Black-out of HD hockey feed

[rtaheri]

Let me start by saying that I don't have the Center Ice package, but have the Premier and HD packages. When the Stanley Cup play-offs started, I was wondering if I could catch the local team (San Jose) on HD when D* carried their games on channels 95 or 96. I checked, but it was blacked out. That’s fine. I guess it is blacked out when the "local" Fox Sports Channel, 654, carries the game. But last night's game was not carried on Fox Sports Bay Area. Instead, it was on Versus. I figured that the HD feed was just the Versus feed, but in high-def. So, I turned to channel 95, and got the dreaded Call extension X721 message. When I called D*, the CSR couldn't explain the reason for the black-out.

Is it reasonable to expect to get the HD feed when the game is carried by Versus versus (sorry, couldn't help the pun) a local sports station?

Thanks,
Reza

[bonscott87]

If your local RSN is carrying the game then Versus will be blacked out for you. Being in HD has nothing to do with it.

[dasexton]

I had the same problem last night on 95. It started with the guide showing the game starting at 9:30 on 95. I didn't check 608 so I missed most of the first half. I found the game on 608 (I'm in Austin, not San Jose any more, but would much rather be back in SJ). I called about the x721 and of course the CSR had no clue. He had me reset the HR20 but I couldn't set the HR10 because it was recording Lost at the time. Eventually the x721 went away and I watched most of the 2nd and the 3rd in hi-def. Tonight I noticed the x721 was back on 95 but a baseball game was scheduled. I think either Versus or D* screwed up the schedule last night. The Sharks game should have been in the clear for HD subscribers with the right package--I have both Center Ice and the sports pack. At least the Sharks won!

David

[whitepelican]

If your local RSN is carrying the game then Versus will be blacked out for you. Being in HD has nothing to do with it.

That's not what I've seen. I've been able to watch the Wings vs. Flames on Fox Sports Detroit and Versus at the same time, but the channel 95 HD broadcast has been unavailable even when it shows it in the guide. I'm confused how or why that is possible, but that's what's been happening. Tonight, it looks like there is no HD broadcast, so I guess I'm not missing anything.

[IOTP]

Take the game from Tuesday night, the wings & flames.. It was supposed to be on channel 95 in HD.

Instead, we got the CBC feed HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA feed.

Although not in HD, I'll take the CBC feed instead of the VS feed any day!

Even though not in HD. Although if you listened to the announcers, apparently CBC does broadcast an HD signal. My guess "VS" wont carry it due to bandwidth.

[bonscott87]

That's not what I've seen. I've been able to watch the Wings vs. Flames on Fox Sports Detroit and Versus at the same time, but the channel 95 HD broadcast has been unavailable even when it shows it in the guide. I'm confused how or why that is possible, but that's what's been happening. Tonight, it looks like there is no HD broadcast, so I guess I'm not missing anything.

Well, I should claify that Versus would only be blacked out if you are in the home market of the team involved and the RSN has a local exclusive. For example I'm never blacked out on Versus because while FSD is my RSN, I'm far enough away from Detroit to not be considered in the "home market" of the Wings (which similar to the NFL is typically 75-90 miles out from the stadium).

So far there has been no HD broadcast of Flames/Wings on 95.
Game 1 - DirecTV tried but Versus HD screwed the pooch and was showing Golf instead. Many threads on this around the forums
Game 2 - was on NBC
Game 3 - DirecTV again tried and actually did show the game on 95 BUT Versus once again screwed us by showing the SD feed of CBC instead of the HD feed.
Game 4 - DirecTV didn't try because again Vs. would have had just the HD feed.

Basically in all cases it's been Versus messing us up in terms of Flames/Wings in HD.

[forecheck]

Game 4 of the SJ/Nashville series was a Verses exclusive, so it was available in both the SJ and Nashville markets on channel 608. The HD feed was on channel 95, but there was a baseball game on channel 95 earlier on Wednesday that ran long, and didn't end until the 1st intermission of the hockey game. So if you turned to channel 95 during the 1st period, the screen would be black unless you also ordered the MLB package, which then you would have seen the end of the baseball game. If you checked back to channel 95 after the 1st intermission, the game should have been on, but there is a good chance DirecTv screwed that up too, or other as other posts have said that they needed to reboot the receiver for the channel to come in.

[smoking_rubber]

I have the same issue with Laker games. I live within the local Laker market but not close enough to pick up KCAL 9 HD. Whenever a Laker game is scheduled for HD on 95 I'm blacked out. I have the Sports package, NBA package and HD. Of course, I'm NOT blacked out for Clippers game which are in the same building. Called CRS 5 different times and they just give me the run-around. Some try to help, but no one has been able to.

[dasexton]

Either D* or Versus is still screwing up the HD feeds on channel 95. As with the Sharks game last week, early last night the guide for 95 said the game would start at 9:30. Later on, that was updated to 9:00. However, at 9:00 the channel was still blacked out, probably because baseball was still on. When the hockey game started though (Stars vs. Canucks), it took them some time to allow access to the channel. This is extremely irritating. I wish they would get their act together, but I'm not holding my breath.

