WTH is going on with game broadcasts?

[KSF-ERIC]

In spite of the teams bad start, ratings are better than ever. In the industry of televised sports….. thats how things are measured if they are “going well” or not.

Maybe Root has brought the game to new fans but they lost the old loyal fans in the process.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

He's stated like a thousand times that he's a directv customer... not their streaming service the satellite service. They didn't get NBC/Comcast Sports Network but they do get ROOT.

The funny thing about all of this is that now both Comcast and Directv subscribers get ROOT (I know there are some areas where kinks need to be worked out) plus there are two competitively priced streamers (directvstream, fubotv) that people can get the games on. By including Directv, the television provider with the second largest market share, ROOT has increased access to Blazers games for Blazers fans. That's not considering the fact that right now there are two options for cord cutters... maybe it's ten dollars more or doesn't have all of the channels you've gotten used to but they're still streaming services and I'm pretty sure if you're streaming right now, you're not in a contract and free to switch over to one of these two services that offer Blazers games.

The shit where the Blazers are being preempted by the Kraken is not cool. If you're anywhere in Oregon, it's my understanding that's a mistake and you need to contact ROOT about it so they can fix it. If you're in Washington, outside of the Vancouver area, I'm pretty sure you're fucked. Still the bottom line is that more people that pay for TV in the Portland/Vancouver area are able to watch Blazers games with ROOT than could with NBC Sports. So your complaints that the Blazers care less or continue to care just as little are incorrect. By expanding access they have shown they now care more about how many fans can watch.

And for fucks sake just get on Reddit and stream the shit for free if you don't like the other options.

Problem with Fubo and "the channels I've gotten used to" is that don't have TNT!!!!!! If I want to watch the playoffs, I will need TNT. As for DirecTV stream, there is a big difference between them and YouTubeTV. YouTubeTV records the entire event. If you subscribe to the Blazers, it automatically archives the ENTIRE game. It's not like the old days where you would have to add time to a scheduled program. But the problem with DirecTV Stream is that they don't record it as an event. They record the TIME SLOT. And there is no way to add time. So if you record a 7pm game, it will stop recording after 9:30pm whether the game is over or not. Now you could record the game and then the shows that are on that channel afterward but that's a pretty clunky way to do things. So for the reasons above, I switched the Fubo, then to DirectTV stream, then back to YouTubeTV (for TNT) and adding Fubo. Really expensive but the Blazers are that important to me. What the Blazers need to do is hav their own streaming services. "Blazers Plus" if you will. We pay our $4 or $5 a month and get all the games no matter where we live.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

I don't work for the Blazers and I have not missed a game yet? Seems like all the people trying to find a "Extremely Cheap" or "Free" way to watch the Blazers are the ones complaining. Either they are worth paying for or they aren't. Like i have posted a number of times on different threads. My bill is reasonable and it's the same as last year. Hasn't even gone up. I get every game without problems.

It's not about extremely cheap or free. Hulu and YouTubeTV aren't especially cheap but they had NBCSNW and now the games are on a channel those services don't have. And if we switch to Fubo, we don't get TNT. The Blazers are a big part of my life so I'm willing to spend the money. I just want one solid streaming option and I will switch to it. That doesn't exist.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Your comment was not tagged to anyone in particular so it seemed as though it was a general comment directed toward the discussion. I have been in this discussion for most of the thread. If you don't like the sound of the response that is not my problem and if you want your statement to be left alone maybe don't make it? If you are directing your comment at someone then do so.

Now back to the discussion. You don't have to be paid by the Blazers to be happy with the coverage the way it is. I don't even live in Portland. If they want to find a way to further expand the coverage and make it so even more people have access that would be great also. I'm all for it. Just quit pirating everything and making it more expensive for those of us who are actually paying for it. The very reason it's so hard to stream well is BECAUSE people are trying to steal it. Figure this out and you may understand my stance here.

Using YouTubeTV and Hulu as your streaming service isn't pirating. We pay for those services. They showed Blazers games last year. This year, they don't. We're not trying to steal anything.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Make no mistake. If you are stealing the coverage it is YOUR choice. Yes you made it. Call your provider and figure out how to get all the games. It's not that hard.

It is that hard. My provider is YouTubeTV. I switched to them BECAUSE they offered NBCSNW which showed the games. That's the number one reason I switched to them. Now they've been moved to Fubo which doesn't get TNT so it's a terrible option for a basketball fan. The Blazers didn't consider this when they made the change. Again, I'm willing to pay. But what service am I supposed to get? I've chosen to pay for both YouTubeTV and FuboTV so that I can get both Blazers and TNT but it's ridiculous I should have to do that and some people can't afford to do that.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

Using YouTubeTV and Hulu as your streaming service isn't pirating. We pay for those services. They showed Blazers games last year. This year, they don't. We're not trying to steal anything.

I understand very well what using Fubu, Hulu. You Tube and all the other streaming options are. Go back and read and understand my comment. Making those options available I'm all for. It's the unclassified Streams that are causing the issues here. Root, Comcast, Hulu, You Tube and Fubu are all trying to keep people from pirating the streams and getting the product for free. That is causing the issues. Go read up on it and get back to us.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

Very obvious a number of people on here have completely forgot that the Blazers are an entertainment business. Their Brand Name and everything involved is about making money. All the talking heads in the NBA are about making money off that NBA logo. Ever wondered why TNT can corner the entire Basketball market two days a week? The Blazers are no different. They make decisions based on a contract and what is best for their bottom line. Now those people want to complain about the team making a solid financial decision and them forgetting where the blame falls when they cannot watch the team play. Some of you seem to think you have some predisposed right to watch the Blazers because you post on a Blazers fan site.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Problem with Fubo and "the channels I've gotten used to" is that don't have TNT!!!!!! If I want to watch the playoffs, I will need TNT. As for DirecTV stream, there is a big difference between them and YouTubeTV. YouTubeTV records the entire event. If you subscribe to the Blazers, it automatically archives the ENTIRE game. It's not like the old days where you would have to add time to a scheduled program. But the problem with DirecTV Stream is that they don't record it as an event. They record the TIME SLOT. And there is no way to add time. So if you record a 7pm game, it will stop recording after 9:30pm whether the game is over or not. Now you could record the game and then the shows that are on that channel afterward but that's a pretty clunky way to do things. So for the reasons above, I switched the Fubo, then to DirectTV stream, then back to YouTubeTV (for TNT) and adding Fubo. Really expensive but the Blazers are that important to me. What the Blazers need to do is hav their own streaming services. "Blazers Plus" if you will. We pay our $4 or $5 a month and get all the games no matter where we live.

great thoughts until that last sentence. Try $40-$50 per month. Or $4-$5 per game.

 

[HailBlazers]

Very obvious a number of people on here have completely forgot that the Blazers are an entertainment business. Their Brand Name and everything involved is about making money. All the talking heads in the NBA are about making money off that NBA logo. Ever wondered why TNT can corner the entire Basketball market two days a week? The Blazers are no different. They make decisions based on a contract and what is best for their bottom line. Now those people want to complain about the team making a solid financial decision and them forgetting where the blame falls when they cannot watch the team play. Some of you seem to think you have some predisposed right to watch the Blazers because you post on a Blazers fan site.

Sure but it's 2021. A time when social media and PR rules. The LEAST the Blazers could do is put out a guide that clearly indicates explicitly how fans can watch their team. The whole transition and communication has not been a good look.

 

[Chris Craig]

Apparently, Hulu and YouTube TV declined to pick up Root for it's services. Probably because Root is trying to charge them some unholy amount to carry their channel.

 

[Shaboid]

Apparently, Hulu and YouTube TV declined to pick up Root for it's services. Probably because Root is trying to charge them some unholy amount to carry their channel.

As well as DishNetwork.

 

[THE HCP]

Maybe Root has brought the game to new fans but they lost the old loyal fans in the process.

This team is not losing fans because of this. I’ll say it again, for nearly 15 years, a HUGE portion of the Blazers fan base was not able to see the games at home. Fans didn’t go anywhere because of it and won’t because of this. Move on, get the service that DOES allow you to watch or don’t.

 

[Natebishop3]

the Blazers are an entertainment business

Great. And during a time of great turmoil, why would they make their product harder to consume?

The Denver loss
The Stotts firing
The Billups hiring
The Dame rumors.
The Neil Olshey hate from the fanbase as a whole.

