TV coverage tonight

by ballstitch on Apr 24, 2006 10:20 AM CDT

Tonight's game is on WCIU and also on ESPN. Does this mean those of us within the Chicago market (as defined by MLB) that don't get WCIU will be blacked out of the game on ESPN and miss it completely?

If it weren't on ESPN I wouldnt ask because I know the answer. I think I know it anyway.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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How can you not get WCIU...

... if you live in Chicago? It is an over-the-air broadcast channel.

In this digital, satellite, cable age, sometimes you forget that you can simply plug in a television and get an over-the-air signal. Channel 26. It is, as far as I know, on ALL local cable systems.

There's no reason you should not be able to watch this game, no matter where you are.

by Al Yellon on Apr 24, 2006 10:27 AM CDT reply actions

dont live in chicago....

I dont live in chicago. I live downstate but am claimed by MLB to be in the cubs "area".

So I cant get WCIU over the air, and cubs games are blacked out for me on EI.

Generally when WCIU carries a game everyone who can't get WCIU but is in the cubs home territory gets screwed and misses the game. They are the only games all season I am unable to get.

by ballstitch on Apr 24, 2006 10:40 AM CDT up reply actions

I did not know that...

... are you sure you won't get the ESPN broadcast, then? How far downstate are you?

by Al Yellon on Apr 24, 2006 10:41 AM CDT up reply actions

You know...

... an email to WGN might work here. They produce all the WCIU games. What they SHOULD do in these cases, is sell the WCIU package to broadcast channels in downstate markets that black out ESPN, like they used to. I doubt MLB would have a problem with that.

But do check your ESPN feed tonight. You might be pleasantly surprised.

by Al Yellon on Apr 24, 2006 10:43 AM CDT up reply actions

I'm hoping for a suprise

But I have come to expect this for WCIU games. Its weird that those of between local chicago market and the rest of the world seem to lose out on these. BTW I'm in Champaign.

by ballstitch on Apr 24, 2006 10:45 AM CDT up reply actions

I live in the KC area defined by MLB...

...and I am still able to get Royals games that are on ESPN. I cannot imagine ESPN not coming in. The Royals home games are usually not viewable through the MLB Extra Innings because they don't sell out or sell enough tickets, but there is still a local channel that broadcasts some of their games. When they are on ESPN however, it's televised.

by Maddog on Apr 24, 2006 12:10 PM CDT up reply actions

Royals on ESPN?

You mean Prince Harry playing polo, right?

by Santos Sorrow @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Apr 24, 2006 2:05 PM CDT up reply actions

Go to a bar or something like that...

they'll have games on(sports bar preferably).

Anyone can have a bad century...

by Kinky Reggae on Apr 24, 2006 1:14 PM CDT up reply actions

No WCIU

Those of us just over the border are considered part of the Chicagoland area, and I will not be able to see the game because of the crap deal to put some games on the WCIU. I'm in a newer home which was built without an antenna and I have satellite which only gets Milwaukee stations. I will instead be listening to Pat and Ron on the radio.

by kilo14 on Apr 24, 2006 10:38 AM CDT reply actions

So, let's say you live...

...as far downstate as Springfield. Will I be able to get the game on ESPN? Or will I get to the critical hour, after seeing it on the "info" button all day, only to find it indeed "subject to blackout"?

Or should I just proceed with my original plan, which was to clean out the garage, while listening to the game on the radio.

by Sidd Finch @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Apr 24, 2006 10:47 AM CDT reply actions

unfortunately

the suspense will continue. I don't think we'll know the answer for sure until game time rolls around. Then I'll know if the evening will hold cubs baseball or 24 and CSI:Miami, with gamecast on the computer, of course.

by ballstitch on Apr 24, 2006 11:04 AM CDT up reply actions

My guess...

...is that you won't get it. Also the game is in HD on ESPN, but those of us with HD set won't be able to see it in HD.

by jolietconvict on Apr 24, 2006 11:16 AM CDT reply actions

MLB-TV

you guys think it will be blacked out on mlbtv?

by tal1286 on Apr 24, 2006 11:30 AM CDT reply actions

If you are

in the Chicago or surrounding areas. You can check online if your zip code is included in the blackout area.

she

by Sarah Hope on Apr 24, 2006 11:38 AM CDT up reply actions

Well...

Of course, you can always tell MLB.tv that you live in a New York zip code...who cares if you get the Yankees blacked out!?

by sanantonecub on Apr 24, 2006 12:44 PM CDT up reply actions

They actually...

...use your IP address, so if you're in the broadcast area, you're SOL. Which brings me to another question: as a college student without cable but with MLB.TV, will I be able to get the game, even though it's on ESPN?

by Perkins on Apr 24, 2006 2:10 PM CDT up reply actions

that's my question

I know that I'm not blacked out because i'm in the chicago area since I'm in DC for school but all sunday night games are blacked out and I'm unsure if it is all ESPN games or just that one.

by tal1286 on Apr 24, 2006 3:17 PM CDT up reply actions

MLB.tv

MLB.tv does not allow you to watch any nationally televised games on MLB.tv so I believe that any game that is being televised on ESPN or ESPN2 would be blacked out or not even an option for viewing.

by miltowncubbie on Apr 24, 2006 3:20 PM CDT up reply actions

You're in DC?

So am I. What school?

by Perkins on Apr 24, 2006 3:55 PM CDT up reply actions

I hate FOX Saturday games.

I don't live in Chicago or anywhere that close to it and the game of the week is rarely the Cubs in this area. They have exclusive rights to Saturday baseball and even MLB Extra Innings isn't allowed to carrry Saturday afternoon games. It pisses me off to no end. There are probably only 6 or 8 games over the course of the summer that are on FOX in Chicago that I don't get, but I could not see the Cubs clinch the 2003 division because of FOX. Sorry for the poor language, but I fucking hate FOX Saturday baseball.

by Maddog on Apr 24, 2006 12:13 PM CDT reply actions

Prior apologies do not make up for

subsequent offensive behavior. I understand you are upset but swearing on an (arguably) family oriented site is never acceptable.

Maddux:"I've got a video game that I can't beat, but tonight, I'm going to beat that game."

by tradeforichiro on Apr 24, 2006 12:59 PM CDT up reply actions

I agree

Those of you in the Chicago area I think sometimes forget that those of us who are widely dispersed throughout the nation get a ton of garbage like this, especially FOX. I hate everything about FOX baseball, from the '03 fiasco (there is truly no other word for it), to the handling of the 2003 playoffs, to the fact that Joe Buck and Tim McCarver call their games (my God do I hate Joe Buck).

Why baseball would ever monopolize its product in such a poor way just shocks me. Why not sell it AL & NL like football? Apparently, since I live in South Carolina, I'm supposed to love Braves baseball and want to watch it at every possible moment.

Sorry, I'm venting. Right now, I don't even have WGN. It's tragic.

by USCKB on Apr 24, 2006 4:00 PM CDT up reply actions

I went through a few years of that in Bloomington.

Every WCIU game I would have to listen to on the radio and ESPN would be blacked out. I called around to a bunch of sports bars around town hoping to find one with satelite showing the game but always came up empty.

by JonH on Apr 24, 2006 2:40 PM CDT reply actions

game on

Game is on. i found a reference on a web site about the new ESPN baseball deal. It allows ESPN on monday nights to broadcast over a local blackout rule 3 times per club per year.

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20050914&content_id=1209 458&vkey=pr_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

sorry for ugly link, game is on, me in a hurry.

by ballstitch on Apr 24, 2006 6:33 PM CDT reply actions