Blacked Out Cardinals Programming on Fox Sports AZ - Revisited

[CFLredzoned]

I brought this up a couple years ago - http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb...on-fox-sports-az-on-dircectv-nogo-174522.html. I think it's common knowledge now that Fox Sports AZ programs, such as Cardinals HQ, are blacked out for out of state fans, despite paying extra for the DirecTV Sports Pack that normally brings you shows like that. This season was no exception.

Then I saw this article a couple few weeks ago, talking about the new program, Cardinals OT - http://bleacherreport.com/tb/dbd9q?...ium=newsletter&utm_campaign=arizona-cardinals. So I emailed Fox Sports AZ to see if the show would be available to me, mentioning the blackouts and the fact that I can watch programs for other teams on other Fox stations. To my surprise, they responded to my email, telling me that there would be no territorial restrictions placed on Cardinals OT. Great.

So after watching Cardinals OT, I wondered why I still couldn't watch Cardinals HQ. So I emailed them back, asking if they could divulge the reason behind the blackouts. Surely, it had to be an oversight. Again to my surprise, they obliged me:

The reason you are able to get Cardinals OT is due to the NFL footage rules. Cardinals OT does not have footage in it, so it’s not subject to territorial restrictions.

The other three shows do have footage in them so that is why the Cardinals have informed us the shows can’t be taken out of market. As to why you are able to see the other team’s shows, we are not certain why that is happening. We can only comment about our situation – we are just following what the Cardinals have told us we can/can’t do.

So there you go. If there's actual NFL game footage, the program is only available locally.

Now I wonder if something might have changed between now and then. Because I just found last night's full episode of Cardinal HQ recorded in my dvr - complete with AZ/TB game highlights and all. So I wonder if Fox Sports AZ gained info that these blackouts are no longer required? Or maybe this one particular episode slipped through the cracks? I guess we'll find out.

 

[PJ1]

Thanks for the heads up. I had given up on getting to see these.

 

[WisconsinCard]

Thanks for the heads up. I had given up on getting to see these.

Me too but I never understood why. Thanks for clearing that up.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Now I wonder if something might have changed between now and then. Because I just found last night's full episode of Cardinal HQ recorded in my dvr - complete with AZ/TB game highlights and all. So I wonder if Fox Sports AZ gained info that these blackouts are no longer required? Or maybe this one particular episode slipped through the cracks? I guess we'll find out.

It might just have been that the episode you recorded was shown far enough after the game that the footage was no longer restricted (or not as restricted I should say). I know that's happened to me a time or two.

Steve

 

[Dr. Jones]

Good stuff..... Thanks!

 

[Capital Card]

Please keep us updated if the blacked out shows continue to air. I cancelled my sports pack subscription due to all of the blackouts. I could only watch so much World Series of Darts, on 12 channels at the same time, before I realized it was a total waste of money.

Go Cards!!!

 

[JeffGollin]

Thanks for the info. Frankly, I'd given up on FSN-AZ altogether. Their answer still leaves open the question of why the league, the Cards or FSN-AZ should care one way or the other whether the program had footage (i.e. would it mean that the local affiliate would wind up with even one less viewer)? Makes no sense

 

[AzStevenCal]

Thanks for the info. Frankly, I'd given up on FSN-AZ altogether. Their answer still leaves open the question of why the league, the Cards or FSN-AZ should care one way or the other whether the program had footage (i.e. would it mean that the local affiliate would wind up with even one less viewer)? Makes no sense

It also leaves open the question about why we had been able to view those shows in previous years and why this type of show isn't blocked out on every single Local Sports station that puts together an NFL recap or preview show for their audience. IOW, I never bought the excuse given here even though it's what DTV told me 4 or 5 years ago when this first started. My guess, clueless as it is; they have to pay for the right to show that footage and Fox Arizona didn't want to shell out the bucks.

Steve

 

[JeffGollin]

It also leaves open the question about why we had been able to view those shows in previous years and why this type of show isn't blocked out on every single Local Sports station that puts together an NFL recap or preview show for their audience. IOW, I never bought the excuse given here even though it's what DTV told me 4 or 5 years ago when this first started. My guess, clueless as it is; they have to pay for the right to show that footage and Fox Arizona didn't want to shell out the bucks.

Steve

My guess - The reason for the blackouts are buried within piles and piles of obscure legal documents and mumbo jumbo that no one can recall why they had it in the first place and that neither the League, the Cardinals nor FSN are willing or able to spend the time digging around to figure out the root of the problem and fix it. Instead, all three parties appear to be satisfied pointing fingers at one another.

 

[CFLredzoned]

Well so much for that. I found the same Cardinals HQ episode on my dvr again, recorded today. This time only the standard 1 minute before it goes black. I guess the first time was a fluke.

My guess - The reason for the blackouts are buried within piles and piles of obscure legal documents and mumbo jumbo that no one can recall why they had it in the first place and that neither the League, the Cardinals nor FSN are willing or able to spend the time digging around to figure out the root of the problem and fix it. Instead, all three parties appear to be satisfied pointing fingers at one another.

If this is the case, then I think the problem's within the Cards organization. I'm tending to believe Fox AZ only because they were the only people to get back with me. I sent similiar emails to the main Cards info emails and never got a response. At least Fox AZ emailed me back. In fact, with my email, I added a comment along the lines of 'I bet if Mikey B knew about this, he would make sure it got fixed.' So part of their response is probably in response to that.

I'll have to record some more of these shows for other teams and see if they contain game footage. I tried to record two Rams shows a couple weeks ago and they were both blacked out. I successfully recorded two Seahawks shows a couple weeks ago but I didn't watch them. I know from a couple years ago that the Cowboys programs are available. That was fun to watch the Wade Phillips press conferences after getting beat by the Cards. Their media there is brutal. Those press conferences would drag on forever. My favorite part of those was the beginning. Wade would take the stand and let out a big heaving 5-second sigh. Then the feeding frenzy would begin.