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NBC screws US viewers

M Two One

M Two One

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Biarritz
NBC and Universal Sports announced their schedule for matches for the upcoming Rugby World Cup. The following matches before are the ONLY free ones on television.

[TABLE="class: ontv-events events-table"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TD]Sept. 9, 2011[/TD]
[TD]3:30 a.m. ET (LIVE)
[/TD]
[TD]Opening Ceremonies[/TD]
[TD]Universal Sports
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]4:30 a.m. ET (LIVE)
[/TD]
[TD]New Zealand vs. Tonga
[/TD]
[TD]Universal Sports
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]5 p.m. ET
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Sept. 11, 2011[/TD]
[TD]1 p.m. ET [/TD]
[TD]Ireland vs. USA
[/TD]
[TD]NBC
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]5 p.m. ET
[/TD]
[TD]Universal Sports
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Sept. 15, 2011[/TD]
[TD]3:30 a.m. ET (LIVE)
[/TD]
[TD]Russia vs. USA
[/TD]
[TD]Universal Sports
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]8 p.m. ET
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Sept. 23, 2011
[/TD]
[TD]4:30 a.m. ET (LIVE)
[/TD]
[TD]Australia vs. USA
[/TD]
[TD]Universal Sports
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]8 p.m. ET
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Sept. 27, 2011
[/TD]
[TD]2:30 a.m. ET (LIVE)
[/TD]
[TD]Italy vs. USA
[/TD]
[TD]Universal Sports
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]8 p.m. ET
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Oct. 2, 2011
[/TD]
[TD]3 p.m. ET
[/TD]
[TD]New Zealand vs. Canada
[/TD]
[TD]NBC
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]8 p.m. ET
[/TD]
[TD]Universal Sports
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Oct. 15, 2011
[/TD]
[TD]4 a.m. ET (LIVE)
[/TD]
[TD]SF 1: Winner QF 1 vs. Winner QF 2
[/TD]
[TD]Universal Sports
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]5 p.m. ET
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Oct. 16, 2011
[/TD]
[TD]4 a.m. ET (LIVE)
[/TD]
[TD]SF 2: Winner QF 3 vs. Winner QF 4
[/TD]
[TD]Universal Sports
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]5 p.m. ET
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Oct. 21, 2011
[/TD]
[TD]3:30 a.m. ET (LIVE)
[/TD]
[TD]Third-Place Match
[/TD]
[TD]Universal Sports
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]7 p.m. ET
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Oct. 23, 2011
[/TD]
[TD]3 p.m. ET
[/TD]
[TD]Final
[/TD]
[TD]NBC
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]8 p.m. ET
[/TD]
[TD]Universal Sports [/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]



So, that's it. Really. That is it. In 2007 all you had to do was pay $15 per month for Setanta Sports to watch every match including several replays per day. Do you want to know how you can watch the rest of the matches this time? You can watch them online through crappy Universal Sports streaming for ... are you ready?

$124.99!!

Oh yes, and if you don't believe me, check out the official website here. Look, I apologize as I'm usually not the type of person to go and make threads to vent my frustration, but the you know what has hit the fan, big time and I just cannot tolerate this.

I don't know what to do! This is driving me nuts.
 
M Two One said:
NBC and Universal Sports announced their schedule for matches for the upcoming Rugby World Cup. The following matches before are the ONLY free ones on television.

