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Ohio Basketball Topic
Topic: MAC TV Package
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TheRealMikeDrake
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Posted: 10/15/2013 4:13 PM
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Rejoice TWC subscribers.  

As a directv'er, hopefully the MAC website shows the games online (50% success rate so far, from what I've seen).  Conference tournament week just got a little less fun for me.
PhiTau74
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Posted: 10/15/2013 4:23 PM
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You can get ESPN Full Court through Directv so you can get some games that way. I dropped Time warner as well but I can get ESPN 3 because I have AT&T U Verse for my wireless.
cbarber357
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Posted: 10/15/2013 5:43 PM
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This should be cool. It'll be nice during christmas break since my parents both have TWC. They really need to make that channel available in the dorms here though
anorris
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Posted: 10/16/2013 2:04 PM
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cbarber357 wrote:expand_more
This should be cool. It'll be nice during christmas break since my parents both have TWC. They really need to make that channel available in the dorms here though
!!!!?!!?! Seriously? Campus cable comes through TWC and it isn't made available on campus?? That's horrendous.
cbarber357
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Posted: 10/16/2013 5:33 PM
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if it is, I haven't found it
Bleed Green & White
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Posted: 10/17/2013 10:33 AM
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The change to Time Warner Sports channel is the worst excuse for a TV package I've seen in a long time. They have essentially made MAC Basketball a fringe sport that will be watched by very few. This is two steps back. I'd venture to guess HS basketball games will get better ratings. Hell, maybe even those crappy yukster golf shows on STO, where the only reason you're watching is to see what the athletic young lady is wearing and wishing the women at the public course you play at would wear something as flattering.

Who wants to make a wager that there will be more people at an EMU men's game than watch a weeknight matchup on TWSC.

Screw any chance at a casual viewer, bar viewers, game watches, etc. Dont they know its all about the number of peepers?
Ohio69
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Posted: 10/17/2013 10:37 AM
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Bleed Green & White wrote:expand_more
The change to Time Warner Sports channel is the worst excuse for a TV package I've seen in a long time. They have essentially made MAC Basketball a fringe sport that will be watched by very few. This is two steps back. I'd venture to guess HS basketball games will get better ratings. Hell, maybe even those crappy yukster golf shows on STO, where the only reason you're watching is to see what the athletic young lady is wearing and wishing the women at the public course you play at would wear something as flattering.

Who wants to make a wager that there will be more people at an EMU men's game than watch a weeknight matchup on TWSC.

Screw any chance at a casual viewer, bar viewers, game watches, etc. Dont they know its all about the number of peepers?


Are you sure other channels wanted to show MAC Basketball?
GoCats105
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Posted: 10/17/2013 12:40 PM
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PhiTau74 wrote:expand_more
You can get ESPN Full Court through Directv so you can get some games that way. I dropped Time warner as well but I can get ESPN 3 because I have AT&T U Verse for my wireless.


If the basketball package is in any way similar to the football package, good luck viewing that on ESPN3 if you are in Ohio. Found that out the hard way for the CMU game this past weekend. BLACKOUT

I see you are from SC though, so you'll be ok. Others beware.
Last Edited: 10/17/2013 2:26:40 PM by GoCats105
Bball Jones
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Posted: 10/17/2013 12:43 PM
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What happened to STO? What about the announcers who new and had a history with the players? was this a money decision? I liked the STO broadcasts! Has STO gone defunct! I'm not sure I like this change!!
catfan28
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Posted: 10/17/2013 2:01 PM
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anorris wrote:expand_more
Seriously? Campus cable comes through TWC and it isn't made available on campus?? That's horrendous.


You do realize it's on like channel 1,396 or something. Campus cable is likely pretty basic, I would think
JSF
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Posted: 10/17/2013 7:04 PM
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catfan28 wrote:expand_more
Seriously? Campus cable comes through TWC and it isn't made available on campus?? That's horrendous.


