DirecTV question ...

[MarkMiller]

With the season around the corner and no Time Warner Cable in my area, was wondering if those who have DirecTV might know if Full Court or Sports Package is the best option for viewing as many Marquette games as possible.

Is there a college basketball schedule out yet for either Sports Pack or Full Court?

[SaintPaulWarrior]

Sports package for $12/month and you will see most if not all the games on MASN, SNY, ESPN or network TV.  I have never had to get the Full Court package for MU games.

http://www.gomarquette.com/sports/m-baskbl/sched/marq-m-baskbl-sched.html

[ChicosBailBonds]

Sports Pack will take care of you.  ESPN Full Court may have one or 2 games that are not on Sports Pack, but they will likely be dog games.

[MarkMiller]

Much appreciated.

Are their college basketball schedules posted yet for the stations on Sports Pack?

[reinko]

Much appreciated.

Are their college basketball schedules posted yet for the stations on Sports Pack?

SNY will be the goto for a lot of MU games, and they have yet publish their 2010-2011 TV Schedule.

[Golden Nug]

I noticed on Marquette's website that many of the early non-conference games are not on TV.  Is this accurate?  I thought in previous seasons they were all shown on the Big East Network.  Anyone know the scoop?

[dwaderoy2004]

If you live on the east coast, MASN shows probably 80% of Marquette's games not carried by ESPN, even non-con games.

[asdfasdf]

I don't want to hijack this thread, but it seems like an appropriate place for this question. Is anyone familiar with how ESPN3.com works? Time Warner cable just signed an agreement with abc/Disney which would allow Time Warner subscribers to have access to ESPN3.com. Does anyone know if you have to have cable and internet to access ESPN3.com, or can you have just internet? I was pretty excited to be able to watch MU games via Xbox 360 for free, but now I've heard rumors that you have to have cable and internet to have access to ESPN3.com.

[chren21]

You need to have one of the certain providers. Look at the website it explains it all. You can log in remotely. For example I can watch from anywhere but I need to log in with my Comcast username and password

[ChicosBailBonds]

Much appreciated.

Are their college basketball schedules posted yet for the stations on Sports Pack?

Big East games typically on MASN and SNY, often on both. 

[OhioGoldenEagle]

I can only partially agree with what has been said above.  Yes, there are a number of stations in the sports package that do carry a large number of games throughout the season.  However, I think you guys underestimate the # of games that won't be found on these channels but will be on fullcourt.  I believe the package is $99 for the season (so roughly $25 per month) and I will tell you it will be COMPLETELY worth it when it's february and MU is playing a tough and important Big East game that is on espn full court but not on SNY because say St.Johns or Syracuse is playing at the same time (which WILL get priority on these east coast stations).  I have noted this a number of times over the past 2-3 seasons.  Take it 4 what it's worth

[rocky_warrior]

I don't want to hijack this thread, but it seems like an appropriate place for this question. Is anyone familiar with how ESPN3.com works? Time Warner cable just signed an agreement with abc/Disney which would allow Time Warner subscribers to have access to ESPN3.com. Does anyone know if you have to have cable and internet to access ESPN3.com, or can you have just internet? I was pretty excited to be able to watch MU games via Xbox 360 for free, but now I've heard rumors that you have to have cable and internet to have access to ESPN3.com.

Well, I've got Comcast internet only, and can watch ESPN3 no problem.  However, It looks like Time Warner is a special case.  This comes up on their login page:

How to Get Access to ESPN3.com

In order to access ESPN3.com, you must receive your Internet Service from one of the providers  in the list below or connect through a network on a U.S. college campus or military base.  Your current network falls outside of these categories.  Please select your provider to access ESPN3.com remotely.

Attention Time Warner Cable Customers

In order to watch ESPN3.com, you must receive ESPN as part of your television service. Please select Time Warner Cable from the list below and you'll be taken to Time Warner Cable's web site to verify your account. The ESPN3.com video player will open automatically when you're done.

Now, for those asking about Full Court - if your ISP gives you access to ESPN3, then essentially you get to stream all the Full court games for free.  That's what I did last year, and it worked like a charm!

[ChicosBailBonds]

I can only partially agree with what has been said above.  Yes, there are a number of stations in the sports package that do carry a large number of games throughout the season.  However, I think you guys underestimate the # of games that won't be found on these channels but will be on fullcourt.  I believe the package is $99 for the season (so roughly $25 per month) and I will tell you it will be COMPLETELY worth it when it's february and MU is playing a tough and important Big East game that is on espn full court but not on SNY because say St.Johns or Syracuse is playing at the same time (which WILL get priority on these east coast stations).  I have noted this a number of times over the past 2-3 seasons.  Take it 4 what it's worth

Last year only 2 games that were not Sports Pack were on Full Court and they were dog games.  I just requested the Full Court schedule from ESPN.

[SaintPaulWarrior]

Last year only 2 games that were not Sports Pack were on Full Court and they were dog games.  I just requested the Full Court schedule from ESPN.

IIRC those 2 games were also on tape delay later that night.