[TABLE="class: ontv-events events-table"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TD]Sept. 9, 2011[/TD]
[TD]3:30 a.m. ET (LIVE)
[/TD]
[TD]Opening Ceremonies[/TD]
[TD]Universal Sports
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]4:30 a.m. ET (LIVE)
[/TD]
[TD]New Zealand vs. Tonga
[/TD]
[TD]Universal Sports
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]5 p.m. ET
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Sept. 11, 2011[/TD]
[TD]1 p.m. ET [/TD]
[TD]Ireland vs. USA
[/TD]
[TD]NBC
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]5 p.m. ET
[/TD]
[TD]Universal Sports
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Sept. 15, 2011[/TD]
[TD]3:30 a.m. ET (LIVE)
[/TD]
[TD]Russia vs. USA
[/TD]
[TD]Universal Sports
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]8 p.m. ET
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Sept. 23, 2011
[/TD]
[TD]4:30 a.m. ET (LIVE)
[/TD]
[TD]Australia vs. USA
[/TD]
[TD]Universal Sports
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]8 p.m. ET
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Sept. 27, 2011
[/TD]
[TD]2:30 a.m. ET (LIVE)
[/TD]
[TD]Italy vs. USA
[/TD]
[TD]Universal Sports
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]8 p.m. ET
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Oct. 2, 2011
[/TD]
[TD]3 p.m. ET
[/TD]
[TD]New Zealand vs. Canada
[/TD]
[TD]NBC
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]8 p.m. ET
[/TD]
[TD]Universal Sports
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Oct. 15, 2011
[/TD]
[TD]4 a.m. ET (LIVE)
[/TD]
[TD]SF 1: Winner QF 1 vs. Winner QF 2
[/TD]
[TD]Universal Sports
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]5 p.m. ET
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Oct. 16, 2011
[/TD]
[TD]4 a.m. ET (LIVE)
[/TD]
[TD]SF 2: Winner QF 3 vs. Winner QF 4
[/TD]
[TD]Universal Sports
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]5 p.m. ET
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Oct. 21, 2011
[/TD]
[TD]3:30 a.m. ET (LIVE)
[/TD]
[TD]Third-Place Match
[/TD]
[TD]Universal Sports
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]7 p.m. ET
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Oct. 23, 2011
[/TD]
[TD]3 p.m. ET
[/TD]
[TD]Final
[/TD]
[TD]NBC
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]8 p.m. ET
[/TD]
[TD]Universal Sports [/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]



So, that's it. Really. That is it. In 2007 all you had to do was pay $15 per month for Setanta Sports to watch every match including several replays per day. Do you want to know how you can watch the rest of the matches this time? You can watch them online through crappy Universal Sports streaming for ... are you ready?

$124.99!!

Oh yes, and if you don't believe me, check out the official website here. Look, I apologize as I'm usually not the type of person to go and make threads to vent my frustration, but the you know what has hit the fan, big time and I just cannot tolerate this.

I don't know what to do! This is driving me nuts.
Click to expand...

Ridiculous and the price you stated was only the discounted early-bird price, regular was $150
 
Are you guys going to have the cup aired in entirety in Canada?
 
Yes,

TSN is airing all Canada games, the semi-finals, and the final on its primary network TSN. It is also airing all other games on its secondary network TSN2.
 
M Two One said:
Are you guys going to have the cup aired in entirety in Canada?
Click to expand...

Yes, I think 7 or 8 matches are available via TSN the main network(basic cable and satellite, everything else but two matches on TSN2 probably either in the same package or a very modest fee, and two matches available online for free
 
That's how it should be. I am so disgusted. I don't know what to do, I'm going to miss most of the cup apparently. Any suggestions? PM me if you need to.
 
M Two One said:
That's how it should be. I am so disgusted. I don't know what to do, I'm going to miss most of the cup apparently. Any suggestions? PM me if you need to.
Click to expand...

I thought the IRB was going to change this I thought this is why Setanta didn't get the rights in Canada because they wanted exposure over pay-per view broadcasts
 
Im just amazed that the RWC final will be FTA on a American Network television station.
 
There is talk of TSN offering on demand broadband service on a delayed basis for free. I dont have confirmation for certain about that yet but it might be an option for you. I often watch there CFL football on it and the quality isn't bad if you have a good internet connection.
 
TSN seems like they are genuinely interested in giving rugby more air time, which is great for the game, as this is what the sport really needs. This is especially true now that they have TSN2 and are looking for sports to fill it with. Ironically TSN2 actually shows more real sports then TSN, which other then CFL, Baseball, and the NHL is filled with poker, darts, and billiards most days.

