Dear NHL...

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Aug 27, 2009 8:41 AM MDT in News Comment 43 comments

On Monday, DirecTV's contract with Versus comes to an end and the satellite provider is threatening to pull the channel if a deal is not reached. This kind of thing isn't really all that new - remember threats that Time Warner would be dropping Noggin? - and they usually get resolved. That's not making me feel any better.

Personally, I could live without the channel...except for the 3 times this year that Avalanche games will be exclusively broadcast by the channel formerly known as the OLN. One of those games is Joe Sakic night - the home opener. Yikes. The NHL doesn't appear to be worried:

When asked Tuesday if the league was concerned enough to involve itself in the process, NHL spokesman Frank Brown simply pointed to the calender.

"Today is August 25. The next NHL telecast scheduled for VERSUS is Oct. 1," he said.

The cavalier attitude is totally awesome and I'm now feeling completely reassured. If the league has shown one thing over the last decade or so, it's that they know what they are doing, from cancelling an entire season in order to guarantee "cost certainty" to the exclusive deal with Reebok to make all the league's jerseys uniformly uglier. Really, I don't know why I'd even think to question it.

But, just so we're clear, if I am not able to see Joe Sakic's number retired there will be holy hell to pay.

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if you can’t see it, you can come to my house DDC.

by thedoctor on Aug 27, 2009 8:58 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Ahhh, the one reason I enjoy having Comcast.

by chiavsfan on Aug 27, 2009 9:00 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

And trust me, it’s one of the very few reasons…

by chiavsfan on Aug 27, 2009 9:02 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I may be a little grumpy today

it sounds like our DirecTV Tivo box is finally dying and will need to be replaced by one of those hideous DirecTV DVRs. I’m not really sure I can handle that.

Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Aug 27, 2009 9:02 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I’m dead serious — Dish is what you want. Tivo people complain the DVR isn’t quite as good as the Tivo, but it’s definitely the best non-tivo DVR. Dish has great IQ too, and it’s usually cheaper.

I’m very happy with my Dish package. Gold HD-only + locals is awesome.

by thedoctor on Aug 27, 2009 9:18 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah...

They are only like 1,000,000 times better. Do you have HD?

We shall return to Galactic Days standing strong, and unafraid, we'll carry on...

by Pinchy The Lobster on Aug 27, 2009 9:33 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

believe it or not, I don’t

Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Aug 27, 2009 9:34 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I suppose you still have a

Sony Walkman cassette player and are waiting for it to die before you get a portable mp3 player? And a pager on your belt? ;)

We shall return to Galactic Days standing strong, and unafraid, we'll carry on...

by Pinchy The Lobster on Aug 27, 2009 9:45 AM MDT up reply actions 4 recs

rec'd

for sarcasm and much more

Pujols takes out "I" in BIG and "A" in MAC, previously considered to be an unyielding, consonant threat

by DESTROYER on Aug 27, 2009 9:45 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

heh. I do have an iPod. don’t own a pager…or a cell phone, for that matter.

Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Aug 27, 2009 10:18 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don’t feel bad. I had to drag Mike kicking and screaming into the 21st century. We just got cell phones a year ago, and I still can’t talk him into a DVR…

by Mrs @ MHH on Aug 27, 2009 10:35 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

haha

that just gave me the funniest image Mike huddled in a corner kicking and screaming being dragged to the cingular/att store going god no why me…..why me.

"We just couldnt put the cat in the hat thats really why we lost today we just couldnt put the cat in the hat."

by avs21fan on Aug 27, 2009 10:39 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

what man wouldn’t want a DVR???

Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Aug 27, 2009 10:44 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

One who doesn’t want to pay the cable company $11 per month for it. However we will of course pay the $35 for 4 months it takes to pay for Center Ice…

We don’t have HD either.

by Mrs @ MHH on Aug 27, 2009 10:56 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have dish and the only issue I have is stormy weather…if the wind id blowing hard enough, the dish is moving and you don’t have TV. In the past few years this has happened less and less though.

DVR is great!

MHH: Like the Avs organization, we’ve now officially lost our minds.

I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.

by Americanario on Aug 27, 2009 11:17 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, living in Oklahoma, that’s the big knock we have against Dish. Lots of storms…

by Mrs @ MHH on Aug 27, 2009 12:27 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m a TiVo fanatic on par with the Apple Army. TiVo is the greatest invention ever.

Mike, get the sand out and get yourself one.

The 2009-10 Colorado Avalanche: Aiming for the Charity Point
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time

by Jibblescribbits on Aug 27, 2009 11:48 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don’t judge me!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-2009 Colorado Avalanche: Dry Humping Mediocrity

by Mike @ MHH on Aug 27, 2009 2:07 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I also have Dish – DVR is great. I had problems with Comcast and DirecTV in the past. However, I am regretting the decision to get Dish because it has neither Altitude or Versus. I asked if I could add on a sports package or something but you have to get the top package when all I want is the two extra channels. It would double the price. Don’t know what to do.

by HaasHockey on Aug 27, 2009 9:28 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I have DirecTV Premier HD

Great sports channels…

We shall return to Galactic Days standing strong, and unafraid, we'll carry on...

by Pinchy The Lobster on Aug 27, 2009 9:41 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I understand that, I had to upgrade to the top package a few years ago to get OLN/VS.

But my wife enjoys having a few of the movie channels now, and I usually fork over the money for Center Ice.

MHH: Like the Avs organization, we’ve now officially lost our minds.

