MLBN and AT&T U-Verse

[Southpaw191679666239]

Does anyone who has AT&T U-Verse know if MLB Network is available? I printed out a channel list from the AT&T website and it's not on there.

 

I'm leaving Comcast when I move at the end of May and I'm checking all options.

[satxcubfan]

I believe U-Verse uses Dish Network. That alone would deter me!

[mhuber92211]

whats wrong with Dish?

[CubColtPacer]

I believe U-Verse uses Dish Network. That alone would deter me!

 

AT&T does contract with one of the satellite companies (although I believe it is now DirectTV but it was Dish for quite a while).

 

However, U-verse is a completely different product. It's not satellite at all. It uses an Internet Protocol service to send the information. You have no dish and it sometimes runs with the same coax cable that your cable company would use but it also might use Cat 5 cable to run the information. Until it hits your neighborhood, the information runs on much better fiber.

 

As for the original question, U-verse does not carry the MLB network right now. Hopefully they'll get it soon as it is really sad that the cable companies have it and Uverse doesn't.

 

I personally am willing to trade it for being able to have CSN and getting 70 more Cubs games a year than I was with cable because of what market I'm in. I do know that's not the case for most people though.

[NCCubFan]

whats wrong with Dish?

Fewer HD channels than DirecTV, no MLB Extra Innings, no NFL Sunday Ticket. Three strikes; they're out.

[Soul]

whats wrong with Dish?

Fewer HD channels than DirecTV, no MLB Extra Innings, no NFL Sunday Ticket. Three strikes; they're out.

 

Wow, no NFLST or even MLBEI?

 

cya.

[kujay]

I would consider going to U-verse (from Directv) because they have four-tuner DVRs and multi-room viewing (MVR -- can record on one DVR and watch on any other TV). I've heard there are some hitches with the MVR that make it not as awesome as it sounds, but it's better than paying Directv for two DVRs.

 

All that aside though, I love Directv. The service rarely has weather issues, the HD is great, and the extras they have are great. Like the Masters channels and all the extra Olympics coverage. And during the hurricanes last fall, they added local New Orleans and Houston news channels that were running continuous coverage.

[Derwood]

NFL Sunday Ticket is a DirecTV exclusive

[Guest]

NFL Sunday Ticket is a DirecTV exclusive

 

Do we know how long this contract is good for? I would imagine that cable companies would love to provide NFL games sooner rather than later.

 

And I would think that a pay per view type format would probably make the NFL and the associated satellite/cable providers the most money.

 

While a package could be put in place for home viewers, most games take place at the same times, making it difficult for people with one tv in a given room. Selling games individually would seem like the best way for them to make a ton of money.

[kujay]

Do we know how long this contract is good for? I would imagine that cable companies would love to provide NFL games sooner rather than later.

 

http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/industries/media/nfl-directv-extend-nfl-sunday-tickettm-agreement--season/

 

Sounds like later...

[Guest]

Do we know how long this contract is good for? I would imagine that cable companies would love to provide NFL games sooner rather than later.

 

http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/industries/media/nfl-directv-extend-nfl-sunday-tickettm-agreement--season/

 

Sounds like later...

 

Thanks for the link. Interesting. Kind of a bummer, though. I don't mind going to a local bar to watch Sunday football games, but with On Demand programming, I would have thought that NFL could make more money selling games individually.

 

The article did say that 17.9 million people currently have DirectTV. But, I wonder how many of those people actually order Sunday Ticket outside of bars/restaraunts. Granted, bars and restaraunts do pay big bucks for Sunday Ticket.

[kujay]

The article did say that 17.9 million people currently have DirectTV. But, I wonder how many of those people actually order Sunday Ticket outside of bars/restaraunts. Granted, bars and restaraunts do pay big bucks for Sunday Ticket.

 

Apparently Directv doesn't publish that number:

 

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/california/ci_11989270

 

It also sounds like by 2012 there will be some sort of broadband version of ST offered to non-Directv subscribers.

 

I don't even subscribe to ST because it's ridiculously expensive and I'd rather pay for Center Ice and Extra Innings, but I like having the option to do so.

