Black out blame game continues

Yet another follow-up on the Cubs opening day black out on ESPN:

Unsatisfied with the explanation I got from ESPN, I called them for clarification. Their prompt email reply is posted in full below.

This time ESPN blamed Charter. They claim Charter customers in Madison are on the same grid, if you will, as customers in South Bend and Chicago, which "fall within the protected area." No elaboration on "the protected area." Likely they are referring to the area affected by MLB local blackout policy, but they could feasibly be talking about the ESPN "regional sports networks" black out policy

Thanks for contacting ESPN.

Charter Communications provides ESPN programming locally to customers within and outside of the protected market for the Cubs vs Braves game. In this case, Charter Communication's customers in Madison WI were unable to see the Cubs vs. Braves game because neighboring areas (portions of South Bend and Chicago- serviced by the same Charter Communications affiliate - fall within the protected area.

Sincerely,
John
ESPN Viewer Response

To recap: MLB blamed ESPN, ESPN blamed "regional sports networks", and now ESPN blames Charter. How much you wanna bet Charter blames MLB?

Charter should have the capacity to provide regional black outs with a little better resolution than this. Clearly Madison is not the same market as South Bend and Chicago.

Let's see what the folks at Charter have to say. I fully expect the blame will come full circle, that Charter will blame MLB. More to come.

ESPN blames black out on regional sports networks

Another update on the ESPN black out of the Cubs opener:

ESPN got back to my email inquiry in just over 4 hours. Not bad. The full reply below.

Basically, they claim they are obligated to black it out because the game was available on another "regional sports network." For the Cubs it lists Comcast Sports Net Chicago (CSNC) and WCIU, a local Chicago station. Comcast is not available in Madison. WCIU isn't licensed to broadcast outside of Chicago. But it is available in Madison via AT&T UVERSE, DirecTV, and Dish Network.

Dear [HBC],

Thank you for writing.

During the Major League Baseball season, ESPN is obligated to occasionally provide alternate programming in some markets due to local/regional coverage.

On Opening Day, ESPN must provide alternate programming in each team market during its MLB telecast window. Following are the regional sports networks which will televise the game(s) in your area:

St. Louis Cardinals (FSMW)
Cincinnati Reds (FSOH)
Cleveland Indians (STO)
Chicago White Sox (CSNC or WCIU)
Chicago Cubs (CSNC or WCIU)
Atlanta Braves (SS)
San Francisco Giants (CSBA)
Houston Astros (FSNH)
Minnesota Twins (FSNO)
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (FSW)

Each of these team markets will receive ESPNEWS during the local MLB telecast window.

Sincerely,

Eric
ESPN Viewer Response

Really? Ten teams subject to black out in the Madison market? That doesn't seem right.

ODE I-Team Exposé: Cubs Black Out in Madison

A brief follow-up on why I was blacked out from the Cubs opener in Atlanta on ESPN:

I contacted MLB customer support this morning. A customer service agent named Carrie told me that the Madison area is only subject to black out of Brewer games. No other MLB club should be subject to MLB local black out policy in the Madison market. Basically, she confirmed MLB is not responsible for the black out. She said it was most likely ESPN. Sorry for blaming MLB in the previous post.

I contacted ESPN TV customer support and spoke with ESPN TV customer service agent Allen. He is "expediting" this issue. He thinks the black out is a mistake, but cannot confirm that at this time.

We will get to the bottom of this. I know the suspense is brutal, but I assure you I will promptly pass along any information as it trickles in.

Blacked out by MLB

I'm not talking about the kind caused by too much fun.

I live in Madison. I get Charter digi cable with ESPN. According to my digi guide, Monday's Cubs-Braves game is on ESPN at 3pm. I tune in, I'm blacked out. Instead of the game, I get ESPN News.

Why won't MLB let me watch their shit? This baffles me. Seriously, WTF. This game is in Atlanta. The Brewers, the closest team to Madison, are not even playing right now. They played at Miller Park earlier that day, but not now.

Why does MLB not want me to watch their product? Let's entertain some reasons. Feel free to add your own ideas in the comments.

MLB is afraid I will stay at home and watch the Cubs game instead of buying Brewers tickets.
I'm pretty sure the Brewer game was live on FSN earlier, though. If you're going to black out a game in Madison to try make people go buy tickets to watch it, you'd probably black out the one that is 80 miles away, not 800.

MLB wants me to buy tickets to the Cubs game in Atlanta instead of watching it at home. In Wisconsin.
I don't know if the Cubs game was blacked out on ESPN in Chicago. I doubt it. So why would it be blacked out in Madison? Can't say I know any Cubs fans in Madison that made the trip to Atlanta. If they're that hardcore, I doubt a black out would somehow change their behavior.

MLB wants Cubs fans in Madison to buy something more. Because they can.
Cubs fans are so rabidly enthusitic they'll do anything to see their Cubs. Money is not an issue for these trust-fund enabled youths. MLB.TV::Crack. Actually, I've heard MLB.TV has some nasty home market blackout restrictions. If you live in Iowa City, you can't watch the Twins, Cubs, White Sox, Brewers, Cards, or Royals. Nope. What you really need to do is open up your wallet and buy DirecTV and order the MLB Extra Innings package.

Who cares. If I'm going to take in a Cubs game, I'd rather listen to Ron and Pat on the radio. That's still free.