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

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Actually even F1 is more accessible online now that tsn isn’t exclusive anymore. Although their service leaves a lot to be desired in terms of quality.

I can’t even think of another sport that is harder to watch legitimately as a cord cutter.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Actually even F1 is more accessible online now that tsn isn’t exclusive anymore. Although their service leaves a lot to be desired in terms of quality.

I can’t even think of another sport that is harder to watch legitimately as a cord cutter.

UFC is moving towards being pretty inaccessible. I don't think it is too bad in Canada but the new deal they have with ESPN+ has turned a lot of people away in the USA. They don't like being forced to subscribe to ESPN+ in order to have the option to purchase the PPV fights.

[Toonage]

UFC's deal with TSN makes things awkward. If you don't have a TSN sub you miss out on the undercard and that portion isn't on fight pass. Also TSN has the phone and pc apps but nothing for Amazon sticks or PlayStation and the Xbox app is archaic. Sorry, off topic a bit but wanted to chime in on that.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by Toonage

UFC's deal with TSN makes things awkward. If you don't have a TSN sub you miss out on the undercard and that portion isn't on fight pass. Also TSN has the phone and pc apps but nothing for Amazon sticks or PlayStation and the Xbox app is archaic. Sorry, off topic a bit but wanted to chime in on that.

#### Bell, that’s why. Garbage company. And #### them even more for putting their self serving BS Bell Let’s Talk propaganda on Crave.

Also off topic but I can’t miss up an opportunity to say #### bell.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Toonage

UFC's deal with TSN makes things awkward. If you don't have a TSN sub you miss out on the undercard and that portion isn't on fight pass. Also TSN has the phone and pc apps but nothing for Amazon sticks or PlayStation and the Xbox app is archaic. Sorry, off topic a bit but wanted to chime in on that.

I didn't know that because I have TSN. It is weird that the prelims are not on Fight Pass. I've never watched Fight Pass.

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

I didn't know that because I have TSN. It is weird that the prelims are not on Fight Pass. I've never watched Fight Pass.

Just the early prelims or "fight pass prelims" and the PPV are available on the app.

[BlackRedGold25]

Originally Posted by Gallick

It's utterly ridiculous that I, as a Flames fan in BC, have access to more Flames games than fans in the home market. I'm lucky that it's usually only the regional network mid-week games against the Canucks that are blacked out - unfortunately, there are five of those this year.

You don't. If you're in the Flames home market you get every Flames game just by subscribing to Sportsnet Now.

I find it hard to believe that a hardcore fan, like the guy in the newspaper article, is perplexed about how to watch your team's games online unless you're a complete moron.

If you're in the home market of your team you can subscribe to Sportsnet Now and if you're a Habs, Sens, Leafs or Jets fan you also subscribe to TSN Live.

If you're not in the home market of your team, you subscribe to NHL Live and you get all your team's games except the regional games played against the team whose home market you reside in.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by BlackRedGold25

You don't. If you're in the Flames home market you get every Flames game just by subscribing to Sportsnet Now.

I find it hard to believe that a hardcore fan, like the guy in the newspaper article, is perplexed about how to watch your team's games online unless you're a complete moron.

If you're in the home market of your team you can subscribe to Sportsnet Now and if you're a Habs, Sens, Leafs or Jets fan you also subscribe to TSN Live.

If you're not in the home market of your team, you subscribe to NHL Live and you get all your team's games except the regional games played against the team whose home market you reside in.

It's worth mentioning that both of these services are also terrible. They're not full HD and have very unstable performance. I used Sportsnet Now a lot last year and half the time ended up using illegal streams anyway since SNNow would either be in 480p and pause to buffer every 2 minutes, or just fail to load entirely.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

I like how he says only a moron wouldn’t understand but takes 4 paragraphs to explain the concept, except misses key parts and still gets it wrong.

Are you certain it isn’t complicated?

[Manhattanboy]

Nm. Oops wrong thread.

[BlackRedGold25]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

I like how he says only a moron wouldn’t understand but takes 4 paragraphs to explain the concept, except misses key parts and still gets it wrong.

Are you certain it isn’t complicated?

Maybe to someone who can't count to 2, such as yourself, it would be complicated.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by BlackRedGold25

Maybe to someone who can't count to 2, such as yourself, it would be complicated.

Found the sensitive CRTC employee.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Actually even F1 is more accessible online now that tsn isn’t exclusive anymore. Although their service leaves a lot to be desired in terms of quality.

I can’t even think of another sport that is harder to watch legitimately as a cord cutter.

How much does that have to do with the fact that you live in an NHL market and not a home market for any other sport?

From what I can tell, both the MLB and NBA services have the same blackout rules that the NHL has. Even for those sports, the Toronto teams have claimed all of Canada as their home market, so all Jays and Raptors games would be blacked out without a subscription to Sportsnet and/or TSN.


If you live in Calgary and subscribe to Sportsnet, you have access to every Flames game and every Jays game (and any other national games that are shown for those sports). If you don't subscribe to Sportsnet, you don't have access to any Flames or Jays games (or any other national broadcasts).

What's the difference?

[Deegee]

Originally Posted by BlackRedGold25

Maybe to someone who can't count to 2, such as yourself, it would be complicated.

Please don't. You've completely missed the point.

Think about the ease of watching the other sports. Now go read your explanation. Now also recognize you still have black out situations.

Maybe you shouldn't comment on posts until you understand what people are talking and/or are frustrated about.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by skeena1

How do you do that with the Leafs? Why are they different than other teams?

https://www.rogers.com/web/content/p...amming/leafstv

I misspoke, they don't show all the games, but I believe they show all the games that are not available otherwise (subject to blackouts). So essentially, Leaf fans don't miss a game!

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by Saqe

God bless you, I didn't know about this.

Honestly, it's everything that GC should strive to be.

[Inglewood Jack]

[darthma]

Originally Posted by Igottago

Is this actually true? I think all the games are nationally televised or on Sportsnet West and not only on sportsnet pacific, which is the only time you wouldn't get to watch the game. I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure we get every game.

I agree in general that it is confusing and a struggle to figure out what the package actually gets you. There are technical hiccups that annoy me about the service, but generally I find I do get almost all if not all Flames games.

Anyhow I hope since its being talked about in a national media source means they'll start improving things.

So far they have been nationally televised so not blacked out (i.e., I'm exaggerating). I'm not sure if that will hold for the rest of the season. Who knows?...

[OldDutch]

I found it funny that the Flames/Leafs game was blacked out on SN4K but not on SNW, because of the SNO blackout.

I think this is part technology and part a mess of legal broadcast agreements. Illegal streams bypass all of that.

That doesn't excuse the poor quality of legal broadcasts/streams, but I almost wonder if the NHL patchwork of broadcasters causes issues here as well. Creating a standard feed would mean getting a bunch of partners in the room so they avoid it.

I am doubtful this gets better soon. The technology if obviously there, the NHL can call MLB or NFL and get a blueprint. I am just wondering if there isn't a cobweb of legal issues and too many people involved to make it easy.

[Flamenspiel]

Nm