First Game
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You are missing the main issue…yes, ESPN3 is fairly available but it is blacked out in the entire state and the extended KC Metro Area. For example, the KSU exhibition game against Fort Hays is coming up at 2:00 pm on Fox and readily available; KU’s exhibition games? Not so much.
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@BShark as I see it: I used to be able to watch 100% of KU’s games on basic cable. Easy peasey.
Now 1/4 of the games are something I would’ve had to search for if I still had basic cable. It’s a lot more work than just finding the channel to see the KU game, but you are correct it’s still possible to see every game.
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I’m ticked too. Now I’ve got to decide between going trick or treating or watching the game. I already bought my scooby doo costume and everything.
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wissox said:
I’m ticked too. Now I’ve got to decide between going trick or treating or watching the game. I already bought my scooby doo costume and everything.
Zoinks!
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JayHawkFanToo said:
You are missing the main issue…yes, ESPN3 is fairly available but it is blacked out in the entire state and the extended KC Metro Area. For example, the KSU exhibition game against Fort Hays is coming up at 2:00 pm on Fox and readily available; KU’s exhibition games? Not so much.
Fox Sports KC probably has about the same reach as Spectrum Sports.
@dylans There are 6 “problem” games. They are available to easily stream online. Everything else is on a major network (ESPN/ESPN2/FS1/CBS). I guess I’m the only one that just fails to be annoyed by it anymore because you and JayHawkFanToo are far from alone in your opinion on the matter.
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@BShark so far SZ is not to great at hiring women’s bb coaches either. Would that be 0-3? I’m pretty sure he’s lost us more than he’s raised.
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Crimsonorblue22 said:
@BShark so far SZ is not to great at hiring women’s bb coaches either. Would that be 0-3? I’m pretty sure he’s lost us more than he’s raised.
Wouldn’t mind seeing him get canned. My comment about KU not being a football school was meant to be a bit snarky and imply that he probably gets fired from any other AD job for his football hires. If Beaty gets fired, Zenger had better go with him IMO.
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@BShark how am I able to easily stream them online if they are blacked out by my cable provider (consolidated)? I would live to know how I can access them. I am in KC.
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@Fightsongwriter several workarounds. Some people use their phone as a hot spot. You can also download an application that changes your VPN. Works just fine usually. Games are also posted to ESPN3 shortly after if you can wait up that late or watch them the next day.
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@JayHawkFanToo I cut the cord. Now I have to figure out how to see games this year.
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@JayHawkFanToo blacked out clear down to NW Arkansas. Did have some success previously with a IP Blicker add on.
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The truth is that most KU fans/viewers don’t have a clue on how to use a VPN and would prefer to tune in directly via their local cable provider. TW/Spectrum Metro Sports has a monopoly on several basketball games, a few football games and most women’s basketball and volleyball games. KU fans in the city with the largest fan base should not have to jump through hoops to watch their favorite teams; I have better and easier access to all of KSU and MU games than I do KU…that is not right by any stretch of the imagination. Blacking our the entire state and giving broadcast monopoly to one station and not even getting any money in return equates to a lousy deal any way you look at it.
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I will watch the games. The casual fans, like my parents, won’t. And that sucks as it took me years to get them to watch KU in the first place, as of right now their interest is fair, but waining.
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I don’t mind when they don’t let competing outlets in an area carry games, because they have an interest in trying to use unique programming to attract customers. And blackouts to protect attendance make sense.
But blackouts when an arena is sold out, and refusing to sell an event to other providers in areas where they are not competitors, makes no sense.
Worse for Dodgers fans in LA. Half the population cannot see their regular season games.
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My annual rant. I don’t live anywhere near Kansas and I can watch all of these games on ESPN3. How dumb is that? And we can’t even blame our most hated sports network either. It’s our own AD. It makes my blood boil to be honest knowing how difficult it is for KU fans to watch their teams games.
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@JayHawkFanToo Didn’t Time Warner pay KU for the right to be exclusive on some of this? The whole Tier 3 rights? You said they are “not even getting any money in return”? I assume you mean KU isn’t getting paid, which I guess I’m not following.
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@JayHawkFanToo Never said otherwise. Just helping to provide options until something changes.
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KU did not get any money out of the deal with TW/Spectrum Metro Sports, they got “in kind” programming in return that broadcasts minor sports such as rowing and women’s soccer and KU sports news. I bet that in the KC Metro area alone more people would watch the upcoming exhibition game against Pitt State than the combined audience of all other sports (not including football) combined in an entire year. Realistically, other than the families and close friends, how many people would you say watch the women’s rowing team? 100? Less?
There are two sports that make money football and men’s basketball, all other sports do not cover their own expenses and only exits because of the two money makers.
Here is a write upwith some details. This story describes the procedure for other providers to get the programming. I contacted SureWest at the time and subsequently and was told that TW made it so expensive to get the programming that made it impossible for them or any of the other providers to get it and sure enough, none has gotten it to date.
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@JayHawkFanToo Thanks for the info. Your first link didn’t work, fyi. Could you double check that? I’d seen that second one and it didn’t mention the money part. I am really shocked that KU didn’t get money out of this. Did not know that. So we get black outs for no compensation? Yikes.
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Link should be working now. Zenger really alienated the fan base in KC big time.
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@JayHawkFanToo but at least you have the option of getting it. My relatives in western ks don’t. If they did they would pay for it.
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I hear you, I would have to switch to Comcast since TW is not quite yet available in my area. If you have internet you can always get something like Sling, Hulu, DirectTV, PSVue or one of the streaming TV providers that carries ESPN3 and get it this way. As you know, I have been against this contract from the beginning since I don’t believe is in the best interest of Kansans living in Kansas.
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Does anyone know when this contract is up? I’d love to see the blackout restrictions for ESPN3 removed…
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@JayHawkFanToo Thanks. I didn’t see where there was a statement that KU didn’t get compensated, though.
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It was discussed at the time and that is what did it for many of us. I will try to find an article that spells it out. You can see that all the talk is about all the extra programming KU will be getting and not one mention of money.
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@JayHawkFanToo for myself, I love it. Get hawk talk, Jayhawk insider, vb, KU relays, press pass, pre and postgame interviews, all I need. Well worth it.
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I’ve got a fixed antenna set up in the attic, but I like the looks of this one. I may be able to pick up a couple more channels with it. I know in/near KC you can get a ton of channels over the air.
Mostly we use netflix and vudu. Other than KU games it’s rare that the tv is on to entertain the adults.
