Grow Up NHL - Blackouts

[Galaxydoggystyle]

If you think blackouts are dumb, wait until it's Monday night and there's two games on the schedule, one is at 1030 PM, and the other is on NHL Network.

Who doesn't love paying $150 - $200 month just to get to a cable package that carries their dead network?

Yeah and these stupid ass networks wonder why people pirate everything. They are all just a bunch of greedy f***s and make everyone pay more while giving less.

 

[FriendlyGhost92]

You know what they should do if they were f***ing smart?(they arent) just have a normal subscription for each f***ing NHL team so fans can do a one time non refundable sub for the season and they get to watch there fav team for the f***ing season. This black out shit is so f***ing stupid.

It's not as great as you think it is.

Once Bally went under, Fan Duel started offering subscription to individual regional networks... For $20/mo.

So living in Indiana, I can get Detroit games for $10/mo by paying for ESPN+, but people in Detroit have to pay $20/mo, because the ESPN+ games get blacked out locally. Makes sense, right?!

 

[TheGreenTBer]

You know what they should do if they were f***ing smart?(they arent) just have a normal subscription for each f***ing NHL team so fans can do a one time non refundable sub for the season and they get to watch there fav team for the f***ing season. This black out shit is so f***ing stupid.

This

 

[Tasteless Beaver]

I agree that we should have full access to our team's games through a single subscription method, but all playoff games should be included as part of it. They could call it NFL NHL Sunday Ticket or something...

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Jokes on you , hockey is completely free on the internet , every game of hockey in any timezone in any league on earth in any region is at the tip of your fingertips for free guys what are we even talking about.

Imagine giving your hard earned money to sportsnet , rogers or ESPN.

It's absolute blasphemy to me

 

[FlyguyOX]

I don't understand how anyone has blackouts. I can literally watch any game I want on espn+ or the NHL Network if it's on there. Occasionally I'll have to get on MSG network to catch a rangers game.

 

[FriendlyGhost92]

I agree that we should have full access to our team's games through a single subscription method, but all playoff games should be included as part of it. They could call it NFL NHL Sunday Ticket or something...

I'm to the point that after this season, I'll probably just get ESPN+ for the year and then only sign up for YouTubeTV from April to June.

I just don't watch TV enough anymore to justify paying $70+/mo for streaming just to get ESPN/TNT for the little bit of hockey they cover during the season.

 

[Golden_Jet]

And I can guarantee you that hardly a soul will go out and buy the NHL package because of the blackouts, if that is one of their reasonings.

Dumb, Dumb, Dumb....

I have the package,

 

[HockeyVirus]

Jokes on you , hockey is completely free on the internet , every game of hockey in any timezone in any league on earth in any region is at the tip of your fingertips for free guys what are we even talking about.

Imagine giving your hard earned money to sportsnet , rogers or ESPN.

It's absolute blasphemy to me

Except they objectively suck. Sometimes I am able to find "good" streams in 720p that buffer only a bit. Anything better quality is a lag fest, they are all delayed by a good minute, and are prone to dying mid game forcing you to get another stream.

If it was as simple as what you say I would watch lots of hockey. But even attempting to watch the blacked out Leaf games I almost give up sometimes. It's awful compared to the cable experience.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Flames fan in Ontario, I'd say 80% of Flames games are blacked out on Sportsnet in Ontario, same as Canucks and the other Alberta team. I watch every Flames game so it's all good, but it's useless to even have Sportsnet. They'll play Utah vs San Jose on 4 channels and black out the one Canadian team on the other. Annoying.

So in this scenario, without the out of market package. You will get the National flames games but not the regional night games.

 

[Rec T]

I can literally watch any game I want on espn+ or the NHL Network if it's on there.

The blackout I was talking about a page ago was on ESPN+

Thinking about it I've been blacked out of a Detroit game too this season (5 hour drive away). I don't understand it. It's like the powers that be 'want' you to hoist the Jolly Roger & head out into the ocean deep.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Except they objectively suck. Sometimes I am able to find "good" streams in 720p that buffer only a bit. Anything better quality is a lag fest, they are all delayed by a good minute, and are prone to dying mid game forcing you to get another stream.

If it was as simple as what you say I would watch lots of hockey. But even attempting to watch the blacked out Leaf games I almost give up sometimes. It's awful compared to the cable experience.

Its really easy I never have issues

 

[Tawnos]

It's not as great as you think it is.

Once Bally went under, Fan Duel started offering subscription to individual regional networks... For $20/mo.

So living in Indiana, I can get Detroit games for $10/mo by paying for ESPN+, but people in Detroit have to pay $20/mo, because the ESPN+ games get blacked out locally. Makes sense, right?!

It's makes perfect sense. First, there's way more demand for Detroit Red Wings games in the Detroit market than there is outside of it, so the price is going to be higher. That's basic economics. Second, you don't want a national broadcaster undercutting the local broadcaster. That would be bad for pretty much everyone.

ESPN+ being blacked out locally is the way it should be.

 

[Browntrout]

I live in Montana. I’m blacked out of Colorado (8 hours), Utah (9 hours), Seattle (12 hours), and Vegas (14 hours).

I can’t imagine being a season ticket holder to one of those teams, let alone all four.

And yes, the NHL network not being available readily to the other streaming services has always been ridiculous. Especially within their own app.

 

[Tawnos]

I live in Montana. I’m blacked out of Colorado (8 hours), Utah (9 hours), Seattle (12 hours), and Vegas (14 hours).

I can’t imagine being a season ticket holder to one of those teams, let alone all four.

And yes, the NHL network not being available readily to the other streaming services has always been ridiculous. Especially within their own app.

Out of curiosity, who are you not blacked out for?

Its really easy I never have issues

I use ESPN+ and Max whenever I can, but go through other methods when it's an NHLN game or against the Hurricanes and there's no contest in quality and stability. Legitimate sources are FAR superior. My understanding is that the difference is negligible if you're watching on a computer or tablet vs a big TV, though.

 

[FriendlyGhost92]

It's makes perfect sense. First, there's way more demand for Detroit Red Wings games in the Detroit market than there is outside of it, so the price is going to be higher. That's basic economics. Second, you don't want a national broadcaster undercutting the local broadcaster. That would be bad for pretty much everyone.

ESPN+ being blacked out locally is the way it should be.

I know this isn't your point but Detroit may honestly be the worst example for "There's way more demand in the city than out of it." The Red Wings were kings in Detroit in the 2000s, right before the mass exodus from the Detroit area due to the implosion of the Big Three.

There's a reason you see a shit ton of Red Wings fans in away markets, particularly in the south.

Not only that, you also have the stupidity of the blackout selections. I live about 10 minutes from the Indiana/Michigan state line. It takes me about 3 hours to get to Little Caesar's Arena. But somehow I get Blues games blacked out, even though there's an entire state and a 5 hour drive between us.

Of course, I don't complain for fear that they'd change it.

 

[Tawnos]

I know this isn't your point but Detroit may honestly be the worst example for "There's way more demand in the city than out of it." The Red Wings were kings in Detroit in the 2000s, right before the mass exodus from the Detroit area due to the implosion of the Big Three.

There's a reason you see a shit ton of Red Wings fans in away markets, particularly in the south.

Not only that, you also have the stupidity of the blackout selections. I live about 10 minutes from the Indiana/Michigan state line. It takes me about 3 hours to get to Little Caesar's Arena. But somehow I get Blues games blacked out, even though there's an entire state and a 5 hour drive between us.

Of course, I don't complain for fear that they'd change it.

For sure there are a lot of Wings fans outside of the market... same for the Rangers (my team). But while the difference between in and out of market demand might be closer for our teams, the demand inside the market is still going to be significantly higher.

I do think that the definition of the broadcast market for all teams should be seriously revised to cover a tighter region.

 

[Barsky]

Everyone knows VPN's are a thing, right? No blackouts in VPN world

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

I'm just sailing until Prime takes over. Way better than what we get on our other Canadian broadcasts

 

[Howboutthempanthers]

What's the matter with you people? If you're not ready to take a 600 mile round trip on a week night to see a game, you're not real fans.

 

[FriendlyGhost92]

For sure there are a lot of Wings fans outside of the market... same for the Rangers (my team). But while the difference between in and out of market demand might be closer for our teams, the demand inside the market is still going to be significantly higher.

I do think that the definition of the broadcast market for all teams should be seriously revised to cover a tighter region.

Ehh, I think blackouts honestly largely hinder fan engagement and sport growth.

It's essentially forcing people's hand to buy an overpriced TV package or subscription, when we already know from cord cutting that people are becoming less and less willing to do. Especially when eggs are $7/doz.

 

[Smirnov2Chistov]

Everyone knows VPN's are a thing, right? No blackouts in VPN world

I have a non-smart 65" Sony TV that was purchased in like 2016 that is bolted and mounted to the wall. It's a complete pain in the ass to get behind it and plug an HDMI to a laptop and get it to work that way.

You know what they should do if they were f***ing smart?(they arent) just have a normal subscription for each f***ing NHL team so fans can do a one time non refundable sub for the season and they get to watch there fav team for the f***ing season. This black out shit is so f***ing stupid.

Yes - but (!) I have an embarrassing tale to this..

So the Ducks partnered up with Victory+ along with the Stars to stream all of their respective games for free. Cool, right?! Finally I'm able to watch my favorite team instead of putting up the cash for ESPN+.

Little did I know, it's only free for the residents of Cali (plus surrounding areas) and Hawaii.

So again, I get screwed both ways!

 

[Anglesmith]

So obviously this is a regional restriction, not a blackout, right? There are services that exist to watch this game in either country. How is it a surprise to not be able to watch a regional broadcast from outside of the market without a product that does that?

The 'holier than thou' NFL would also require me to pay for a specific product to watch it as well.

 

[Barsky]

I have a non-smart 65" Sony TV that was purchased in like 2016 that is bolted and mounted to the wall. It's a complete pain in the ass to get behind it and plug an HDMI to a laptop and get it to work that way.



Yes - but (!) I have an embarrassing tale to this..

So the Ducks partnered up with Victory+ along with the Stars to stream all of their respective games for free. Cool, right?! Finally I'm able to watch my favorite team instead of putting up the cash for ESPN+.

Little did I know, it's only free for the residents of Cali (plus surrounding areas) and Hawaii.

So again, I get screwed both ways!

I have a 75" and it's my monitor for my desktop 24/7 because why not?

 

[Tawnos]

Ehh, I think blackouts honestly largely hinder fan engagement and sport growth.

It's essentially forcing people's hand to buy an overpriced TV package or subscription, when we already know from cord cutting that people are becoming less and less willing to do. Especially when eggs are $7/doz.

What you described really has nothing to do with blackouts. It's about pricing. Consider that MSG Network gets ~$10 per month from every subscriber who gets a cable package that includes MSG, whether they watch it or not. Meaning that's at minimum what you pay for MSG when you get a cable package. The local streaming service costs $30 per month, or $280 for the full year. That $280 is $40 more than paying for the 8 months that the season runs, including pre-season, at the monthly rate. There's a certain amount of sticker shock that comes with that pricing, for sure.

The RSN is trying to make up for the lost revenue from cable subscribers who don't watch their channel anyway, plus whatever costs are associated with delivering the product to the customer. But they also get to pocket advertising revenue directly, so some of that is offset. Should it really cost 3x as much? It doesn't feel like it to me.