I live in College Station and we get all the game's on tv(home and away)anyway at the end of the last telecast Lisa M. said that the contract with Warner Bros.(they have the home game's and fox has the away)was over. So my question is,does anyone know if this contract will be renewed or not ? or any relevant info would be appreciated. I have become spoiled with the current setup and would hate to loose the telecast.I guess I would have no choice but to get the NBA league pass. ------------------
There was a very good story about this in David Baron's column in the Chronicle last week. Apparently, because of the ever-increasing popularity of WB shows like Dawson's Creak and Popular and the addition of 10pm news next fall, WB39 does not want to have a full 40-game schedule. Essentially, they are trying to compete with the big 4 networks. They would prefer like 20 games, but the Rockets want a single station for all the games - who can blame them? Right now, it is almost a certainty they will not be back on WB39 and UPN is likely out of the question for similar reasons. That leaves local stations like Channel 51 although it is doubtful that the Rockets will go there simply because 51 already is committed to Astros games which could potentially cause a conflict. Chances are that the Rockets will end up on KTBU, channel 55 (The Tube) which currently does mostly syndicated reruns of shows like Taxi, the Three Stooges and Star Trek: The Next Generation as well as Houston Cougar basketball games and Aeros Hockey. They also do the "News of Texas," a locally broadcast news program at 10pm that covers news from around the state. They have already said they are interested in the Rockets and are the most likely bet at this point. Whether or not you could get them in College Station is up to your cable provider. ------------------ "No one gets out ALIVE!" SaveOurRockets.com
DAROckets: I too live in CS, and I am planning on getting DirecTV sometime this summer. You can get a Total Choice Sports package that costs $39.99 per month (we pay $39.85 per month right now with COX CABLE) and the package includes FoxSW for all the home games(and ESPN,ESPN2, CNNSI, ESPN NEWS, etc.), plus they have 20 other regional sports channels all over the US with 1 or 2 from Canada. This would pretty much guarentee that we would only miss maybe 2-4 games all year long. Plus you get to see most of the Astros games as well. Hopefully they can start playing better. The only bad thing is that we can't get the local CBS channel 5 if you want to see the local news. You have to get a separate antenna to pick it up and that might cost an extra $15 or $20. If you have any other questions about it, just email me. rocketfan@tamu.edu ------------------ "People think I live a pampered life, but I work hard to keep up my business."
That isn't completely true, today. DirecTV offers local sports programming, but, for you and even those in Houston, that means Fox Sports SW. If the Rockets away games (for the most part) are carried on a local station, not a network, you would miss MOST of the away games. Only a few of the NBA teams play their home games on a Fox affiliate and those are the "regional" sports channels DirceTV carries with the exception of Canada. The only way to ensure you won't miss games is to get the NBA League Pass which is like $150 per year and covers ALL the NBA teams home and away. ------------------ "No one gets out ALIVE!" SaveOurRockets.com
Thank's for the info.Hopefully Cox cable will pickup whatever channell has the telecast's.TCA always did but since they sold to Cox Im not sure what will happen. Anyway if I have to I'll pony up for the league pass.I have probably seen 98% of the game's over the last 4 yrs and just like a junkie I gotta have it. ------------------ [This message has been edited by DAROckets (edited April 24, 2000).]
Very valid point Jeff, thanks for letting me know. I did a little research to come up with the teams that have their home games televised by FSN/other networks that direcTV has, but i don't know if they carry all the home games or just select games. Also some networks have more than one team, so they can't show both at the same time. Here they are: FOX SPORTS NET ARIZONA NBA: Suns (2) FOX SPORTS NET BAY AREA NBA: Kings, Warriors (4) FOX SPORTS NET CHICAGO NBA: Bulls (1) FOX SPORTS NET DETROIT NBA: Pistons (1) FOX SPORTS NET MIDWEST NBA: Pacers (1) FOX SPORTS NET NEW ENGLAND NBA: Celtics (1) FOX SPORTS NET NEW YORK/MSG NBA: Knicks, Nets (2) FOX SPORTS NET NORTHWEST NBA: Sonics, Blazers, Grizzlies (6) FOX SPORTS NET OHIO NBA: Cavaliers (1) FOX SPORTS NET ROCKY MOUNTAIN NBA: Nuggets, Jazz (4) FOX SPORTS NET SOUTH NBA: Hawks, Hornets (2) FOX SPORTS NET SOUTHWEST NBA: Rockets, Mavericks, Spurs (41 home games, plus 4 away games) FOX SPORTS NET WEST/WEST2 NBA: Lakers, Clippers (4) COMCAST SPORTSNET NBA: 76ers (1) EMPIRE SPORTS NETWORK NBA: Raptors (1) Home Team Sports NBA: Wizards (1) Midwest Sports Channel NBA: T-wolves, Bucks(3) SUNSHINE NETWORK NBA: Magic, Heat (2) Optimal amount of games shown would be all 82, but since some of these channels share teams and/or may not carry all home games, this number will probably be more around the 68-72 range if you ask me. If anyone knows where to find out more info on this, please let me know. ------------------ "People think I live a pampered life, but I work hard to keep up my business."
A word of warning today, When I was looking into getting Total Sports Package (or whatever it's called) I remember reading that the Regional Fox Sports Networks "black-out" a lot of the local sports content. Not sure if this applies in this case but it would be worth checking before you commmitt to a satellite company. ------------------ http://rocketdavo.tripod.com
If Fox Sports Southwest stops showing the Rockets, that means that I won't be able to ever see the Rockets. I know they won't be on national TV next year. Man, thats fu...I mean, messed up. ------------------ Really a member since March 1999.
How come Fox Sports SW always advertises that I'm gonna get the Rockets and then they slap me with the Mavs? ------------------ The Chuckwagon came, saw, and threw people through windows!
Just found 2 apartment communities within a couple of miles of where I work that have DirecTV master satellites on the premises. Can't wait to subscribe to that NBA League Pass... woooooooo!!! Movin', movin', movin'... ------------------ ?
Sir Charles: It depends on where you live as to what games you get. If you are in the Maverick area, you ALWAYS get Maverick games and NEVER get Spurs or Rockets. It is part of their TV contracts. ------------------ "No one gets out ALIVE!" SaveOurRockets.com