[Guest]

The article did say that 17.9 million people currently have DirectTV. But, I wonder how many of those people actually order Sunday Ticket outside of bars/restaraunts. Granted, bars and restaraunts do pay big bucks for Sunday Ticket.

 

Apparently Directv doesn't publish that number:

 

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/california/ci_11989270

 

It also sounds like by 2012 there will be some sort of broadband version of ST offered to non-Directv subscribers.

 

I don't even subscribe to ST because it's ridiculously expensive and I'd rather pay for Center Ice and Extra Innings, but I like having the option to do so.

 

Yeah, but it's dirt cheap to go watch the games at the bar, if you don't count the food and drinks. Unfortunately, if you don't live in Bear Country, you're not going to get much luck getting sound with the Bears games.

[jersey cubs fan]

The article did say that 17.9 million people currently have DirectTV. But, I wonder how many of those people actually order Sunday Ticket outside of bars/restaraunts. Granted, bars and restaraunts do pay big bucks for Sunday Ticket.

 

Apparently Directv doesn't publish that number:

 

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/california/ci_11989270

 

It also sounds like by 2012 there will be some sort of broadband version of ST offered to non-Directv subscribers.

 

I don't even subscribe to ST because it's ridiculously expensive and I'd rather pay for Center Ice and Extra Innings, but I like having the option to do so.

 

Yeah, but it's dirt cheap to go watch the games at the bar, if you don't count the food and drinks. Unfortunately, if you don't live in Bear Country, you're not going to get much luck getting sound with the Bears games.

 

Seriously, between the lack of choice viewing space at any bar around here, and the extra money I'd spend if I went to the bar 16 Sundays a year, paying for Sunday Ticket is a no brainer for me.

[kujay]

I found decent (free and illegal) online feeds for most Bears game this year and that was fine.

 

I went to a bar to watch one game (the Atlanta debacle, of course). Ended up spending about $60 on booze and food. So yeah, ST would be more economical if I was doing that every week.

[Guest]

The article did say that 17.9 million people currently have DirectTV. But, I wonder how many of those people actually order Sunday Ticket outside of bars/restaraunts. Granted, bars and restaraunts do pay big bucks for Sunday Ticket.

 

Apparently Directv doesn't publish that number:

 

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/california/ci_11989270

 

It also sounds like by 2012 there will be some sort of broadband version of ST offered to non-Directv subscribers.

 

I don't even subscribe to ST because it's ridiculously expensive and I'd rather pay for Center Ice and Extra Innings, but I like having the option to do so.

 

Yeah, but it's dirt cheap to go watch the games at the bar, if you don't count the food and drinks. Unfortunately, if you don't live in Bear Country, you're not going to get much luck getting sound with the Bears games.

 

Seriously, between the lack of choice viewing space at any bar around here, and the extra money I'd spend if I went to the bar 16 Sundays a year, paying for Sunday Ticket is a no brainer for me.

 

Do you have DirecTV? I'm perfectly happy with my cable company and have no intention of switching. If NFL is satisfied with limiting their options on Sunday Ticket, I guess I'll have to be satisfied too.

 

Out of curiosity, how much is Sunday Ticket for a household? I know the bars pay based on occupant capacities.

[CubColtPacer]

The article did say that 17.9 million people currently have DirectTV. But, I wonder how many of those people actually order Sunday Ticket outside of bars/restaraunts. Granted, bars and restaraunts do pay big bucks for Sunday Ticket.

 

Apparently Directv doesn't publish that number:

 

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/california/ci_11989270

 

It also sounds like by 2012 there will be some sort of broadband version of ST offered to non-Directv subscribers.

 

I don't even subscribe to ST because it's ridiculously expensive and I'd rather pay for Center Ice and Extra Innings, but I like having the option to do so.

 

Yeah, but it's dirt cheap to go watch the games at the bar, if you don't count the food and drinks. Unfortunately, if you don't live in Bear Country, you're not going to get much luck getting sound with the Bears games.

 

Seriously, between the lack of choice viewing space at any bar around here, and the extra money I'd spend if I went to the bar 16 Sundays a year, paying for Sunday Ticket is a no brainer for me.

