DirecTV skips White Sox / Indians game due to "bandwidth constraints"

We already heard a chorus of boos from angry Red Sox / A's fans that missed some or all of the opening day of Major League Baseball, and now it seems the satcaster has disappointed fans of two other teams. Today's tilt between the Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox isn't being broadcast via DirecTV on SportsTime Ohio HD as part of the Extra Innings package due to "bandwidth constraints." According to STO, DTV customers shouldn't have any issues seeing games for the rest of the season on the carrier, but the purported overload of sporting events has seemingly left no room for this one. Check the notice in full below.

[Thanks, Dayton Guy]

DirecTV skips White Sox / Indians game due to "bandwidth constraints"

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 3rd 2008 2:58PM]

thats interesting. I just caught the last 1/2 inning of the game.
I wonder when Directv turned it on???

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 3rd 2008 3:29PM]

I can understand this at this time of year. All of the major leagues are still firing. The amount of games will decrease here in a few weeks as the NHL and NBA enter the post-season.

[Boo Radley Posted Apr 3rd 2008 3:57PM]

That's what happens when games get broadcast on channels that aren't always on air. Maybe next time contracts roll around the Indians should get their games broadcast on a real network.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 3rd 2008 4:03PM]

Uh, What kind of bandwith constraints do they have at noon Eastern and 9AM Pacific? is there some Magic in the evening that allows more bandwith? What a crock! The game yesterday was in SD as well.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 3rd 2008 4:05PM]

Uh, What kind of bandwith constraints do they have at noon Eastern and 9AM Pacific? Uh, is there some sort of Magic that allows more bandwith in the Evening?

What a Crock! The game was in SD yesterday too!

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 3rd 2008 4:29PM]

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=123003&page=4

Supposedly some sort of technical issue arose according to those at dbstalk.com.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 3rd 2008 5:16PM]

You know all those channels that no one watches really high up in the lineup? The 1000s and what not? Or all the redundant music channels (like how there is a Smooth Jazz and a Smooth Jazz XM channel)?

Why not take some of those off the air to free up bandwidth for what is otherwise really popular programming? Thats, I think, the best way to go: take what is otherwise rarely watched channels and take them off air.

The redundant music channels can go away anyway, as if you have XM or Sirius already I highly doubt a satellite provider then needs their own music channels.

Afterwards, get rid of the redundant Pay-Per-View channels too. You don't need three channels all showing "The Bourne Ultimatum" all at 3 o'clock. I'm certain you could live with two to keep it fresh.

Then there will be bandwidth.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 3rd 2008 5:48PM]

I can understand technical problems do happen, but you don't just tell the customer "tough luck". You give them some kinda money back or discount or something. I mean hell, give the MLB extra innings subscribers $5 off their next bill.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 3rd 2008 7:26PM]

Yeah... I was Pis**d off over it. That is the only reason I have MLB extra innings since I live in Reds Country. Oh well. But that coming from "The world leader in HD", DirecTV really puzzled me.

[brianbobcat Posted Apr 3rd 2008 10:59PM]

Figures, the one game the Sox win isn't in HD. At least my local WGN and WCIU broadcast HD over-the-air.

-Brian