OT: Mega March Madness (Chico's)

[MarquetteFan94]

This sounds like a pretty cool package for $69: ability to watch 4 games at once, real-time scores, etc.

My main interest though is the ability to watch MU without iterruption...last year in Chicago they cut away from the MU/Alabama game for most of the second half and it was extremely frustrating.

Does anyone know if you buy this package, are you able to watch any/all of the games (either within or outside of your viewing area) without interruption or is your local game still at the mercy of CBS?

I suppose I could call DirecTV but figured somebody here would know....

[77fan88warrior]

Chico's told us before that is CBS's call and it didn't sound like it was changing. I had a St Patrick's Day party last year and it was great watching games with package.

[ChicosBailBonds]

This sounds like a pretty cool package for $69: ability to watch 4 games at once, real-time scores, etc.

My main interest though is the ability to watch MU without iterruption...last year in Chicago they cut away from the MU/Alabama game for most of the second half and it was extremely frustrating.

Does anyone know if you buy this package, are you able to watch any/all of the games (either within or outside of your viewing area) without interruption or is your local game still at the mercy of CBS?

I suppose I could call DirecTV but figured somebody here would know....

You should be ok though there can be small delays.  So, for example, MU is playing and CBS decides to cut away to another game....if that was your game on your CBS station and was blacked out on MMM, we would pick it up on MMM.

I assume last year you were watching the game in Chicago on your local CBS station and not on MMM...correct?


You should be in good shape.  We do have to manually switch but when CBS does that we have people at the Broadcast Centers switching that over to MMM so you don't miss anything.

Thursday and Friday of that week is a mandatory holiday in my book.     Or get your DVR going and record like crazy.


www.directv.com/mmm




CSTV will also carry two games this year for the first time.  CBS recently bought CSTV. 

[HansMoleman]

I remember the Marquette game being blacked out on MMM because it was the game of choice on CBS2-Chicago.  Then, when CBS cut away to another game, you couldn't see the game at all.  Are you saying they changed this?

[ChicosBailBonds]

I remember the Marquette game being blacked out on MMM because it was the game of choice on CBS2-Chicago.  Then, when CBS cut away to another game, you couldn't see the game at all.  Are you saying they changed this?

It has to be manually switched and they do the best they can to switch it out to MMM then in just those zip codes where CBS local moved it out.  Because CBS is doing things on the fly we have to react as quickly as we can and also do it properly where people are authorized to watch what games and where.

It's quite the production.  I've had the package about 8 years and have been fortunate to miss probably a total of 5 minutes of MU games in those 8 years.

[Dish]

If you have CBS HD (which I do, and I also live in the Chicago area), the CBS HD channel did NOT switch away from the Marquette game last year. This was the case for every tournament game last year that CBS showed both on CBS and on CBS HD.

In an odd case, when the game switched over on CBS, CBS-HD stayed with the current game. When the game would go to commercial, CBS-HD would stay on with the telecast, not go to commercial, and you could hear the broadcasters making small talk off camera. The camera shot was a still view from the center court camera.

It was a very odd thing, but I was happy that I could watch the entire game without getting cut away. It'll be interesting to see if that happens again this year.

[MarquetteVol]

Dish,
That's right...great memory. I was wondering what people were talking about. Everything about last year was very weird. The bomb threat at the stadium and the long delay was really odd.

I'm guessing that HD will have commercials this year. Too much money involved and too many people have HD now.

[Final Four or Bust]

Its a great package (even though I've spent the first weekend in Vegas the last few years).  Note that unless you have one of the newer interactive receivers, the option to watch the four games at once will be limited.

[ChicosBailBonds]

If you have CBS HD (which I do, and I also live in the Chicago area), the CBS HD channel did NOT switch away from the Marquette game last year. This was the case for every tournament game last year that CBS showed both on CBS and on CBS HD.

In an odd case, when the game switched over on CBS, CBS-HD stayed with the current game. When the game would go to commercial, CBS-HD would stay on with the telecast, not go to commercial, and you could hear the broadcasters making small talk off camera. The camera shot was a still view from the center court camera.

It was a very odd thing, but I was happy that I could watch the entire game without getting cut away. It'll be interesting to see if that happens again this year.

Correct, the HD feed would not switch but the SD feed would on the back end.  That's simply a capacity issue.

I just spoke to the CBS guys earlier today and they are planning on producing 39 games in HD this year during the entire tournament (63 games they broadcast)...just a FYI.

[Dish]

Why (outside of cost) can't they get all 63 games in HD??? Just like with their NFL telecasts, I don't understand why CBS is cheap and not broadcasting EVERY game (NFL or NCAA tourney) on HD. I don't mind if a mid-season U-Conn/Pitt game on CBS isn't on in HD, but for the national championship tournament, every game should be in HD.

If CBS is doing 39 games in HD, that means half of the first round sites will not have HD telecasts (I'm assuming the Final 4 and all regional final sites will have HD). Of these 8 sites, 4 will not have HD.

Spokane, New Orleans, Chicago, Lexington, Columbus, Winston-Salem, Buffalo, Sacramento

If I had to pure guess, the one's with HD will be: Chicago (I guess Nantz/Packer wind up here with Wisco and Kansas games), Sacramento (UCLA, possibly Enberg/Rafftery/Bilas), Winston-Salem (UNC/Florida) and Lexington (Ohio State).

Let's hope MU winds up in one of those sites.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Why (outside of cost) can't they get all 63 games in HD??? Just like with their NFL telecasts, I don't understand why CBS is cheap and not broadcasting EVERY game (NFL or NCAA tourney) on HD. I don't mind if a mid-season U-Conn/Pitt game on CBS isn't on in HD, but for the national championship tournament, every game should be in HD.