You do realize it's on like channel 1,396 or something. Campus cable is likely pretty basic, I would think


It would be very easy to add it to the dorm lineup.
Pataskala
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Posted: 10/17/2013 8:11 PM
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I've been getting the ESPN3 football games on TWC interent, even last week's CMU game, which was supposed to be blacked out in Ohio.  It could be because we've upgraded to a higher level internet service.
Last Edited: 10/17/2013 8:13:25 PM by Pataskala
Bleed Green & White
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Posted: 10/18/2013 11:05 AM
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Ohio69 wrote:expand_more
The change to Time Warner Sports channel is the worst excuse for a TV package I've seen in a long time. They have essentially made MAC Basketball a fringe sport that will be watched by very few. This is two steps back. I'd venture to guess HS basketball games will get better ratings. Hell, maybe even those crappy yukster golf shows on STO, where the only reason you're watching is to see what the athletic young lady is wearing and wishing the women at the public course you play at would wear something as flattering.

Who wants to make a wager that there will be more people at an EMU men's game than watch a weeknight matchup on TWSC.

Screw any chance at a casual viewer, bar viewers, game watches, etc. Dont they know its all about the number of peepers?


Are you sure other channels wanted to show MAC Basketball?
No, and that's really the main issue here. The product, it's value (both fan, network, & conference perception), and ultimately how it's sold.

I think the MAC has been way off on their strategy. I don't see the investment in solutions that will grow fan bases and improve viewership. Hiding the product on the highest shelf in the corner wot help. You've got to put the product at least within reach. I admit I don't know the economics behind TV deals, but I have to think there's a discount we could offer for better coverage. Lower cost for product, easier to make a profit off distributing?
Pataskala
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Posted: 10/18/2013 12:45 PM
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Bleed Green & White wrote:expand_more
No, and that's really the main issue here. The product, it's value (both fan, network, & conference perception), and ultimately how it's sold.

I think the MAC has been way off on their strategy. I don't see the investment in solutions that will grow fan bases and improve viewership. Hiding the product on the highest shelf in the corner wot help. You've got to put the product at least within reach. I admit I don't know the economics behind TV deals, but I have to think there's a discount we could offer for better coverage. Lower cost for product, easier to make a profit off distributing?


Yes, it really is about access.  With STO, games were available to all cable subscribers and all satellite subscribers, inside and outside the MAC territory, through their TV sets, without any additional effort on the part of the subscriber (except maybe to buy Gameplan outside the MAC area).  Just turn on the set and it was there.  Now it's only available to TWC subscribers and to those individuals whose cable system is willing to pay TWC's price.  No satellite of any kind in the MAC territory, not even through Gameplan.  They've cut their potential audience in half.  Plus, there are some who won't make the effort to get it by computer (even if they can) because it may be too inconvenient to find and access, or too uncomfortable if their only computer is in a home office-type setting.  If I couldn't sit in my living room easy chair watching the game on a laptop I might not bother.
LuckySparrow
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Posted: 10/18/2013 1:51 PM
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STO is now owned by FOX, right? (Or is that just Indians?) That could have something to do with it.

Either way, I have TWC right now & will be at all of the home games (OU senior here), so I don't have to worry about this package too much.

Hopefully the MAC website continues to deliver, for the most part. 




 
Jeff McKinney
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Posted: 10/18/2013 2:40 PM
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I agree with everyone's disappointment about the MAC TV package.  It is a large step back and we lose a large percentage of our potential audience compared to the STO deal. 

Personally, I have TW cable and I have access to their sports channel, so it won't hurt me (unless there are blackouts).  But I feel bad for those who don't have access.

Just another step in the decline of MAC basketball.  Gotta get that turned around.
The Optimist
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Posted: 10/19/2013 12:22 PM
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I desire more from OUr conference in men's hoops.
OU_Country
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Posted: 10/21/2013 10:29 AM
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The Optimist wrote:expand_more
I desire more from OUr conference in men's hoops.


Sometimes I wonder if our conference desires more in hoops though.  Not to make this into a football vs basketball conversation, but unless there's something we don't know, the writing is on the wall for the future that MAC schools probably stand to gain more from hoops vs football.  Yet for some reason it still feels like more effort in the conference offices get put towards football.

