Hey, shouldn't the $59.99 promo be until October 5th, since that is the first day of NBA Pre-Season, NOT October 1st? Even Superman seems to think so too. Check out the link below with the question: http://www.ballstreams.com/support/categories/1/announcements/4086/20132014+Season
Here is the transcript from me trying to get an answer to your question. (Names edited) I had to provide my address so this rep knew I was located in Houston. Me : I am a potential new customer Me: i just want to get access to CSN Houston Comcast Rep: Thank you for laying the details of your issue. Comcast Rep: We are glad that you have made us your option to provide your service. Comcast Rep: Is that a cable channel? Me: um yess Me: you can only get it on comcast Comcast Rep: Okay, thank you for that info. Comcast Rep: Let me check on our packages now. Comcast Rep: Hang on, please. Me: ok Comcast Rep: I apologize for the delay. I am still checking on this for you. Comcast Rep: thank you for your patience. I am sincerely sorry but all of our packages has no channel for this, in your area. Me: you are comcast right? Comcast Rep: Yes, we are. Comcast Rep: What does that mean, please? Me: then you have the channel Me: http://www.csnhouston.com/page/i-want-csn-houston Comcast Rep: I understand you have that info. However, it is subject to be checked if we have that channel in the specific area you are in. Me: i am positive you have the channel here Comcast Rep: I am hoping we have that here. However, I have verified already in my tools here that we are not having that in your area. Suck on that Jim Crane
Yeah I realize that now. Kinda sucks that they aren't budging on the free preview or anything. Bascially your options are either going in blind and paying only $59.99, or waiting until at least the pre-season to test out a game and paying $89.99. Their hockeystreams service is pretty well regarded and has been around for a while. I'll think about it and let you guys know if I bite. For those of you who get League Pass, how much extra is it typically for playoffs?
No, you'll get the games on league pass unless your computer's IP address happens to be in Houston. in that case, you're screwed.
League pass only gives you access to regular season games. All the playoff games are televised nationally, so it should be a lot easier to catch them anyway. As for watching them on your computer or streaming device, you're SOL as far as I know.
I am not trying to be "that guy". But how is ballstreams even legal? The reason I ask is because it seems like it could be a great option and I might get it. I would hate for it to get shut down after they all ready have my or any one else's money.
I'm pretty sure it's not legal. I look forward to seeing how it works out for you guys using Ballstreams. As far as playoffs go, if you use a VPN and choose an international destination, you can use NBA League Pass International which gives you access to everything including playoffs and nationally televised games. (This is how those VLC links worked since they came from content provider NeuLion which specifically does NBA ILP).
it isn't legal and i'd be worry that the NBA will come after the guys that run ballstream and the customer since they'll most likely get your information after they take down ballstream
From the Forbes article: Does it sound like Jim Crane cares whether a carriage deal gets signed until April 2014, when the Astros season starts again? "Try to make something happen... in 2014"-- basketball season starts before 2014, no? http://www.forbes.com/sites/maurybr...trikeout/?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=t.co
Forbes has already shown that they don't have a problem with being reckless with thier reporting. I see no reason to take anything they say about CSN Houston and run with it. But even if they're correct, the Rockets will be pushing carraige deals. And at this point, they have a LOT more to lose than Crane does. That said, I'm still very pestimistic.
Hope for a resolution, but I am remembering the article that came out during the 2012-13 NBA season that says that CSN would have had a deal with one of the carriers except that the Astros, whose season had not started yet, said no (because the price was not high enough for the Astros, I think). Not sure how the corporate governance of CSN Houston works, but if that article is correct, the Astros seem to have some sort of veto power. Now, if this latest Forbes article is correct that the Astros are profitable even with CSN losing money for them and even with their team being bad, it may well be that Jim Crane is inclined to be "patient" about reaching a carriage deal.
that ballstreams site is going to get shut down in a minute. They are actively making money off of NBA streams. The NBA runs the exact same, competing service. You don't think they are going to look at all the people that decide to pay for ballstreams and see that as revenue lost for the NBA? It's one thing for illegal streaming sites that profit off of ads to exist for a while, the leagues know that they exist but aren't that concerned with them since they aren't losing any real money. They know that the streams are crappy, and most people only watch because they have no other way to watch or are too cheap to buy the official service. Ballstreams? the NBA knows that those customers are willing to pay $$$. They will take it down swiftly. I wouldn't let them see a cent of my cash to be frank.
Well Frank, apparently Ballstreams does the same thing with hockey, and have done so since 2007, and they have yet to be shut down. I would agree with you, but I'm not so sure since Hockeystreams has yet to be shut down.
They have been running HockeyStreams.com since 2007, it's not getting shut down... probably ever. I even sent them an email regarding illegalness, and it getting shut down, and they replied with this: "Hello, We are based out of the legal jurisdiction of the copyright holders - we are perfectly legal." I'm going to go ahead and bite it and pay the $60, and I'll let you guys know how it goes. I have a couple friends who used HockeyStreams last season, and it was pretty legit. Just in-case anyone was wondering! Btw, if you don't like the service, you can cancel and always get your money back, they have a good track record. To be honest, IMHO, this is the best deal out there, $60 for every game all season + playoffs?! I can't wait!! They are based in the Netherlands as well, no wonder they'll never get caught! http://www.ballstreams.com/contact_us/faq
bought this a week ago..they have all the summer league games archived..plus the finals..all i know is that i wont be missing any rockets or any other team games this year..
I think they changed their refund policy http://www.ballstreams.com/support/categories/1/announcements/4091/Refund+Policy Edit: so apparently they are OK with the following -> Alright, looks like I'm taking the plunge!
maybe the NHL behaves differently from the NBA. You never know, but I'm highly skeptical of this at the moment. My guess is that it will get shut down. And also, what's to prevent someone from giving out the links to the vlc player?
For those of you going with the buy-it-now and freeze until the season starts method: You can only freeze your account for 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, Start of preseason (9/10/13) or start of reg season (10/1/13) Their dates are obviously wrong... Also, they claim that once your account is frozen, it cannot be manually unfrozen, not even by customer service!
I am going to do it. Since they are out of the country the NBA is going to have a hell of a time doing anything about it. By the way its their own fault. League pass should not be blocked based on market. All the teams and the even the players union get a taste of that money. There are plenty of places in Houston that you flat out can't get Comcast even if you wanted it and based on that alone you are shut out going through normal channels. I bet the NBA knows this site exists and does nothing for that very reason.
