DODGERS The TWC/SPECTRUM NIGHTMARE Thread

Discussion in 'Los Angeles DODGERS' started by THINKBLUE, Mar 27, 2014.

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When will deals strike with other providers?

  1. Opening Day

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  2. 10 games into season

    5 vote(s)
    20.0%
  3. 20 games into season

    5 vote(s)
    20.0%
  4. 30+ Games into season

    6 vote(s)
    24.0%
  5. Never

    9 vote(s)
    36.0%
  1. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

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    mas...

    SportsNet LA unlikely to be carried by DirecTV or others by Opening Day
    by Daniel Starkand | Dodger Blue — 2 hours ago

    It has been three years since the Los Angeles Dodgers agreed to a record television rights-contract with Time Warner Cable to form SportsNet LA, a channel that is solely dedicated to the organization.

    However in the time since its inception, distribution of SportsNet LA has faced constant pushback from other providers. There was hope a merger between AT&T-DirecTV would signal an end to the impasse, but it’s now on the verge of entering a fourth season.

    Last November, the United States justice department filed a lawsuit against AT&T-DirecTV, alleging they were the ringleaders in colluding against Spectrum and distribution of SportsNet LA.

    As that hangs in the balance, it is unlikely the Dodgers’ exclusive network will gain wider distribution by Opening Day of the 2017 season, according to Edvard Pettersson of Bloomburg:

    "Charter said in a statement that it doesn’t expect any other pay-TV distributors to carry SportsNet LA by opening day of baseball season this year."

    DirecTV is remaining firm in their stance against adding SportsNet LA to their programming, citing a previous deal struck with the Los Angeles Lakers, who also have an exclusive network that is operated by Spectrum:

    "DirecTV says it refused to pay top dollar for Time Warner Cable Inc.’s Los Angeles Dodgers channel because it had been “burned” earlier overpaying to air Lakers games, not because it was conspiring with others to get an edge on a competitor."

    A hearing is set for March 13 when a judge will decide whether the lawsuit will move forward. DirecTV declined to enter binding arbitration with TWC last year. Spectrum submitted short- and long-term contracts offers to providers prior to the 2016 season, but to no avail.

    In April, Congresswoman Janice Hahn of the 44th district in California wrote letters to Time Warner Cable and AT&T requesting a joint meeting in effort to find a resolution. DirecTV rejected Hahn’s request.

    The Dodgers are set to begin the 2017 season on Monday, April 3 against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium. Though, SportsNet LA is slated to carry 16 Spring Training games.
     
  2. THINKBLUE

    THINKBLUE DSP Gigolo

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    No foresight at all by the team.
     
  3. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

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  4. Bluezoo

    Bluezoo Among the Pantheon

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    Maybe plenty of foresight. Maybe they couldn't care less about the situation.
     
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  5. rube

    rube DSP Legend Staff Member Administrator

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    No foreskin either by those CEO's.
     
  6. Bluezoo

    Bluezoo Among the Pantheon

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    Circumcized sissies.
     
  7. THINKBLUE

    THINKBLUE DSP Gigolo

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    Directv customer loyalty guy yelled at me yesterday for cancelling.

    "If you knew we didn't have the Dodger channel when you signed up, why are you telling me now that you have a problem!?!!!" Just went off on me. Unprovoked. So much butthurt.

    I'm like "I'm not even complaining. Directv has the right to do what's best for its business. I signed with you guys because there was a promotion and I like your user interface and DVR service. I was hopeful you guys would make a deal for the Dodger channel after another offseason. It's not happening, so I'm waving the white flag (racist)." I could hardly get those words in. He wouldn't let me talk. Like I need to explain anything to him anyways. Wish I recorded it. Bizarre.

    I don't watch much TV these days so I would like to cut the cord. The only bad thing is, the absence of MLB Network and DVR service. No streaming service (SlingTV, Playstation Vue, etc.) offers MLB Network as part of its package. There's no Roku app to stream it either. You can only stream it on a computer or phone...and only Live. There's no way to archive or record the studio programming or other shows.

    I'll probably get Spectrum/TWC for the season. Because I actually do like having the post game show and backstage dodgers as background noise at the end of the night. And even though the streams are awesome quality (almost indistinguishable from the telecast), I still prefer having the channel. Being able to record MLB Network shows while I'm at work is important too.

    Want to cut the cord but just no perfect alternative yet until there are apps for SportsNet LA and MLB network with the ability to archive all shows.
     
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  8. rube

    rube DSP Legend Staff Member Administrator

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    You cant cut the umbilical cord, you are still too dependant on the programming neo.
     
  9. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

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    i've had twc for about a year now and it's been great
    i haven't experienced some of the problems others have
    and my internet connection is fast and has never gone down

    regarding that direct tv clown who melted down
    you should call his superiors
    they record all calls and can listen to the conversation
    guys like him are the reason customers don't return
    shouldn't have idiots like that dealing with the general public
    he should work some place where that kind of combative behavior is tolerated
    like the post office
     
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  10. THINKBLUE

    THINKBLUE DSP Gigolo

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    ICYMI: #Dodgers could be on free TV this year, for 10 games.

    ten whole games? SICK!
     
