Channels and Programming

[makarov01]

I live in the Baltimore/DC media market area, specifically Chambersburg, PA, getting whatever feed that is (mid-atlantic?) for Comcast SportsNet.

Whenever a Phillies game is slated for national/regional broadcast on ESPN/ESPN2/MLB Channel and that channel isn't the soul source of the game, I'm blacked out. This wouldn't be a problem except my CSN feed doesn't include Phillies games, ever.

I called customer service tonight, who listened to and seemed to understand the problem, read me three MLB blackout rules, and claimed that my problem wasn't a problem. Their reasoning:

If I was blacked out, it was because MLB wanted it that way. When I pointed out that none of the blackout rules applied, they still insisted it must be right - MLB determines what is blacked out and what isn't.

So I asked, "Assume for a moment that I am correct. I can't get the game on a local channel, and MLB actually wants me to get the game, and I'm blacked out. What would be the procedure for handling this problem?"  The answer: there is no procedure.

According to Comcast representatives, including someone who called me back as a "supervisor", there is no problem because they couldn't possibly make a mistake - like having the wrong blackout rules for a particular service area because someone assumed they should be the same as a nearby area even though they aren't.

What do you do when the evidence of your problem (being blacked out) is claimed as evidence there is no problem? Has anyone at Comcast ever read 1984  or Catch-22? 

We have always been at war with Eastasia, or Oceania, or whatever. We're not wrong because we're always right.

Earth to Comcast: MLB actually wants people to watch their games on TV. When CSN has primary distribution rights, the game shouldn't be blacked out in areas that don't get that CSN feed.

Any suggestions as to who I should contact? MLB? Local franchise authority? Ministry of Truth?

[galley_proof]

Thanks for your post. We're sitting here in northern New Jersey and have been experiencing the same problem. Can't get Comcast SportsNet but the games are blacked out anyway. 

Comcast's customer service has been absolutely no help whatsoever.

[makarov01]

I did get one suggestion from Comcast customer service - to contact what they called the "Legal Resource Department". I have no idea what their function is or why they could help me, but I have their phone number and will try them tomorrow.

The supervisor also said he would email a headend technician/supervisor and have them confirm whether or not I'm getting the proper feeds. When I asked where the headend was, he didn't have that information. I'm not expecting any further communication from this attempt.

One think I probably will do is try to find out who the VP of Customer Service is and ask them:

"If you have a problem that Comcast has no procedure in place to resolve, who do you contact?"

[galley_proof]

Actually, the problem is with Comcast; their version of "market area" and MLB's version differ significantly. MLB is assuming that local broadcast availability covers certain areas – and Comcast is NOT filling that area with access to its local broadcasts of the games.

The solution is very simple: Comcast should offer the sports feed with Phillies games in any areas where MLB is assuming they are available.

Could a similar problem be occurring in other markets? with other sports (i.e., Sixers, Flyers)? 

[makarov01]

Not like I missed a good game tonight or anything.

Danys Baez throws 5 shutout innings against one of the best offenses in baseball. A position player gets a win for the first time since 2000, and the Phillies win in bottom of the 19th.

[galley_proof]

I received a call today from a man named Terrence in Comast's legal department. Although very nice, he couldn't offer much help. Essentially, MLB sets the rules regarding blackout areas for nationally televised games. In some cases, the MLB includes areas in a "local" market which really aren't part of that local market. This is, presumably, to assist the teams – which sell their local broadcast rights individually – to reach a larger market area.

In northern New Jersey, however, Comcast defers to the rights of the Yankees and the Mets and will not "compete" with them by offering their Comcast SportsNet coverage of the Phillies. I would assume that the same thing happens in areas around Baltimore and Washington.

Since this is, essentially, an MLB problem, my wife suggested that I write to someone in the Phillies front office. Perhaps the can persuade MLB to "see the light" so we can see some games.

[madylarian]

---

galley_proof wrote:

In northern New Jersey, however, Comcast defers to the rights of the Yankees and the Mets and will not "compete" with them by offering their Comcast SportsNet coverage of the Phillies. I would assume that the same thing happens in areas around Baltimore and Washington.