 

Do you have DirecTV? I'm perfectly happy with my cable company and have no intention of switching. If NFL is satisfied with limiting their options on Sunday Ticket, I guess I'll have to be satisfied too.

 

Out of curiosity, how much is Sunday Ticket for a household? I know the bars pay based on occupant capacities.

 

It looks like their early bird price this year is $279.99. I know that in previous years they charged an extra $100 if you wanted the games in HD and I would assume they are continuing that.

[jersey cubs fan]

Do you have DirecTV? I'm perfectly happy with my cable company and have no intention of switching. If NFL is satisfied with limiting their options on Sunday Ticket, I guess I'll have to be satisfied too.

 

Out of curiosity, how much is Sunday Ticket for a household? I know the bars pay based on occupant capacities.

 

I don't know what it is right now. But I want to say that all in (sunday ticket plus HD superfan) it's getting up toward $300. Yes, I have directv, and it will start to show up on my bill right around August. I don't understand why the NFL only lets directv use the ticket, but I read that directv will pay the league regardless of whether there is a season in 2011, which is the season that might see a huge CBA fight.

 

I was curious about what bars pay and found this on their site:

Fire Code Occupancy 2008 Season Fee

1-50

51-100

101-200

201-350

351-500

501-750

751-1,000

1,001-1,500

1,501-2,000

2,001-5,000

5,001-10,000

10,001+ $899.00

$999.00

$2,399.00

$3,299.00

$3,699.00

$3,999.00

$4,999.00

$7,999.00

$9,999.00

$18,999.00

$37,999.00

$45,799.00

[Guest]

Interesting numbers for the bars. Not as expensive as I thought it was for fairly small places.

[Derwood]

It's amazing how much more NFL Sunday Ticket is compared to MLB EI on a $/game basis

[Guest]

It's amazing how much more NFL Sunday Ticket is compared to MLB EI on a $/game basis

 

It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to ask for that kind of price. Due to Regional games, fans from the town their team plays in can generally watch their team on TV for free. Out of market fans are the ones who would order Sunday Ticket the most.

 

I was able to watch the Bears on my own tv for nearly half their games last year. I'd still pay the price for Sunday Ticket (if it was an option with my cable company), but I could see a lot of people shying away from that price, especially if you can already watch your favorite team for free half the time.

 

My hangout offers up free breakfast burritos and no cover charge and shows every game, so I guess I'll just continue going there for the games.

 

With fantasy football as big as it is right now, you'd think they would look for ways to capitalize on viewership.

[jersey cubs fan]

It's amazing how much more NFL Sunday Ticket is compared to MLB EI on a $/game basis

 

It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to ask for that kind of price. Due to Regional games, fans from the town their team plays in can generally watch their team on TV for free. Out of market fans are the ones who would order Sunday Ticket the most.

 

It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to make that statement. They ask for that price because they can ask for that price and they continue to increase sales.

[kujay]

It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to ask for that kind of price. Due to Regional games, fans from the town their team plays in can generally watch their team on TV for free. Out of market fans are the ones who would order Sunday Ticket the most.

 

Right, but there are a ton of out-of-market fans. Plus somebody mentioned all the fantasy people. I wouldn't buy ST just for that, but I'm sure people do. Between those two groups, obviously there is a market for ST and Directv can get what they are charging.

 

It's not worth the price to me, especially with the additional $100 for HD (and I would never get ST without the HD), but clearly there is a market for it.

[Guest]

I would consider going to U-verse (from Directv) because they have four-tuner DVRs and multi-room viewing (MVR -- can record on one DVR and watch on any other TV). I've heard there are some hitches with the MVR that make it not as awesome as it sounds, but it's better than paying Directv for two DVRs.

 

I have Dish and have a dual-tuner DVR that's hooked up to two TV's, family room and bedroom, and it's pretty nice (no problems whatsoever as far as any hitches). It allows both my wife and I to watch something at the same time. It was actually one of the reasons I chose Dish over DirecTV - didn't want to pay for the extra DVR plus the installation.

[Proven Veteran]

I'd like to see them offer something cheaper for one team's games. I only want to see the Bears games, and I have no interest in any other games. Not going to pay $300 for that.