Testing Altitude Alternate

DeltaOne81 · March 24, 2005, 10:36:09 PM

Still, both Dan and my's interaction with Sports Depot has been less than positive. I was brushed off. I believe he said John was kind've nasty to him once. They may've not cared enough to really give him correct information about the channels (I hope, I hope, I hope), plus the place had a line out the door, which doesn't seem to imply we'll be treated with much care.

Sports Grille, on the other hand, has been very nice, helpful, and interested in working things out for us. They have been very willing to order the station and seems much more interested in getting us our own area and audio. Just by the interaction with them, I would say they are much more worthy of our business at this point. I have a bad taste in my mouth from Depot and I believe Dan may too. Even when I called tonight, right about when a Celtics game was letting out from the Fleet, he took the time to suggest the hours I should call back with and was polite in apologizing for not being able to help me now.

I'd just like to confirm that Sports Depot does indeed get 657 right now, cause it would go a long way in comforting me that Sports Grille will too. I'm happy to take input, but we can't make this too much of a vote-by-committee thing, cause it'd just get too hectic. I'm already pretty hectic as is. I plan on calling them back unless you tell me you're stopping by

Edit: Dan has a list a people who wanted to come. Last I knew the number was around 30. Plus I'll be adding a few more myself. Is that what you meant by roll call?

Rosey · March 24, 2005, 10:42:52 PM

[Q]DeltaOne81 Wrote:
Sports Grille, on the other hand, has been very nice, helpful, and interested in working things out for us. They have been very willing to order the station and seems much more interested in getting us our own area and audio. Just by the interaction with them, I would say they are much more worthy of our business at this point. I have a bad taste in my mouth from Depot and I believe Dan may too. Even when I called tonight, right about when a Celtics game was letting out from the Fleet, he took the time to suggest the hours I should call back with and was polite in apologizing for not being able to help me now.
[/q]
FWIW, based on this I'd rather go to the Sports Grille. It's much better to deal with people who want your business, rather than those who can do without. If there's a problem, we'll be more likely to get assistance from the guys at the Grille.

Furthermore, if it doesn't work out, my house and a 61" TV is only a 25-30 minute drive from there.

Cheers,
Kyle

jkahn · March 24, 2005, 10:47:44 PM

[Q]Josh 03 Wrote:

My sports bar just called me. He said that DII basketball is on, but he said it's listed as Regional Sports Network. Do we figure that's just a description that it is a regional sports network, not the an actual network called Regional Sports Network?[/q]
When Directv picks up an additional broadcast like that, it's usually listed on the screen as RSNa (Regional Sports Network alternate) rather than the specific station name.

DeltaOne81 · March 24, 2005, 11:23:51 PM

So has anyone had success other than Josh?

How did the Phily, NYC, etc tests go?

Hillel Hoffmann · March 25, 2005, 12:17:35 AM

The Philly test was a go, so we're ramped up and ready at Flanigan's Boathouse in Conshohocken, PA: http://www.flanboathouse.com/con_home.html

I think we can conclude that buying Altitude means getting Altitude alternate.

DeltaOne81 · March 25, 2005, 12:18:42 AM

I'm glad to hear that because I've twice gotten a different story from Sports Depot in Boston. But I don't think them very much anyway, so I plan on working with Sports Grille to make everything a go.

< crosses fingers > If it works everywhere else, I have high hopes

abmarks · March 25, 2005, 12:24:12 AM

OK- I wasnt promoting Sports Depot- Sports Grille is cool. But where the heck is sports grille? I don't know it

DeltaOne81 · March 25, 2005, 12:28:57 AM

I didn't think you were, I understand. As far as I know we just hit Sports Depot on a bad week. It was our first choice for location and parking, but oh well.

Sports Grille is on Canal St, by the Fleet Center. My gf found an article about the bars by the Fleet Center suffering w/o the NHL, so that could explain why Sports Grille is much more accomidating. The business means more to them. But hey, that's good for us and it'll be nice to help out the Fleet Center area businesses.

http://www.planet99.com/boston/restaurants/14690.html

The place sounds good, over 100 tvs, big, and not that busy lately.

abmarks · March 25, 2005, 12:40:49 AM

OK- I'll be there....

Beeeej · March 25, 2005, 08:05:51 AM

We seem to have no indication of how any NYC test, if one was done, came off. :-(

Beeeej

RedAR · March 25, 2005, 08:10:27 AM

I called Ship of Fools last night, and the bar tender said it was too busy for him to check if the bball game was on. So, we're no closer to knowing whether those of us in NYC will be able to watch or not.

Does anyone with DirecTV in the NYC area want to host?

Hillel Hoffmann · March 25, 2005, 08:19:15 AM

[Q]Beeeej Wrote: We seem to have no indication of how any NYC test, if one was done, came off. [/q]
Beeej, based on last night's tests in other cities, we seem to have determined that DTV bars anywhere (with relatively new equipment) that order Altitude will get Altitude alternate programming. I don't think you need to test; now you just need to find a place with DTV that would be willing to order Altitude. See Lisa92's post with the link to CU Athletics, where they offer a direct phone number to DTV's commercial reps (that's the number for bar managers to call).

DeltaOne81 · March 25, 2005, 09:12:46 AM

Hillel, could you explain this "relatively new equipment" thing?

Hillel Hoffmann · March 25, 2005, 09:36:35 AM

As I recall, the upated CU Athletics release includes a caveat that mentions something about bars with older satellite receivers being unable to get Altitude.

Beeeej · March 25, 2005, 09:43:58 AM

[Q]Hillel Hoffmann Wrote:
[Q2]Beeeej Wrote: We seem to have no indication of how any NYC test, if one was done, came off. [/Q]
Beeej, based on last night's tests in other cities, we seem to have determined that DTV bars anywhere (with relatively new equipment) that order Altitude will get Altitude alternate programming. I don't think you need to test; now you just need to find a place with DTV that would be willing to order Altitude. See Lisa92's post with the link to CU Athletics, where they offer a direct phone number to DTV's commercial reps (that's the number for bar managers to call).[/q]

I honestly don't have time to be making these phone calls, though. Where did Jeremy disappear to?! :-(

Beeeej