UPDATE 9/7/14 6:05 PM: As you probably know by now, WOIO/19 returned to local DirecTV subscribers at around noon Sunday, an hour before the Browns/Steelers game…as both sides say they reached an “agreement in principle”…
—–
As of this writing, at about 10 AM on Sunday, DirecTV and Raycom Media haven’t solved their dispute which has Raycom’s WOIO/19 here off the satellite service.
That means unless it’s solved before kickoff, today’s NFL season opener between the Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers won’t be available to DirecTV subscribers.
Here’s a very quick item answering a flood of Twitter questions, as we have almost no time…
Q: ” i live in Michigan due too family if i have the sunday ticket can i still get Browns games ?”
A: Michigan is not in either the Cleveland TV market or Browns territory. The game should be available on Sunday Ticket outside of Ohio.
We should put an asterisk by this, because we don’t know how far Browns territory extends for DirecTV/Sunday Ticket purposes, or if the Southeast Michigan counties near the Ohio border are involved. But in general, we believe it won’t be a problem in Michigan, due to the Detroit Lions.
The Toledo market is affected as well, because Raycom owns Toledo’s CBS affiliate, WTOL/11.
Q: “if I have AT&T uverse, then I won’t have a blackout, right?”
A: Correct. Only DirecTV is affected. The dispute is between that satellite service and Raycom Media, owners of WOIO/19.
Time Warner Cable, Cox, WOW, Dish Network and other providers are not affected. They have different contracts with Raycom Media that expire at different times.
Q: “(Browns/Steelers will be on) Channel 27.1 over the air? That would be great, are you sure? Thanks.”
A: That is correct. If you can receive WKBN/27’s signal, you’ll see the game.
Of course, this is only over-the-air. WKBN is not available on DirecTV outside the Youngstown market, or on any Cleveland/Akron market cable provider.
And of course, if you can get either WOIO’s main signal (RF 10 out of Parma) or its Akron repeater (RF 24), you’re good to go.
Q: “I called direct tv 2x and they verified I will get the game (through package) u are saying they have it wrong?”
A: They have it wrong. If you’re in the Northeast Ohio area, you will NOT be able to watch the game on DirecTV, on Sunday Ticket or otherwise.
Sunday Ticket is, every week, required to blackout the game involving the local NFL team…because the local CBS(/Fox) affiliate has rights to it. This dispute does not change that.
If you are planning on hitting a sports bar to watch the game, call them to confirm they will show the game. Many sports bars have DirecTV, and won’t be showing the game unless they make alternate arrangements (antenna, cable, etc.)
And as Ian Shoales used to say on ABC’s “World News Now”, we…gotta go.
First, DirecTV follows the same rule as the NFL with regard to local blackouts, which is 75 miles from the center of the NFL city.
As far as to whether or not the game will be available here, I must respectfully disagree with you. The NFL requires a ST local blackout to protect the local station. If the local station is not available (for whatever reason), then the rule is not invoked. It doesn’t matter if the game is on an OTA outlet or available through other cable outlets.
(BTW AS I WRITE THIS “THE NFL TODAY” IS ON DIRECTV’S CHANNEL 19. 43 IS STILL OFF. EITHER RAYCOM ALLOWED THE GAME TO BE BROADCAST OR DIRECTV IS REMAPPING THE SUNDAY TICKET TO CHANNEL 19)!
According to the 19 Action News Facebook page, they have reached an agreement in principle with DirecTV. Both stations are back on the air for DirecTV viewers!