DirectTV question--blackouts

by Bildo1805 on May 28, 2008 1:50 PM CDT Comment 36 comments

Ok, this isn't worthy of a FanPost. Sorry.

But, I'm moving and am trying to figure out whether to go cable or DirectTV. I live in Central Indiana.

If I get the SportsPack that includes Comcast Chicago, will I get to see the Cubs games or will I be blacked out? Is buying MLB Extra Innings the only way I can get non-WGN/ESPN games?

Thanks...I'm cheap. After I get my answer, feel free to delete this.

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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Central Indiana is designated...

...as a Cubs territory on the blackout map. That means you should be able to watch CSN Chicago during games; I live in Davenport, IA and can watch all the games on CSN Chicago. (I even get CSN Chicago in HD.)

So if your local cable provider doesn’t carry CSN Chicago, then definately look into DirecTV. The only thing you should be missing are the games on WCIU. Note: getting Extra Innings won’t get you a single Cubs game living in Indiana.

I has a blog.

by cwyers on May 28, 2008 1:59 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

This also applies, incidently, to people living in Des Moines.

For some reason, it seems that the cable company in Des Moines won’t carry the Cubs – apparently having the Iowa Cubs in town isn’t enough of a justification for them. DirecTV or Dish should carry it, and if you live in a Cubs blackout territory you should be able to watch games on CSN via either satellite provider.

I has a blog.

by cwyers on May 28, 2008 2:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sobbing quietly in corner...

It’s absolutely criminal what Mediacom does to torture Des Moines Cubs fans. I pay $40 a month to see two Cubs games a week.

They carry Fox Sports Midwest, which carries every Cardinals game. About twice a month, on their supplemental Mediacom channel, they’ll carry Royals games or Brewers games. We have four home shopping network stations, but no Comcast.

Anyway, here’s a quarter for listening. Can I have a hug please?

Help me Obi-ONEDEC. You're our only hope.

by IowaCubs- on May 28, 2008 2:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

no hugs...

But MLB will be happy to give you a kick in the shorts… for a small fee.

by sammysosasboombox on May 28, 2008 2:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And sometimes you even pay the fee for the shorts-kicking...

... and then they won’t give it to you because you’re in a shorts-kicking blackout area.

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

by Al on May 28, 2008 2:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

LMAO... The shorts kicking...

...is followed by the weggie and swirlie of FSN and 162 Cardinal games.

Help me Obi-ONEDEC. You're our only hope.

by IowaCubs- on May 28, 2008 2:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You really should look into getting sattelite.

You’d get every non-WCIU Cubs game. I think you can get the basic package plus the RSNs for $35 a month.

I has a blog.

by cwyers on May 28, 2008 2:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, looking into it.

I have to pay extra because I’m addicted to Fox Soccer Channel.

Gots ta have my crack rocks.

"This is the kind of thing … that makes you want to see the Chicago Cubs team lose." Marty Brennaman

by Bildo1805 on May 28, 2008 2:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fox Soccer Channel, Fox Sports Espanol and Gol.tv are included...

...in the DirecTV sports pack.

I has a blog.

by cwyers on May 28, 2008 2:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yup.

"This is the kind of thing … that makes you want to see the Chicago Cubs team lose." Marty Brennaman

by Bildo1805 on May 28, 2008 2:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I will investigate...

... but out of sheer principle, I’m going to work on getting MediaCom to change their Cardinal brainwashing ways.

Help me Obi-ONEDEC. You're our only hope.

by IowaCubs- on May 28, 2008 2:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The way to get them to change

is to tell them you’re no longer their customer because of their programming choices. That kind of thing makes a big difference to them.

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

by Josh77 on May 28, 2008 6:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Could be worse

In Omaha, we’re stuck w/ constant Royals coverage. I’d much rather watch the Cubs’ competition than one of the worst teams in baseball. Plus, the local ESPN Radio station has cut down on Cubs broadcasts to play more Nebraska University baseball games despite 5 other stations (no exaggeration, I hit the Scan button on my car radio for the AM and every other channel was the NU game) carrying those games.

We have every right to dream heroic dreams. Those who say that we're in a time when there are no heroes, they just don't know where to look.
Ronald Reagan

by snley on May 28, 2008 2:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Omaha has the AAA team

of the Royals and is only 3 hrs away from KC, so you shouldn’t be surprised w/ Royals coverage. I feel bad for the Iowa people that get blacked out b/c its claimed Cubs territory, yet CSN-C is not provided.

I live in Lincoln and get the same Royals coverage. I buy Extra Innings every year and it is the easiest $160 I shell out every year. I see every Cubs game – except the Saturday noon games not on WGN (which still errks me to no end that Extra Innings doesn’t pick these games up).

We are lucky that the local FOX affiliate always chooses the Cubs game if its on the 2:55 regional game.

