This just bites!

by rodbuggy on Nov 1, 2007 7:15 AM PDT Comment 11 comments

Edit: Since this diary has been linked elsewhere I'm adding a disclaimer.

You have clicked through to the Diary section of Blazersedge. This section is for user submissions and has considerably more freedom than the main page posts. This is not a verifiable story and Blazersedge does not guarantee its accuracy or newsworthiness. At this time I know of no plans to carry Comcast Sports NW on DirecTV.

--Dave [End of edit.]

I just got off the phone with Direct TV. The good news is that the new Comcast Sports NW channel is available through them channel 626. Whoohoo gona be able to watch Blazers basketball. The bad news is that either I buy the Comcast sports package for $12/month or I upgrade to premium package for an additional $40/month. Been there done that with the premium package and didn't watch 2/3 of the channels. Don't want the Comcast package just the NW channel. This just bites.

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Is it feasible

to invest $12 for the sports package (channel 626) for just the first month and then cancel it? Comcast and DirecTV will surely have reached an agreement by then.

by TwoDeep on Nov 1, 2007 8:15 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

My guess is yes

You can get the channel for a month, then cancel, however I think this is their "agreement". Directv will move it to their base program lineup however if enough people subscribe to it, (I used to work for DirecTV) to cover the cost that comcast is charging them for the channel + a little profit for DirecTV.

Basically if they can sell commercial programing on that channel and get a good revenue stream from it, then they will look to putting it somewhere in the lower packages. Until then they will keep it in the sports package and make people pay extra for it, just like most new channels.

by usmcr3049 on Nov 1, 2007 8:33 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

FYI... Dish Network

For all Dish users out there... I just got off the phone with Dish and although nothing is done just yet they are working on it. The gal I spoke with said she's been flooded with calls.

I would imagine if DirectTV can now offer it it's just a matter of time until Dish has it.

Rip City is back!

by headwound on Nov 1, 2007 9:20 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I checked

my DirecTV guide and I didn't see anything on 626 except what has always been there. But if DirecTV picks up the network everyone else will fall in line.

--Dave

by Dave on Nov 1, 2007 10:24 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Look at it this way

NBA League Pass is 40 bucks a month for 4 months. You get nearly every basketball game played by anyone, INCLUDING every single Blazer game... all 82(all the Comcast Blazer games will be shown on League pass, plus the TNT and ESPN games will be on their respective channels).

The upgraded Sports Package is 40 bucks, which includes the Comcast channel. If it doesn't include League Pass, obviously it isn't worth it for a basketball fan. (Side note: I'd need to know exactly which channels are in this package and what region you are in to know how much better League Pass is if you only wanna watch basketball)

Or, just get the Comcast channel for 12 bucks a month. I'm assuming that means you get the Sacramento Comcast channel, the Philly one, and whatever other city has a Comcast sports channel. You'll get every Blazer game for 12 bucks a month, plus a few teams' games if you care to watch. If you ONLY want to watcn Blazer games, this is the package to get.

Think of it like paying 13 bucks for HBO, or another premium channel. I doubt the price will ever get lower or be incorporated into a "normal" channel package. You'll always pay this.

I ain't that good at math, but here's what I got:

12 bucks a month for a year for Blazer Comcast Channel: 144 bucks

40 bucks a month for 4 months for NBA League Pass: 160 bucks

40 bucks a month for a year for the big sports package: 440 bucks. I doubt that's what you want.

YEAH, I guess you could order the Comcast channel for only the 4 months of the season for 48 bucks or so.

It all depends on what you want. I got League Pass for the 1st time last season, and found that I watched other teams' games as much as I could, so now I want more than just the Comcast channel. However, I'm happy the Comcast channel exists because that means I'll never miss any Blazer game all season. That's nice.

Disclaimer: I have not talked to any DirecTV customer service about any of this aside from NBA League pass, so I am basing my comment on what you said their pricing and packages are.

If you are only gonna watch Blazer basketball, get the NW Channel for just the duration of the NBA season. About 50 bucks. That's not bad at all for 76 games!

I hope I helped and didn't confuse. Yeah, it isn't as nice as getting it for "free" with a Comcast Cable subscription, but it's better than no Blazer games at all and it is the general price they charge for premium packages.

IDEA: If you got other premium packages like HBO or Showtime or whatever, you can try going the Damir route and barter with the customer service rep for a knocked down monthly price for the NW Comcast channel. Each subsequent movie channel package is lower, so use that logic to apply to adding on this new sports premium package.

Good luck, and go Blazers.

Mortimer

by Mortimer on Nov 1, 2007 10:47 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

doesn't the comcast channel

get you only home games?

Formerly known as Junit3123

by Jason3123 on Nov 1, 2007 12:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

NO

It gets you every game that the Blazer broadcast team does. So every game that is not on TNT or ESPN. I believe every game is on TV this year, or every game but 1. So road game or home game it doesn't matter.

by usmcr3049 on Nov 1, 2007 1:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

DirecTV

I just called ourlocal DirecTV reps and they didn't know anything about the channel 626 offering. But we're pretty small potatoes here so it's possible they aren't in the know.

by TwoDeep on Nov 1, 2007 11:55 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs