Mountain_Commando

Hi Guys,

I need some help. I'd like to watch all Pats games (including pre-season) in HD. However, I have Cablevision and they don't provide NFL network @#$&$ . Any idea what my options are? Some of the things I was thinking:

1) Can I get the NFL network independently?
2) Is there a reliable online service (paid or otherwise, doesn't matter) which streams ALL games (including preseason) in reasonably high quality? I can hook up my PC to the tv with a tv tuner card.
3) I move back to Franklin MA

Help out a fellow Pats fan in the diaspora...

jmt57

1. DirecTV and Sunday Ticket
2. Are there any other cable options (Verizon, etc.) other than Cablevision in your area?
3. SlingBox - Sling Media Support - Products
You need to know somebody in the Pats viewing area in NE as the slingbox will be hooked up to their cable in their home; you can then watch on your computer (and hook up to your TV to watch that way as well.) Nice thing is there are no recurring monthly fees.
4. Internet on websites such as channelsurfing.net - free, but you get what you pay for in terms of picture quality.

Mountain_Commando

Ok, new requirements (gotta keep you guys challenged ):

I will probably be in different locations on different weekends. So the best option would be streaming the game online and hooking it up to the TV (unless the local channel is showing the game).

So, does anyone know of any online services? The free ones are usually pretty crappy quality. And why the heck is NFL network's game pass HD not available in the states

jmt57

If you're going to be in different locations then I would say the Slingbox is your best bet. You will need to know somebody that has access to the Pats games, whether it is because they live in New England, or somebody local to you that has DirecTV.

As far as the preseason games go they're not part of the Sunday Ticket so if you want to watch those your choices are Slingbox via somebody in NE, or the non-sanctioned internet sites.

My suggestion is to try a couple of those sites such as channelsurfing.net and myp2p on your computer, and with your computer hooked up to your TV, with whatever they are showing over the next few days (baseball, nfl network, etc.) and judge for yourself whether or not it is acceptable.

As far as why NFL Network's game pass is not available in the states, my guess would be that it was part of the negotiations with DirecTV that allowed them to be the exclusive provider. If the game pass was available to non-DirecTV subscribers, it would remove much of the incentive to switch to DirecTV and purchase the Sunday Ticket; a lot of people would buy game pass rather than Sunday Ticket. That would make the rights to Sunday Ticket less valuable, which means DirecTV would not be willing to pay the NFL as much as they do.

Also, DirecTV's Sunday Ticket is available on your computer and phone too.

https://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/conte..._online_mobile

patsfan13

If you have Sirius you get the games on radio, if you want to watch on your computer try googling sopcast an online player that will allow you to get live feeds.

__________________
"Some guys play in all-star games, some guys don't. I don't know who picks all those all-star teams. In all honesty, I don't know who picks the combine, for that matter," Belichick said. "How does (Miami-Ohio offensive lineman Brandon) Brooks not get invited to the combine? How did Vollmer not get invited to the combine? I don't know. We can't really worry about that. We just have to try to evaluate them the best we can."

patsfan13

BTW Cablevision won't carry NFLN until they are allowed to bid on the NFl Ticket... will never happen IMO.

__________________
"Some guys play in all-star games, some guys don't. I don't know who picks all those all-star teams. In all honesty, I don't know who picks the combine, for that matter," Belichick said. "How does (Miami-Ohio offensive lineman Brandon) Brooks not get invited to the combine? How did Vollmer not get invited to the combine? I don't know. We can't really worry about that. We just have to try to evaluate them the best we can."

jmt57

Cablevision can bid for NFL Ticket, nobody is prohibiting them for bidding for those rights. The NFL decided to put those rights up for exclusive bid (just like the rights to carry NFC games on Sunday, AFC games on Sunday, Sunday night games, and Monday night games.) After losing the bid for that contract Cablevision (and also Comcast and Time Warner) still wanted the Sunday Ticket (despite losing the bid.) In an attempt to pressure the NFL to change their policy of exclusive rights for the Sunday Ticket they refused to carry NFLN. Comcast, Time Warner and BrightHouse have been doing the same thing but not quite so blatantly, using price as their reason.

The NFL has probably made some poor decisions in the whole NFLN and Sunday Ticket history, but Cablevision (as well as those other cable companies) are no sweet angels to be pitied; they were all alowed to bid, and they did not win those bids.

PatsChamp88

Find a sports bar or place that has NFL Sunday Ticket, I supposed depending on the area you might have to put up with watching it on a small TV and annoying non-ne fans. I will probably do this sometimes this year combined with watching games online through myp2pforum (google it). Beggers can't be choosers HD is a luxury, I can't wait for some prime time games so I can watch them in HD!

blackglass3

If you get Sprint, you can listen to all the games. I know it's not watching them, but it's better than nothing.

Mountain_Commando

Hmm, Slingbox might be the ticket. Let me look into it.

Bro, I'm in NY/NJ. NO WAY I'm watching a pats game in a sport bar here, if they have it on in the first place. Pats game in NE sports bar = . Pats game in NY/NJ sports bar =

So its either Slingbox, or myp2p, or the local network. We'll see how many games I can catch in HD...