What is the sports pack good for???

dukehoops · 01-06-2005, 10:24 AM

I subscribed to the sports pack when I began DTV more than two years ago. I think my main reason (aside for being a sports fan in general) was that the golf channel was only available via the sports pack. Now it is included in the total choice plus pkg.

Is there any point to the sports pack?? It seems like all the regional channels play the same games, and if they don't then they are usually blacked out. I am realizing that I was tossing $12/month for more than two years.

PDPnNJ · 01-06-2005, 10:32 AM

The only channel that hold some value there, is NBA TV.

tony touch · 01-06-2005, 10:36 AM

I like the access to regional sports networks because of sports news shows. I moved from Boston to Atlanta for grad school in August, and having New England Sports Network let me keep up on the recent success of the Red Sox and Patriots.

sabre · 01-06-2005, 10:38 AM

I subscribed when baseball season started and found out every game was blacked out. So to me the only benefit of the sports package was the ability to watch the best damm sports show 24 hours straight. Seeing that I dont like that show I quickly canceled.

JFriday · 01-06-2005, 10:48 AM

Absolutley nothing!!

Mr. Soze · 01-06-2005, 10:52 AM

Just of the top of my head..

Fox Sports World (613) for superb soccer coverage.
I think OLN as well, which had the Tour de France.

But apart from that, you don't get a lot of the games without a special subscription package.

Dirk Legume · 01-06-2005, 10:54 AM

Got a friend who just signed up for DirecTV and he figured out the same thing a week into his ownership. The main reason he signed up for the sports pack was to watch out of market games from where he used to live and found out that most of the regional Fox channels were blacked out to him. He called and and asked them what the point of the package was and they gave him 10 dollars off the package for 6 months. He figures that 12.99 is way too much to pay, but it's worth 3 dollars. Maybe something similar would work for you. He also pointed out that the language on the website says you will get ALL the sports action of 20 regional sports networks and there is no "subject to blackout disclaimer that he could find. That was part of his argument and he says the CSR caved pretty quickly.

Dirk

freddyf · 01-06-2005, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mr. Soze
Just of the top of my head..

Fox Sports World (613) for superb soccer coverage.
I think OLN as well, which had the Tour de France.

But apart from that, you don't get a lot of the games without a special subscription package.

OLN is in the "plus" package as well. The other outdoor network is in the sports package.

But I agree, FSW is the only thing worth paying for in the sports package. And it's only worth paying for if you're a fan of international soccer.

JimSpence · 01-06-2005, 11:13 AM

Once the Golf Channel was moved to TV Plus, I dropped the sports pack. I get enough sports from the other channels.

TAsunder · 01-06-2005, 11:17 AM

The regional fox sports are nice if you have a certain team you like. NBA TV too. I would never pay separately for the sports pack. I have the premiere package, because of the $25/mo off deal.

Rkkeller · 01-06-2005, 11:18 AM

I have SP's for about 10-15 shows on the sports channels. There are a lot of gambling (blackjack/poker) type shows, a lot of non mainstream wrestling shows (TNA, Maximum, IWF), Guns & Ammo TV and a few other gun related shows, Womens Beach Volleyball when in season, fitness shows with some hot babes like Fitness Beach, etc....

Rich

dylanursula · 01-06-2005, 11:23 AM

Hey folks

I am from England and would love to watch the Barclays Premiership Football aka soccer inthe US. How do I find out what games they play and have played on Fox Sports World this season as the directTV website doesnt show anything more than 1 game.

D

Directvlover · 01-06-2005, 11:38 AM

It's completely worthless...everything is always blacked out....i've found most of directv's premium services are just as crappy. That is the one area where cable beats directv.

frankygamer · 01-06-2005, 11:53 AM

If your in a region with multiple (overlapping) RSNs, Sports Pak will let you view the alternate RSNs. For example I get Fox sports Chicago but I'm also eligible for Fox sports North and Midwest. Sports Pak lets me get North and Midwest.

EMoMoney · 01-06-2005, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dukehoops

Is there any point to the sports pack??

Yeah, you can watch the same futbol and auto racing events on just about every channel.

dukehoops · 01-06-2005, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JimSpence
Once the Golf Channel was moved to TV Plus, I dropped the sports pack. I get enough sports from the other channels.

