Blackout rules make watching hockey in Canada confusing, frustrating and expensive

[Cecil Terwilliger]

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/spor...g-frustrating/

LPT. Open in private tab to avoid paywall.

He told me he was considering using a VPN, which would change his computer’s IP address and make it look to NHL Live as though he were outside the Canadiens’ home market.

He’d also thought about turning to pirate sites. “You can stream anything free, and the quality is getting better and better. If [NHL Live] isn’t user-friendly, what’s the point?” Still, he said, he doesn’t want to cheat. “I’d rather pay for the service.”

I contacted Rogers Sports & Media, which sells NHL Live in Canada; a spokesperson informed me the “What Can I Watch?” tool had not yet been updated with information for the current season. Then, last Monday, it finally went live with valid info, six games into the season. I also contacted a spokesperson for Bell Media, who sent me a media release outlining which Habs games will air on TSN this season.

Then, recalling my long-ago days as a customer service rep, I called up Rousseau and gently broke the news to him that, if he wanted to see the bulk of the Montreal games, he’d need to subscribe to TSN Direct. Even so, I explained, that would get him only 34 of the Habs’ 56 regular season games this season: The other 22 will air nationally, on Sportsnet or CBC.

“I’m willing to pay a little more,” for one service or the other, he said, “but give me all the games!”

I will never again pay for the crap product that the nhl and the telecoms offer and actively encourage people to pirate. Screw the nhl and their shortsighted thinking.

Few other sports restrict the home market fans from watching the way the nhl does. It’s not like it could benefit them long term by creating new, younger fans or encourage a more engaged fan base. Nope, let’s squeeze every last penny out of the hardcore fans now and screw the future. Morons.

[Flashpoint]

Yeah, its always felt wierd that the NHL broadcasters think in 2021 that “blackouts” will be tolerated.

I’m happy to pay whatever to watch every game.

But I’ll be watching regardless of if they take my money or not. Up to you if you want it...

[1_Flames_Fan]

One word... IPTV ��

[Manhattanboy]

I bought this on the NHL app on my iPhone and had so much trouble synching to my laptop computer. The instructions are terrible.

[Poster]

A) the NHL has a moral & ethical obligation to its partners (the players) to identify and extract revenues from every single channel. When they lo led the players out and cost them 1billion plus in wages, they hyped the partnership with the players was good for everyone. Except the fans, but hey we cheered for the owners and now the players play and the owners promote the product, that’s the partnership.

So anyhow yes they must by obligation charge for this product.

B) I have no idea what the complaint is. NHL live doesn’t work in home markets during National broadcasts and people who don’t have cable are mad?

[Hockey-and_stuff]

Why should I need cable to view Flames content? I cut cable years ago, I'd like to stream the Flames but the blackouts either prevent you, or you need to subscribe to multiple streaming services to get every game.

It's a bad model, and is easily fixed.

[ReinhartonD]

This. I pay for all the Sportsnets and all the TSNs but here in BC I have to go to an unnamed pirate to watch Flames games. Meanwhile, I don't think there's been one Penguins game that hasn't been broadcast by Sportsnet.

You'd think that once they changed the divisions and went to division-only play they'd realize that we care about Columbus about as much as I care about a KHL team. The NFL can split games between different networks, even put one on Nickleodeon, but these clowns can't make an adjustment during the time when they have the most captive viewing audience available in order to increase the audience for their advertisers.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by Poster

A) the NHL has a moral & ethical obligation to its partners (the players) to identify and extract revenues from every single channel. When they lo led the players out and cost them 1billion plus in wages, they hyped the partnership with the players was good for everyone. Except the fans, but hey we cheered for the owners and now the players play and the owners promote the product, that’s the partnership.

So anyhow yes they must by obligation charge for this product.

B) I have no idea what the complaint is. NHL live doesn’t work in home markets during National broadcasts and people who don’t have cable are mad?

A) that’s not what moral and ethical mean. Nor does it mean the nhl should sacrifice long term billions for short term millions. That’s morally and ethically moronic.

B) it’s literally the title of the thread and there’s a whole article on it. Which part is confusing you?

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Poster

B) I have no idea what the complaint is. NHL live doesn’t work in home markets during National broadcasts and people who don’t have cable are mad?

Isn't the entire purpose of NHL Live so that fans can watch any game wherever they are? If they can't access a feed because of regional restrictions it defeats the purpose of the service.

[Strange Brew]

Watching hockey is a privilege not a right.

[Mass_nerder]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Watching hockey is a privilege not a right.

Even when you pay for it?

[FireGilbert]

You gotta fight for your right to hockey.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Watching hockey is a privilege not a right.

Which article did you read? Because this one does not make that argument. Mainly because it’d be stupid.

[Poster]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

A) that’s not what moral and ethical mean. Nor does it mean the nhl should sacrifice long term billions for short term millions. That’s morally and ethically moronic.

B) it’s literally the title of the thread and there’s a whole article on it. Which part is confusing you?

A - clearly I believe when you forcefully take over 1billion dollars from a group to achieve this structure, you are morally & ethically obligated to fulfil your end of the deal.

B - I never experienced this issue, so it confuses me. I like to watch an out of market team and have never been blacked out. What am I missing?

[Inferno]

Rogers had it right when they were giving GameCenter Live with their overpriced plans.

If someone pays for a Sportsnet package they should be able to watch every game broadcasted on those channels regardless of location.

[pgsieve]

I’m a bit frustrated. I paid for Sportsnet for the year, and the quality on some of the games like tonight are just terrible. I hear my buddies on the free feeds have great quality.

[sketchyt]

Can we also take a moment and crap on how terrible the nhl app is? Plus the website? They both feel like developers went out of their way to ensure the user experience is as bad as possible.

[PaperBagger'14]

Originally Posted by pgsieve

I’m a bit frustrated. I paid for Sportsnet for the year, and the quality on some of the games like tonight are just terrible. I hear my buddies on the free feeds have great quality.

100% agreed on quality, plus using free streaming gives you the option of which feed you want to listen to.

Last summer when playoffs were on I would set up a TV on the back deck and stream the game for free. I also pay for telus TV and the quality was much better from the free site.

[Freddy]

I pay for NHL live and find the NHL app sucks for choppy buffering, not to mention the regional restrictions being super annoying. The other day i checked out an illegal stream and it was as high def (or better) and had no buffering issues, leaving me wondering how the NHL can justify a crappier product to its paying fans.

[CM ONE]

It’s weird. I couldn’t get the Flames game tonight on sportsnet now because I didn’t have sportsnet “overflow”. Which I’d never heard of. But I can watch the Punjabi telecast on the same subscription. I can figure out what they are saying just fine. Might actually prefer it lol.