Why the hell would anyone think it's a good idea to go strictly for the dollars and make your product harder to come by? It's not good business.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Apparently, Hulu and YouTube TV declined to pick up Root for it's services. Probably because Root is trying to charge them some unholy amount to carry their channel.

and the Blazers chose to go with a cutthroat channel.
Blazer are to blame as well.

 

[Orion Bailey]

This team is not losing fans because of this. I’ll say it again, for nearly 15 years, a HUGE portion of the Blazers fan base was not able to see the games at home. Fans didn’t go anywhere because of it and won’t because of this. Move on, get the service that DOES allow you to watch or don’t.

And again. Times change, Blazers didn't change With the times.

 

[Natebishop3]

And again. Times change, Blazers didn't change With the times.

Technology has changed..... but have the times really changed?

 

[Orion Bailey]

Technology has changed..... but have the times really changed?

touche!

 

[THE HCP]

And again. Times change, Blazers didn't change With the times.

And again, they are in the business of making money. Always have been , always will. That won’t change with any times.

 

[Natebishop3]

“A Time of Great Turmoil”

You disagree?

 

[julius]

This team is not losing fans because of this. I’ll say it again, for nearly 15 years, a HUGE portion of the Blazers fan base was not able to see the games at home. Fans didn’t go anywhere because of it and won’t because of this. Move on, get the service that DOES allow you to watch or don’t.

Actually, they are. It's the "out of sight, out of mind" issue. It's much easier to just move on if you aren't reminded of games being on TV as often. The Blazers are not nearly as popular as they were in the 80's and 90's, and even early 2000's. Yes, part of that is because there is more options, but it's also that the team didn't make an effort to widen their audience.

Hell, my dad, who has been a Blazer fan since the early 70's, used to text me during the games and after the games. Now that the games aren't on a channel he gets, he doesn't. Of the games that haven't been on a channel he gets, he's remembered that 0 of the games were on. Usually i'll text him and ask if he's listened the games and he's like "ooh, they had a game tonight?"

He's retired so he has nothing else to do.


They used to use the excuse that it would take away from fans going to the games, which was BS at the time (the MC was sold out).

But here's the thing, why were they fine with a "HUGE" (as you put it) portion of their fan base unable to watch their product? There's only so many fans that can go to games, and will go to games. That market is pretty much tapped. But what about the new fans who are growing up and not able to watch games? Why were they fine with that for almost 15 years?

Because they don't *care* about the fans.

If you just spent the last 14 years on a channel that had a limited audience and you're moving on to a "better" channel, I hope they would've learned from the experience and when you do switch to another provider, don't brag about gaining Alaska when people in your own market are hosed? I don't give two fucks about Alaska getting to watch games, same with Seattle. Fuck them both.

Here's an idea, already have it in writing that they are close in negotiations with providers, instead of "sorry, game is delayed for an expansion team in another state".

Also, it's pretty funny you saying you didn't get the games at your home...um, you *work* for the team, so you not being able to watch games at home is meaningless to each and every one of us.

 

[THE HCP]

You disagree?

It’s funny to me that you think the status of the team has ANY effect/affect on where the games would be broadcasted from. Had as much impact on the decision as the weather did.

 

[THE HCP]

Actually, they are. It's the "out of sight, out of mind" issue. It's much easier to just move on if you aren't reminded of games being on TV as often. The Blazers are not nearly as popular as they were in the 80's and 90's, and even early 2000's. Yes, part of that is because there is more options, but it's also that the team didn't make an effort to widen their audience.

Hell, my dad, who has been a Blazer fan since the early 70's, used to text me during the games and after the games. Now that the games aren't on a channel he gets, he doesn't. Of the games that haven't been on a channel he gets, he's remembered that 0 of the games were on. Usually i'll text him and ask if he's listened the games and he's like "ooh, they had a game tonight?"

He's retired so he has nothing else to do.


They used to use the excuse that it would take away from fans going to the games, which was BS at the time (the MC was sold out).

But here's the thing, why were they fine with a "HUGE" (as you put it) portion of their fan base unable to watch their product? There's only so many fans that can go to games, and will go to games. That market is pretty much tapped. But what about the new fans who are growing up and not able to watch games? Why were they fine with that for almost 15 years?

Because they don't *care* about the fans.

If you just spent the last 14 years on a channel that had a limited audience and you're moving on to a "better" channel, I hope they would've learned from the experience and when you do switch to another provider, don't brag about gaining Alaska when people in your own market are hosed? I don't give two fucks about Alaska getting to watch games, same with Seattle. Fuck them both.

