Direct TV and College Football

Submitted by winterblue75 on

Does anyone know why Direct TV blacks out the reverse mirror game that is supposed to be on ESPN2 (209)? It is shown on an ESPN overflow channel (211), but it is not in HD. It happened during both the 3:30 and 8:00 games yesterday.

GCS

September 19th, 2010 at 3:32 PM ^

It happens because the game that DirecTV is showing on 209 is also being shown by your local ABC station. By some FCC agreement or something, they always black out the cable station so that you have to watch it on the local station.

I keep hoping they add in an HD oveflow channel soon.

winterblue75

September 19th, 2010 at 3:35 PM ^

No, my local ABC station was showing Wisc/ASU at 3:30 and MSU/ND at 8. So then ESPN2 should have had Neb/UW at 3:30 and UT/TT at 8. I thought the whole point of the mirror or reverse mirror or whatever they call it was to be able to see the other game being shown simultaneously .

Clarence Beeks

September 19th, 2010 at 3:51 PM ^

I know what you're talking about and what GCS said isn't the answer (it's not the same game being shown on ABC).  They don't always block out and show the reverse mirror game in SD; it depends on where you live.  For example, I had the reverse mirror game in HD.  I haven't had it happen to me here yet this year, but it happened every game last year.  So while it sucks that they do this (and I don't know the actual reason why), it does seem that it has gotten better than it was last year.  I have no idea why they wouldn't just show it in HD when it is shot in HD and broadcast elsewhere in HD.  You can always tell in advance if it's going to happen to you, as it shows it on the maps.

Jeff

September 19th, 2010 at 4:14 PM ^

Not trying to totally hijack your thread but I have another question about DirecTV.  I went to 2 local restaurants/bars hoping to watch the game.  They each had DirecTV but neither of them had the Big Ten Network.  Isn't BTN on a pretty basic package?  How could a bar that shows football games and has DirecTV not have the BTN?

Clarence Beeks

September 19th, 2010 at 4:25 PM ^

The only way that is possible is if the bar has an old carryover package from the pre-BTN days, but even then I'm not sure that BTN wouldn't be included.  Every DirecTV package currently sold includes BTN.  If I were you, the next time I went there, I'd call their bluff and ask them to put on channel 610 and prove it.

buck1973

September 19th, 2010 at 10:11 PM ^

Commercial packages are different than home packages. Pricing is based on the viewing occupancy of the establishment and none of them contain the BTN. BTN is an add-on that costs $39.99 a month.

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/content/business/bars_restaurants/packages

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/content/business/bars_restaurants/sports