If CBS is doing 39 games in HD, that means half of the first round sites will not have HD telecasts (I'm assuming the Final 4 and all regional final sites will have HD). Of these 8 sites, 4 will not have HD.

Spokane, New Orleans, Chicago, Lexington, Columbus, Winston-Salem, Buffalo, Sacramento

If I had to pure guess, the one's with HD will be: Chicago (I guess Nantz/Packer wind up here with Wisco and Kansas games), Sacramento (UCLA, possibly Enberg/Rafftery/Bilas), Winston-Salem (UNC/Florida) and Lexington (Ohio State).

Let's hope MU winds up in one of those sites.

CBS, honestly, is a bit late to the game in my opinion.  Remember they only broadcast 3 of their NFL games each week in HD while FOX usually does all of theirs in HD.  I don't know what the issue is, but they are definitely a bit behind.  They do the MASTERS, some NFL, some of the tournament.  Eventually they will get there.

[Final Four or Bust]

[quote author=ChicosBailBonds link=topic=2144.msg15903#msg15903

CBS, honestly, is a bit late to the game in my opinion.  Remember they only broadcast 3 of their NFL games each week in HD while FOX usually does all of theirs in HD.  I don't know what the issue is, but they are definitely a bit behind.  They do the MASTERS, some NFL, some of the tournament.  Eventually they will get there.
[/quote]

CBS is hardly late to the game.  They were the pioneer network in HD broadcasts.  As one who was an early adopter of the technology, most of the times they were the only network to have programs and sporting events on in HD for quite some time.  They also, IMO, utilize a better HD technology than the other networks.  Watch a CBS SEC football game compared to the HD games on ABC or FOX and there is simply a shocking difference.

I think the difference is that technology costs quite a bit, and they have to limit that.  Why, I don't know.  But I suspect there are good reasons.

[Dish]

I'm in total agreement with you Final Four...the CBS HD telecast is in my opinion the clear winner for best quality. CBS blows away Fox and ESPN on HD football telecasts.

[ChicosBailBonds]

[quote author=ChicosBailBonds link=topic=2144.msg15903#msg15903

CBS, honestly, is a bit late to the game in my opinion.  Remember they only broadcast 3 of their NFL games each week in HD while FOX usually does all of theirs in HD.  I don't know what the issue is, but they are definitely a bit behind.  They do the MASTERS, some NFL, some of the tournament.  Eventually they will get there.

CBS is hardly late to the game.  They were the pioneer network in HD broadcasts.  As one who was an early adopter of the technology, most of the times they were the only network to have programs and sporting events on in HD for quite some time.  They also, IMO, utilize a better HD technology than the other networks.  Watch a CBS SEC football game compared to the HD games on ABC or FOX and there is simply a shocking difference.

I think the difference is that technology costs quite a bit, and they have to limit that.  Why, I don't know.  But I suspect there are good reasons.
[/quote]

I think you guys are misinterpreting my remarks.  I'm not saying their technology is late to the game nore did I ever even hint at that.  I'm saying their willingness to put content in HD...they are late to the game.  They haven't put the resources into buying the necessary cameras, HD trucks, etc to roll it out full time for all of their events, let alone most of their events.  The fact that they only broadcast 3 NFL games each week in HD is an amazingly low number when you consider what FOX is doing.  That's all I'm saying.

[Dish]

I knew what you were saying Chicos, and I'm total agreement with you too. Two different subjects I suppose, one being quantity (which CBS is VERY much lacking in) second being quality (which CBS is tops in IMHO).

[spiral97]

I knew what you were saying Chicos, and I'm total agreement with you too. Two different subjects I suppose, one being quantity (which CBS is VERY much lacking in) second being quality (which CBS is tops in IMHO).

Ah yes.. that age old tug-of-war between quantity and quality 

[Final Four or Bust]

I knew what you were saying Chicos, and I'm total agreement with you too. Two different subjects I suppose, one being quantity (which CBS is VERY much lacking in) second being quality (which CBS is tops in IMHO).

I think my reason for pointing out the quality issue is that they may be using technology that requires equipment that is different (and potentially more costly) than the other nets use.  I believe Fox was using some sort of upconvert to get their image (similar to what HBO does to get film on HBOHD).  Maybe those can use standard cameras?  I just don't know enough about it, but I would guess that might have something to do with it.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Sorry guys....someone pissed in my Cheerios this morning and I was a bit grumpy when I responded.

Final Four, I think you may be right.  I'm not entirely sure but there is no question that cost is a great issue with any HD broadcast and CBS may have some more exaggerated hurdles in that regard then others.

Plus there is the issue of "HD" and "HD" if you know what I mean.  720i is different then 720p or 1080i or 1080p.  So many folks are claiming to it in HD but there are different varieties of HD out there.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Great news...we got word late today from CBS that they may now do the entire tournament in HD.  Hope to have it confirmed tomorrow.  That means our typical 2 HD channels for Mega March Madness would expand to 4....those of you with HD that is great news.

[Mayor McCheese]

thursday and friday are also holidays for me and my friends.... we go to a sports bar, now we can have drinks (1st march madness when I am 21.... very weird), eat some food, play the quarter game all day   (quarter game is everyone comes with a ton of quarters... put a bowl in the middle... everyone starts by putting in a quarter... and when a three goes up... if it is good, 1st person takes the pot, if a miss, they put in a quarter, game goes on.... very fun)