Game vs. Vermont televised?

[Q]Pace Wrote:

So CSTV is a channel. What is DirecTV? A type of cable or satellite? Any other channels/services that might carry this game nationally? From what I read on this thread, it seems like CSTV's my only hope in Puerto Rico.
[/q]

DirecTV is a satellite service, sort of a national substitute for your cable company. In addition to CSTV and ESPNU, it carries many "regional sports networks" like MSG and YES from NYC, NESN from Boston, and many Fox Sports affiliates (New York, New England, "North"--with Minnesota and Wisconsin feeds, Rocky Mountain, as well as many others that don't matter for hockey purposes). You get all those networks with a programming package called the "Sports Pack" which is a college hockey fan's best friend. Thanks to the Sports Pack, any broadcast on one of these RSNs is effectively national.

When it comes to finding a sports bar that will show this weekend's ECAC tournament games and upcoming NCAA regional games, the challenge is NOT finding a place with DirecTV. Because of DirecTV's crown jewel, the NFL ticket, almost every sports bar has DirecTV. That's not enough. The big challenge is finding a sports bar that has shelled out for DirecTV's "Sports Pack," the premium package outlined by John above. The sad truth is that most sports bars, even those with DirecTV, don't subscribe to this add-on, and therefore can't show CSTV or any of the all-important regional sports networks such as NESN or Fox Sports North. When calling around to sport bars, the key is asking whether they subscribe to DirecTV's "Sports Pack" -- nothing else will do, unless you're lucky enough to live in an area where the cable service provider offers CSTV (such as Baltimore or Washington, DC) or an area where a hockey-friendly regional sports network is "local" (such as Minneapolis-St. Paul or Boston). Sadly, at most sports bars, even management types often don't know details about the services their establishments offer. You just gotta keep asking until you get someone who understands.

In my experience, if you're looking for a sports bar for college hockey games (and if there isn't a true hockey bar available), BY FAR the best places to start are sports bars that cater to international soccer fans. Because soccer fans are dependent on Fox Sports World -- another channel that's part of DirecTV's "Sports Pack" -- soccer bars are usually a sure bet to offer year-round access to college-hockey-friendly channels. It also helps that soccer fans congregate at bizarre times, because live games from Europe require weekday mid-afternoon or even morning visits to the saloon. There's often little prime-time congestion.

Because soccer fans are as crazy as we are, there are loads of Web sites listing the best North American soccer bars. In the Washington area, for example, there are three or four excellent soccer bars that are often willing and able to show college hockey.

All of the above is also true when it comes to finding sports bars willing and able to show college lacrosse on CSTV or espnU.

I don't know about that. At least around here, DTV bars have the sports pack, if only to have MSG and YES for Yankees, Nets, Knicks, and, umm, what's that hockey team...

[Q]Hillel Hoffmann Wrote:

When it comes to finding a sports bar that will show this weekend's ECAC tournament games and upcoming NCAA regional games, the challenge is NOT finding a place with DirecTV. Because of DirecTV's crown jewel, the NFL ticket, almost every sports bar has DirecTV. That's not enough. The big challenge is finding a sports bar that has shelled out for DirecTV's "Sports Pack," [/q]I disagree. The challenge is finding one that will change the channel from basketball on any TV. Even the little one in the corner near the barfly who hasn't showered since Christmas will be showing UK vs EKU, even if the score is 65-33.

Might someone have the XMI address ? thanks

[www.xmievents.com]

[Q]The Rancor Wrote:

how about in the West Plam Beach FL area?[/q]


any luck finding a place around here? I am in Boca Raton co-oping w/ IBM. I can always watch it at home...but would definately be more fun if there was a bar to watch it at w/ a few other Cornell fans (if in fact they make it....no gimmes!)

[Q]CowbellGuy Wrote: I don't know about that. At least around here, DTV bars have the sports pack, if only to have MSG and YES for Yankees, Nets, Knicks, and, umm, what's that hockey team...[/q]
Yeah, Age, I guess that makes sense for sports bars in Upstate NY or in other small town/rural areas, where DirecTV's Sports Pack is a good way to get coverage of pro "home teams" in distant major markets. But I've seldom found what you just described in big metropolitan areas, where establishments don't need to fork out for Sports Pack to get coverage of all the home pro teams. In all the bigger markets I've ever lived in or visited, sports bars with DTV's Sports Pack are annoyingly rare.

Sheeeeeeit, I am so jealous of Ithacans like you this weekend.


Edit: Dumb writing stuff

Here's to the Cablevision/Time Warner dispute carrying on so that NYC Time Warner customers continuing getting CSTV through the weekend! (knock on wood)

[Q]ugarte Wrote: I disagree. The challenge is finding one that will change the channel from basketball on any TV. Even the little one in the corner near the barfly who hasn't showered since Christmas will be showing UK vs EKU, even if the score is 65-33.[/q]
Hey, that barfly was me, and my boys coulda come back -- that Pusser boy who handles the rock for the 'Cats can't shoot free throws.

Seriously, that's why you gotta go with soccer bars. In soccer bars, March Madness means getting up early on a weekend for a little Milwaukee orange juice and catching West Brom v Aston Villa to see who can avoid relegation. By the time evening rolls around, some of these places are empty.

It's a low revenue sports thing.

Anyone know if a bar in say, Boston, can *pick off* the live game feed on friday? It's not being picked up on cable here. Can you hook onto the CSTV feed that is going out over the bird to the cable companies?

[Q]abmarks Wrote:

Anyone know if a bar in say, Boston, can *pick off* the live game feed on friday? It's not being picked up on cable here. Can you hook onto the CSTV feed that is going out over the bird to the cable companies? [/q]

I think the technical term for that is "backhaul". I haven't had a whole lot of luck with that, but it's possible.