
twins
brewers
cards
these are all available on my sports pack from fox here in Iowa. The white sox are on 460 when they aren't on 307 wgn. cubs 460, twins 461, brewer 463 or 4, cards 464or 5.

gocubs2118 · 04-08-2008, 10:21 PM

Originally Posted by isucyfan

You are exactly right. Since last week was the free preview of MLB Extra Innings, you could watch games on all the regional channels. Not so now with the preview being over. They want you to shell out for the big package. Sucks, doesn't it?

I have "shelled" out the big bucks for the MLB package for about 5 years now and I believe its worth every penny. Its the best package if you just love the game of baseball and love watching different players and teams that you normally wouldn't get. It is the one sports package on DirecTV that I believe you get all of your money worth.

isucyfan · 04-08-2008, 10:24 PM

Originally Posted by gocubs2118

I have "shelled" out the big bucks for the MLB package for about 5 years now and I believe its worth every penny. Its the best package if you just love the game of baseball and love watching different players and teams that you normally wouldn't get. It is the one sports package on DirecTV that I believe you get all of your money worth.

I have no doubt it's great to have. It just is disappointing having all the channels on the Sports Pack, but that doesn't get you anyout-of-market MLB games.

wonkadog · 04-09-2008, 01:39 PM

I also believe it's worth the money, however as a Cubs fan and living on a tight budget I can't justify splurging on it. I see most of the games I want to see. Plus if I had all those games I don't think I'd get much done outside the house.

cardinal&gold · 04-09-2008, 01:55 PM

I am glad someone asked this question because I was able to get all the Cards games on FSN Midwest down here last week no problem, then come Saturday the game was blacked out. Since the Cards are playing the Astros this week, I have been able to watch those games on FSN Southwest no problem. But I fear when the Cards go to San Francisco this weekend, those games will again be blacked out.

Am I right in understanding that I need to get the MLB Extra Innings package if I want to continue to watch games on FSN Midwest, even though living in Texas I am well out of the St. Louis market?

I love watching baseball, but I loathe the blackout restrictions. I had friends at ISU who all went in together to get a few months' subscription to MLB.tv, and turned out all the games for the regional teams (Cubs, Royals, Cards, Twins, etc.) are blacked out in Iowa.

wonkadog · 04-09-2008, 03:03 PM

Originally Posted by cardinal&gold

Am I right in understanding that I need to get the MLB Extra Innings package if I want to continue to watch games on FSN Midwest, even though living in Texas I am well out of the St. Louis market?

From the answers given above, I think you are correct. The only games you'll be able to get on FSN are the ones on whatever default FSN station you receive. I guess it makes sense if they're going to sell Extra Innings as a big package that you won't be able to see the out-of-market games on their $10/month sports bundle. It just goes against the normal blackout thinking most of us have when games are on a channel like ESPN.

cardinal&gold · 04-09-2008, 03:07 PM

Originally Posted by wonkadog

From the answers given above, I think you are correct. The only games you'll be able to get on FSN are the ones on whatever default FSN station you receive. I guess it makes sense if they're going to sell Extra Innings as a big package that you won't be able to see the out-of-market games on their $10/month sports bundle. It just goes against the normal blackout thinking most of us have when games are on a channel like ESPN.

Ugh! I really only care to watch Cards games. I don't want to have to spend $199 to do that.

superdorf · 04-09-2008, 09:25 PM

I have dishnetwork and I can watch any team that is on in our area by zipcode.

That is, Cubs, Cards, Brewers, Twins, and Royals. If the game is on an RSN I usually get it... I don't have the sports pack.