I’m very annoyed with the Colts broadcasting situation tonight. They have a Thanksgiving game versus the Atlanta Falcons. The game is being broadcast on the NFL Network which I don’t get. Apparently broadcasts of Channel 13 out of Indianapolis carry the game, but Channel 13’s cable signal has just been cut off. I got the first possession of the game up here in Lafayette, then the screen just went black except that there was an instruction to turn to a channel in the 500s. So, I switched on my cable box and went to that channel and was told I don’t get it — presumably this was the NFL Network channel.
I’d heard something about NFL.com carrying the game, so I went to my computer and was happy enough to watch the game there. Then, they cut away to a bunch of studio crap, and I then became aware that the website was just going to have “live look ins” — meaning they would only show fragments of the game between commercials and vapid commentary.
Finally, I just drug out my radio and am listening to the game while playing on my computer, just like I did in the bad old days when the Colts were routinely blacked out because they couldn’t sell out their home games.
Still, the NFL Network blows.
Update: Megan Hubartt, writing for the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, has an article on people leaving their homes on Thanksgiving to go out to sports bars and watch the game. So, I thought I’d add a link.
Benjamin Gleason, who does not pay for cable TV, went out to Buffalo Wild Wings to watch the game with his wife and friends. He admitted he does not like having to leave home for games, unless he is driving to Indianapolis to watch the game live.
“We’re die-hard Colts fans,†Gleason said. “We normally watch at home but with the NFL Network thing – it’s kind of unconstitutional as far as I’m concerned. Thanksgiving is turkey and football.â€
Amen, brother.
On the bright side, Doug, you didn’t have to watch Bryant Gumble and Cris Collingsworth, who’s the Tim McCarver of football, except with a terminal case of the cutes.
So let’s recap: a public monopoly purposefully deprives you of a portion of its service–for which you’ve paid in advance–in order to enhance its ability to charge you extra for services which are outside its original charter (what is the first purpose of cable if not providing smaller markets with improved reception of their regional big market channels?). And I’m guessing that the “reason” is that the contract with the NFL conveniently spells that out. And if you wanted to pay them for NFL Network you’d have to buy it as part of a package deal, not a la carte.
I got AT&T U-verse when it came to the neighborhood, and while I won’t recommend it unreservedly (it can be buggy, there was a nationwide blackout one Sunday a few weeks back that didn’t affect the Colts game only because they played at 4:00, I had to have the first DVR and remote replaced, which they did expeditiously), still, I get every cable network there is, including several that Comcast took away from me over the years and dozens it never picked up, for $10/mo. less than basic cable. I’ve been watching The Big Ten Network since they started broadcasting a test signal, while the cable companies sniped in print about how they’d have to raise everybody’s bill $1 to carry it on basic cable. This was the first time in twenty-five years I can remember the cable companies being reluctant to raise rates.
Not to diminish the scoundrely-ness of the NFL itself (and there’s that whole Sunday Ticket thing), but there’s no reason on earth local cable providers shouldn’t have to designate four local network carriers and carry them without interruption.
You could do what my husband does – turn down the volume on the TV and turn up the radio volume ( for some reason less than blasting is not acceptable) and then enjoy the 1 second delay where we hear what’s going to happen before it actually does. A bit disconcerting
If you had watched, you would have learned that losing to the Pats basically got into the Colts’ heads, and that’s why they’re struggling. Yeah, they’ve got no protection because half their line is injured. Sure their highest-paid defender is out, as is their #1 wide-receiver. But really it’s an emotional problem with them.
Idiots.
I actually did enjoy the periods where the website was showing bits of the game and I had the volume turned off and was listening to the Bob Lamey broadcast on the radio.
And, apropos of absolutely nothing – Foo Fighters pretty much rock. They’re playing on the radio as I write this.
The more I think about it, the more ridiculous the whole “Patriots got in their heads” thing becomes. I mean, never mind Occam’s Razor leading one to conclude that injuries are a sufficient explanation.
But, consider — why in the world would the Patriots’ win have gotten into the heads of the offensive players? They put up 20 points – certainly nothing to be ashamed of. It was the defense that dropped 14 points in the 4th quarter.
So, if there was any psychological impact, it would’ve been to the defense. But, the defense had been rock solid against San Diego and Kansas City. The Chargers’ offense only scored 10 points and the Chiefs offense only scored 10 points. Pretty solid.
So, yeah, idiots.
@tripletma: I do that with Cubs games. Much nicer to listen to Ron and Pat than whoever is yapping away on the TV.
And yes, NFL network blows!
T: That sounds very similar to ESPN’s nuttily pro-Pats commentary. One of the local radio stations has gone to broadcasting ESPN all night, and I find myself wanting to yell at the radio all the time.
It was blacked out on WTHR because Lafayette is not in the Indianapolis DMA area. The blam is on Neilson and WLFI-TV. If WLFI would agree to become part of the Indianapolis DMA than all would be well, since WISH & WLFI are owned by the same company. It would also force WLFI onto all Indianapolis area cable systems.