Hope someone can help out. I have Verizon FiOS and I'm thinking of dumping it and getting a Roku instead. Basically, the only thing I watch right now that I can't get somewhere else, cheaper, is live sports. So here are the questions I have, hopefully for someone else who's already done it: 1) If I get MLS Direct Kick on Roku, will Union games be blacked out? 2) How about MatchDay Live on the computer--will that be blacked out as well? 3) Can I get around MDL blackouts if a friend in a non-MLS market buy me the MDL subscription as a gift? It says blackout rules depend on your billing zip code. 4) Assuming DirectKick and MDL have Comcast games blacked out--is there any way, short of going to a bar or looking for a pirate stream, to see Union games broadcast on CSN/CN8 without cable? 5) If I drop FiOS TV, but keep my Verizon internet, can I still watch ESPN3?
Oh, and one more. Is there a streaming service for Fox Soccer games (Open Cup/CCL)? I thought I remembered there being one, but I've never used it.
I've been thinking of doing this myself. I know ESPN3 will still work over internet if you don't have cable service. Hope someone has answers for the rest
#2 As far as I know the Union games are only blacked out if it is nationally televised. So if it is on espn FSC NBC etc... it will take a few days to show up on MDL. I am not sure about local broadcast since I dont live locally. #5 yes, you just need your verizon account to log on
I lived out of market last season and used MDL. Locally broadcast matches are indeed blacked out. However, I was back in Philadelphia during the Seattle away game and was able to stream the game from my laptop using the hotel wifi (billing address out of market, IP in market). Based on this, I think that you may be able to work around the blackouts if you were able to get a friend to buy you the subscription as a gift.
I don't have cable at all, and I've gotten by, so here's what I can tell you: Not all Union games are blacked out from MDL. Each week, on the MLS website, they'll post their weekly games schedule for TV and online. In there, it'll tell you which games are blacked out in which markets. For example, every Seattle game is blacked out in the PNW, but RSL and SKC games are almost never blacked out in their markets. It all depends on which week you watch, really. I watched many Union games that weren't blacked out in the Philly area last year on MDL. Plus, it's only $40. I think that's a pretty good deal. MDL blacks you out based on your IP address. It doesn't matter where you buy it. It bases it off of IP, just like MLB.tv. With the switch NBC Sports Network for national games, they may put some of those games on the NBC Sports website for streaming. I can't guarantee that, but it is possible. All CONCACAF Champions League games are available from the CONCACAF website for free. They can only be viewed live, but not on demand as of yet. You can also watch CCL games over the air on Telefutura, at least for Mexican and MLS teams. If you keep Verizon internet, you can still watch ESPN3, but not Watch ESPN. You have to have a TV subscription service for that. If you have Comcast internet, you can split the line and send one coax to your modem and the other to the TV. If you have an HDTV, you can get all the HD locals, including Comcast Network (CN8). You can't do this with Verizon. Bottom line: If you're a Union STH, you'll see 17 regular season games at the stadium. The 17 road games will either be on NBCSN, CSN, Comcast Network, or 6abc. You'll have a pretty good chance of seeing more than 50% of those because I saw more than 50% of those last year. I've never missed a Union game in their 2 years. If there's a game I can't get online, I go to my brother's house, which has cable, and watch it with him. It's good company for the both of us, and the beer is significantly cheaper. You don't always have to go to a bar to watch a game. Also, not paying for cable has afforded me the ability to pay for MLB.tv ($120), MDL ($40), FoxSoccer.tv ($145), and NHL Game Center Live ($120) subscription packages. I just hook up my laptop to the TV, and I'm golden. For Game Center Live and MLB.tv, my PS3 streams those, and it's great quality. Between those packages and ESPN3, I have access to over 5,000 games every year for the cost of 3 months of cable. Pretty not bad.
I also plan on canceling cable (Comcast / Xfinity) pretty soon, but keeping the internet service. A Roku is going to act as my "a la carte" cable service (TV shows / movies). Football (what I watch 90% of the time) will be all laptop-based. FoxSoccer.tv will give me my Liverpool fix (ex-pat here), even if it may end up being one of the one-day delayed broadcasts. I'm just trying to figure out a way to see my local's (Philly) away matches (I'll be at the home matches). Does FoxSoccer.tv show the MLS matches they broadcast? If it's on ESPN, it would be on ESPN3 too, right? Related, I know that I currently get access to ESPN3 through Comcast / Xfinity. Anyone know if my access be taken away if I only have internet through them (no cable)? That just leaves NBC matches - there can't be too many. Anyone have any idea how many? Could I get an antenna to see them?
MLS doesn't have a contract with FoxSoccer.tv, so unfortunately they don't show any matches there. The good news about FS.tv if you're a 'Pool fan is that they show a lot of matches live on FS.tv. The only time you wouldn't see them live on FS.tv is if they're on Fox Soccer or ESPN, but if they're on ESPN, you can watch them on ESPN3. Not all Union away matches will be blacked out on Match Day Live. I can't confirm which ones will be available, but the MLS website has weekly TV listings at the start of each week, and you can that from there. All Union matches on ESPN are simulcast on ESPN3, and available live and on demand. If you get rid of Comcast TV, but keep the internet, you will still have access to ESPN3. NBC has 3 games on over-the-air TV. You only need an antenna for that. It's the matches on NBC Sports Network that you need cable for. Of course, we don't know what the blackout situation will look like for games being broadcast on NBC Sports Network. It could be that you could watch it after the game ends, or it could be a 48-hour blackout. We don't know. Also, I'm not saying, but I'm just saying, if you have an HDTV, you can still get your local channels by running a coaxial cable directly to your TV, and you'll be able to get all of your local channels in HD, as well as the Comcast Network (CN8, NOT Comcast SportsNet). Now, you're probably thinking that this is illegal, but it's not. When you pay solely for internet, Comcast charges you a video service fee, which is essentially the cost of limited basic cable (OTA locals). All you've got to do is run a line from your coaxial outlet to the TV, scan the channels, and you're in like Flynn.
