Anyone else have problems with Extra Innings?

by Cubskingdom on Apr 22, 2008 9:38 AM CDT

I just cxld it. I have Comcast in Wisconsin. Was all excited to sign up for it for the 1st time. So far this season they have not carried 3 Cubs games. All games were carried by Comcast SportsNet in Chicago in addition to the feed that was being carried by the opposing team.

I called to complain. It's the same company, Comcast. How can they not carry the feed?

Two Saturdays in a row, they did not carry the Cubs game. I called again. Why am I paying $159.00 to work all week and then not be able to see the Cubs games on the weekend.

One day I looked up the MLB schedule, there were 15 games that day, and Extra Innings was airing 4!

I had just had it. I called and they gave me a full refund, and I told them I am switching over to the MLB.com package.

I do not live in a blackout area, I do not get why Extra Innings can't do a better job. They have to know Cubs fans have to be in the top 3 groups that would sign up for Extra Innings. Would it not be a good idea to carry all the feeds?

Hope the new owners will start a Cubs channel, ie. NESN, or YES. With the great Cubs Forever program, I am sure the Cubs could generate 24-7 content built around the Cubs games and minor league team broadcasts.

So I am done with Extra Innings and wanted to ask how people are doing with the GameDay video?

Thanks for letting me vent.

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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EI

this has been discussed at length a million times. Its not EI’s fault for the saturday’s games. its the agreement betwen fox and mlb. fox doesnt want any games during their wierd time slot on saturdays. I too have EI and love it. i suggest you do what I and alot of other fans do and send an email to mlb to vent about this.

Go Cubbies Go!!!!!!

by cubsluver22 on Apr 22, 2008 9:50 AM CDT reply actions

Loud, sustained applause.

You’re going to miss a handful of Cub games even with EI, due to the idiotic blackout policies. This isn’t Comcast’s fault, nor do the Cubs have any control over this.

FYI, Comcast Cable and Comcast SportsNet are NOT the same company. They are owned by the same holding company, but are separate entities.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Apr 22, 2008 9:59 AM CDT up reply actions

Time Warner Cable of New York

I am going into my 3rd year of EI coverage with Time Warner each of the past two seasons I have gotten close to if not more than 140 games, before that I had 4 years of EI through Direct TV in Boston, same result.

I am pretty happy with the service, over 80% isn’t too bad. I am probably a bad representation of the blackout rule because I am on the east coast.

Congrats on 2000 AL.

by becauseicare on Apr 22, 2008 10:34 AM CDT reply actions

You're not going to get Saturday games

with MLB.tv either.

This is an issue of Fox and MLB. They don’t want you watching any game on Saturday other than your local team and the game your local Fox station is broadcasting.

This has been discussed here, ad infinitum, so I won’t repeat all the reasons again—other than to say they are all about money and aren’t likely to change in the near future.

It's a girl! Born 1-18-08. 2246 PST. 8 lbs. 1 oz.

by Josh Timmers on Apr 22, 2008 10:57 AM CDT reply actions

Not true this year...

So far both 12:05pm Saturday afternoon games (4/5 and 4/19) were NOT blacked out on my MLB.TV and I was able to watch the live stream on both occasions. The 2:55pm games were blacked out, but not the games that started at 12:05pm…. this is definitely a change from last…a change from MLB.com that I actually enjoy!

by MillsChC on Apr 22, 2008 12:40 PM CDT up reply actions

Thanks MillsChC!

That was the info I was looking for. I understand the previous posts. I am sorry to bring up the point again, I just want to sign up for the service that will get me the highest # of games I can get (outside of Chicago)

Your post makes me feel better about signing up for MLB.TV, thanks

Good Guys Wear Blue

by Cubskingdom on Apr 22, 2008 1:28 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm sure the Cubs Sat. 2:55pm games

will be blacked out as well. But, there are 6 more non-WGN 12:05pm Sat. games in the season… hopefully MLB.TV will continue to not black-out those games.

by MillsChC on Apr 22, 2008 1:31 PM CDT up reply actions

I enjoy Extra Innings,

outside of the Saturday afternoon games, which I am rarely home for anyway, I have been able to watch the cubs each time I have wanted too. Had MLB.TV last year and it was fine, I just didn’t feel like sitting at my computer for another season when I got 48 inch plasma just waiting for me.

Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living."

by DC Cubbie on Apr 22, 2008 6:16 PM CDT reply actions

I think the explanation from the FCC pisses me off more

Here’s the snippet that explains the Weekend blackout policy, straight from the FCC (in a reply email to me when I complained):

FOX has certain rights for afternoon MLB games on Saturdays, and ESPN has the same rights for night games on Sundays. Broadcasters cannot show games of in-market teams regardless of if the game is home or away if the game of the local team has a certain start time (usually there are no other games scheduled at these times). This is to make people watch the out of market game on ESPN or FOX. The reasoning is that since people will not be able to watch their favorite team, they may be willing to settle for some baseball, even if it involves teams they are not as excited about. This results in higher ratings for the national broadcaster by pulling baseball fans away from watching their own team.

by VolPowers on Apr 22, 2008 9:06 PM CDT reply actions

It's not an unreasonable position, BUT...

... it makes no sense to black out games that start THREE HOURS EARLIER!!!

That’s what pisses people off.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Apr 22, 2008 9:33 PM CDT up reply actions

Directv…..

"Stay thirsty my friend's....."

by Keystone80435 on Apr 22, 2008 11:19 PM CDT reply actions

I forgot to add....

I’m not sure if this is new becuase I dotn remember it from last year but Directv has 2 channels for every game.(at least 90% of the time anyway). They have a channel for the home broadcast and a different channel for the away broadcast. I can watch Mark Grace on the AZ broadcast or Vin S. on the Dodger broadcast tonight. I did notice the Cubs vroadcast was blacked out but the Rockies broadcast was on the next channel. Directv might be your only option.

"Stay thirsty my friends....."

by Keystone80435 on Apr 23, 2008 11:43 PM CDT reply actions