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Topic: MAC Inks Regional TV deal with Time Warner Cable SportsChannel

Topic: MAC Inks Regional TV deal with Time Warner Cable SportsChannel

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anorris
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MAC Inks Regional TV deal with Time Warner Cable SportsChannel

Posted: 8/23/2013 12:13:08 PM

http://www.mac-sports.com/tabid/969/Article/262318/Time-W...

That's a real step backwards.

The Optimist
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RE: MAC Inks Regional TV deal with Time Warner Cable SportsChannel

Posted: 8/23/2013 12:46:10 PM

Is it fair to assume STO/Fox Sports (Fox bought STO?) passed on the MAC or didn't offer the deal we had before, anorris?

This channel certainly isn't in as many households as STO. The link anorris posted mentioned more games televised... That would be a nice plus, but I can't see it being enough to voluntarily lure the MAC away from STO unless Time Warner really offered a payday. I guess that is possible? This does feel like a big step down.

I've seen crazier things happen.

shabamon
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RE: MAC Inks Regional TV deal with Time Warner Cable SportsChannel

Posted: 8/23/2013 1:03:54 PM

Clearly a step back since, well, sucks for you if you have DirecTV. Honestly, I am a bit relieved because it's at least something.

Deciduous Forest Cat
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RE: MAC Inks Regional TV deal with Time Warner Cable SportsChannel

Posted: 8/23/2013 1:15:21 PM

the important thing here is that the games are getting televised somewhere, which means they are already being produced and it's easier for ESPNU, ESPNnews and Gameplan to pick them up and put them on nationally.

Pataskala
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RE: MAC Inks Regional TV deal with Time Warner Cable SportsChannel

Posted: 8/23/2013 1:43:20 PM

Makes me wonder about the future of STO after the baseball season is through. Nothing on there now that couldn't be carried on FSN Ohio. Too bad.

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Steve
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RE: MAC Inks Regional TV deal with Time Warner Cable SportsChannel

Posted: 8/23/2013 2:07:33 PM

Even though I get Time Warner, this is limiting the access fans have to the games. That's not good.

oucs 1986
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RE: MAC Inks Regional TV deal with Time Warner Cable SportsChannel

Posted: 8/23/2013 2:15:45 PM

This is a step backwards in the number of people that can watch MAC football on TV.

However, it might be a better revenue generating deal than the one they had before.

This would be one of those "Differentiators" that content providers are always looking for.

It's a reason for someone to keep Time Warner and an incentive for people with DirecTV to switch to Time Warner.

I won't get the channel, since I have DirecTV, but my buddy has Time Warner, and I'll pester him to let me watch it.

-john

Go Bobcats!

Ted Thompson
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RE: MAC Inks Regional TV deal with Time Warner Cable SportsChannel

Posted: 8/23/2013 2:20:45 PM

I understand this only a regional deal and beggars can't be choosers. But with the proliferation of college sports networks, I'm not sure why you sign a 3-year deal with Time Warner that essentially limits the distribution of your content.

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GoCats105
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RE: MAC Inks Regional TV deal with Time Warner Cable SportsChannel

Posted: 8/23/2013 3:53:23 PM

I'm wondering if this is going to be broadcast like the Big East Network and regional SEC games, where they use ESPN graphics and everything, but it's broadcast on local channels. Is that how this will work?

JSF
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RE: MAC Inks Regional TV deal with Time Warner Cable SportsChannel

Posted: 8/23/2013 4:56:56 PM

It's almost as if demand for our product is low.

"Loyalty to a hometown or city is fleeting and interchangeable, but college is a stamp of identity."- Kyle Whelliston, One Beautiful Season.

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Pataskala
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RE: MAC Inks Regional TV deal with Time Warner Cable SportsChannel

Posted: 8/23/2013 11:04:34 PM

It's hard to imagine (and sad to think) that this was the best deal the MAC could make. I'm sure there was pressure to cut a regional deal that would make it easy to accommodate ESPN Gameplan, but TWC sports can't even be viewed as a second-rate service. I've seen some of their productions and they look like small-market TV (think the Buckeye Cable broadcasts of our games at Toledo & BG a few years ago). Milky pictures, poor direction, mediocre announcing. Add to it the reduced coverage, and it adds up to a lousy deal.