BELIEVE!

by cubbie08 on May 28, 2008 3:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I understand why we get the KC Royals games in Omaha

I just wish we didn’t get the Royals games

We have every right to dream heroic dreams. Those who say that we're in a time when there are no heroes, they just don't know where to look.
Ronald Reagan

by snley on May 28, 2008 4:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Get EI

I too am stuck in Omaha, and have DirecTV with EI. I get almost every Cubs game execpt the Saturday afternoon games where Fox has someone else. Even get most of the WCIU games through EI – although sometimes it’s the opponent’s announcers

Cubs Win!! Cubs Win!

by Ihatethecards on May 28, 2008 3:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I gave up on Mediacom and switched to Directv in Des Moines over a year ago and I love it.

I wrote letters and made a few calls to complain about the fact that they were not carrying comcast chicago here. The response I always received was that they were still looking into the matter (2-3 years ago).

I may be wrong, but I also believe my sister in Iowa City had comcast chicago through Mediacom.

Consumer Reports also recently rated Directv’s service as one of the best, and Mediacom as one of the worst

by lji001 on May 28, 2008 2:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I did the same thing

but took Dish Network. Mediacom is the worst cable company on earth. I love dish. I get Cards-Cubs-Brewers, all free.

This is only the beginning....Lou Pinella end of '07 season and Chicago Transit Authority (the band when they were really good).

by mrcubsfan on May 28, 2008 2:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

What do you pay per month?

Help me Obi-ONEDEC. You're our only hope.

by IowaCubs- on May 28, 2008 3:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

We have DirecTV and

we have the sports package (includes CSN and several FSN channels) and it’s around $100 a month. That includes some movie channels too and also includes an HD receiver and two other receivers.

by sue369 on May 28, 2008 9:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

What do you do for internet?

"This is the kind of thing … that makes you want to see the Chicago Cubs team lose." Marty Brennaman

by Bildo1805 on May 28, 2008 11:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

We have local internet.

by sue369 on May 29, 2008 2:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's like 75

but I have 4 boxes and 6 TVs hooked up. I can get it down to $60 with the new upgrade to dual tuners. I just haven’t got around to doing that yet but willl soon. That’s America’s top 200 channels too which is the package with WGN,

My DSL is with Qwest. Not cheaper to bundle in the long run either.

This is only the beginning....Lou Pinella end of '07 season and Chicago Transit Authority (the band when they were really good).

by mrcubsfan on May 29, 2008 11:59 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have heard good things about Dish Network too...

I just wanted to be able to bundle all of my services (which I had done with Mediacom) and so I went with Directv through Qwest.

by lji001 on May 28, 2008 3:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, if you are in the Cubs

territory, I agree that Dish seems to be the better solution, but if you are outside, EI through DirecTV seems like the best choice to me.

Cubs Win!! Cubs Win!

by Ihatethecards on May 28, 2008 4:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dish Network

is fine, but remember you can’t get Extra Innings through them, and you won’t get the new MLB channel next season either.

If that kind of thing doesn’t bother you, then Dish Network may be the better choice over DirecTV. But investigate them both. I’ve had both and while I’m happier with DirecTV, I wouldn’t bash Dish.

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

by Josh77 on May 28, 2008 6:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

NFL Sunday Ticket

Dont forget that the Sunday ticket is only avail. on DirecTV so if you are out of the area and can stomach a Bears game it’s the only way.

Just because I don't care doesn't mean I don't understand. - Homer J Simpson

by MikeOxbyg on May 29, 2008 9:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nice testimonial... thanks...

... but there’s that side of me that wants to change the world and set the Cardinal brainwashing Mediacom people right. Des Moines deserves the Cubs, right?

Help me Obi-ONEDEC. You're our only hope.

by IowaCubs- on May 28, 2008 3:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If you are willing to fight that fight, go for it :)

As sick of I became of the token response I received from Mediacom about Comcast (and the fact that they offered it to some of their customers), I think the KDSM issue, followed closely by the Big Ten Network not being on Mediacom, sealed the deal for me…

I definitely think that Des Moines deserves the Cubs—regardless of whether we have the Iowa Cubs or not.

I thought there was a survey in the Register many years ago about the breakdown between Cubs and St. Louis fans, and I thought there were more Cubs fans here in Central Iowa.

by lji001 on May 28, 2008 3:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

cwyers...

I live in S Indiana, less than 5 minutes from Louisville. Any idea if I would still be screwed on extra innings down here? It’s considered Reds territory but I’m not sure about satellite. I was thinking of switching to D-TV but wouldn’t if I couldn’t get the Cubs.

I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. ~Voltaire

by Jettero2112 on May 28, 2008 4:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Louisville seems to be part of the Reds-only area.

According to the map. If that’s the case, you would get Cubs games on EI, except for Cubs-Reds. There are some games that aren’t available on EI – games that aren’t on cable, notably WGN games that the opposing team isn’t televising. You should still be able to watch all WGN games on WGN, though.

I has a blog.

by cwyers on May 28, 2008 4:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs