Time Warner for 2011-2012?

[2TimeWarrior]

Does anyone know if Time Warner will have the exclusive rights (in their areas) to a bunch of the games next year the same way they did this year?  I'd love to go back to Directv but don't want to go through the hassle if I'm going to have to switch back in six months.

[Litehouse]

It's a travishamockery that Time Warner prevents those of us stuck in Charter territory in WI from being able to watch the games.

[PE8983]

While I like the Directv product, you should watch out for those DirecTV intro rates, unless your not on a budget.  They look OK for the 12 month intro period, but then watch your bill go up $35 a month the month it ends.  God forbid if you want 2 DVR's.  Got a $199 bill for that (I knew about it), but they didn't tell me that was a rental.  When I ordered, they actually told me that I was buying it.  I asked what good it was to me at the end of the contract, and if you could sell it to another user when you were finished with the service, and they said "yes".  Digger would call that a "flat out lie".  That has happened to several people I know.  Plus you pay for the monthly service on each DVR.  Also, I would recommend you read the fine print in their agreement.

As soon as my 2 year contract is up, I'm going back to Time Warner and will order the Full Court Package. 

[Benny B]

It sounds like contracts are being negotiated right now... not sure if the T-W is as well, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to reach out to the MU AthDept and let them know how many alums can't see televised MU games.

Squeaky wheel gets the grease, people.

[Spotcheck Billy]

Does anyone know if Time Warner will have the exclusive rights (in their areas) to a bunch of the games next year the same way they did this year?  I'd love to go back to Directv but don't want to go through the hassle if I'm going to have to switch back in six months.

I just order the Sports Pack on DirecTV for each season, in fact this year they gave it to me for only $5/month and the year before it was a free Anniversary gift from D*, all the games TWC carries can be seen on there

[2TimeWarrior]

all the games TWC carries can be seen on there

Not if you live in an area in which TWC has the cable monopoly.

[Spotcheck Billy]

Not if you live in an area in which TWC has the cable monopoly.

I do, here in Milwaukee and I can't recall the last time a game wasn't on MASN etc. unless possibly an early non-conference game that I was at the BC anyway...

[ChicosBailBonds]

While I like the Directv product, you should watch out for those DirecTV intro rates, unless your not on a budget.  They look OK for the 12 month intro period, but then watch your bill go up $35 a month the month it ends.  God forbid if you want 2 DVR's.  Got a $199 bill for that (I knew about it), but they didn't tell me that was a rental.  When I ordered, they actually told me that I was buying it.  I asked what good it was to me at the end of the contract, and if you could sell it to another user when you were finished with the service, and they said "yes".  Digger would call that a "flat out lie".  That has happened to several people I know.  Plus you pay for the monthly service on each DVR.  Also, I would recommend you read the fine print in their agreement.

As soon as my 2 year contract is up, I'm going back to Time Warner and will order the Full Court Package. 

Time Warner's monthly DVR service is PER box.  DIRECTV's is per household.  You want 50 DVRs at DIRECTV, you pay $7 total.  You want a DVR at Time Warner, you pay PER UNIT PER MONTH.

You don't buy the equipment from DIRECTV, you lease it.  I have no idea if what they told you was correct or not...easy thing to do would just be to go into the recording archives and listen to it.  It's funny, some customers were saying that this information wasn't disclosed...and in fact in some cases it wasn't.  Those employees or dealers were fired. Then DIRECTV began recording those transactions, thus the little disclaimer up front that "this conversation may be recorded".  You'd be amazed at the number of people say they weren't told X,Y,Z and then when you play the recording back for the customer not only where they told of X,Y, and Z but the customer acknowledged back to them that they understood it and even repeated it back to them.   Not saying that's what happened to you, I'm merely pointing out that sometimes customers of any product (phone, television, buying a car, etc) hear what they want to hear.

Promotional pricing...yes, everyone in the television industry uses it.  Welcome to the world of phone service, television service, etc.  Promotional periods end.  The simple reason is because of SAC costs.  The amount of money it costs to acquire a customer in the television business is enormous...north of $800 per customer.  That takes a long time to pay back and that's why everyone uses it.  Time Warner will use it on you when you go back, and then your discount promotional period will go away just like it did with DIRECTV, just like it would have with DISH, or Charter, or Uverse, or FIOS. 