Edit: I just realized that those of us who live within a TWC service area but subscribe to a satellite service probably won't be able to get the games on Gameplan because of blackout restrictions, and can't get the ESPN internet broadcasts because we'd have to subscribe to TW's lousy cable service to get those. That really sucks.

Last Edited: 8/23/2013 11:16:18 PM by Pataskala

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anorris
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RE: MAC Inks Regional TV deal with Time Warner Cable SportsChannel

Posted: 8/23/2013 11:08:55 PM

Reaction after a few hours and with a real keyboard instead of my phone:

The Optimist wrote:

Is it fair to assume STO/Fox Sports (Fox bought STO?) passed on the MAC or didn't offer the deal we had before, anorris?

Obviously I have no knowledge of the situation, but based on Fox Sports Ohio having the MAC before STO, and not seeming to fight too hard to get it back, I have to imagine they either offered peanuts or didn't even offer. Regional FSN games from random markets probably do just as well for them, without much cost.

The Optimist wrote:

The link anorris posted mentioned more games televised... That would be a nice plus, but I can't see it being enough to voluntarily lure the MAC away from STO unless Time Warner really offered a payday.

I wish they put a number to "more." The STO deals had solid minimum numbers publicized, per sport (although men's and women's basketball were lumped together). The release does mention 55 basketball games, which is a sizeable bump.

shabamon wrote:

Clearly a step back since, well, sucks for you if you have DirecTV. Honestly, I am a bit relieved because it's at least something.

This is a huge one to me. The channel isn't exactly well distributed. It does sound as though the live games, at least, will be simulcast through ESPN3 and mac-sports.com, which is excellent, and sufficient for most who have a bit of tech-savvy, although picture quality obviously will suffer. I also am a bit relieved, as I think about it, because I really was expecting nothing.

Deciduous Forest Cat wrote:

As above, they're somewhere, which is good. Although the rest of this isn't really meaningful, because if U or News were going to put them on, they'd send their own folks. GamePlan, on the other hand, is possible, since that is how it operates (by picking up other feeds of games ESPN owns the first-tier rights to, as they do with the MAC).

Pataskala wrote:

Makes me wonder about the future of STO after the baseball season is through. Nothing on there now that couldn't be carried on FSN Ohio. Too bad.

Honestly, I thought from the moment I heard they bought STO the network was dead. Fox Sports Cincy/Fox Sports Cleveland, FS Ohio North/South, whatever. Especially given Fox's push nationally in sports, the STO branding will probably go away as fast as they can make it.

Ted Thompson wrote:

Three years seems to be somewhat standard for the conference -- Both the STO and Fox Sports Ohio deal prior were for three year periods.

GoCats105 wrote:

No. The MAC actually does have such a package with the MAC Game of the Week, which much like the Big East and SEC packages are produced by ESPN Regional TV. These Time Warner games would be produced by Time Warner, as STO's were by STO. It does look like they'll be available through ESPN3 though.

Which is what concerns me. STO was good for us in my opinion because they cared about the programming since baseball only fills up so much of the schedule, and they were making their money by broadcasting. I'm not certain Time Warner will pay for the quality of production that STO did, because frankly this channel seems like an afterthought. This network apparently launched in August 2012, combining three services in the region (TWTV, Time Warner Cable Sports 24, and NE Ohio Network) according to Wikipedia. Anybody heard of it? Does it seem like they're marketing it or trying to make it into a selling point? Or is this going to be public access plus?

Buffalo has had a couple of games on Time Warner's Buffalo-area sports channel the last couple of years, and the quality has been very, "meh."

Maybe they're really going to go for it and I will be pleasantly surprised. I hope so.

anorris
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RE: MAC Inks Regional TV deal with Time Warner Cable SportsChannel

Posted: 8/23/2013 11:17:57 PM

Pataskala wrote:

Edit: I just realized that those of us who live within a TWC service area but subscribe to a satellite service probably won't be able to get the games on Gameplan because of blackout restrictions, and can't get the ESPN internet broadcasts because we'd have to subscribe to TW's lousy cable service to get those. That really sucks.