[bonscott87]

Baseball will trump NHL every time unfortunately.

[jon777]

They better get it right in Round 2. Game 1 of the Rangers/Buffalo game (weds night) is exclusive to Versus, so they better not screw it up and Black it out locally in NY!

[njdboy]

I hope I am not screwing this thread up but this is somewhat related. This morning versus didn't even have Sabres vs Rangers in the guide. It was all their other programming. I guess they didn't know when round 2 would start, etc but we have know for two days now. And they still didn't get it right? I guess I have to setup a manual recording. Lame.

[bonscott87]

They were going to be showing the Yankees game. But it got rained out so they started the Rangers game late after the rainout was confirmed.

[tBfree]

:eek: Are you kidding me!! they have a meaningless baseball game on at 7pm on ch95 instead of the Sharks - Red Wing game 1 in high def. Support says it is a contractual thing! This is ridiculous I love all sports but when playoffs come, in any sport, that should take precedence. :mad:

[Indiana627]

They were going to be showing the Yankees game. But it got rained out so they started the Rangers game late after the rainout was confirmed.
Doh! I checked 95 a little after 7 and they had the Directv logo with music. I never went back to check later. I could have seen the Sabres win in HD! Oh well, Sunday's game will be HD on NBC.

[jon777]

They were going to be showing the Yankees game. But it got rained out so they started the Rangers game late after the rainout was confirmed.

Yeah, I checked at 7 and it was the Yankees game (rained out). Checked back at the end of the 1st period on the off chance they got smart and switched over to VS. early, and low and behold they had!

Unfortunately, it was more painful, watching the Rangers get beat up in HD...

:down: To D* for putting an April Yankees/Tampa Bay matchup on instead of playoff hockey (although who knows what their YES or MLB contactual obligations are...

:up: :up: :up: For getting it right and switching it over to the Hockey because of the rainout (although next time, do it earlier!)

BTW, the Versus announcing crew was AWFUL!

[njdboy]

:eek: Are you kidding me!! they have a meaningless baseball game on at 7pm on ch95 instead of the Sharks - Red Wing game 1 in high def. Support says it is a contractual thing! This is ridiculous I love all sports but when playoffs come, in any sport, that should take precedence. :mad:

Amen. I never understood how people can get into game #20 out of 162 in baseball. Heck, you can tell the players aren't that into it. Too many games. Playoffs are playoffs, you can check back in with baseball when it gets interesting (not until October). The HD channels should have this approach.

[bonscott87]

:eek: Are you kidding me!! they have a meaningless baseball game on at 7pm on ch95 instead of the Sharks - Red Wing game 1 in high def. Support says it is a contractual thing! This is ridiculous I love all sports but when playoffs come, in any sport, that should take precedence. :mad:

Remember....Versus/Golf HD channel only shows Golf on Thursday and Friday evenings. In other words DirecTV and Dish don't have an HD game to show if they wanted to. They tried Wings/Flames game 2 in HD but it was a Thursday and Golf came on. :(

Versus does make the HD feed of the game available to InHD which....is only on cable. Versus owned by Comcast. InHD owned by Comcast and other cable outlets. InHD only on cable. Imagine that one.

So don't blame DirecTV or Dish on this one.

[tBfree]

bonscott... never knew of the versus/golf deal. In fact I've never seen golf on ch95. maybe its on another channel near the golf channel? Anyways, playoffs should take precedence in all contracts and decisions. Meanwhile I'm here in New York with no Sharkies in HD - just Red Sox @ Orioles :(

[bonscott87]

bonscott... never knew of the versus/golf deal. In fact I've never seen golf on ch95. maybe its on another channel near the golf channel? Anyways, playoffs should take precedence in all contracts and decisions. Meanwhile I'm here in New York with no Sharkies in HD - just Red Sox @ Orioles :(

Ok....channel 95 has nothing to do with it. Channel 95 is a "best of" channel. So if they want to show the Versus hockey game in HD they take that feed from the Versus/Golf HD channel since they don't have the bandwidth to carry it full time. Just like they show the NFL Network HD games on 95 for the games only, not the full time NFL Network channel.

So since Versus/Golf HD isn't showing the game, DirecTV has no HD feed of the game to show on 95.

[tBfree]

Actually Versus had the game in HD they announced it at the beginning of the game...just to rub it in. Nice road game for the Sharks :up:

I realize what ch95 is, but thanks.

edit...

bonscott...you were right on about inhd as the versus website marked the game 1 as

M = HI-DEFINITION MOJO BROADCASTS VIA INHD

So maybe DirecTV is not to blame on this one. Looks like maybe the rest of the games will be in HD so we'll see. I had never been to their website before, what a concept

[tedkunich]

Versus's web site has a nice big red banner stating that NHL semi's will not be broadcast on Thursdays and Fridays.


Actually Versus had the game in HD they announced it at the beginning of the game...just to rub it in. Nice road game for the Sharks :up:

I realize what ch95 is, but thanks.

[rtaheri]

The game's on Versus tonight, and also on channel 95. No blackout. Life is good!

Reza