Comcast drops the BTN network
- Thread starter retsio
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These are all contract negotiation ploys. They happen with every paid tv provider. It a big game of chicken that companies play with each other. At least 99% times they come up with a compromise. Both sides know they are in no big rush until fall. They will work out a deal.
Any intel on when Comcast will go nationwide with their streaming service...I think it’s called Instant TV? It seems intriguing since I would have live local channels whereas most of the other streaming services do not have all the local live tv channels where I reside...I live just outside of Johnstown, Pa
Except I'm bailing if it's gone after May 10. Putting it back on in the fall will be too late ... for me anyway.
Yea that ESPN+ thing isn't going to replace ESPN live sports programming: https://www.recode.net/2018/2/6/16982032/espn-plus-subscription-streaming-service-five-dollars
Instead, ESPN Plus will have “incremental thousands of hours of live programming,” as Disney CEO Bob Iger put it today on his company’s earnings call — but none of the stuff you can see on any of ESPN’s cable channels. That stuff still requires a subscription to ESPN — either via traditional pay TV outlets or many of the new internet TV bundles that have launched in recent years.
Instead, ESPN Plus will have stuff that ESPN doesn’t think is valuable enough to put on regular TV — or even on ESPN Watch, the digital bonus service it bundles with ESPN subscriptions. So this stuff has to be niche, by definition.
ESPN still hasn’t publicly spelled out what that means, but people familiar with the company have filled in the blanks. Think small college sports. Or tennis tournaments that aren’t one of the major tennis tournaments. That kind of thing.
I just called for Comcast in South Jersey and they said that it was not being removed, fwiw. I just checked my bill as well and it didn't have anything listed for any changes upcoming for BTN on any date.
Seems different regions are getting different messages.
Seems different regions are getting different messages.
https://www.theringer.com/sports/2018/4/2/17190026/espn-plus-streaming-service-april-12
As far as live events go, here’s what the (ESPN+) service has:
As far as live events go, here’s what the (ESPN+) service has:
- One MLB game every day during baseball season.
- One NHL game every day during hockey season.
- A “selection of exclusive main event” boxing fights, and more undercard fights.
- Every out-of-market MLS game (subject to blackouts) and local-market Chicago Fire games.
- College sports from these conferences: “America East, ASun, Big South, Big West, Horizon, Ivy League, MAAC, MAC, MEAC, Missouri Valley, NEC, Southern Conference, Southland, Summit League, Sun Belt, WAC, and many more.”
- PGA Tour coverage including Thursday, Friday, and “some” Saturday and Sunday play.
- Grand Slam tennis coverage that’s billed as a “complement” for tennis fans.
- Rugby and cricket coverage.
We have Cox Communications as our cable provider. BTN is not part of the basic lineup here in the south. It is still on here. We pay an extra $5.00 per month to get it. It is included in what they call a Sports Pak. Of course we pay another $5.00 per month to get ESPNU which is conveniently in a different Sports Pak. 
But you get a discount if you watch the whole game (the same value of a coke at the stadium).
I think I'm going to wait until August to see what happens.
I am in a condo and right now FIOS is not in the hood and they don't seem to have any plans to make it available.
Currently I'm on Verizon DSL for internet. That seems to work fine even if I'm watching Netflix.
I guess my questions would be if I cut the cord I'm thinking Hulu is the way to go. So what is everyone's opinion of Hulu and would a DSL line be enough or would I need to upgrade. Which then probably means I'm back to Comcast Internet...ughhhh.
Oh and Satellite is out because of limited mounting options...meaning I don't have any. LOL.
Any streaming service depends on your internet speed and router. What's your setup?
DSL generally doesn't work as well as cable. Even though Netflix works fine, live TV can be a different animal.
It seems Comcast has taken gouging to a new level. When I was at the S. Jersey shore and PSU was in the NIT it was damn near impossible to find a bar that carried BTN in the Wildwood/Cape May area. I asked the bartender at one place an he said Comcast charges an extremely high fee for a bar to get BTN. I did find a place that carried it but it took a while.
I'm not sure what the Download and Upload speeds are. I know its not blazing. I'll have to check it tonight. Its a fairly older Router/Modem so that might something I could upgrade or boost.
I thought maybe there might be a difference between Netflix and Live TV.
I really haven't had to worry about it too much. It works fine for downloading Itunes but thats all I do with it. I don't do any gaming.
