Change to MLS Direct Kick Blackout regs - DCU explicitly named

[Bootsy Collins]

For anyone who cares . . .

Up through last year, MLS Direct Kick (DK) explicitly advertised that it had no blackout restrictions. This stated policy didn't seem to be the way things went in practice, however: if a local broadcaster had the rights to a match, the match was frequently (although, oddly, not always) blocked on the appropriate DirectKick channel, with some sort of "Not available in your area" message.

You might think this wouldn't be an issue -- after all, if a local broadcaster has the match, why would you need to see it on the DirectKick channel? But sometimes last year, Comcast SportsNet had a particular D.C. United match and decided to show something else instead, broadcasting the United match on delay. Sometimes that delay was just an hour or two; sometimes it was more. With a DK blackout, there's no way around that.

Last year, I got refunds from my provider (DirecTV) multiple times over this, calling them and saying "DK advertises no blackouts, you're advertising no blackouts, and I'm getting hit by a blackout." They'd apologize and give me $10 account credit. But this year, they're advertising that there will be blackouts, and explicitly mention DCU as one of six teams subject to blackouts. Since blackouts already often affected match broadcasts on channels local to the opposing team (NESN if we're playing New England, MSG if we're playing Jersey, Altitude if we're playing Colorado, CSN-MW if we're playing Chicago, FSNW if we're playing LA or Chivas, etc.), it's doubtful there'll be any sneaky ways this year to get around the broadcast delays CSN likes to drop on us.

Maybe it's a good idea to politely express to CSN your gratitude that they carry the matches, but also your wishes that they not radically delay DCU match broadcasts this season.

(Oh, and also, if anyone cares, the price of DK has gone up $10)

[monster]

Where are you seeing all this info?I haven't received anything yet.

[tab5g]

(Oh, and also, if anyone cares, the price of DK has gone up $10)

I'd also guess that there might be a few more DK matches this season (as compared to 2007), as the league now has 14 teams.

off-topic slightly, but do you have a link?

are there plans for a "free preview" of DK in 2008? The league has traditionally offered DK at no charge for the opening weekend and around July 4th, have they not?

[Bootsy Collins]

Where are you seeing all this info?I haven't received anything yet.
On DirecTV's website, under Sports Subscriptions -> Soccer & Rugby -> MLS DirectKick for the price, and under Sports Subscriptions -> Soccer & Rugby -> Blackout Restrictions for the stuff about that.

[Bootsy Collins]

I'd also guess that there might be a few more DK matches this season (as compared to 2007), as the league now has 14 teams.

Seems reasonable.


off-topic slightly, but do you have a link?

Not generic, but re: DirecTV as provider, see previous message. I didn't make them embedded links because I saw what looked like a dynamic URL in the location box.


are there plans for a "free preview" of DK in 2008? The league has traditionally offered DK at no charge for the opening weekend and around July 4th, have they not?
Dunno. Last year was my first year with it, and I just paid up straight.

[apqjr]

That whole website is a mess in regards to the MLS DirectKick. Under the MLS DK FAQ it still specifically states that there are no blackout restrictions for the MLS DK. Of course, after many weeks of showing "Please check back at a later date for schedule info", they have updated us with the 2007 schedule. I have checked that site about once a week and I did notice that new blackout update.

What is still unclear at the moment is if MLS will start showing the local HD feed, if it's available. The other sports packages now include the HD feeds.

Also, please correct me if I'm wrong, but I was always thought Blackout Restrictions were meant only for local viewing areas in proximity to the sporting event, thereby trying to get more people to actually attend the event, than staying at home to watch. If that's the case, wouldn't I be exempt, because no teams are close to me?

[K]

So does this mean the season opener in KC won't be shown in DC on DK?

K

[ButlerBob]

So I'm guessing this type of black pertains to local viewers of DK. Or is my thought process off? With me living in Chicago, the DC games on Comcast are already blackef for me, because I'm out of market. So I'm hoping that I will still be able to get the DC games on DK. With being a out of market DC fan, having DK (first on cable and now on DirectTV) has been great.

[MattMathai]

The only thing missing from my FIOS service is the DirectKick package.

Guess I'll be watching soccer on my computer for the first time.

