OT - How terrible is KCAL for Lakers fans?

[Leor_77]

Just wanted to vent about what I think is a stupid TV arrangement for local Lakers fans, since I missed a lot of the game yesterday (was able to see some of it via bad quality stream at work).

KCAL is the exclusive Lakers T.V. station for AWAY games, meaning they get all of the early East coast games, which can start as early as 4:00 PM PST. With this said, we all know that they NEVER replay the games. This doesn't make any sense to me. Fox Sports West, which exclusively gets Lakers home games, does replay, although there is less need of it since games start at 7:30 PM PST. Why is it that you get no replays of the game when you would actually need it (i.e. When you're at work, and the game started too early to catch)?

Whoever thought this out really missed this, and I'm pretty glad we're changing networks next year.

[Rox_Nix_Nox]

they used to tape delay the games, so ones starting at 4 would start around 5. But then people starting complaining about it so they went to what we have today. I was at work yesterday too, but i just dvr'd it.

but yea counting down the days for the new network though, I'm sure they'll replay early games throughout the day on that.

[Hunter103]

It's worse than that if you don't live in the Greater LA Area. Since I'm outside the market, whatever is usually on KCAL at 4 PM is preempted due to FCC regulations (it's probably on some other more local channel) and they show a half hour of National Geographic.

They still preempt the channel if there is a Laker game though And their broadcast signal is terrible.

It could be worse though, I get the channel. Satellite carriers in this area are blocked from it completely.

EDIT: and I thought the new channel wasn't going to be around until 2012, so we've got one more season on FSN and KCAL, no?

[LA Forever]

Yeah, the new channel kicks in for the 2012-2013 season.

I do, however, prefer the KCAL HD quality over the FSW HD.

[Boognish]

KCAL's coverage sucks donkey balls. Such a sleezy network . . .

[Edrees]

Nice the new channel will be ready just in time for our CP3- Dwight howard and blake griffin combo.

I agree though, its so annoying having to miss games because I"m still at work. People on the EC complain that they have to stay up late to watch road games, but at least you have the ability to stay up late and sacrifice sleep. I can't sacrifice my job

[So Gutta]

They are just plain STUPID for not replaying the games at a normal hour.

You're telling me that a Laker game which tons of people were unable to watch isn't able to get better ratings than Family Feud?!?

I kind of blame the Lakers for this too.

[Rox_Nix_Nox]

Games are 2hrs long? I guess they rather have their nightly news show and stuff in that time frame + if any breaking news happened they could just cut right into it and nobody would care about family feud or dr. phil getting cut.

[The Laker Kid]

I had to suck it up and get a DVR from Dish Network just so I can record the early games while I'm at work. On the bright side, if you have a PC/Mac you can get a USB capture device to turn your computer into a DVR so you guys might want to look at that.

As for the coverage itself, KCAL is an epic fail. Ever notice when someone on the court cusses, you can hear the curse ANYWAY and then the censor kicks in after 5 seconds and proceeds to mute the program for 10 seconds

[dockingsched]

nothing wrong with a vcr and tape!

[Mamba Venom]

I'm just glad I can watch every Lakers game w/o having to pay 200 for league pass. Praise KCAL.

[Buck_Foston_]

As long as Joel doesn't come with that new Lakers channel. Spero!

[Hunter103]

Yeah, the new channel kicks in for the 2012-2013 season.

I do, however, prefer the KCAL HD quality over the FSW HD.

KCAL is in HD? I only have a standard def box and KCAL signal is the worst. I can't tell Kobe, Fisher, or Shannon Brown apart from across the room

[Boognish]

IS IT CUZ THEY'RE BLACK???

[Mindflayer]

I saw only the last 3 minutes becuase of work and its still better than the tape delay. Tape it if its that big of a deal. I much prefer the live game than having to worry I'll see the final score on ESPN if I flip the channel or hear it on the radio in the car.

If the game is national shown on TNT or ESPN you a better off watching thier HD prodcast over FSW (not entire screen) for that particular game. Otherwise, FSW HD is fine

[LA Forever]

Yeah, the new channel kicks in for the 2012-2013 season.

I do, however, prefer the KCAL HD quality over the FSW HD.

KCAL is in HD? I only have a standard def box and KCAL signal is the worst. I can't tell Kobe, Fisher, or Shannon Brown apart from across the room

It's in HD if you have an HD receiver, lol.

[joelafan]

Being that its shown in my area away or home its nice and free to some extent the new laker channel better be free with time warner to... Or i will be a mad panda! FS West seems to be better quailty but ive grown up on KCAL .. Oh well.

[dockingsched]

Yeah, the new channel kicks in for the 2012-2013 season.

I do, however, prefer the KCAL HD quality over the FSW HD.

KCAL is in HD? I only have a standard def box and KCAL signal is the worst. I can't tell Kobe, Fisher, or Shannon Brown apart from across the room

It's in HD if you have an HD receiver, lol.

oh yeah, KCAL HD is so much better than FSN HD.

[RamonSessions7]

And that horrible song they play coming back from breaks. Holy S, that thing is awful. Jump shake, move brake, what the hell ever.

[MaxwellSmart]

I miss Chick Hearn----BEST announcer ever....and I'm a C's fan....(sorry guys).