Ok, so I posted this previously in the LA match thread, but I don't think everyone saw it, so I'll start this thread since it affects so many people. Did some googling, found this on reddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/MLS/comments/8wxjqm/i_thought_switching_over_to_the_espn_app_was/ This is a link to an 11 page PDF detailing blackouts league wide: http://www.tsq.com/alerts/MLSDK Blackouts 2018.pdf Blackouts are now a mandatory requirement from MLS (and I'm assuming ESPN) for ALL TEAMS This covers MLS Direct Kick TV package, ESPN+ (formerly MLS Live), and all streaming options (i.e. YouTube TV). OTA channels are blacked out for 75 miles around the stadium Regional Channels (Fox Ohio, Fox Southeast, Fox Midwest, etc) are blacked out for 150 miles from the stadium For Crew fans specifically, if you live within 75 miles of MAPFRE, you either need to watch the games through cable, of use a VPN to mask your location on ESPN+ TL;DR - ESPN is LYING to you when they say blackouts are a glitch, we'll never be able to watch live via ESPN+ (without a VPN). Thanks for the heads up MLS and ESPN!!
In Columbus, channel 53.1 you'll need one of these... https://www.homedepot.com/p/Winegard-FlatWave-Mini-HDTV-Indoor-Antenna-FL4000S/205227707
Yep. I get all OTA channels great.... except one. Guess which one that is.... I can get it to come in, but it's a very fragile signal that is constantly interrupted, but such large blockages as a cat walking in front of the antennae, the wind blowing hard, or me crossing my legs across the room. Not ideal.
Well, ain't this a kick to the sack. Unfortunately, 53's tower is something like 20 miles south of downtown. I have no hope of receiving it in Westerville unless I do some sort of attic or roof mounted antenna, and even then it isn't a sure thing. Edited for the map. Guess which one is WWHO(53)....
Check with your internet provider... They typically offer a "lifeline" TV package that contains just the local broadcast stations and a handful of religious/home shopping channels that pay for carriage. This package may even be bundled at little/no net cost with your internet service. I think I pay the same for internet, land line, and the basic TV as I do for just internet and land line. I can't imagine that there are no good options. ESPN+ is an out of market package, like NFL Sunday Ticket, that allows you to watch games that aren't shown locally. The blackout policies look identical.
Hmm, I hadn't thought of that. I'll have to either rewire the run that goes to the living room or just watch games in the office where the cable modem is. That will also require disconnecting the main TV's antenna each time I want to hook up the cable line, so I might just stick to finding a pirate feed and casting it to the TV using Chromecast. Decisions, decisions.
I live off of morse and hamilton, right between gahanna and new albany. I can get 53 with a decent indoor antenna, but its spotty.
Our phone company's TV box actually takes ethernet cat5 cable from the router. HDMI to the TV. The company may even do free install (wire run).
Just to state what may be obvious (it wasn't to me, though), CW is a UHF HD channel. Back when the switch was made to over-the-air HD, I bought a well-reviewed, small HD antenna which I installed in my attic. When the Crew announced its deal with CW for local over-the-air broadcasts, I tried - and failed - to get it to pull in Crew matches. The problem was that it was a VHF-only HD antenna; it wasn't physically capable of tuning into a UHF signal. I swapped it out for a VHF/UHF model and, voila!, I now pull in 53, and a shit-ton of other channels I'll never watch, plus all the local VHF channels I used to get on my old HD antenna, no problem. I realize CW broadcasts from a ways away (I live in Clintonville), but I wouldn't assume you can't get it until you first confirm that you're using the right kind of antenna.
Even with a large antenna, 75 miles is along way away. I live in Dayton, and I’m at 64 miles from MAPFRE. Too far for antennas. Yet I’m blacked out. Why 75 miles? Anyone recommend a good VPN app?
Yes. I have had to inform people on the whole broadcast waves mumbo jumbo. Unfortunately I did not learn about the differences until after we were stuck watching a piss poor New Year’s Eve countdown on.. I forget which “main” channel.
Lately ipvanish hasn't been working for me on espn+ or mlb tv. I think it has gotten big enough that they've blocked it. I'm bummed. Fortunately, I'm not in a Crew blackout.
Parts of the game (including the Crew's 1st goal) failed to air on 53 (blank screen, sometimes with Crew logo) on my tv via directv. So not only are they blacking out the ESPN+, they're also blacking out cable subscribers.
Channel 53 was out for about 4 minutes in the 2nd half, including during Zardes' first goal. They didn't acknowledge the outage though and show a replay of the goal when they came back so I had to wait until after the match to see it in the highlights.
There hasn't been a broadcast this season without technical issues of some kind. Audio sync, lost picture, 1 or more on-screen personalities with mic issues, on and on and on.