Here's an idea, already have it in writing that they are close in negotiations with providers, instead of "sorry, game is delayed for an expansion team in another state".

Also, it's pretty funny you saying you didn't get the games at your home...um, you *work* for the team, so you not being able to watch games at home is meaningless to each and every one of us.

Great points until the end. I have said in the past, that my family hasn’t been able to watch. My wife and kids had to go to the in-laws whenever they wanted to see a game. They would much rather have watched it at home for sure. Just curious where the uproar and anger has been for the past decade plus?

 

[Natebishop3]

It’s funny to me that you think the status of the team has ANY effect/affect on where the games would be broadcasted from. Had as much impact on the decision as the weather did.

Then that's just bad business. If people are already disillusioned or frustrated with the team, then making it harder to watch the team could be a final blow / another nail in the coffin.

 

[julius]

Great points until the end. I have said in the past, that my family hasn’t been able to watch. My wife and kids had to go to the in-laws whenever they wanted to see a game. They would much rather have watched it at home for sure. Just curious where the uproar and anger has been for the past decade plus?

It was there. But once I was finally able to get a provider that had the channel (both of the providers I found didn't exist when comcastSNW started, and one is no longer an option anyways).

It's the greed of things that bugs me. And it's not the Blazers greed, it's Root Sports greed. But the Blazers saw money and didn't think about anything else. I understand they're a business, but businesses that alienate their audience don't thrive.

 

[Orion Bailey]

And again, they are in the business of making money. Always have been , always will. That won’t change with any times.

understood. But all businesses who sell a product care alot about how accessible it is.
Do you think inventors don't want their products on every shelf in every store, vs having to search online for it or something?

all businesses will want thier product to be as accessible as possible if they actually plan to grow.

 

[Natebishop3]

understood. But all businesses who sell a product care alot about how accessible it is.
Do you think inventors don't want their products on every shelf in every store, vs having to search online for it of something?

all businesses will want thier product to be as accessible as possible if they actually plan to grow.

It would be like a manufacturer using a store chain that's in the middle of BFE and only that store chain. Can't buy online. Can't buy from local stores like Fred Meyer. You have to drive all the way out to some store in Washington.

 

[Orion Bailey]

It would be like a manufacturer using a store chain that's in the middle of BFE and only that store chain. Can't buy online. Can't buy from local stores like Fred Meyer. You have to drive all the way out to some store in Washington.

well put.

 

[julius]

Then that's just bad business. If people are already disillusioned or frustrated with the team, then making it harder to watch the team could be a final blow / another nail in the coffin.

That's exactly what happened with my brother. He was a bigger fan of the Blazers than I was. But once the availability of the channel was in question, he stopped.

Why, you might be asking? Why didn't he just hunt and peck for another way to watch the game?

Because the stuff he likes is available on OTA tv (he, like me, has youtubetv). He's into nascar shit now.

Why, though, doesn't he want to spend extra money to jump around the system and watch the games somehow else?

Because he wants to spend his money on his children and not waste money on stuff. That's a debate that is going on with a LOT of families now-a-days too.

 

[julius]

It would be like a manufacturer using a store chain that's in the middle of BFE and only that store chain. Can't buy online. Can't buy from local stores like Fred Meyer. You have to drive all the way out to some store in Washington.

It's why places like Toys R Us went out of business. They didn't make it easily accessible for customers.

 

[Natebishop3]

That's exactly what happened with my brother. He was a bigger fan of the Blazers than I was. But once the availability of the channel was in question, he stopped.

Why, you might be asking? Why didn't he just hunt and peck for another way to watch the game?

Because the stuff he likes is available on OTA tv (he, like me, has youtubetv). He's into nascar shit now.

Why, though, doesn't he want to spend extra money to jump around the system and watch the games somehow else?

Because he wants to spend his money on his children and not waste money on stuff. That's a debate that is going on with a LOT of families now-a-days too.

It was hard enough to swallow the cost of YoutubeTV. I'm not going to pick up Comcast or DirectTV. At least Youtube is easy to pause or cancel. I despise Comcast and DirectTV.

And as far as pirating, that's great when I have time to go sit at my computer, but right now if I can't get it on my tv I probably won't be able to watch it.