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View Full Version : Q: Why are the USA, WBC games not shown Live?

IwasHere
03-13-2006, 06:16 PM
Tonights USA vs Korea will be played at 7PM locally or 10PM (EST)

ESPN Deportes will show the game at 12AM (EST) -- 2 Hours later

ESPN 2 will show the game at 1AM (EST) -- 3 hours later.


Why isn't ESPN or anyone else showing this game live? Showing the game 3 hours after it is scheduled to start just seems a little stupid to me. I wonder if that has anything to do with attendence?

Seems like this would hurt the TV ratings.
samifan24
03-13-2006, 06:20 PM
I'm surprised to learn that ESPN is showing the Puerto Rico game over the US game. What sense does that make?
IwasHere
03-13-2006, 06:26 PM
Good news..for me at least....

XM radio will be airing the game live at 10PM(EST) on channel 176 :)
Galaril
03-13-2006, 06:52 PM
Are you FUCKING KIDDING!!
SirFozzie
03-13-2006, 06:53 PM
I had the same reaction when rewatching the Cuba-DR game. The Cuban pitcher was wild in the first, getting two outs and then walking the bases loaded.. the Cuban manager came out and got him..

and when they came back it was the 2nd inning. THE FUCK?
JonInMiddleGA
03-13-2006, 07:05 PM
I've given up on figuring out the broadcast schedule for these games ... and I'm actually running commercials in a few of them & still don't understand the schedule even slightly.

And since the subject came up, I'm hoping somebody here can tell me if they're getting some additional games in their local market. I've got a local station (Independent Ch. 4 WSKY) in Norfolk, VA who is airing all of the Puerto Rico games this week. There's no broadcast affiliate in Atlanta showing them & I haven't run across this in any of the other markets I'm currently advertising in either, so what the heck is up with some games airing on local channels other than ESPN/ESPN2? Anybody else out there getting some of these games on a local station?

(My only guess is that the local cable system in Norfolk doesn't carry E2 during the day for some reason & the program has been farmed out to a local broadcast partner or something).
IwasHere
03-13-2006, 07:23 PM
(My only guess is that the local cable system in Norfolk doesn't carry E2 during the day for some reason & the program has been farmed out to a local broadcast partner or something).
I don't think this is the case as I have seen a couple of the WBC games here in the Denver area on UPN and I know ESPN2 is offered on the cable network.
st.cronin
03-13-2006, 07:26 PM
A: Because nobody actually wants to watch them.
IwasHere
03-13-2006, 07:28 PM
I'm surprised to learn that ESPN is showing the Puerto Rico game over the US game. What sense does that make?
WOW, looks like they have a full house at the Puerto Rico game.
JonInMiddleGA
03-13-2006, 07:31 PM
I don't think this is the case as I have seen a couple of the WBC games here in the Denver area on UPN and I know ESPN2 is offered on the cable network.

Hmmm ... well, so much for that idea then I guess.
Thanks (although now I'm probably more mystified about the whole deal than I was before).
kcchief19
03-13-2006, 07:49 PM
The answer: ESPN created a syndicated package of games to sell to local stations and cable networks. I'm sure part of the deal was that a USA game or two would be included in the package to make it more attractive to local providers to sign on.

The only problem; it doesn't that may providers sign on. Here's the list:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/worldclassic2006/news/story?id=2351696
Philliesfan980
03-13-2006, 07:50 PM
I've seen a game or two on a local channel (WB, or UPN, it escapes me right now). But I've seen this for basketball before. For an example, they've shown Villanova Basketball (ESPN is doing the broadcast) on my local WB before. I guess they sell the rights to the game. Seems like a smart thing to do.
IwasHere
03-13-2006, 07:53 PM
The answer: ESPN created a syndicated package of games to sell to local stations and cable networks. I'm sure part of the deal was that a USA game or two would be included in the package to make it more attractive to local providers to sign on.

The only problem; it doesn't that may providers sign on. Here's the list:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/worldclassic2006/news/story?id=2351696
HOLY SHIT!!!! According to that list I WILL be able to watch the game LIVE on my UPN channel at 10PM tonight.

That is so Cool.:D
JonInMiddleGA
03-13-2006, 08:20 PM
Cool list kcchief, thanks for the hookup.

Worth noting (to me at least) -- I'm running flights on three other stations on that list & not a single one of them ever bothered to even mention the availability to me. (And, given the prices they're selling for both locally & nationally, I imagine I know why they didn't bother. They're practically being given away at this point).
miami_fan
03-13-2006, 08:41 PM
A: Because nobody actually wants to watch them.

Agreed.
tarcone
03-13-2006, 09:42 PM
im gettin git live on a local channel in st louis but it is the espn broadcast...weird
VPI97
03-13-2006, 10:01 PM
I just checked and it looks like I'll be up from 2am to 5am to watch the game.