Oh the lengths we go to to watch our beloved team... This thread is mainly for United fans who a) are DISH network/MLS Shootout subscribers and b) don't get either Comcast OR MSG (the NY-area network that carries metros games). In other words if you don't live near either DC or NY and have DISH. Everyone else can read of our plight and chortle, moan, guffaw, sigh, rant, or whatever you wish. Even make helpful suggestions for us exiles! As you know DISH users, the DISH version of MLS shootout does not carry any games except the Saturday ones. The upcoming game, the Most Important Game Of The Year, is on Sunday so there's no DISH coverage. UNLESS you go the extra step: Call DISH and sign up for the multi-sports package for $5/month. the multi sports package includes Comcast and MSG and all those regional cable Fox sports channels. Then you can watch the game for essentially a $5 PPV fee. As a bonus, and if you subscribe soon enough, the Empire sports channel has a weekly metros show where they will preview the upcoming game. Then after the game you can call DISH back up and cancel your subscription. Or, if you are like me and you notice that quite a few MLS games from now on aren't on Saturday, including playoff games, you may just want to keep the package until, oh, mid-October when the MLS season ends.
Skip - one thing to note. A lot of the games on the Regional sports channels get blacked out. There is a good chance this will be one of them. Someone else who has this package might have more information than me
If the game is not shown on your Regional Sports Network (CSN for the DC area) then it will be blacked out. The reason for this is the Shootout. If the Shootout didn't exist than the games would be available much like the WUSA games were available on the other RSN's outside your area.
So what you are saying is that if the game is not on Skip's station in LA it will be blacked out if he orders the package?
Actually, Skip almost had the procedure correct. If you live outside the DC area, you won't be able to watch the game live on Comcast and if you live outside the NY area, you won't be able to watch the game live on MSG Network. The game will be blacked-out. HOWEVER, you can watch the game on replays. MSG Network (channel 412) will be replaying the game at midnight ET. Comcast SportsNet will be replaying the game at 1:30 AM ET. And I can confirm that replays are not blacked-out on DISH.
The Shootout package on DISH Network only includes Saturday games. And even though he might get the MSG Network or Comcast SportsNet on DISH and even though he might subscribe to the Shootout, he still won't get that game live. Stupid? You bet. But replays aren't blacked out.
Dish Network also charges you a $5 fee if you drop programming. So the charge would be $10, for a game on tape delay.
No offense guys, but this is one of those rare times when I feel the superiority of digital cable. Of course, I'm back down to size when Fox Sports World comes up and I have to re-read the e-mails from my cable company about how Fox is screwing with them. But that's another story for another time. Good luck getting it. E-mail MLS about the lengths you go to so maybe they can get this improved for next year. They were very helpful for me when they were ironing out the digital cable Shootout details.
Right. Thanks for the correction. I don't mind replays as I've gotten quite used to watching WC games at a decent hour and living my life as I want to.
Correct. Becuase of the shootout and blackout rules he won't be able to get the game live. As others have pointed out MSG replays Metro games later on and these are viewable to anyone who can get MSG. It took me a while to understand the blackout rules but basically it comes down to this (and this goes for most leagues): If there is a pay-per-view package (NFL season ticket, NBA Seasonpass etc. . ) then you will only see games that are broadcast on your Regional Sports network live.