I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.

by Americanario on Aug 27, 2009 11:30 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

We’re with Dish. We do pay a ridiculous amount per month just to have Atlitude and VS. We don’t have a DVR yet. But then again, we sitll have dial up internet at home!! Gotta love living in the mountains!!

You miss 100% of the shots you never take.
-Wayne Gretzky

by gl avfan on Aug 27, 2009 1:52 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

you should have hopped on the HD-only gold package with locals. it’s gone now (as of like last weeks) but it was perfect…except for no FX, randomly enough.

by thedoctor on Aug 27, 2009 2:08 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also, I feel like I have to GO to every game now to prove to that Wild idiot that the Avs have the best fans (not in Canada).

by HaasHockey on Aug 27, 2009 9:30 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Huh.

I was about to switch to DirecTV before the season started…but I think I’ll stick with my shitty digital cable. At least they have Versus…and NHL Center Ice. I guess that’s all I need.

Joe Sakic.

by BraxtanFILM on Aug 27, 2009 10:16 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

you see

no matter what i am screwed i cant go to the game because i have police academy (dont hate me lol) that night therefor i cannot watch it either so i guess i will just have to record it good thing i have comcast but still it really sucks. btw love the holy hell comment made my day.

"We just couldnt put the cat in the hat thats really why we lost today we just couldnt put the cat in the hat."

by avs21fan on Aug 27, 2009 10:37 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

why would we hate you. Police Academy is one of the greatest movies of all time!

Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Aug 27, 2009 10:41 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

haha it so is but in no way is it the same, thanks to that movie i had no clue what i was getting into, but its a blast and i love it.

"We just couldnt put the cat in the hat thats really why we lost today we just couldnt put the cat in the hat."

by avs21fan on Aug 27, 2009 10:52 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Has anyone tried Center Ice Online?

I dont have cable or satellite, and I wont be getting it. I think this may be my only option.

For some reason, I am feeling a stronger desire than normal to watch the train wreck that will be the Avalanche season this year…

by AaronHawn on Aug 27, 2009 1:15 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I dont have it, but since the wife and I are looking for a house, I may go with that this year, because I am not paying for Center Ice…moving…then paying for it again.

by chiavsfan on Aug 27, 2009 2:05 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

It should move with you. I know ours did here…

by Mrs @ MHH on Aug 27, 2009 2:10 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Center Ice

anyone ordered it yet this year? anyone know what the price for CI is this season?

by PugPuck on Aug 27, 2009 3:17 PM MDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs

I think it’s still $149 if you order early, $169 if it’s during the season.

I probably can’t talk the wife into it this season, since I’ll be getting all the avs games at home.

The 2009-10 Colorado Avalanche: Aiming for the Charity Point
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time

by Jibblescribbits on Aug 27, 2009 4:22 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

You mean you can’t order it without her approval?

We shall return to Galactic Days standing strong, and unafraid, we'll carry on...

by Pinchy The Lobster on Aug 27, 2009 4:42 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

nope… married life

The 2009-10 Colorado Avalanche: Aiming for the Charity Point
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time

by Jibblescribbits on Aug 27, 2009 4:53 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

My automatically renews every year, unless I call them first. The wife still tries to bribe me though…she thinks she should get to go spend $150.00 on herself; women!

MHH: Like the Avs organization, we’ve now officially lost our minds.

I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.

by Americanario on Aug 27, 2009 5:28 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ours automatically renews too. I bought it for Mike as a Christmas present a few years ago. The gift that keeps on giving!

Anyway, I do think that it is the $150 still. We pay ours over 4 months. I didn’t know you could do less, Cox only told me about the 4 month deal…

by Mrs @ MHH on Aug 28, 2009 7:20 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I originally had Comcast but since the wouldn’t carry the NHL network (this was before they added it) and I had to have HNIC, I switched to Direct TV. I love their games in HD and so forth but this is giving me a major panic attack.

I have had NHL Center ice for years and will pony up again this year.

I have heard some people had problems with streaming issues with Center Ice online but that was when they first rolled it out. It may be better now.

by hockeychic on Aug 27, 2009 4:42 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Update

after changing hard drives and emailing with the fine folks at Weaknees.com (literally getting a response within 2 minutes of sending my question) it sounds like it may be a bad power supply. That’s good news, as it’s cheaper to replace than the HD or, you know, the entire unit.

now I just have to wait until Tuesday to get it working

Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Aug 27, 2009 6:22 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

PSUs

are supa cheap and typically easy to replace. No bigs.

I thought you knew that algebra was all razzamatazz. A Globetrotter always saves the good algebra for the final minutes.

by SlamDunkTheFunk on Aug 27, 2009 8:02 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

well, I guess there are now two reasons not having a good sight line for DirecTV in my new place due to all the trees is a good thing: I get TiVo back (tho DirecTV DVR wasn’t all that bad) and I will still get VS. I think. My new cable company has the most ludicrous channel set up I’ve ever seen, so I really have no idea what channels I have. And I am very frightened that they don’t have games in HD. Time will tell, I suppose.

I ordered CI when I ordered the new cable; it was $149 (I paid in 3 monthly installments).

2009-2010 Colorado Avalanche:
Abandon all hope ye who enter here!

by BeachNSnowGirl on Aug 27, 2009 9:17 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

of $49.95? As is the custom.

The Savage has spoken. Let it be done

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference"
R. Frost

by Savage33 on Aug 28, 2009 3:05 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

something like that. i didn’t really pay too much attention as i’d give my left lung to see all the avs games anyway and being in LA, well, Center Ice is it baby.

2009-2010 Colorado Avalanche:
Abandon all hope ye who enter here!

by BeachNSnowGirl on Aug 28, 2009 7:07 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs