Why are Bobcat games blacked out in GSP?

Leolovinliberal · Post #1 » by **Leolovinliberal** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 12:25 am

My house is an hour and 20 minutes from TWA, yet all Bobcat games are blacked out here. The Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson metro is over 1.43 million people and the 36th largest in the nation, larger than some professional team markets. So why on earth are the games not available here? All Panthers games are on every Sunday as they are the "local" team, but not the Bobcats. Anyone know why a market this large is being ignored? Thanks

TheKingofSting · Post #2 » by **TheKingofSting** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 5:08 am

Do you have Charter Cable? They refuse to pay the NBA for the rights. I live in Gaffney and don't get the games but my grandparents live maybe 10 minutes away and get the games on DIRECTV. I usually just try to find an online stream or listen to the audio through espn.com.

Post #3 » by **fatlever** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 5:33 am

dont feel bad. the problem is an epidemic and is felt all over NC and SC.

cable: the games are available to all cable carriers in NC and SC via fox sports. however, fox charges a fee for the each cable company to pick up and broadcast the games. it is up to each local cable carrier to decide whether or not they want to pay the fee to carry the games. unfortunately the majority of cable carriers outside of charlotte have decided against carrying the games. the bobcats claim there is nothing they can do since they did their part by getting fox to make the games available. the solution, i guess, is for enough people in each market to bug the cable company until they cave and pay the fee.

satellite: games are made available to the all the satellite areas withing 75 miles of charlotte. outside of that radius - not exactly sure what happens but its not good. maybe someone else can elaborate on this part.

league pass: league pass has a ridiculous rule where they black out all games in the local market. it is impossible to get a bobcats game on league pass if you live in NC and SC due to stupid NBA rules. one work-around is to sign up for league pass online but use a different IP address outside of this area (not sure if this works though)

basically, if you live outside of 75 miles of charlotte, but still in NC/SC and your local cable company doesnt pay the fox fee it is impossible to see the games legally. the only option is illegal streams.

the whole thing is a giant **** and is a huge reason the bobcats have no fans.

Leolovinliberal · Post #4 » by **Leolovinliberal** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 6:17 am

Kemba2Hendo wrote:Do you have Charter Cable? They refuse to pay the NBA for the rights. I live in Gaffney and don't get the games but my grandparents live maybe 10 minutes away and get the games on DIRECTV. I usually just try to find an online stream or listen to the audio through espn.com.

Dish Network. It's SportsSouth, whenever the games are on, it is blacked out. It's asinine to alienate over 1 million potential fans. I grew up in South Jersey, about the same distance from Philly as I currently am from Charlotte and we saw every Phillies, Flyers, Eagles and Sixers game as we were considered part of the greater Philly market. Again, we're less than an hour and a half from Charlotte and can't see the games. Makes no sense. :nonono:

Leolovinliberal · Post #5 » by **Leolovinliberal** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 6:22 am

Interesting, thanks for the info. I remember when we first moved here almost five years ago, a few of the games were on air via an affiliate, can't remember if it was Fox, WB, or who, but we got the games, but that went away after the games went to SportsSouth; now they are all blacked out. I would be a natural convert as I now am with the Panthers, but I can't see the games, despite being so close. On a side note, what about in the other direction? Does W-S, G'boro and Raleigh get the games?

fatlever wrote:dont feel bad. the problem is an epidemic and is felt all over NC and SC.

cable: the games are available to all cable carriers in NC and SC via fox sports. however, fox charges a fee for the each cable company to pick up and broadcast the games. it is up to each local cable carrier to decide whether or not they want to pay the fee to carry the games. unfortunately the majority of cable carriers outside of charlotte have decided against carrying the games. the bobcats claim there is nothing they can do since they did their part by getting fox to make the games available. the solution, i guess, is for enough people in each market to bug the cable company until they cave and pay the fee.

satellite: games are made available to the all the satellite areas withing 75 miles of charlotte. outside of that radius - not exactly sure what happens but its not good. maybe someone else can elaborate on this part.

league pass: league pass has a ridiculous rule where they black out all games in the local market. it is impossible to get a bobcats game on league pass if you live in NC and SC due to stupid NBA rules. one work-around is to sign up for league pass online but use a different IP address outside of this area (not sure if this works though)

basically, if you live outside of 75 miles of charlotte, but still in NC/SC and your local cable company doesnt pay the fox fee it is impossible to see the games legally. the only option is illegal streams.

the whole thing is a giant **** and is a huge reason the bobcats have no fans.

Post #6 » by **fatlever** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 6:30 am

raleigh doesnt get games (well sometimes on some special events channel from what ive heard).

i think greensboro does. not sure about winston.

its totally hit or miss around the carolinas. some random small cable markets picked up the games, other huge markets passed. total mess.

Liver_Pooty · Post #7 » by **Liver_Pooty** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 7:00 am

Charter has screwed me over on this for years now. I live in Asheville. I feel your pain.

Leolovinliberal · Post #8 » by **Leolovinliberal** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 7:10 am

Liver_Pooty wrote:Charter has screwed me over on this for years now. I live in Asheville. I feel your pain.

Yeah, I remember a few years ago an Asheville affiliate that we got showed Bobcat games, but not anymore. Why doesn't management do something about this? :noway:

Jaruff · Post #9 » by **Jaruff** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 7:55 am

I remember the good old days when the games were broadcast on 40 or 62 (I forget). That was many many years ago though.

Since I'm in Georgia, I'm screwed on most Bobcats games (though they sometimes come on). I do, however, get to watch most of the Hawks games. I also have ESPN3 now but I doubt that's going to help any this year.

ohara · Post #10 » by **ohara** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 12:58 pm

I live in the Spartanburg, SC area also. Been calling and complaining to Charter for 2 years running. I call, raise hell, they apologize, and nothing happens. I just watch on-line as much as I can.

