Keep Bundesliga on US TV

Discussion in 'Germany' started by BlueInter8889, Sep 1, 2012.

  1. BlueInter8889

    BlueInter8889 Member

    Mar 27, 2012
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    Dear all US Bundesliga fans (particularly those watching on DirecTV),

    One of the largest TV providers in the US - DirecTV, is planning to removing GolTV - the Bundesliga broadcaster - from the Sports Pack. To give you some background, the Sports Pack is the add-on package English language package subscribers need to view GolTV, this means all non-Spanish speaking BL fans will no longer be able to watch the league!

    GolTV have been a long-time supporters of the BL, maintaining continuous coverage from 2006 (or was it 2005?) until now, expanding the amount of games shown from the previous 1 match per week on FSW to at least 3 and up to 5 per week. And they haven't made a dime in all the time they have provided this type of broad coverage. Now that the Qatari interlopers have bought the La Liga rights away from GolTV, GolTV will, in the eyes of DirecTV, lose its anchor programming and the justification to be in the Sports Pack. This is a cost-cutting move by DirecTV, removing a channel means not having to pay the subscriber fees to the Channel provider, GolTV is looking at a huge loss to its subscriber base and a huge loss in TV fees revenue, a move that could lead to its demise!

    I know I have enjoyed the affordable coverage provided by GolTV throughout the years, and I'm sure many of others BS members have too. Do not lose this privilege and also help the BL to continue to enjoy the great exposure and profile that GolTV gives the league that others can't.

    Call DirecTV @ 1-800-531-5000, to voice your displeasure. Doesn't matter if you are a DTV susbcriber or not, if you're not a DTV subscriber, you can pretend to want to sign up for DTV specifically for GolTV and then bring up concern about its removal from the Sports Pack to draw attention to the issue, that will also do the job.

    Come on guys, we need to make our voices heard and let TV providers know that a lot of people watch the BL ,and that the league and the Channel supplying the league (GolTV) is important.
     
  2. footyfan1

    footyfan1 BigSoccer Supporter

    Oct 20, 2003
    San Antonio, Texas
    Club:
    Borussia Dortmund
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Guys, I battled with DirecTV on the phone about this earlier today. They really don't get that people watch GolTV for something other than La Liga. When you call them, get after them. Don’t just let them blow you off. I admit I didn't get anywhere, but I think we need to make it clear to them that beInSport DOES NOT have all the programming GolTV has. They seem to really not know this. I kept mentioning the Bundesliga in particular. I got after them about this over and over. So much that I had to keep reminding the people I was talking to that I was not upset with them, but at the entire situation. I let them know that I tried their on-line Customer Service, but all they did was send me the beInSport form letter and I was not satisfied with this as an answer. We need to get more people to call them and let them know the problem isn't that La Liga is no longer on GolTV. The problem is GolTV still has programming we want to see. As stated, I don't think people there realize that some of us want to keep GolTV for the Bundesliga. Or maybe they just don’t care. Either way, if enough of us call, they’ll have to listen. I’m going to keep calling about this. I hope some of you will too.
     
  3. Aztattooedsean777

    Aztattooedsean777 Tattooed Football Fanatic

    Liverpool FC
    Netherlands
    Feb 15, 2009
    Chandler, Arizona
    Club:
    Borussia Dortmund
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    I didn't see this thread created before mine. I hope more people with direct tv give their customer support a call and explain that we are glad they have Bundesliga football for us to view and that you want to hold onto Gol tv.
     
  4. Floormaster Squeeze

    Sep 27, 2007
    Some Hill, VT
    Club:
    TSV 1860 München
    Nat'l Team:
    Botswana
    I procrastinated a bit about this but I will do it for sure tonight. I do not like to call and complain without specific action though. I am prepared to cancel my sports pack though (Bundesliga is the main sports programming I watch; only mildly interested in EPL and cycling) and hopefully that will mean something.

    I wanted to be able to threaten to leave altogether but unfortunately there seems to be some collusion at work as my local cable company is not offering GolTV to new subscribers. I am unhappy about the whole situation.
     
  5. footyfan1

    footyfan1 BigSoccer Supporter

    Oct 20, 2003
    San Antonio, Texas
    Club:
    Borussia Dortmund
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

    I get what you're saying. I couldn't threaten to leave immediately either as I've bought NFL Sunday Ticket for this season. However, I did tell them that with my initial contract being up this coming May, my cable company carrying GolTV makes them look a hell of a lot more attractive. I already have my internet with them. I've lived without NFL Sunday Ticket before and I can again.
     