[d6]

While I'm not suggesting others do this, we are trying to cut costs at home -- isn't everybody? -- so I called to cancel the Sports Pack from Direct TV.  It's 12.99/month and figured it was an easy way to save a few bucks, even though I'd miss all the MU games carried on MASN, SNY, etc.  The rep then offered the Sports Pack for 2.99/month for 6 months (thru April) so I kept it.  Again, not suggesting others do this, I'm just sayin'...........

[Benny B]

ESPN3.com is the superior choice IF all of the following apply to you:

1) Your ISP provides ESPN3 service (AT&T, Comcast, Time Warner, Charter all do)

2) You have a laptop or desktop computer that you can (and are willing to) hook up to your TV.

3) Said computer was purchased within the last year or two or has at least a 2.4GHz processor and a video card can output an HD signal (1920x1080 is preferred, but 1280x720 should do just fine  -- check your user manual or the product spec sheet).

4) Your broadband speed is a steady 3MB/s down - which means you will likely need a 4MB/s service or higher.

If all of the above apply and you buy a sports package or second tier of service just for MU games, then please PM me for my offerings of cheap oceanfront property in Utah.

You can still get ESPN3 if you meet 1 and 2 above but are borderline for 3 and 4; however, the quality of the picture may not be much better than you'd fine on a torrent or p2p service somewhere.

Not only will ESPN3 give you Marquette hoops all season, you'll be able to watch in near-HD quality if the game is produced in HD.  I've been watching NCAAF games on ESPN3 and the quality has been great... can't wait for hoops to start.

[Jumping Jesuit]

Depending upon where you live ESPN3 will blackout games, so for the fan that needs to watch every game a sports package may be necessary.

[Canadian Dimes]

My recollection is different....i do not recall a single time last year when there was a game on full court that could not be watched simultaneously on SNY, MAsn, etc.  My recollection was the year before there was 1 or 2. 

Also, maybe even more importantly the sports pack runs $11 a month so u pay 55 or 66 dollars....AND the Sportspac provides ESPNU.  3 years ago i shelled out $99 or whatever and Mu had 3-4-5 games on ESPN and i had to shell out the additonal $66 to watch those 3-4 games. 

Again I may be wrong and maybe I watched those games on ESPN3 but i dont recall any MU games being kipped on the sportspack. 

One other Key point i forgot to mention the games on SNY< MASN etc. are in HD the games on full court remind me of watching a game in 1973.

[OhioGoldenEagle]

Last year only 2 games that were not Sports Pack were on Full Court and they were dog games.  I just requested the Full Court schedule from ESPN.

I can't remember which ones they were, but what "dog" games are you referring to?  Nonconference?  I'm positive there was at least 1 Big East game that was only on the FullCourt package (and note, I am not a Directv salesperson).

I do also remember a time that MU was on SNY directly AFTER another Big East sat or sun early game.  The other game went long and then into OT, so the MU game wasn't picked up til late in the 1st half.  I simply switched to the channel on FullCourt package

[ChicosBailBonds]

I can't remember which ones they were, but what "dog" games are you referring to?  Nonconference?  I'm positive there was at least 1 Big East game that was only on the FullCourt package (and note, I am not a Directv salesperson).

I do also remember a time that MU was on SNY directly AFTER another Big East sat or sun early game.  The other game went long and then into OT, so the MU game wasn't picked up til late in the 1st half.  I simply switched to the channel on FullCourt package

My memory was they were non-conference games.

I spoke to ESPN yesterday, should have a schedule in the next day or so.

[esotericmindguy]

Do yourself a favor and get dish....the sports pack is 7 a month and you'll save money on your package as well as receiver costs. Dish has a patent on their tuner, which allow 1 box to control 2 tvs. I've had both and after its said and done you save close to 20 dollars a month....that is if you can live without FX.

[Canadian Dimes]

actually i have DISH,  i was thinking the cost was 11 a month if only $7 then all the better ....after having full court for a few years i found absolutely zero reason to have it instead of the sports pac which alos includes tons of other sports channels. 

And as i said the picture is 100X better

[reinko]

Do yourself a favor and get dish....the sports pack is 7 a month and you'll save money on your package as well as receiver costs. Dish has a patent on their tuner, which allow 1 box to control 2 tvs. I've had both and after its said and done you save close to 20 dollars a month....that is if you can live without FX.

And the Sunday Ticket, and the march madness package, and the service quality of DirecTv...not trying to be a honk for D'TV, but it's frackin' epic for a sports fan not living in their home market.

[ChicosBailBonds]

And the Sunday Ticket, and the march madness package, and the service quality of DirecTv...not trying to be a honk for D'TV, but it's frackin' epic for a sports fan not living in their home market.

There is a reason why DISH has lost subscribers off and on the last 8 quarters and DIRECTV has had positive growth 10 straight years, 40 straight quarters.....but you get what you pay for (I loved Canadian Dimes 100X better picture comment...too bad Consumer Reports says otherwise)

[westcoastwarrior]

Another gripe I have regarding the Full Court package....most of the games are not in HD.   The sports package route has all required stations in HD broadcast.