Leolovinliberal · Post #11 » by **Leolovinliberal** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 4:20 pm

ohara wrote:I live in the Spartanburg, SC area also. Been calling and complaining to Charter for 2 years running. I call, raise hell, they apologize, and nothing happens. I just watch on-line as much as I can.

Yeah, I'm in Greer. It makes zero sense. When I lived in LA, all of SoCal got all Lakers and Clippers games.

bobcats3wallace · Post #12 » by **bobcats3wallace** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 4:31 pm

This pertains to League Pass. I really don't understand the logic in blacking out the local market. I'm sure it has something to do with the cable companies not getting money or something rather, but still seems like a dumb rule.

For anyone who has or does have league pass, is it like NHL and MLB where you can watch ANY game the day after, even if it is in your own market? Seems as though that is my only hope to routinely catch Bobcat games. Anyone know when they are expecting to release prices for this years League Pass Broadband?

99problems · Post #13 » by **99problems** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 8:03 pm

bobcats3wallace wrote:For anyone who has or does have league pass, is it like NHL and MLB where you can watch ANY game the day after, even if it is in your own market? Seems as though that is my only hope to routinely catch Bobcat games. Anyone know when they are expecting to release prices for this years League Pass Broadband?

No, pretty sure you can't see the games even the day after. If they're blacked out, they're always blacked out. Looks like league pass broadband is $169 this year - too much IMO. I pray they have iPad "HD" games this year though. I'm willing to pay 169 for TV/Broadband/Mobile which is also the price I believe.

I'm in Raleigh - if I can't get the games this year the Bobcats are in real danger of losing me forever. I tried asking the bobcatspr person on Twitter about Raleigh folks, no response. We don't get Sport South. It's basically ****ing bull****. I caught one or two games on special event channels at the end of last season but didn't know they were there all year so not sure how many got shown.

Post #14 » by **fatlever** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 9:04 pm

Jaruff wrote:I remember the good old days when the games were broadcast on 40 or 62 (I forget). That was many many years ago though.

Since I'm in Georgia, I'm screwed on most Bobcats games (though they sometimes come on). I do, however, get to watch most of the Hawks games. I also have ESPN3 now but I doubt that's going to help any this year.

you've got it good jaruff. at least you can get games through league pass if you wanted to pay for it. some parts of sc/nc have no options.

Post #15 » by **fatlever** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 9:07 pm

bobcats3wallace wrote:This pertains to League Pass. I really don't understand the logic in blacking out the local market. I'm sure it has something to do with the cable companies not getting money or something rather, but still seems like a dumb rule.

For anyone who has or does have league pass, is it like NHL and MLB where you can watch ANY game the day after, even if it is in your own market? Seems as though that is my only hope to routinely catch Bobcat games. Anyone know when they are expecting to release prices for this years League Pass Broadband?

they released prices. they kept same at 179 and didnt even adjust for shortened season. they also raised prices for the international pass.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_d ... ba-wp11747

NBA has really just been awful lately

Post #16 » by **fatlever** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 9:10 pm

well looks like ball dont lie had wrong number. other link says 169 which is same as 99problems quoted. still a slap in the face.

Leolovinliberal · Post #17 » by **Leolovinliberal** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 10:08 pm

fatlever wrote:well looks like ball dont lie had wrong number. other link says 169 which is same as 99problems quoted. still a slap in the face.

Two weeks free though

bobcats3wallace · Post #18 » by **bobcats3wallace** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 10:24 pm

I don't understand how the hell the NBA can justify keeping prices the same. Ridiculous. It's also ridiculous that the NBA is the only league which doesn't allow you to even watch local market games the day after. Both MLB and NHL allow you to watch the replay of the game the day after. That would be the only way I would consider it. Since I'm now in Raleigh, looks like I won't get to watch any Bobcats games this year.

Jaruff · Post #19 » by **Jaruff** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 10:56 pm

fatlever wrote:
Jaruff wrote:I remember the good old days when the games were broadcast on 40 or 62 (I forget). That was many many years ago though.

Since I'm in Georgia, I'm screwed on most Bobcats games (though they sometimes come on). I do, however, get to watch most of the Hawks games. I also have ESPN3 now but I doubt that's going to help any this year.

you've got it good jaruff. at least you can get games through league pass if you wanted to pay for it. some parts of sc/nc have no options.

That is true. I'm just surprised that GSP has so many problems when I'm 100 miles from Atlanta and I have access to most Hawks games (probably all of them if I bothered to look every night).

It's a problem I assumed would have been fixed by now.

Kembastockton · Post #20 » by **Kembastockton** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 11:30 pm

99problems wrote:
bobcats3wallace wrote:For anyone who has or does have league pass, is it like NHL and MLB where you can watch ANY game the day after, even if it is in your own market? Seems as though that is my only hope to routinely catch Bobcat games. Anyone know when they are expecting to release prices for this years League Pass Broadband?

No, pretty sure you can't see the games even the day after. If they're blacked out, they're always blacked out. Looks like league pass broadband is $169 this year - too much IMO. I pray they have iPad "HD" games this year though. I'm willing to pay 169 for TV/Broadband/Mobile which is also the price I believe.

I'm in Raleigh - if I can't get the games this year the Bobcats are in real danger of losing me forever. I tried asking the bobcatspr person on Twitter about Raleigh folks, no response. We don't get Sport South. It's basically ****ing bull****. I caught one or two games on special event channels at the end of last season but didn't know they were there all year so not sure how many got shown.

I live in Durham. I'm not sure how many were shown, but I would say at least 30 were shown. I watched at least one game every week. Sometimes two.