---

We did untill the Orioles and Nationals formed their own regional sports network, Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN) which made it's own deal with Comcast.

mady

[makarov01]

Called the Commissioner's office in NYC today, was transferred a few times, and finally directed to someone in broadcasting. Left a voice mail and will wait to hear back.

I also called the Phillies front office and was given the name of someone to write in their broadcasting department.

More updates when I have them.

[rog286713]

you can only get your local teams in your own area.  I am in NJ and only get mets and yanks. 

[galley_proof]

Dear rog286713,

We're talking about nationally televised games from ESPN, TBS and the MLB Network. The Phillies games are blacked out for me in northern NJ, even though this is the New York market. Likewise, some people to the south and west of Philadelphia are blacked out even though they may be in the Baltimore or Washington markets. The issue is that Comcast doesn't carry the local Phillies games in these areas. The MLB blackout is supposed to protect the local broadcasts; we're trying to figure out why they are trying to protect areas where the local games aren't available.

[rog286713]

im backing out of this one as  I have no idea what your talking about

[tidd2]

It's nice to know someone else suffers from the same problems I do.  I live 2.5 hours west of Philly and am stuck with DC/Baltimore regional sports networks and no CSN Philly, yet when the Phillies play on ESPN on Wednesday nights or anytime on MLB, I'm blacked out. 

As a side note, I've contacted the NHL previously (looked into paying for the NHL on-line package) only to find out that my local teams would be blacked out - Caps, Pens, Flyers - basically every team within a 4 hour drive. 

[stoneswsteve]

Markarov, and wors back from ur phone calls? Same problem here. I live 15 mins south of Baltimore in the DC/Baltimore market. Drives me nuts. Called comcast last night and after 20 mins of explaining my problem (tech tried to tell me my boxes needed reset) I finally got thru to them, issue was passed up to a "supervisor", and was then told they are aware of the issue and are working it. Really? Sucks because I plan for these nationally televised phillies games, and get ticked everytime they are blacked out. Luckily could watch on espn3 online, but its the principal. I did convince the tech to credit my account but it was only for $5...I spent that in mins on the phone atleast...disappointing...going back to fios

[stoneswsteve]

word*

[galley_proof]

Going back to Fios won't solve the problem. It's the MLB blackout rules, not Comcast.

My guess is that Major League Baseball, based on the size of some large regional sports networks in areas of the country where major markets aren't so crowded together (like the Northeast Corridor), sets the size of the "blackout" area around each team. This is probably several hundred miles. If you reside within that circle, MLB supposes that you can receive the local broadcasts and therefore "protects" those privately owned networks by blacking out the games for that team.

This works great in markets such as St. Louis or Atlanta, where the next nearest MLB team is several hundred miles away. But here in the northeast, where teams are pretty close together, the MLB rules conflict with teams' exclusive rights contracts.

Comcast won't put the Phillies games on your cable system because the Orioles and the Nats would complain about the competition. For me, it's the Yankees and the Mets. But MLB's "one size fits all" blackout rules don't take this into consideration. They assume that, just because I'm within a certain distance from the market, I can receive the games through the local team's network.

My guess is that Fios would be under the same pressure. 

MLB's blackout rules need to be changed.

[feldman21]

I'm glad to see that others are having the same problem. I've never had an issue with the package and coverage before last night (9/7/2011). Luckily I was able to watch online and tonights game in on MLBN. I dont understand why this is taking place now

[GunsNButter]

Add Baltimore, MD to the list of markets being blacked out from Phillies games on ESPN.  This doesn't make any sense.

[mekl77]

I live in Northern NJ and I have the same problem with being blacked out as though I am in the Philly market, although I am not. Periodically I try to figure out who is responsible for this mistake, and how to correct it. Comcast says it's the Phillies who decide. The Phillies say it's Comcast.

MLB says our area is definitely NOT in the defined blackout zone.

From communicating with the various involved entities, I can only conclude that it is Comcast's mistake, which for years they have refused to acknowledge, let alone fix. Frustratingly, I can no longer even find on the Xfinity website any means of writing to Comcast customer service. Phone calls aren't answered by anyone who can even understand the question. 

Just venting, and hoping a Comcast rep might take note of this problem that many customers have described in this and other threads.