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Need some help here (tell me Im stupid)

jfrank21

jfrank21

Registered User
Oct 1, 2009
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So, I live just south of the Toledo area of Ohio. For the past 9 years that Ive lived here, my cable/Satellite/Streaming provider has not considered me in market for the Wings. I would be blacked out or wouldnt even have access to Fox Sports Detroit. So I had Center Ice and then Gamecenter and then NHL.tv. All good, paid for access to NBC sports and NHL network and then also the extra package. Now, they've changed to ESPN+. No prob, I had that too. Have the bundle with Hulu and Disney.

Except, I go to watch the game tonight and Im blacked out on Espn+. Check NHL website, says Blue Jackets are my local, I should have access. Call ESPN, the Indonesian lady has no clue what Im talking about, she couldnt hear me over the roosters that she had in the background. 20 min wasted and she has no answers and still isnt sure what a "blackout" is. So I search around, which provider will give me regional access to Ballys Detroit? Directv streaming claims that they do. So I call them. Spend over an hour on the phone double checking that they are a provider and I would have access. Sign up, install all the apps, go to Ballys app, sign in with my Directv account.....blacked out. No access....ok go to Directv app, I have the Bally Detroit channel, go to the game...ITS BEACH VOLLEYBALL.

So my service provider is apparently saying that BSD is not my local, NHL website is saying BSD is not my local, but ESPN is deciding that Detroit IS my local. So what the F**k am I supposed to do here? Im paying for everything I possibly can, but still have no access??
 
VPN is probably your best way to go. Set yourself up in the Atlanta market (closest major to me) and you should only have to change when the Wings play the Hurricanes.
 
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SoupNazi said:
VPN is probably your best way to go. Set yourself up in the Atlanta market (closest major to me) and you should only have to change when the Wings play the Hurricanes.
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Bench said:
VPN your way into a different market. You might be a wonky situation. Using a VPN should solve your woes.
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Bondurant said:
VPN is probably cheaper too. Sounds like a disaster. Customer service is abysmal nowadays.
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I tried this last night using a VPN server out of New York. Still wouldn't let me watch the Wings game. Said the game wasn't available in my package or something like that.
 
Hmm. It's also possible that ESPN Plus is still working out some kinks for broadcasting hockey. If your scenario is widespread in that market, news of it should pop up soon.
 
lilidk said:
Sooner or later those sites going to get shut down
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Meh it's hard to shut them down, NHL66 is huge quality for free and it's hosted in a country that the USA laws don't apply.

But I'm one of those saps that prefers to pay for products I use and enjoy because I feel if everyone were to stop paying and use illegal means we wouldn't have the product anymore.
 
Forget VPN's.... not necessary. There are several web sites that have links to each days' games. Just go to the site, click on the game you want watch. Often there is a home/away or possibly a national broadcast feed too, just click on the one you want to watch and boom, free streaming hockey. Stream it to your computer, TV, Roku, or mobile device, or all the above. I've been doing this for the last several seasons, ever since Dish dumped FSD.
 
TCNorthstars said:
I tried this last night using a VPN server out of New York. Still wouldn't let me watch the Wings game. Said the game wasn't available in my package or something like that.
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I'd imagine that's due to pre-season? Unless everyone has been lying, ESPN+ and a VPN should get you access to almost every game.

VPN companies even advertise ESPN+ as part of their sales pitch, I've noticed.
 
Ezekial said:
Meh it's hard to shut them down, NHL66 is huge quality for free and it's hosted in a country that the USA laws don't apply.

But I'm one of those saps that prefers to pay for products I use and enjoy because I feel if everyone were to stop paying and use illegal means we wouldn't have the product anymore.
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The quality of that site is good enough to where I really don't see why bothering with alternatives. If you have a way to access a web browser on your living room TV or wherever you watch, it's easy enough.

The NFL streams are all pretty notably a lesser quality in comparison, so I would be more inclined to pay for Sunday Ticket if it was available outside of just thru Direct TV (which I believe it will be next year).
 