[K]

OK, I asked Doug Hicks and the season opener would have been blacked out on DK in DC area however he's asked that the black out be lifted so people can watch the game live (and not the 11 pm rebroadcast on Comcast).


K

[JeremyEritrea]

The only thing missing from my FIOS service is the DirectKick package.

Guess I'll be watching soccer on my computer for the first time.

Same here. But as fast as FIOS is, I doubt I'll notice much difference.

[reefa]

It's funny, because as one who works with DirecTV, I can tell you they still use "No Blackout Restrictions" as a selling point.

[Cweedchop]

The only thing missing from my FIOS service is the DirectKick package.

Guess I'll be watching soccer on my computer for the first time.

The only thing preventing me from dumping DirecTv is no DK package on FIOS.

Has anyone inquired as to why they don't offer the package?

[Cweedchop]

If I recall, the only instance last season that saw a blackout on my direct kick package was an away match at Columbus (they lost 1-0 I believe) in the third week of the season. I was told since United was tape delaying the match that the blackout would be in effect.

So, if that is the case, then all games should be live and not blacked out if I'm reading the schedule correctly.

[K]

If I recall, the only instance last season that saw a blackout on my direct kick package was an away match at Columbus (they lost 1-0 I believe) in the third week of the season. I was told since United was tape delaying the match that the blackout would be in effect.

So, if that is the case, then all games should be live and not blacked out if I'm reading the schedule correctly.


Well, except for the season opener in KC. It's the only game someone who lives in this area would need DK for as the other games are available on Comcast, ESPN, ABC and Telefutura.

K

[tab5g]

Well, except for the season opener in KC. It's the only game someone who lives in this area would need DK for as the other games are available on Comcast, ESPN, ABC and Telefutura.

K

and that's why i'm hoping (as in years past) there's a "free preview" of DK on opening weekend.

i'm sure there might be some official announcement on the DK package (and any associated free preview periods) by March 28th or so. :D

[tab5g]

OK, I asked Doug Hicks and the season opener would have been blacked out on DK in DC area however he's asked that the black out be lifted so people can watch the game live (and not the 11 pm rebroadcast on Comcast).


is "abililty to have a black out lifted" a superpower?

does Doug Hicks wear a cape?

can Doug Hicks also find out about a "free preview" period for DK?

[joehill]

I tried the MLS.tv online package last year and it was not very good. Very poor performance and if you want to watch a game after it happened, good luck navigating through the layers of the MLSnet site to find the buried link to watch archived games without seeing the score everywhere else on the site.

I'm hoping that as a DC fan in exile in Brooklyn, I won't have to worry about any local blackouts affecting the DC games on DK. Stupid Time Warner still doesn't have any info about it for this season though.

[Grasscutter]

The only thing missing from my FIOS service is the DirectKick package.

Guess I'll be watching soccer on my computer for the first time.

RCN Cable in DC--the only broadcast cable competitor to Comcast--doesn't offer DK, even though they are a sponsor of DC United. Comcast, meanwhile, offers DK, but not HDNet.

First company to offer both gets my $$ for bundled Internet, cable and phone land line, plus an extra two bits for the channel programmer to buy himself or herself a stadium Bud and a hot dog.:D

Come April, I'll probably be offering to swap future HDNet game DVDs for the home Toronto DK-only match.

[Bootsy Collins]

If I recall, the only instance last season that saw a blackout on my direct kick package was an away match at Columbus (they lost 1-0 I believe) in the third week of the season. I was told since United was tape delaying the match that the blackout would be in effect.

So, if that is the case, then all games should be live and not blacked out if I'm reading the schedule correctly.

Well, except for the season opener in KC. It's the only game someone who lives in this area would need DK for as the other games are available on Comcast, ESPN, ABC and Telefutura.

CSN delayed more than one match last year, and reading the schedule right now doesn't tell you enough info. We don't yet know the detailed CSN-MidAtlantic schedule for every single one of the DC matches they carry.

As a hypothetical example, it's possible that sometime before the August 9 away match against Jersey, CSN could decide to show a two-hour special on Alex Ovetchkin's childhood skating teacher's courageous battle with ingrown toenails from 7pm to 9pm that night, and tape delay the United game for an hour and a half. Under such circumstances, you might want to get the MSG broadcast off DK rather than wait. Last year, you might have been successful at that; this year, supposedly, you won't be.