When did this happen? I just want to know how hard to kick myself...

bgtimber75 · 01-06-2005, 01:38 PM

I get it during the College Football season just so I can Watch the FSU shows on Sunshine Network. Other then that there's nothing on there. The games are blacked out all the time so the local one that's FREE was the only one worth watching for me.

Bob Coxner · 01-06-2005, 03:29 PM

If you're a fanatic for basketball at your old college, and it's out of market to you, then it's useful. I turn it on (online) for 1 day at a time, whenever the Univ of Arizona basketball game is on Fox Sports Arizona but not on my local RSN, and then turn it off the next day. The cost is about 80 cents per game for me.

Mr. Soze · 01-06-2005, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dylanursula
Hey folks

I am from England and would love to watch the Barclays Premiership Football aka soccer inthe US. How do I find out what games they play and have played on Fox Sports World this season as the directTV website doesnt show anything more than 1 game.

D

http://msn.foxsports.com/fsw
About 2/3 down on the left side they have a listings section.

bidger · 01-06-2005, 04:21 PM

I saw a commercial on one of my local OTA stations for a cable package where you could subscribe to a select group of out-of-market FSNs and, I believe, watch baseball, basketball, etc. without being blacked out. I think it was 3 or so, but if DirecTV offered that for ~$14.99mo., I'd be interested, but I know they won't.

Jackanapes · 01-06-2005, 06:16 PM

For transplanted NYC-sports fans, sports pak also gives you YES, which simulcasts the Mike & the Mad Dog sportstalk radio show from 1-6pm ET. All Yanks & Nets games are blacked out though.

DeputyTIVO · 01-06-2005, 08:47 PM

I subscribe during baseball season so I have access to my local MLB team ... but cancel in the offseason.

dtivofan23 · 01-06-2005, 09:09 PM

i get the yes network and i dont subscribe to the sports pack

arc6th · 01-06-2005, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DeputyTIVO
I subscribe during baseball season so I have access to my local MLB team ... but cancel in the offseason.

My understanding is that you should always get your local regional sports channel, but maybe not....

Quote:

from DirecTV.com regarding their Total Choice package
If you're into sports, we've got you covered. ESPN, ESPN2, Speed Channel and Outdoor Life are just the beginning of the great sports networks you'll enjoy. You'll also score your local regional sports network (where available).

super dave · 01-06-2005, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dtivofan23
i get the yes network and i dont subscribe to the sports pack

And where do you live?

dtivofan23 · 01-06-2005, 10:47 PM

my bad didnt see the transplanted comment

bailey978 · 01-06-2005, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dylanursula
Hey folks

I am from England and would love to watch the Barclays Premiership Football aka soccer inthe US. How do I find out what games they play and have played on Fox Sports World this season as the directTV website doesnt show anything more than 1 game.

D

You need to check out soccertv.com

It lists ALL the soccer shown on US TV by channel, league, competition etc. It goes weeks out.

B

bigpuma · 01-07-2005, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DeputyTIVO
I subscribe during baseball season so I have access to my local MLB team ... but cancel in the offseason.

You get Fox Sports Bay Area without paying for the sports pack. Assuming by local team you meant the Giants and the A's then there is no reason to pay for it.

mattg · 01-07-2005, 12:32 PM

I add it during football season so I can catch Pittsburgh Sports Tonight, the Bill Cowher Press Conference, Sportsbeat (interviews, game analysis, call in), and the rest of the shows specific to Pittsburgh sports. National shows only deal with each team for a couple minutes during a show obviously.

$12 is a bit steep for this, but I only keep it for a few months.

People who add it expecting to get their out of market NHL, NBA, MLB, etc games for $12 a month aren't thinking too clearly.

bashtonsj · 01-07-2005, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tony touch
I like the access to regional sports networks because of sports news shows. I moved from Boston to Atlanta for grad school in August, and having New England Sports Network let me keep up on the recent success of the Red Sox and Patriots.

Yes, all the pro (and most college) stuff is blacked out -- need to sub to Sunday Ticket, League Pass, Extra Innings, Full Court, etc.

There are some benefits to the local programing as above. So, if you are a NY fan, you can get Giants, Jets, local shows, etc.

I'm transplanted from Phila to CA, and would love DTV to carry Phila Comcast Sportsnet (CSN), not just Mid Atlantic CSN.

bashtonsj