Frk It said:
To the OP, it is stupid you live in Ohio and are dealing with that. The whole blackout thing in general is stupid, and I've never understood it. Seems like the only sport it happens with is NHL?
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It's always been a ploy to get people to go to the game if they want to see it. It's only really in the NHL because the NHL is, or at least has been, super gate dependent.

Leagues like the NFL, MLB, and NBA don't have to do a damn thing, because they had so much TV viewership that networks are falling over themselves to sign them. They honestly almost don't care whether a soul shows up at the field or park anymore. NHL is a distant fourth (if it's even that anymore).
 
Hugh Mongusbig said:
Forget VPN's.... not necessary. There are several web sites that have links to each days' games. Just go to the site, click on the game you want watch. Often there is a home/away or possibly a national broadcast feed too, just click on the one you want to watch and boom, free streaming hockey. Stream it to your computer, TV, Roku, or mobile device, or all the above. I've been doing this for the last several seasons, ever since Dish dumped FSD.
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I'm with Ezekial on this one and prefer to pay for content instead of pirating.
 
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TCNorthstars said:
I'm with Ezekial on this one and prefer to pay for content instead of pirating.
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I am weary about streaming sites after getting a virus from one trying to watch The Walking Dead years ago. My experience with hockey sites has been mixed. Most of the streams I get to work are dog shit quality. The old saying "you get what you pay for" rings true in many cases.
 
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Bench said:
I'd imagine that's due to pre-season? Unless everyone has been lying, ESPN+ and a VPN should get you access to almost every game.

VPN companies even advertise ESPN+ as part of their sales pitch, I've noticed.
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Hopefully. Thought maybe I set up the VPN wrong but a couple of what is my ip sites thought I was in New York. I'll probably set up a few more clients around the country too.
 
TCNorthstars said:
I'm with Ezekial on this one and prefer to pay for content instead of pirating.
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I agree in most scenarios. Here though, jfrank is TRYING to pay for it and they're simply not providing him the service. I would say if you make an honest to goodness effort to secure the services at an amenable cost (and yes, that's subjective) and just happen to land in a dead, blacked out zone... the streaming is logical. VPN is also logical and I always consider getting one just to make sure I'm safe and shit on the internet. If I did have kids and it wasn't just me searching around on the internet I would. You know, protect others from risks, but I take them and am okay with them?
 
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This is why I gave up streaming services and figthing to get garunteed access to watch the games. There is ALWAYS some blackout restriction and this is why the NHL has lost all subscription revenue from me for 15+ years that I would have subscribed if its not for their nonsensical blackout restrictions. There should be a stable streaming serevice that shows ALL F#$%KING GAMES period. That is if they want to grow the a fan base.

As it stands I catch games when I can but I gave up actively seaking a solution.
 
sounds like in your one of those areas where tv providers don't know which market to put you in because you live on the edge of multiple markets. Dealt with that here with local channels where I'm closer to mid michigan channels but always got put in the detroit market.

But to echo others, if you legitimately tried to pay for them but still can't get it, i would just go the free streaming route
 
Thanks for the responses everyone, I did some digging and will look into the VPN option if it comes to it. I was able to call NHL customer support today (they were closed last night) and the gentleman was surprised at my issue. His system also told him that the Jackets were my local and I should have access to Wings' stream. He had me try to access the replay and it worked just fine, which if Detroit was my local, would have been blacked out for 48 hours. So apparently it was something that they need to work out. Hopefully it was a one off kink in the system. We looked up my ISP and that was even further out of the Detroit market. He made a case note and seemed confident that if I were to have the issue again, they could resolve it manually in their system. I canceled the Directv service already and things should be good. Appreciate the help!
 
But yeah, it is super frustrating when you try to do the right thing and pay for things like you are supposed to, but still end up having problems accessing what you are paying for. It was even more frustrating because the different services were contradicting each other...like, I'm paying for both and still getting screwed! But I could have watched the stupid Blue Jackets on either service...

Northwest Ohio isnt so bad btw, decent cost of living, no heavy traffic, no hurricanes, no lake effect snow, etc.
 
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