TSN have even opened up an actual rugby section on their website and provide news articles relating not just to Canadian rugby but to other matches going on around the world. This is especially true now that they have TSN2 and are looking for sports to fill it with. Ironically TSN2 actually shows more real sports then TSN, which other then CFL, Baseball, and the NHL is filled with poker, darts, and billiards most days.
 
TSN Radio also has a Rugby program on right now.

Keep in mind Universal Sports is not that different to TSN 2 - they're both channels that have to be ordered over and above basic cable.

In fact, that there are 3 matches being shown on NBC makes it more accessible in the States than in Canada.
 
HB_AJ said:
TSN Radio also has a Rugby program on right now.

Keep in mind Universal Sports is not that different to TSN 2 - they're both channels that have to be ordered over and above basic cable.

In fact, that there are 3 matches being shown on NBC makes it more accessible in the States than in Canada.
Click to expand...

Not really seeing as how Canadians get NBC as well as TSN, anytime NBC has shown rugby I have been able to watch it, I would imagine this would be no different. TV5 in Canada (Its a French station) also shows France Rugby games and I believe they are broadcasting some during the WC.
 
surprised a match that the USA could actually win is not being covered

it's a shame for US rugby that so little is being covered

what program that is so much better is being shown at 4.30am on NBC?
 
I don't see how it is more accessible now that some matches are on NBC and you have to pay an arm and a leg to see the better teams online when ordering Setanta for a month for $15 would have given a viewer the entire world cup with most matches live and the rest delayed. I'm going to look into TSN, but I don't know if it will be accessible for US viewers.

psychic duck said:
surprised a match that the USA could actually win is not being covered

it's a shame for US rugby that so little is being covered

what program that is so much better is being shown at 4.30am on NBC?
Click to expand...

In this country, commercials are life. Most stations here are pleased to have 2 hour films fit into 3 hour blocks. Even worse, I'd say only about 1/6 of a stage in the Tour de France would see the light of day here, the rest would be commercials. So what is more important at that time of the day? Infomercials.
 
Last edited:
Building the sport in the States doesn't happen by making RWC available only to people who are already fans and would pay for Setanta - an exceedingly small number.

Getting the sport in front of people who would otherwise never take an interest in Rugby via terrestrial broadcast in North America is a big step. Getting it on a channel that will reach a wider audience than Setanta - mostly people who are already rugby fans is another.
 
HB_AJ said:
Building the sport in the States doesn't happen by making RWC available only to people who are already fans and would pay for Setanta - an exceedingly small number.

Getting the sport in front of people who would otherwise never take an interest in Rugby via terrestrial broadcast in North America is a big step. Getting it on a channel that will reach a wider audience than Setanta - mostly people who are already rugby fans is another.
Click to expand...

I agree with that AJ, but I really think the price being charged for the matches that won't be on TV is outrageous, $130-150 for streaming not even HD TV is extremely steep. Here in Canada depending on your provider I'm sure picking up TSN2 for a couple of months is very modest(possibly five to ten bucks correct me if your package is different, I think thats what it costs me) as well the two matches online will be free, one of which is on the opening night.
 
Thought all games were available to watch on the IRB site during the WC?
 
Little Guy said:
I agree with that AJ, but I really think the price being charged for the matches that won't be on TV is outrageous, $130-150 for streaming not even HD TV is extremely steep. Here in Canada depending on your provider I'm sure picking up TSN2 for a couple of months is very modest(possibly five to ten bucks correct me if your package is different, I think thats what it costs me) as well the two matches online will be free, one of which is on the opening night.
Click to expand...

How much is Universal Sports?
 
Really the cost of probably getting the rights was fairly cheap especially considering these games are shown at abysmal times. Here is hoping that Argentina or Italy host a world cup soon so I can watch games at a half decent hour ;)
 

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