Gotcha. Without knowing what your speeds are it's tough to tell. In my area for example, 10mbps is the highest DSL speed you can get. It's not enough for consistently good streaming quality, particularly when paired with a weak router.
Wife confirmed it is being dropped from the sports entertainment package. She doesn't know why or if it will be on another package. Perhaps Fox is trying to do what ESPN is doing with their ESPN+ subscription model.
I don't see how this is good for the BTN honestly.
I don't see how this is good for the BTN honestly.
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Thanks.
Guy at work just told me to try the Directv now ap. He's using it and likes it so that might
be something that works.
https://www.directvnow.com/thegoods...XEAAYASAAEgI-6PD_BwE#sixty-plus-live-channels
Ok I just got some more clarity on then situation:
Message my wife got from someone in Comcast Corporate
"This is what was relayed to me: "to be clear, it's only out of market areas where this network is being dropped. In Big 10 territory, it's not being dropped..."
So If you are in a state with a BIG 10 team you should be good.
Hopefully this clears up any confusion.
Message my wife got from someone in Comcast Corporate
"This is what was relayed to me: "to be clear, it's only out of market areas where this network is being dropped. In Big 10 territory, it's not being dropped..."
So If you are in a state with a BIG 10 team you should be good.
Hopefully this clears up any confusion.
I live in Harrisburg and I have Verizon FiOS. BTN Is carried and would be in Philly as well.
Consider TiVo as an alternative to the Verizon DVR. Look at Verizon’s DVR cost/month. Use that monthly rate to see when the TiVo will be yours free and clear. After that, you’ll save perhaps $25-$30 per month, by not paying for the Verizon DVR rental fees.
Having 3,000 hours of TiVo recording time and up to six channels recording at the same time was a pretty good deal at one time.
Haven’t priced it lately, so you’ll have to compare the offers.
Haven't heard anything but I'll ask. However I believe this might be very difficult due to existing contracts.
The viewership issue is an interesting one. I am the President of the HOA in a 1300 home development here in SW FL. I’ve heard from other HOA officers in several similar developments. Several have contracts with Comcast as their neighborhood cable provider. In each case, they have indicated they will sever the relationship when contracts renew in the near future. So in essence, Comcast could lose more than just BTN viewers. And people are angry that Comcast tried to “sneak” this by us in small print on the back of our bill. Because of the large number of northeast and Midwest folks who live here, I think Comcast picked the wrong location to start. This has the potential to really bite them in the butt.
That's odd considering Comcast owns a 4.99% profit sharing interest in the BTN or at least it did. Could be a negotiating ploy for a bigger piece of the pie.
Does this mean Comcast New York, Virginia and DC will be dropping BTN?
Why did B1G want Rutgers ?
Won’t this hurt recruiting?
Two years ago BTN broadcast 6 PSU games: Rutgers, Maryland, PSU, Temple, Minnesota and Iowa.
Last year it was 4 games: State, Indiana, Rutgers and Maryland.
Now that PSU is back in national prominence, and such a big ratings draw, more PSU games are on broadcast networks where you can watch for the price of a TV antenna.
Assuming the team doesn't fall on its face this fall, if you can stream BTN, you might be able to get by subscribing for just September (App State and Kent State) and November (Rutgers and Md). That's cheaper than just one month of extended cable.
BTW if you live in a Verizon FIOS territory, their internet pricing is very competitive for people switching from Comcast. In our area we can get 50 megabit internet for $40 a month, no additional fees if you have your own router. That beats Comcast by about $45. (And I'm not anti-Comcast at all. I just take the best deal).
Last year it was 4 games: State, Indiana, Rutgers and Maryland.
Now that PSU is back in national prominence, and such a big ratings draw, more PSU games are on broadcast networks where you can watch for the price of a TV antenna.
Assuming the team doesn't fall on its face this fall, if you can stream BTN, you might be able to get by subscribing for just September (App State and Kent State) and November (Rutgers and Md). That's cheaper than just one month of extended cable.
BTW if you live in a Verizon FIOS territory, their internet pricing is very competitive for people switching from Comcast. In our area we can get 50 megabit internet for $40 a month, no additional fees if you have your own router. That beats Comcast by about $45. (And I'm not anti-Comcast at all. I just take the best deal).
hey, why don't you negotiate a deal as part of the HOA to get some really high speed stuff (T-1s?). Then share the line with repeaters in every house. Hire some guy to maintain it. With 1300 homes, I am sure that would be a profitable move.
whatever high speed is today...industrial strength access.
