Thursday, November 23, 2006
Happy Thanksgiving from Insight Cable!
I opened up the Thanksgiving edition of the local sports page today, only to read a couple of unhappy captions on the "What's on TV" section.
Not only will I not be able to watch the 8 NFL games this season broadcast on the NFL Network because Insight failed to pay the NFL Network's extortion fees, but I also will not be able to watch Friday's Louisville-Dayton game, since it will only be carried on Digital Cable.
It would be a good holiday gesture for Insight to put this game on one of its local access channels so everyone with cable could watch it. But Insight also learned the lesson of ESPN putting Duke-Carolina on ESPN2. They want to pressure subscribers into upgrading to their more expensive service.
This doesn't make me want to upgrade. It makes me want to forget about sports and dump my cable access altogether. The good news is I will have Friday evening free to pursue other interests.
Thanks Insight, and Happy Thanksgiving to you!
Not only will I not be able to watch the 8 NFL games this season broadcast on the NFL Network because Insight failed to pay the NFL Network's extortion fees, but I also will not be able to watch Friday's Louisville-Dayton game, since it will only be carried on Digital Cable.
It would be a good holiday gesture for Insight to put this game on one of its local access channels so everyone with cable could watch it. But Insight also learned the lesson of ESPN putting Duke-Carolina on ESPN2. They want to pressure subscribers into upgrading to their more expensive service.
This doesn't make me want to upgrade. It makes me want to forget about sports and dump my cable access altogether. The good news is I will have Friday evening free to pursue other interests.
Thanks Insight, and Happy Thanksgiving to you!
ESPN Hypocrisy...
I tuned in to Dan Patrick's show yesterday afternoon and heard Dan complaining about the NFL Network's decision to air an NFL game between the Chiefs and Broncos where almost no one can see it.
You know, like ESPN used to air Duke-North Carolina on ESPN2 where almost no one could see it.
Patrick made reference to the Duke-Carolina game, but dismissed it because no one can get NFL network.
But that was what ESPN2's campaign was all about: To have fans pressure their local cable company into picking up ESPN2. Sorry, Dan, but it's the exact same thing. ESPN taught the NFL this trick, there is no shirking the responsibility.
This morning ESPN has an in-your-face-NFL comment on ESPN.com about the game, saying "you can follow it on ESPN.com."
I hope ESPN enjoys stewing in the juices of its own creation for once. Enjoy not watching the game with the rest of us who missed all those Duke-Carolina games because our cable provider wasn't ready to pick up ESPN2, Dan!
And I'm sure the NFL Network's decision will work just as well as that one: Holding viewers hostage for their own financial gain and using viewers to force feed cable providers yet another bloated sports network.
You know, like ESPN used to air Duke-North Carolina on ESPN2 where almost no one could see it.
Patrick made reference to the Duke-Carolina game, but dismissed it because no one can get NFL network.
But that was what ESPN2's campaign was all about: To have fans pressure their local cable company into picking up ESPN2. Sorry, Dan, but it's the exact same thing. ESPN taught the NFL this trick, there is no shirking the responsibility.
This morning ESPN has an in-your-face-NFL comment on ESPN.com about the game, saying "you can follow it on ESPN.com."
I hope ESPN enjoys stewing in the juices of its own creation for once. Enjoy not watching the game with the rest of us who missed all those Duke-Carolina games because our cable provider wasn't ready to pick up ESPN2, Dan!
And I'm sure the NFL Network's decision will work just as well as that one: Holding viewers hostage for their own financial gain and using viewers to force feed cable providers yet another bloated sports network.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
No Joy in Kentuckiana...
In the past, basketball games between the "Big Three" of Kentucky, Louisville, and Indiana were not just local rivalries, they were games of national importance. These teams often vied for supremacy in the Top 10, and contended for the Championship.
This year, it appears that the only factor these three teams will play, is as a potential "former power" upset of teams like North Carolina, Arizona, Ohio State, Georgetown, etc.
Kentucky was blown out by Memphis and should have been beaten badly by UCLA. But regardless of whatever positives Tubby can salvage from Maui, the fact of the losses will push this team gently out of the Top 25 and on to irrelevancy for the forseeable future.
Louisville is once again plagued by injuries. Consider, four of Louisville's Top 9 players will be missing action or are seriously banged up: Jenkins, Caracter, Padgett, and now Jenkins. Even with everyone healthy and available to play, this was going to be a tough year.
And then there's Indiana. Losers to Butler. I heard they booed Sampson at halftime of their opener.
When these programs play basketball this year, they're all going to be a bunch of unranked non-factors in the big picture.
People will tune in to watch UK-IU and UK-UL, but there's really nothing on the line but bragging rights. Certainly, no one will be talking "If we win we may get a #1 seed!" No one will be talking Final Four.
How did it ever come to this?
This year, it appears that the only factor these three teams will play, is as a potential "former power" upset of teams like North Carolina, Arizona, Ohio State, Georgetown, etc.
Kentucky was blown out by Memphis and should have been beaten badly by UCLA. But regardless of whatever positives Tubby can salvage from Maui, the fact of the losses will push this team gently out of the Top 25 and on to irrelevancy for the forseeable future.
Louisville is once again plagued by injuries. Consider, four of Louisville's Top 9 players will be missing action or are seriously banged up: Jenkins, Caracter, Padgett, and now Jenkins. Even with everyone healthy and available to play, this was going to be a tough year.
And then there's Indiana. Losers to Butler. I heard they booed Sampson at halftime of their opener.
When these programs play basketball this year, they're all going to be a bunch of unranked non-factors in the big picture.
People will tune in to watch UK-IU and UK-UL, but there's really nothing on the line but bragging rights. Certainly, no one will be talking "If we win we may get a #1 seed!" No one will be talking Final Four.
How did it ever come to this?
