MSG Networks now leaves Optimum. Now what do I do?

[Louskoolaid89]

Ok I added ESPN plus and my question is. If I'm out in let's say Ohio do I get blacked out for Devils games because of my billing information like zip code area code etc? I also added Fubo T.V and will soon cut the cord with cable and just get a stronger internet for streaming.

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[forceten]

Blackouts are by IP address location. So if you were in New Jersey it will blackout, but not if in Ohio. My recommendation is to use a VPN to change your location if you're in NJ and want to watch.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Ok I added ESPN plus and my question is. If I'm out in let's say Ohio do I get blacked out for Devils games because of my billing information like zip code area code etc? I also added Fubo T.V and will soon cut the cord with cable and just get a stronger internet for streaming.

are you asking if you are out of state, will it work even though your billing location is in NJ?

I am pretty sure it just goes by where you are located, not by where you live.

 

[Louskoolaid89]

are you asking if you are out of state, will it work even though your billing location is in NJ?

I am pretty sure it just goes by where you are located, not by where you live.

Yeah hopefully and I think so because you need your location on with your device to watch live.

 

[The Grinder]

I cancelled optimum cable this morning. They attempted to keep me, offered a few credits to the account and tried everything to not get me to cancel. I ended up keeping the WiFi internet for now which comes to around 120 per month (lol my full cable bill with DVR was 150ish). They also offered a fiber optic WiFi option that requires installation for $70 a month. I’m just gonna go over options in my area but that might be the cheapest just for Internet.

Anyone have just the Gotham app for MSG+? I think it works out to around 20 bucks a month?

 

[Billdo]

I cancelled optimum cable this morning. They attempted to keep me, offered a few credits to the account and tried everything to not get me to cancel. I ended up keeping the WiFi internet for now which comes to around 120 per month (lol my full cable bill with DVR was 150ish). They also offered a fiber optic WiFi option that requires installation for $70 a month. I’m just gonna go over options in my area but that might be the cheapest just for Internet.

Anyone have just the Gotham app for MSG+? I think it works out to around 20 bucks a month?

It's $29.99 and I tried doing it yesterday, was charged for it, Gotham says I didn't subscribe despite it showing up on Apple Pay as well as my bank, and I'm fighting with them now to get my money back. A friend also signed up for it and it doesn't work for him nor myself with his credentials.

 

[Bleedred]

Blackouts are by IP address location. So if you were in New Jersey it will blackout, but not if in Ohio. My recommendation is to use a VPN to change your location if you're in NJ and want to watch.

Yeah, I went to North Carolina last year (I'm going again in 2 weekends) for a family function and I got both Devils games that weekend. Fortunately neither game was against Carolina.

But I clearly remember this was right when the NHL app cut each goal highlight video to about 10 seconds each and then they didn't have any goal highlight videos for a day, so I needed to go to game replays to look everything up lol. When I got to the Canes game I couldn't watch it cause it was blacked out. Even though I was to the northwest of Charlotte and several hours from Raleigh. I guess all of the Carolinas probably get the Canes games locally.

 

[njdevils1982]

 

[Billdo]

I really wish the Devils left MSG.

 

[Incharge1976]

It depends on what you want in the long run. If you want to watch every hockey game in the world, you can go with something like this:

4kliveiptv+ 4k firestick + VPN + tivitmate

That requires about 45 minutes of setup time.

If you want something more white hat that is plug and play, Fubo has the games and can be accessed anywhere. Fubo has a setting to pick your home zip code, so I was always getting MSG when I lived in PA.

 

[Incharge1976]

In the meantime, just check out https://thetvapp.to/ and select NHL at the top of the page. It has all the games. Can't guarantee Devils feed.

 

[My3Sons]

If you are out of market the best option would seem to be ESPN plus. Allegedly Every NHL game not on NHL Network or the TBS/TNT channels. You also lose whatever game is your “home team” (for me thr Stars). The Stars have a fee app to watch locally which is nice. The important thing is I get the Devils games that don’t fall into the NHL Network/TNT/TBS bucket. That’s about $15 per month I think. I’m not sure how a VPN works but that would be something to look into.

 

[aero8279]

Directtv stream is another option that would carry everything if you do the "choice" package.

I'm calling optimum over the weekend. I don't understand the offer they gave for Fubo. If I did that offer, why would I continue with optimum?

 

[Andre Palot]

Ok I added ESPN plus and my question is. If I'm out in let's say Ohio do I get blacked out for Devils games because of my billing information like zip code area code etc? I also added Fubo T.V and will soon cut the cord with cable and just get a stronger internet for streaming.

Fubo is really good. All the sports you want, the news selection is good and you get the local stations.

That's basically all I use traditional TV for anymore.

 

[Louskoolaid89]

It depends on what you want in the long run. If you want to watch every hockey game in the world, you can go with something like this:

4kliveiptv+ 4k firestick + VPN + tivitmate

That requires about 45 minutes of setup time.

If you want something more white hat that is plug and play, Fubo has the games and can be accessed anywhere. Fubo has a setting to pick your home zip code, so I was always getting MSG when I lived in PA.

Fubo supposedly allows you to watch your home teams while at home. So I'm on the free trial and probably dumping cable in favor of it. I deffenilty blame this on MSG Networks not on Optimum.

 

[My3Sons]

I will add that streaming services like FUBO and Directv Stream and Hulu with live TV and Youtube TV are essentially cable without a box. They aggregate a bunch of channels and charge you monthly and from time to time they lose a contract and a channel or channels will go dark. They offer better portability than cable of course but I am a Directv Stream subscriber and lost the entire ESPN/ABC family of channels around August/September for a week or two. I figured they'd work it out and they did but the niche channels generally don't come back if they drop off.

I'm sure that at some point the cord cutting sounded like a great idea and if you steal programming it's inexpensive but at this point I think the promise of a la carte TV is a myth. You pay a lot more for it in my view. Even the stuff my wife watches (Chip and Joanna and similar shows) is now part of a separate streaming package that costs more than it should). I think Netflix is up to about $20 per month?

 

[JK3]

Optimum issues the following statement:

“At Optimum, we have a clear mission: provide the programming that our customers want and give it to them at an affordable price. The problem: MSG Networks demanded that we pay an exorbitant amount in fees to be able to carry its content AND that customers who don’t want the content – who are the majority – have to pay for it anyway. Now more than ever, especially in this economy, it is unfair for MSG Networks to demand more money from their Optimum viewers, especially when there are ways for fans to get games directly from MSG through other direct-to-consumer options.

Despite this, Optimum offered to absorb their egregious price demands if we could package MSG Networks in a way that would give more flexibility and control to our customers, so that fans could continue to watch and pay for their content while non-viewers would not be forced to pay for what they don’t watch. MSG Networks said no and refused multiple offers from us to reach a deal.

It is no secret that viewership for Regional Sports Networks has become increasingly fragmented across countless streaming platforms and services. Yet MSG Networks continues to squeeze its viewers for more money to watch their content, refusing to evolve or deviate from a broken model that is outdated based on the evolution of the entertainment industry, is anti-consumer, and unsustainable in today’s programming landscape.

Optimum wants to partner with programmers who put customer choice and flexibility at the center of every decision. We are disappointed in MSG Networks, but most importantly, sorry that our customers have to experience this change, which is why Optimum is working directly with customers to provide alternate viewing options to ensure that they never have to miss a game.

Customers can call us at 888-347-4784, chat with us or visit www.optimum.com/MSG to learn more about the solutions and options we have for them so they can continue watching their favorite teams

 

[Louskoolaid89]

I cancelled optimum cable this morning. They attempted to keep me, offered a few credits to the account and tried everything to not get me to cancel. I ended up keeping the WiFi internet for now which comes to around 120 per month (lol my full cable bill with DVR was 150ish). They also offered a fiber optic WiFi option that requires installation for $70 a month. I’m just gonna go over options in my area but that might be the cheapest just for Internet.

Anyone have just the Gotham app for MSG+? I think it works out to around 20 bucks a month?

I'll keep Optimum until the NHL centre Ice free preview is up. Lol. The internet WiFi is just ok

 

[JK3]

This crap happened with Comcast in south Jersey, I’m not a fan of these cable companies but MSG is putting them in a tough spot. I watch the Devils on Fios, who knows what’s going happen with them in the future and MSG.

 

[Better Call Sal]

I can attest that Fubo is good quality for what it provides. I live in NJ and am in a Comcast area. When they took off MSG, I cut the cord, kept the internet and ordered Fubo. It isn't cheap necessarily. Adding the regional sports package tacks on an extra $14 per month. But all I watch is sports, so it's worth it for what I need.

You can also pause your subscription for as long as you'd like/need to, so I've paused it for 6 months when the hockey season ends and you don't get charged. So that's convenient if you don't watch anything but hockey like me.

 

[Brooklyndevil]

I’ll just listen to the games on radio. I’m not wasting my money on some app just to watch hockey. Unfortunately, no Fios in my area. Screw these companies, although, I believe Optimum will make a deal or there’s going to be a lot of pissed off customers. I’m ready to go to basic cable if they don’t settle and save a few dollars.

 

[NjDevsRR]

I don't understand the offer they gave for Fubo. If I did that offer, why would I continue with optimum?

THIS. Just cancelled my cable and will stick with fubo lmao im now saving $40 a month

 

[JK3]

This is screwing a bunch of different fan bases. Then again from the Rangers board:

“If you no longer have MSG and need to watch the game. Message me.

I'll tell you not to bother.”

 

[Darkauron]

Ive been watching games online forever since I cant even get msg so. Cable is useless anyway

 

[HoliksGhost]

Directtv stream is another option that would carry everything if you do the "choice" package.

I'm calling optimum over the weekend. I don't understand the offer they gave for Fubo. If I did that offer, why would I continue with optimum?

Exactly