Rogers NHL Gamecentre Live

[Regular_John]

Rogers has rolled out a bit of new info about Rogers NHL GameCentre LIVE (new name) for the upcoming season... or 12.

http://www.rogers.com/web/content/nh...PID=GCL%3Avnty

Points
- Free Trail for current Rogers internet/wireless subscribers till December 31st, 2014
- Standalone price of $199/season
- Appears there may be separate/new Rogers branded apps
- Appears service will be purchased through Rogers, instead of NHL.com.

In typical Robbers fashion there's a page of FAQ's with vague, non-answers.
http://www.rogers.com/web/support/nhl/gamecenter-live/1

7. How do regional blackouts of games affect my experience?
Most English-language NHL regular and post-season games are available on Rogers NHL GameCentre LIVE™. However, there are certain regular season games that are subject to certain blackouts, which we are unable to stream.

So still no clear cut answer on if GameCentre is a decent service for cord cutters there. I had thought when the initial Rogers deal was announced "no more regional blackouts" was part of the announcement to. But it's possible I misread something.

$200/season for all Flames games on my Apple TV is a reasonable price when I consider that I don't have cable. But they seem to be remaining mum on if that's the case.

[Regular_John]

Followed up with Rogers on twitter and it looks like they'll be playing games with their various sportnet channels.

So Blackouts?... probably.



It's 2014... all I wanna do watch regional live NHL hockey via the internet instead of a cable TV package... I'm willing to pay for this service. 100's of dollars if need be, just give me the option.

[shogged]

Originally Posted by jaydorn

It's 2014... all I wanna do watch regional live NHL hockey via the internet instead of a cable TV package... I'm willing to pay for this service. 100's of dollars if need be, just give me the option.

so damn true. remember when they used to blackout home games on regional tv? Why do these guys take so long to get with the program? I feel like the point should be to make viewing games accessible to as many people as possible, not putting up artificial barriers.

[Regular_John]

Well that's that then.



Back to the shadier side of internet streams it would seem.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by jaydorn

Followed up with Rogers on twitter and it looks like they'll be playing games with their various sportnet channels.

So Blackouts?... probably.



It's 2014... all I wanna do watch regional live NHL hockey via the internet instead of a cable TV package... I'm willing to pay for this service. 100's of dollars if need be, just give me the option.

By blacking out national broadcasts to the internet they are trying to protect the TV providers from people like you. Not that I care but that's their point of view.

I'm wondering if I'll lose my Game Centre subscription which has come free of charge along with my grand fathered Bell Centre Ice since this is now run by Bell's rival.

[Regular_John]

Guess this was incorrect or has changed for some rea$ons.
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=693152

The agreement also guarantees there will be no further regionalization of games or local blackouts. Rogers has three exclusive windows to broadcast any game involving a Canadian team -- Wednesday nights, Saturday nights and Sunday nights. Fans will have the ability to watch any of those games regardless of geographical location within Canada.

[Regular_John]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

By blacking out national broadcasts to the internet they are trying to protect the TV providers from people like you. Not that I care but that's their point of view.

I'm wondering if I'll lose my Game Centre subscription which has come free of charge along with my grand fathered Bell Centre Ice since this is now run by Bell's rival.

Yeah and I do get that.

Why sell me the NHL alone for $200/season, when they can sell a full cable package for $200/month. From a business standpoint I 100% understand.

But from the consumer standpoint I just wish there was a better offering.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

At the time, I thought no further regionalization meant that you could expect the same or more national games than before. That appears to be the case with the Flames on 32 times nationally instead of 22.

Also, Rogers runs Gamecentre in Canada. They're a cable provider. Why would anyone think they'd make it easier for people to not have cable?

[indes]

I know I paid for SNW 2 years ago but they blacked out the flames games so it was useless. Fortunately living out of region GCL shows all the flames games

[Regular_John]

Originally Posted by Sidney Crosby's Hat

At the time, I thought no further regionalization meant that you could expect the same or more national games than before. That appears to be the case with the Flames on 32 times nationally instead of 22.

Also, Rogers runs Gamecentre in Canada. They're a cable provider. Why would anyone think they'd make it easier for people to not have cable?

The same reason they moved from offering land lines to wireless really, changing times, new revenue streams and technologies available.

And up to this year Gamecentre was handled by the NHL, I *hoped* (wrongfully mind you) that Rogers would use this as an opportunity to get with the times.

[Badgers Nose]

My cable package has all SN except World/One, so if I get this service I will see all 82 games guaranteed?

This muct work like HBO on demand through shaw. Sign into the Rogers service with a shaw email address or something.

You would think they would make it easy and take your $200 and give you all the games.

[dammage79]

Am I reading this right? 200 dollars for less games on GC if I'm not a rogers customer or a cable subscriber? If that's right, I won't be watching much hockey this year, especially at that cost.

[kermitology]

This was my concern.. I'm on a recurring subscription with GCL, so we'll see how this plays out.

I reached out to unblock us and they seemed pretty confident that all would be well if using their service.

[MacFlame]

The fact that sites like unblock-us are becoming popular and the younger generation (specifically) is moving away from cable was likely the biggest reason that Rogers was willing to pay so much for this package in the first place. Live sports is the only offering that still ties people to cable companies...Rogers already knows this.

Rogers (and other cable companies) will do whatever they can to halt the transition from the current model to an a la carte model. When Rogers picked up the NHL rights, it was likely the last opportunity the NHL had to request/demand such dollars under the current subscription model, an opportunity that was available because they could capitalize on fear.

The a la carte model will come, but not until some of the behemoths suffer an unfortunate demise....an entirely preventable unfortunate demise.

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by jaydorn

Guess this was incorrect or has changed for some rea$ons.
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=693152

No, you just misunderstood it.

[skeena1]

Originally Posted by shogged

so damn true. remember when they used to blackout home games on regional tv? Why do these guys take so long to get with the program? I feel like the point should be to make viewing games accessible to as many people as possible, not putting up artificial barriers.

If they blacked out home games on regional tv then who got to watch them?

[YYC in LAX]

My cell service is through Rogers but I haven't received any promotional email or text about the free trial. Am I missing something?

[flame^thrower]

Originally Posted by YYC in LAX

My cell service is through Rogers but I haven't received any promotional email or text about the free trial. Am I missing something?

I received a text on Thursday the 4th regarding the service and included a link to the site. My Rogers phone is through work so I am not the subscriber. Not sure how that is going to work. I loved GCL the way it was, but have a feeling I am going to be really PO'd this season...

Living on the west coast I have no idea with all this regional or non regional BS just how many games I'll be able to see. Watching on tv isn't always an option so that's why I love GCL. I guess I'll be finding out soon enough.

[Joborule]

Sucks that you can't use Gamecentre to watch all Flames games this year if you live in Calgary. Have to imagine they're missing a market there.

[flame^thrower]

Originally Posted by Joborule

Sucks that you can't use Gamecentre to watch all Flames games this year if you live in Calgary. Have to imagine they're missing a market there.

I just hope I can watch all the games on it and I live on the coast.