Cal Fans with DirecTV get screwed

by SoCal Oski on Nov 12, 2009 9:32 AM PST

No Big Game for you!

It seems that the Big Game will be shown on Versus this year. That sucks for a few reasons, such as the fact that Versus tends to have some of the worst production value and commentators in the industry. Not to mention consistent technical problems in their transmissions.

But that is nothing compared to the fact that it is not available to DirecTV subscribers. So, no Arizona game, and no Big Game.

My question is why would the Big Game be televised on Versus anyway? It's not like Nov 21 is a jam-packed Pac-10 slate. Surely ABC, ESPN, or Fox Sports could have picked this up? This makes no freaking sense at all. The 3:30 ABC game is Penn State @ Mich State. Sure, a great game if you live there, but why the hell are we on the coast forced to watch this?

Personally, I'm getting kind of tired of being kicked in the nuts by the conference TV schedule, and the ridiculous tie-ins. Versus? The Big Televen and the SEC have their own dedicated networks, and Notre Dame has NBC as its bitch. But us? We get shunted off to some public-access cast off.

Sucks. Just sucks.

The opinions expressed in a FanPost are, in every way, reflective of the opinions of every California Golden Blogs Marshawnthusiast. Moreover, they are reflective of every employee of SBNation, including Tyler "Blez" Bleszinski.

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Wow, that sucks. You absolutely sure about that? I had DirecTV last year and got Versus with what I thought was a more basic package… forgetting though

STAY THIRSTY, MY FRIENDS

by Thoroughbred on Nov 12, 2009 9:44 AM PST reply actions

I believe it was replaced by ESPN-U in all packages? Something like that.

by zoonews on Nov 12, 2009 10:12 AM PST up reply actions

There was a contract dispute

Apparently DirecTV and Versus couldn’t come to terms, and the channel was removed at the end of August.

That’s problem enough for NHL fans. But the bigger issue is why the Pac-10 has a contract with a channel like that in the first place, and why, on a light conference day, would one of the marquee games be shunted off to such a fringe channel in the first place. Penn State v Mich State gets national coverage, but a Pac-10 game gets a back-alley cable slot?

The new commish (forgot his name) has to make a high-profile TV contract his #1 priority. Ensure that all Pac-10 games are shown on nationwide outlets, like ESPN or Fox, and not passed off to these third-rate things like CSTV or Versus which have spotty coverage. Better TV exposure would lead to better conference perception, etc.

All in all, this really does suck.

On ATQ I'm known as JSoCal Oski

It's spelled J-etc

by SoCal Oski on Nov 12, 2009 10:16 AM PST up reply actions

Sorry, man. Had no clue about that

STAY THIRSTY, MY FRIENDS

by Thoroughbred on Nov 12, 2009 10:42 AM PST up reply actions

My understanding is that Versus got bought by Comcast, and then they hiked up the rates, and DirecTV refused to pay.

The important thing is that it sucks though.

GROUGTHINK ALERT
The first Chester Arthur fanboy ever.

by groug on Nov 13, 2009 6:08 PM PST up reply actions

From what I understand DirecTV wants to put Versus in package that reaches fewer people and allows them to charge more for it. I sent DirecTV a letter yesterday to complain about the issue and they gave me their standard blah blah reply. They also said to call customer service to get compensation.

by MBT91_78 on Nov 14, 2009 6:35 AM PST up reply actions

The only compensation I want is to watch the Cal/Arizona game on my TV!

by MBT91_78 on Nov 14, 2009 6:36 AM PST up reply actions

maybe there should be a survey – just so that you could pass it along to the media decision makers.

How many Pac-10 games do you watch per season?

Do you only follow your own team or do you check other Pac-10 games?

Do you feel Pac-10 games get adequate TV coverage?

Would you pay between $1-$10 additional per month to have a Pac-10 Channel?

Would the availability of a Pac-10 Channel influence your cable provider choice?

Honk if you think Rags is great!

by AndBears on Nov 12, 2009 10:11 AM PST reply actions

FIOS

by Kai on Nov 12, 2009 10:20 AM PST reply actions

Versus in my opinion actually has the best quality HD broadcasts.

by Tedfordisgod on Nov 12, 2009 11:21 AM PST reply actions

Here’s my question: if you’re gonna have the game on a s*** channel like Versus anyway, why the hell do you make kickoff 4:30pm?? Is anyone on the East Coast (besides Cal fans) actually going to watch this game? I wonder. Just make it a 12:30 kickoff and make life easier for everyone.

And by ‘everyone’, I mean me.

CGB: Wasting Your Potential, Your Time, & Your Life Since 2006.

by BearStage on Nov 12, 2009 12:58 PM PST reply actions

Ya, I hate how teams have to bend over for the television schedules… especially when it is for some pipsqueak network that I no longer get due to corporate bungling. I’ll be at the game, though. I wonder if there will be more people at the game than tuned in?

by zoonews on Nov 12, 2009 2:17 PM PST up reply actions

Who knows?

I’ll be there too – maybe i’ll be able to get my friends to actually meet some new people this time, and i’ll come say hi to y’all pre-game.

Don’t hold your breath tho :-p

CGB: Wasting Your Potential, Your Time, & Your Life Since 2006.

by BearStage on Nov 13, 2009 2:49 AM PST up reply actions

I remember up to 5 years ago or so when TBS had some football, Pac-10 had games on that. We even got Erin Andrews (before her ESPN days) visiting Tightwad Hill in one of those game. I think those TBS games are now just shifted over to Versus.

by LEastCoastBears on Nov 12, 2009 1:39 PM PST reply actions

ESPN360 might pick it up

Ian Anderson

by Oaktown123 on Nov 15, 2009 5:36 AM PST reply actions

FYI

There is often a Versus feed at Veetle.com.

Go Bears!

by California Pete on Nov 15, 2009 8:31 AM PST reply actions

You can also look at

Justin.tv, Atdhe.net, myp2p.eu, etc….

by Rocky63215 on Nov 17, 2009 6:31 PM PST reply actions

Also the LA Westside viewing party is still happening because Busby’s West has a secondary feed of Dish which does carry Versus. (Time Warner Cable also carries Versus in LA). See you all there.

by YleeXOtee on Nov 17, 2009 10:14 PM PST reply actions

Bars/restaurants in San Francisco with Versus?

Anyone know for sure which bars or restaurants in SF have Dish Network or Comcast?

This Is Our House. 63000±9000 Strong.

by minesweeper on Nov 21, 2009 9:58 AM PST reply actions

Looks like it’s going to be Kezar Pub!

This Is Our House. 63000±9000 Strong.

by minesweeper on Nov 21, 2009 1:37 PM PST up reply actions

Im watching it online

I also have direct Tv but found the game on http://www.channelsurfing.net/ the quality is ok but at least we dont get screwed go bears!

by 4Ever Golden on Nov 21, 2009 4:26 PM PST reply actions

Joe Starkey said they didn’t have replay in the booth at Big Game, because the Furd press box is wired with DirectTV – no Versus!

November 20, 1982 - a date that will live in famy.

by CalBear81 on Nov 22, 2009 12:50 PM PST reply actions

Comments For This Post Are Closed

Golden Bears Football Schedule

Fresno St.	Sat 09/03	W 36 - 21
@ Colorado The Ralphie Report	Sat 09/10	W 36 - 33
Presbyterian	Sat 09/17	W 63 - 12
@ Washington UW Dawg Pound	Sat 09/24	L 23 - 31
@ Oregon Addicted To Quack	Thu 10/06	L 15 - 43
USC Conquest Chronicles	Thu 10/13	L 9 - 30
Utah Block U	Sat 10/22	W 34 - 10
@ UCLA Bruins Nation	Sat 10/29	L 14 - 31
Washington St. CougCenter	Sat 11/05	W 30 - 7
Oregon St. Building The Dam	Sat 11/12	W 23 - 6
@ Stanford Rule Of Tree	Sat 11/19	L 28 - 31
@ Arizona St. House Of Sparky	Fri 11/25	W 47 - 38
@ Texas Burnt Orange Nation	Wed 12/28	L 10 - 21

Pacific-12 Conference Standings

(updated 1.2.2012 at 11:12 PM PST)

North	Conf		Overall
	W	L	W	L
Oregon Ducks Addicted To Quack	8	1	12	2
Stanford Cardinal Rule Of Tree	8	1	11	2
Washington Huskies UW Dawg Pound	5	4	7	6
California Golden Bears California Golden Blogs	4	5	7	6
Oregon St. Beavers Building The Dam	3	6	3	9
Washington St. Cougars CougCenter	2	7	4	8

South	Conf		Overall
	W	L	W	L
USC Trojans Conquest Chronicles	7	2	10	2
UCLA Bruins Bruins Nation	5	4	6	8
Utah Utes Block U	4	5	8	5
Arizona St. Sun Devils House Of Sparky	4	5	6	7
Arizona Wildcats Arizona Desert Swarm	2	7	4	8
Colorado Buffaloes The Ralphie Report	2	7	3	10