1) On the dish network website, they list espn alternate, espn2 alternate... what are these? 2) I was at a sports bar watching MLS Shootout (i believe via Direct TV). After the game ended, the screen didn't go black, but instead showed Best Damn. I thought it would go black, since they probably had shootout on.. or did they manage to pick the feed up directly from the FSR?
1) The nice thing about satellite...when ESPN chooses to show alternate games in the markets where their main game would be blacked out, the satellite viewers can watch both the regular game (as long as they're not in the blackout area) AND the alternate game. That's what the ESPN & ESPN2 Alternates are. They'll only appear when alternate games are showing. 2) When you buy a package like Shootout, MLB Extra Innings, etc, the feed they show is in fact from the regional Fox Sports Net affiliate. Usually, the Shootout channel will go black after the game is over, but sometimes whoever's controlling things back at Dish or DirecTV is asleep at the switch and you'll see whatever comes on next on the RSN.