I agree this is a HUGE step backwards, and I'd love to know what happened with the STO deal if there were details to be shared.  It was such a good deal, and the ideal location for the broadcast rights.

cbarber357
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Posted: 10/21/2013 11:18 AM
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STO was bought by Fox Sports and Fox Sports didn't want to renew the deal
anorris
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Posted: 10/22/2013 4:02 PM
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I know I'm behind, but as above, STO was purchased by FOX, and given that the package left FOX for STO three years ago, and then left STO as soon as the renewal came up and they'd been purchased is telling, to me, about the value FOX places on our content.

Also, the dorms don't just get a basic tier of TWC, it is actually a separate system that takes feeds from TWC, but shuffles it's own channel lineup, which is close too, but not identical to TWC in Athens. ESPNU is the best example off the top of my head that is made available on campus but not the basic tier in town.
Last Edited: 10/22/2013 4:03:22 PM by anorris
cbarber357
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Posted: 10/22/2013 4:44 PM
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Also German, French, and Korean tv
Tom Valentino
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Posted: 10/23/2013 9:54 PM
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Do we have any sort of clarification on the blackout restrictions for TWC games on Watch ESPN? Really hoping that doesn't mean it's a perk that is exclusive to TWC subscribers. I watched a lot of conference tournaments on my Xbox through Watch ESPN last spring, and it worked very well.
anorris
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Posted: 10/26/2013 12:45 PM
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Tom Valentino wrote:expand_more
Do we have any sort of clarification on the blackout restrictions for TWC games on Watch ESPN? Really hoping that doesn't mean it's a perk that is exclusive to TWC subscribers. I watched a lot of conference tournaments on my Xbox through Watch ESPN last spring, and it worked very well.
I do believe they've been blacked out within the state, but are supposed to be freely available at MAC-sports.com (which won't help you much on the Xbox). I think we had network issues during our home game that presented issues streaming there (but I was in Peden, so cannot confirm). Try this afternoon's 3:30 Kent State game for confirmation, if you see this in time.
Tom Valentino
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Posted: 10/26/2013 5:58 PM
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anorris wrote:expand_more
Do we have any sort of clarification on the blackout restrictions for TWC games on Watch ESPN? Really hoping that doesn't mean it's a perk that is exclusive to TWC subscribers. I watched a lot of conference tournaments on my Xbox through Watch ESPN last spring, and it worked very well.
I do believe they've been blacked out within the state, but are supposed to be freely available at MAC-sports.com (which won't help you much on the Xbox). I think we had network issues during our home game that presented issues streaming there (but I was in Peden, so cannot confirm). Try this afternoon's 3:30 Kent State game for confirmation, if you see this in time.

No dice on Xbox, tablet or laptop today. Had a ton of problems just trying to verify my account going through mac-sports.com on my laptop. When I finally got through, I was told the game has been blacked out in my area. Disappointing.

Also disappointing: Lack of response from the MAC communications dept to a few simple inquiries. I asked Ken Mather about it this week and was ignored. Jeremy Guy had no problem glibly telling me "grab a laptop" when I started asking questions in August. Wonder if he has any more advice for what I should do now. https://twitter.com/1tomvalentino/status/394200097157689345

(NOTE: That screenshot is from when I was denied trying to go through WatchESPN.com. I received the same blackout message when I went through the MAC website, too.) 
Tyler
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Posted: 10/28/2013 8:27 AM
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Anyone having blackout issues, I highly suggest using a VPN service. I recently bought a year subscription to Private Internet Access, and it's been well worth the $40 a year. It takes about 5 minutes to set up on a computer, and then you can use it to change your IP address to one in a different part of the country or some various countries in Europe.

I don't have cable, so I used it in conjunction with my MLB.TV subscription to stream Pirates games that would have normally been blacked out since I live in Pittsburgh. I didn't have any issues with it, and didn't see any loss in steaming quality either.
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