Disputes between Dish Network and News Corp look to leave Predators fans in the dark for Saturday’s home opener.
Anyone familiar with satellite television remembers the issues between Versus (Comcast) and DirecTV. Contract negotiations are a natural part of the process; broadcasters want more money, satellite companies don’t want to pay it, and bickering ensues. However, this will hit home with Predators fans on Dish, as the 60 games that will be broadcast (in HD!) will not be available until both parties decide to play nice.
Think Center Ice or GameCenter Live will be an option? I’m afraid to inform you that blackouts will still apply.
On October 1st, Dish Network subscribers might have noticed the following stations no longer available:
- FOX Sports Arizona
- FOX Sports Carolinas
- FOX Sports Detroit
- FOX Sports Florida
- FOX Sports Houston
- FOX Sports Indiana
- FOX Sports Kansas City
- FOX Sports Midwest
- FOX Sports North
- FOX Sports Ohio
- FOX Sports Oklahoma
- FOX Sports Southwest
- FOX Sports South
- FOX Sports Tennessee
- FOX Sports West
- FOX Sports Wisconsin
- Prime Ticket
- SportSouth
- Sun Sports
Now, I’m not trying to sound the alarm, and say you should immediately switch to another provider (ahem, DirecTV), but it’s something to be aware of. I would hate nothing more than to check Twitter and see @PredFans blowing up over Dish subscribers not knowing where the game is. Versus was a drop in the bucket compared to this, as Predators fans would have missed one Nashville game. FSTennessee handles sixty broadcasts, that’s a lot of hockey Dish viewers will miss out on.
Fox Sports reached out to us, and offered the website GetWhatIPaidFor.com in order to hear Fox’s side of the story.
I hope to see many of you Saturday at Bridgestone Arena, the Predators have many great events planned for the season opener. If you still need tickets to Saturday’s game or have questions about DirecTV service, email me and I’ve got a great offer for you. Hockey season has arrived in Smashville, folks.. and man it feels good.
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Update 1: The Nashville Predators have posted an update on this situation, and it doesn’t look good for Dish subscribers.