Hadn't considered that, but entirely possible. Hopefully the mac-sports.com streams continue to be available for folks in that boat (I'm sure there are lots, especially in more rural areas).

shabamon
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RE: MAC Inks Regional TV deal with Time Warner Cable SportsChannel

Posted: 8/24/2013 10:24:14 AM

Our basketball game at Miami this past season was broadcast on TWC Sportschannel. Honestly, I didn't think the production quality was all that bad. I wonder who the on-air talent will be, as I'm almost certain Reghi won't be a part of this.

Good cat Good cat
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RE: MAC Inks Regional TV deal with Time Warner Cable SportsChannel

Posted: 8/25/2013 12:28:43 PM

This sets the MAC back 10 years.

OUs LONG Driver
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RE: MAC Inks Regional TV deal with Time Warner Cable SportsChannel

Posted: 8/25/2013 1:11:54 PM

I'm not sure it's as bad as some seem to think. From what I've read it will be available to other cable providers in the MAC footprint other than just Time Warner which leaves out only the satellite users. Previously, cable providers who didn't have STO were left out right? I'm not sure if that's true or not.

It seems we've swapped accessibility of all Satellite users who had STO for additional Cable users in the MAC footprint. That's obviously a net loss of total people with access to the channel nationwide but maybe not regionally. Notice I said access and not viewers.

The good news is there will be more games available and anyone who really wants to watch will be able via online streams regardless of their television provider. That wasn't an option 10 years ago, so it's definitely not set us back 10 years.

With STO's future uncertain and the commitment only for 3 years I don't have a problem with it. It will be interesting to find out the financial agreement. The Lakers are getting 180 Million dollars a year for their deal, so TWC definitely has the cash to spend.

In 2010 STO promised 3 football games and 33 basketball games which was a 60% increase from the previous deal. Now we're talking about 55 basketball games on this new deal which is another 66% increase from 2010.

Last Edited: 8/25/2013 1:14:57 PM by OUs LONG Driver

anorris
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RE: MAC Inks Regional TV deal with Time Warner Cable SportsChannel

Posted: 8/25/2013 6:26:34 PM

STO broadcasts were made available to other cable providers systems in the conference footprint on overflow channels, which were poorly branded and advertised. I fear this whole network will be that.

It is an increase in games. If the production and marketing are adequate, I'll be happy and thrilled to reverse my tune. If the production is webcast quality and available to a large portion of our audience only via the web, why bother? We'll see. At this point I'd like to see a commitment on even one football game, now that we are a week out from the season. Or even a website.

Zaleski
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RE: MAC Inks Regional TV deal with Time Warner Cable SportsChannel

Posted: 8/25/2013 6:48:15 PM

This conference is sinking faster and faster to FCS status. Time to leave, but who would take us with our micro TV market and dinky stadium?

OUcats82
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RE: MAC Inks Regional TV deal with Time Warner Cable SportsChannel

Posted: 8/25/2013 7:21:00 PM

anorris wrote:

Reaction after a few hours and with a real keyboard instead of my phone:

The Optimist wrote:

Is it fair to assume STO/Fox Sports (Fox bought STO?) passed on the MAC or didn't offer the deal we had before, anorris?

The Optimist wrote:

shabamon wrote:

Clearly a step back since, well, sucks for you if you have DirecTV. Honestly, I am a bit relieved because it's at least something.

Deciduous Forest Cat wrote:

Pataskala wrote:

Makes me wonder about the future of STO after the baseball season is through. Nothing on there now that couldn't be carried on FSN Ohio. Too bad.

Ted Thompson wrote:

Three years seems to be somewhat standard for the conference -- Both the STO and Fox Sports Ohio deal prior were for three year periods.

GoCats105 wrote:

I watched our game at Buffalo on the local TWC Buffalo production and it was as rough as a cob. Reminded me of the high school game coverages the local public access channel in my hometown had.....back in the 1990s. Real lame graphics, little to no instant replay, definitely not something a D1 program looking to improve its profile would want to be a part of.

Last Edited: 8/25/2013 7:21:45 PM by OUcats82

Ohio-The State University

TheRealMikeDrake
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RE: MAC Inks Regional TV deal with Time Warner Cable SportsChannel

Posted: 8/27/2013 10:58:22 AM

shabamon wrote:

Clearly a step back since, well, sucks for you if you have DirecTV. Honestly, I am a bit relieved because it's at least something.

anorris wrote:

Just listened to the #AskMACCommish conference. JS said the games will be available for ESPN to add to gameplan/full court, which is a plus for us DTV'ers. Other than that he didn't give much more details we didn't know in regards to satellite provider coverage.

*I think each package is $120.
*I'll be interested to see what % of TWC games get selected by ESPN GP/FC
*There was no clarification specifically that subscribers in the MAC area would not be blacked out. That needs to be clarified.

Historically, I've noticed that even if you just buy the sportspack on DTV you're only blacked out on certain SEC/ACC games. However, I did have an issue with STO about 2 years ago for the OU/Ball State fb game where it was blacked out for the first half, so you really just don't know until kickoff.

Unless we get something ironclad, I'll probably wait until we actually get a schedule of MAC FB/BB games with TWC, then see if it's worth the gamble to get GP/FC.

Last Edited: 8/27/2013 10:59:17 AM by TheRealMikeDrake

Tim Burke
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RE: MAC Inks Regional TV deal with Time Warner Cable SportsChannel

Posted: 8/27/2013 12:12:12 PM

This network is available NOWHERE. I have both a Time Warner and a DirecTV subscription, it is on neither.

Ohio '99 EMU '00 USF '08(?)

UpSan Bobcat
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RE: MAC Inks Regional TV deal with Time Warner Cable SportsChannel

Posted: 8/28/2013 4:01:30 PM

Details released: Three football games to be shown on the network and all three feature Kent State.

Saturday, Oct. 5 Northern Illinois at Kent State, 3:30 pm ET
Saturday, Oct. 26 Buffalo at Kent State, 3:30 pm ET
Saturday, Nov. 2 Kent State at Akron, 3:30 pm ET

Also a MAC preview show at 7 tonight. I believe this also can be seen on ESPN3, although blackout restrictions are noted.

The network is available on TWC 1311 (HD) and 311 in Ohio and on BCSN for those in the Toledo area.

The games also will be broadcast on networks in Indiana, Michigan, New York and Wisconsin.

http://www.mac-sports.com/tabid/969/Article/263945/Football-Preview-Show-Debuts-On-Time-Warner-Cable-SportsChannel.aspx

Deciduous Forest Cat
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RE: MAC Inks Regional TV deal with Time Warner Cable SportsChannel

Posted: 8/28/2013 5:25:37 PM

UpSan Bobcat wrote:

Details released: Three football games to be shown on the network and all three feature Kent State.

Saturday, Oct. 5 Northern Illinois at Kent State, 3:30 pm ET
Saturday, Oct. 26 Buffalo at Kent State, 3:30 pm ET
Saturday, Nov. 2 Kent State at Akron, 3:30 pm ET

Also a MAC preview show at 7 tonight. I believe this also can be seen on ESPN3, although blackout restrictions are noted.

The network is available on TWC 1311 (HD) and 311 in Ohio and on BCSN for those in the Toledo area.
The games also will be broadcast on networks in Indiana, Michigan, New York and Wisconsin.

http://www.mac-sports.com/tabid/969/Article/263945/Football-Preview-Show-Debuts-On-Time-Warner-Cable-SportsChannel.aspx

I was literally about to ask on this thread if we could expect the same unwarranted NE Ohio bias with this new affiliate. Apparently so.

anorris
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RE: MAC Inks Regional TV deal with Time Warner Cable SportsChannel

Posted: 8/28/2013 6:13:17 PM

Great start.

anorris
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RE: MAC Inks Regional TV deal with Time Warner Cable SportsChannel

Posted: 8/28/2013 6:32:59 PM

And the preview show tonight will be blacked out in Ohio on ESPN3. Sorry, satellite subscribers. Have to imagine that will extend to games, as well.

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