    Aztattooedsean777 repped this.
  6. Aztattooedsean777

    Aztattooedsean777 Tattooed Football Fanatic

    Liverpool FC
    Netherlands
    Feb 15, 2009
    Chandler, Arizona
    Club:
    Borussia Dortmund
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    Floormaster Squeeze repped this.
  7. Aztattooedsean777

    Aztattooedsean777 Tattooed Football Fanatic

    Liverpool FC
    Netherlands
    Feb 15, 2009
    Chandler, Arizona
    Club:
    Borussia Dortmund
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    6 matches on Gol tv this weekend.
     
  8. Boandlkramer

    Boandlkramer Member+

    Apr 9, 2009
    Samma Weltmeister!
    Club:
    FC Bayern München
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    I'm getting antsy about which service to get. The more research I do the less attractive 'My German TV' seems to get. Am I misguided? The provider Comcast(Xfinity) offers goaltv FSC and ESPN3.

    As I am getting ready to close on my house and am a new customer, WHAT is the best right now?!?!?
     
  9. nekkibasara

    nekkibasara Member+

    Apr 12, 2004
    Fairfax, Virginia
    Club:
    FC Bayern München
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    My dad has My German TV. He loves it because he watches Deutsche Welle and German cop dramas, but he's not a huge football fan. The biggest problem with the My Sports Germany channel (I think its only on Dish) is that the guide gives you no indication of which game is on.

    I'm watching every single Bundesliga match that GolTV is showing just so they get ratings. Its the best way to tell them that's what we want to see.
     
  10. Boandlkramer

    Boandlkramer Member+

    Apr 9, 2009
    Samma Weltmeister!
    Club:
    FC Bayern München
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    Can you schedule to DVR all the games on GolTV?
     
  11. jkfcb01

    jkfcb01 New Member

    Sep 19, 2012
    Club:
    FC Bayern München
    I was on the phone with them for over an hour and ended up with some discount and the Spanish package with no extra charge. They also gave me a hundred dollar credit which I will wait for it to apply before canceling next month and paying my $450+ early cancellation charge...

    Currently I only see old ABC broadcasts on channel 456 and all of my Bundesliga, Hallo bundesliga, anything bundesliga show as a black screen when I try to watch what I've recorded. Is anyone able to watch any Bundesliga on GolTV right now? I'm really pissed that I spent nearly two hours on the phone with them repeatedly telling them I only care about the German soccer, everything else means nothing. I'm ok with watching in SD for the time being until I can find a streaming option for live matches.

    I'm done giving Directv my money after this month and also tired of getting no response from GolTV online or on their Facebook page. Nobody is talking and I'm done with them all! I bought Directv over eight years ago specifically for this Bundesliga coverage so I'll spend less paying my cancelation fee and scrapping their service, let the cord cutting begin!!!
     
  12. footyfan1

    footyfan1 BigSoccer Supporter

    Oct 20, 2003
    San Antonio, Texas
    Club:
    Borussia Dortmund
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

    You did far better thanI did......
     
  13. Lamprey

    Lamprey Member

    Jul 2, 2010
    Las Vegas
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I have been trying to figure out the same thing. Best place I've seen discussing the "My Germany TV" changes is here:

    http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/289183-German-Sports-channel-changes-to-different-channel

    Here is a response from "My Germany TV" on their coverage changes for this season.

    Thanks for your email!

    Apologies for the changes we had to make re. the new season, but this was unfortunately beyond our power.

    You are right, we can't show the Sunday conference for 1. Bundesliga. But you'll be able to see all the goals in our show "Alle Spiele, alle Tore - Spieltag komplett". Additionally, we show most of the Sunday games and the many of the late afternoon matches from Saturdays in full length on the following Thursdays - three games from 7.00pm EST onwards.
    Maybe that's at least a little compensation.

    Here's an overview of our weekly Bundesliga coverage:

    - A live game on Fridays at 2.00pm EST, followed by the live show "Mein Stadion" at 4.45pm.
    - The live Konferenz for 1. Liga on Saturdays: first tx date: August 25 at
    8.30am, followed by the live show "Alle Spiele, alle Tore" at 10.30am.
    - The live Konferenz for 2. Liga on Sundays; the Konferenz for the third round will be aired on August 26 at 7.00am
    - The third of our three live shows from Sky, "Sky 90", will be aired on
    August 26 at 1.30pm for the first time.
    - And, as mentioned before, three delayed 1. Bundesliga games every Thursday in full length from 7.00pm EST.

    Re. 2 Bundesliga: the situation could change in a couple of months, but we can't tell for sure right now.

    We do hope that you will be able to enjoy what we can offer this year.