    Last edited: Mar 6, 2017
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  11. MZA

    MZA MODERATOR Staff Member

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    There are ways of watching without cable. Been a cord cutter and I mainly use streaming sites, hdmi cable and connect that to my computer and TV. Spend money on fast internet.
     
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  12. southerndodgerfan

    southerndodgerfan Dodgers Enthusiast

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    Apparently, a settlement is being reached soon but it does not include Dodgers on Direct. Extra Innings again.
     
  13. THINKBLUE

    THINKBLUE DSP Gigolo

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  14. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

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  15. ColoradoKidWitGame

    ColoradoKidWitGame DSP Legend Administrator

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    A couple years ago I read an article that said there was going to be the Sports TV Deal that was going to break all TV deals. Someone was going to come in and just do something stupid and it was going to ruin it for everyone else. Numbers were not backing up the high figures these companies were paying and it happened, sadly in the eyes of most fans, the Dodgers were that team. The thing is, as someone who doesn't rely on their sports package, I am just fine and dandy it was them. The club landed the largest media market deal on record that funnels money into the product on the field and on the farm that could lead to decades of well above average baseball from my favorite team. While also in the process, murdering other teams chances of nabbing huge deals of their own. This includes I believe the Giants and a Rockies franchise based in a rapidly growing city that is becoming increasingly wealthy. The Dodgers now have a leg up.
    If I remember right, the TWC didn't slide by DirecTV's offer, it blew their offer away by billions. 2-3 if I remember correctly. That is not the Dodgers ownership being nearsighted, that is what you call being smart businesspeople. Also, how could they have predicted that DirecTV was going to get so substantially butthurt that they would say, "fuck you! We're going home!" and even refuse to negotiate? It boggles my mind when I see people complain about the Dodgers decision making in all this. In the years since this has happened, there have been NUMEROUS reports of how DirecTV is being entirely unwilling to even sit down and talk about this, including the fact the DOJ is suing them for collusion! This is not some "oh poor DirecTV" thing, no this is one media mogul company trying to fuck over another media mogul and not caring who else it hurts in the process. There are really easy ways to watch the games, it just takes about 15 minutes to learn how to use it and you will have your Dodger games.
    I am sorry guys, but I will never understand any frustrations with the organization, especially now when apparently the "good guys" in everyone's mind(DirecTV) has substantial evidence stacked against them that they've been tremendous pieces of shit in regards to this entire process.
     
  16. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

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    everything you said is true
    but i still find it hard to not feel sorry for the [albeit, perhaps irrational] fans
    they don't care what caused the blackouts, they're only focused on the result
    hard for them to see rationally when they can't see their beloved team on tv
    i get that
    i used streams for the first 1½ years until i got twc
    but it wasn't the same
    i understand there are other ways mlbtv/unlocator/et al
    but should fans really have to work so hard just to watch their team play?
    again, everything you said is true
    i just get the fan's frustration, rational or not
     
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  17. THINKBLUE

    THINKBLUE DSP Gigolo

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    I remember being proud to walk into a restaurant or sports bar in southern California and seeing the Dodgers on all the screens. Now it's like they don't exist in the community anymore. That, to me, is the sad part. I have to search for places that have the Dodger game on. But the Angels are. Just embarrassing as a fan.

    We can all use mlb.tv and unblock us to watch the games. And I have. Easily. But it's not the same for me.
     
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  18. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

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    its frustrating
    is there any other city (let alone, a major market) that fans can't watch their team?
    i don't care who's to blame, who made a smart business deal, who made a bad one... it's irrelevant
    just get the dodgers back on tv where they belong
    shameful that anyone had to miss the final broadcasts of vinny's career
    and it's salt in the wounds that the angels are on everywhere
     
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  19. BlueMouse

    BlueMouse 2020 World Champions

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    I've never thought of it this way, that the Dodgers were the team to tip the scales. They got arguably the best deal any team will ever get in comparison to the competition. Definitely a positive way to look at it.

    But I'm with irish. This is still bad. It should not be the goal of this or any team. A team that the fans can't easily watch?

    At the end of the day, I actually prefer watching on mlb.tv. I've saved 100's of dollars by not having cable (which I would have had, and kept, if they had made a deal out of the gate). But now, even if a deal is made I'm not going back to cable TV. So it's turned out fine for me. But it's still not right. This cable deal is a black-eye on the organization. No spin will change that.

    But fuck DirectTV. Fuck Dish. Fuck Cox. Fuck TWC. Seriously, fuck all of them. There are no good guys and bad guys in this. They all suck.
     
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  20. BlueMouse

    BlueMouse 2020 World Champions

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    I remember reading the Astros had a similar problem back when we first signed our deal, but I don't know if that has been straightened out. Except for that, I don't know of any major sports team with this kind of problem.
     
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  21. darth550

    darth550 Baba Yaga

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    My bill just went up 80 bucks per month and there are no more promotions being offered. Now, they're fucking everyone for the Dodgers debt they assumed.
     

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