PS  Don't be surprised if the Full Court package doesn't exist on TWC by next year. 

[ChicosBailBonds]

I do, here in Milwaukee and I can't recall the last time a game wasn't on MASN etc. unless possibly an early non-conference game that I was at the BC anyway...

It comes down to the protected territory that TWC basically "bought" with their deal with MU.  If you live outside of the territory, you will continue to get the games.  The argument that some fans have, a legit one, is the territory crosses over into Charter territory meaning even if the fan wanted to get TWC, they can't but they are prevented from seeing the game anyway because it's been blocked from Charter.

You indicated you live in Milwaukee, you're probably fortunate the games haven't been blacked out.  I know some early on in the season were on SNY, but MASN may not have in your area.

[brewcity77]

I got all the Marquette games on SNY when I had AT&T. Their U-Verse is vastly superior to either TWC or DirecTV, and their top level internet is the fastest I've ever experienced. It makes Road Runner feel like a tortoise wearing molasses shoes. I miss my U-Verse...my condo complex only allows TWC, and it sucks by comparison.

[Stuckin1977]

For those OOC games I usually just pull the game up on my laptop via MUTube or ESPN3 and connect the laptop to my TV.  Seems to do the trick pretty well.

[Litehouse]

For those OOC games I usually just pull the game up on my laptop via MUTube or ESPN3 and connect the laptop to my TV.  Seems to do the trick pretty well.

Games were blacked out on ESPN3 last year also.

[Stuckin1977]

Games were blacked out on ESPN3 last year also.

That probably depends on where you live too.  I'm in Chicago so that's probably why it wasn't blacked out.

[2TimeWarrior]

Anybody have any updated information on whether TWC is going to black out games again this year?

[bilsu]

It sounds like contracts are being negotiated right now... not sure if the T-W is as well, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to reach out to the MU AthDept and let them know how many alums can't see televised MU games.

Squeaky wheel gets the grease, people.

+1000

[MUDPT]

Just moved to Madison, have Charter, so will we be blacked out for TW games that are also on Full Court?  Anybody know?

[mu03eng]

+1000

Recommendation on who to contact or an email address?  I'll email/call once a day if I can break the TW monopoly, it'll be my last hurdle to thoroughly enjoying my ATT Uverse experience.

[bilsu]

I went into my Marquette Account and clicked contact us and sent an e-mail. I am not sure who it is actually going to, but I wanted them to realize that I am a season ticket holder.

[Hards Alumni]

Just moved to Madison, have Charter, so will we be blacked out for TW games that are also on Full Court?  Anybody know?

No.  Never blacked out in Madison.

[Litehouse]

Here's a crackedsidewalks article from last year.
http://www.crackedsidewalks.com/2010/11/television-blackouts-in-wisconsin-for.html

Some of the info is slightly outdated (ESPN3 blackout), but it has the blackout area map.  Tough to tell if it includes Madison, but it definitely does not include Chicago (stops at the state line).  I'm in Sheboygan (stuck with Charter and can't get TWC even if I wanted to), and some games were definitely blacked out on ESPN3 last year.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

No.  Never blacked out in Madison.

Really?  I have.   

[bilsu]

Here is the response I got from MU to my e-mail from my Marquette ticket account. It was a three year deal.

Hi William

Thanks for contacting us. We appreciate your concerns regarding the current television package.

The 2011-12 season will mark the second of a three-year deal with Sports32 as the exclusive rights holder of MU's broadcast content. The partnership allows the opportunity for a temendous amount of exposure accross the nation, especially for a number of games that otherwise wouldn't be produced.

All the best,

Brian Bowsher
Director-Marketing & Sales

[PE8983]

"Time Warner's monthly DVR service is PER box.  DIRECTV's is per household.  You want 50 DVRs at DIRECTV, you pay $7 total.  You want a DVR at Time Warner, you pay PER UNIT PER MONTH."

That is not true with Directv - my bill in my hand says otherwise.

[🏀]

Brian Bowsher
Director-Marketing & Sales

+1