    Best wishes from Germany,

    Your My German TV Team
     
  14. Lamprey

    Lamprey Member

    Jul 2, 2010
    Las Vegas
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    My conclusion having looked at the available packages is GolTV is hands down providing the most coverage with 5 to 6 matches per weekend. You have to get past the Spanish station and occasional terrible announcers. But, I cannot imagine this lasts for long. GolTV is going to be bankrupt soon. They were already treading water when they had La Liga. Now their flagship is gone and they have the bizarre (and unmarketable) combination of a spanish station with Bundesliga as their premier football platform. I don't even know if they will last the whole season, but by next year I can't fathom they will still be around and showing 5-6 matches per week.

    Unfortunately, Dish Network who is the 2nd best option right now has tons of uncertainty too. This season they chose to reduce Bundesliga coverage to instead show crappy 30 year old movies. Who knows what they could do in the future. It's just risky. I think the best course of action if you are a die hard Bundesliga fan is do not lock yourself into a long-term contract. We could be looking at a widely different spectrum of who has Bundesliga rights in the near future. Could be Bein, could be Fox Soccer, a new ESPN soccer channel, who the heck knows. I just wouldn't be betting my money on GolTV lasting for the long haul.
     
    Boandlkramer repped this.
  15. Aztattooedsean777

    Aztattooedsean777 Tattooed Football Fanatic

    Liverpool FC
    Netherlands
    Feb 15, 2009
    Chandler, Arizona
    Club:
    Borussia Dortmund
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    I had no problem with spanish announcers for the few years I had Gol tv. I only discovered I could watch it in English when I added HD on my cable coverage. The non HD is in Spanish and the HD channel is in English.


    There are 5 more games this weekend. 1 on Friday, 2 on Saturday and 2 on Sunday.
     
  16. nekkibasara

    nekkibasara Member+

    Apr 12, 2004
    Fairfax, Virginia
    Club:
    FC Bayern München
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    Yes I Tivo all of the matches. I generally don't like to wake up that early on the weekend.
     
  17. Aztattooedsean777

    Aztattooedsean777 Tattooed Football Fanatic

    Liverpool FC
    Netherlands
    Feb 15, 2009
    Chandler, Arizona
    Club:
    Borussia Dortmund
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    that is one good thing about working nights is that I am getting off of work to end my weeks when the matches are just starting.
     
  18. BimmerBenz95

    BimmerBenz95 Member+

    Feb 24, 2012
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The non HD Spanish Goltv is terrible it's all pixelated it looks like I'm watching tv from the 1970's. :mad:
     
  19. Aztattooedsean777

    Aztattooedsean777 Tattooed Football Fanatic

    Liverpool FC
    Netherlands
    Feb 15, 2009
    Chandler, Arizona
    Club:
    Borussia Dortmund
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    Well, I focus on the HD version now but I had been watching the non HD version for a couple years before going to HD. I didn't complain too much as I was just happy to be seeing my favorite football league in the Bundesliga.
     
    Boandlkramer repped this.
  20. footyfan1

    footyfan1 BigSoccer Supporter

    Oct 20, 2003
    San Antonio, Texas
    Club:
    Borussia Dortmund
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

    This is what I'm going to have to get used to. At least until I decide I can switch to cable after the NFL season and get GolTV HD again.....
     
  21. Aztattooedsean777

    Aztattooedsean777 Tattooed Football Fanatic

    Liverpool FC
    Netherlands
    Feb 15, 2009
    Chandler, Arizona
    Club:
    Borussia Dortmund
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands

    Yeah, you keep up to date in all the news so it isn't really like you are missing any key insights from the announcers.
     
  22. Boandlkramer

    Boandlkramer Member+

    Apr 9, 2009
    Samma Weltmeister!
    Club:
    FC Bayern München
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    Dvr....never miss BL Magazine or Hallo BL.
     
  23. footyfan1

    footyfan1 BigSoccer Supporter

    Oct 20, 2003
    San Antonio, Texas
    Club:
    Borussia Dortmund
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    DirecTV must have me pegged. I'm starting not to care.

    However, I still fully intend to go either cable or AT&T U-Verse by next season.

    Again, I'm stuck with DirecTV for this season because I've already paid for NFL Sunday Ticket. :unsure:
     
  24. Boandlkramer

    Boandlkramer Member+

    Apr 9, 2009
    Samma Weltmeister!
    Club:
    FC Bayern München
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    Like you said though...it is volatle right now. Lockng into anything is risky ATM.

    Im just happy to have a 'normal' video and not have to stream
     
  25. footyfan1

    footyfan1 BigSoccer Supporter

    Oct 20, 2003
    San Antonio, Texas
    Club:
    Borussia Dortmund
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

    I'm not trying to follow every match the way I did in Germany anymore. I just don't have the time these days.

    Just too much else to do. I've got every BVB match with the "meinBVB" set-up. I catch the others as I can.

    Maybe I'll just try again next season when I can switch. I might go AT&T U-Verse as a bundle with my wireless. They've got GolTV HD........
     

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