Someone care to explain blackout rules to me?

[slieb85]

I live in Cedar Falls Iowa. I have Cedar Falls Utilities. This game is not on CSN or WGN or CFU's channel (picks up WCIU and CSN+). This game is blacked out in our area for ESPN. The Angels vs Twins a couple of weeks ago was blacked out off ESPN (and we don't have CSN North here). I don't get why any of these games would be blacked out (cause I'm sure this game is sold out, so how does Bud expect me to watch his product?) It's bad enough we don't have professional sports here, but to not be able to watch a team thats 5 hours away, that has virtually every game televised in our area, when they are on a nation channel is a bit ridiculous to me. (End of Rant)

[erik316wttn]

Honestly, I don't think even Bud Selig could fully explain them to you.

 

I thought I heard they're going to be re-evaluated at some point in time, though.

[E.J.]

Yeah, pretty sure MLB itself has no idea what the blackout rules are. They are completely ridiculous.

[RedIvyCub]

I live in Cedar Falls Iowa. I have Cedar Falls Utilities. This game is not on CSN or WGN or CFU's channel (picks up WCIU and CSN+). This game is blacked out in our area for ESPN. The Angels vs Twins a couple of weeks ago was blacked out off ESPN (and we don't have CSN North here). I don't get why any of these games would be blacked out (cause I'm sure this game is sold out, so how does Bud expect me to watch his product?) It's bad enough we don't have professional sports here, but to not be able to watch a team thats 5 hours away, that has virtually every game televised in our area, when they are on a nation channel is a bit ridiculous to me. (End of Rant)

 

First off, unlike the NFL, MLB blackout rules have zero to do with whether or not the game is a sellout. It is all based upon who's market you are in. For example, I am in the market for Cubs, Sox, Reds and Tigers. Any of these teams will be blacked out of me on Wednesday night ESPN as that is how the contract is written. ESPN agrees to blackout the games in their home markets so that local will watch on their local RSN.

 

Here is our problem (yes, I am blacked out as well), WCIU is only broadcast in the Chicagoland area and anyone outside of that area will not see the game. This is why you do not see WGN broadcast a Wednesday night game as well because it would then be on the Superstation for all to see. This is an agreement between ESPN and the local broadcasters put in place years ago. Actually when it started, you could not watch out of market games on the MLB EI package either. Only your local game or the ESPN game. That has sense been changed.

 

There is one option for me but I refuse to do it because the picture is horrible and snowy. I could watch the game on a local station called WMYS which carries Cubs, Sox, Bulls games from WCIU. It is not carried on local cable systems here in North Central Indiana and to really be able to see it, you need a digital receiver. Bottom line, not worth my effort to see if Cuban makes a fool of himself tonight. I am sure that will show up somewhere on TV if he does.

[Ryno12]

I also live in Cedar Falls, but I unfortunately have Mediacom. The game was blacked out on it too, so I went to the gym where they have CFU, hoping they would be carrying the game, but no. I ended up listening to Pat and Ron while following the game on Gameday.

[Yeti]

living in NC, i am in the "home market" of the reds, nationals and braves...go figure...

 

thank providence that i have XM radio...at least i can listen when MLB deems it unnecessary for me to see a game

[Derwood]

MLB Blackout Rules were created by the same SuperComputer[tm] that creates airfare prices