Blackout question

[SYoshonis]

I'm about to get a dish (DISH Network), and want to know if NHL games on the Fox Sports Net channels not in your local area routinely get blacked out. My wife in an Avalanche fan, and wants to watch her team as often as possible. Do we have to buy the NHL Center Ice package?

Thanks in advance.

[stevewhit0]

Yes without the NHL pack you will only get your local team and ESPN games.

[Matt in the Hat]

Yes and if you live in the NYC area and have the dish, and are either a Devils or Isles fan, your game may be blacked out as well. MetroTV is a cable only service that once in a while when all 3 hockey teams are in action one of them is sent to. I would need the Center Ice package just to see my local team. What a bunch of suck.

[Kryptonite]

Originally posted by Matt in the Hat
Yes and if you live in the NYC area and have the dish, and are either a Devils or Isles fan, your game may be blacked out as well. MetroTV is a cable only service that once in a while when all 3 hockey teams are in action one of them is sent to. I would need the Center Ice package just to see my local team. What a bunch of suck.

Damn, between MSG, Metro and isn't there a FSN out that way too, but that sucks that you can't watch your local team.


Yeah, the downside with the satellite is that you get a whole bunch of RSN's (regional sports networks), but almost everything is blacked out except coach's shows and stuff like "You Gotta See This" and "54321". I don't know about pregame shows.


On a semi-geeky side, you should also be aware that NHL games on Canadian channels don't get picked up by Center Ice. Say Detroit is playing at Vancouver, and the game is only on a Canadian channel. You aren't gonna get it. But if that same game is also on Fox Sports Detroit, you're in luck.

You also should get playoff games as well that aren't on ESPN and ABC.

It's a good deal if you're a serious hockey fan. And when you factor in all the other games that you get in addition to your team's, it's a very good deal.


Since the original poster's wife is an Avalance fan, they should get most of the Av's games in the USA. When the Avalanche goes to Canada, that's the question mark.

[Khansingh]

Well here's what happens. The Rangers will be playing the Red Wings and they'll be on MSG. The Devils will be playing the Flyers, so they'll be on FSN. The Islanders will be playing the Thrashers or something and they'll go on Metro. And if the Knicks are playing, one of these four will go on WLNY, Channel 55 (local independent). In 2002, one Islanders playoff game was put on Metro to punish "disloyal" fans who'd switched to dish because of the whole YES-Cablevision squabble. Supposedly, the Devils' deal with FSN is almost up and they'll be going to YES. But I could be wrong.

[Jeff]

It may be different on a week in week out basis, but I have a free trial of NHL Center ice, and Dallas at Calgary and Anaheim at Vancouver are 2 of the games shown. Both are CBC games.