We’ve long since gotten tired of getting jerked around by TV networks.
Television, which already has the last word on all things college sports, is doing it again, playing havoc with the viewing preferences of fans.
University of Louisville followers are expected to watch the UofL-UConn football game at Noon Saturday, then switch over to view the UofL-Butler basketball game at 2 p.m.
Not going to happen here. The football game will only be halfway done, and there’s too much at stake for Charlie Strong’s troops.
What’s worse is that the basketball game isn’t even on television. ESPN, with all of its arrogance, has determined that the basketball game will only be available on ESPN3.com — an un-user-friendly Internet site with more than its share of technical problems.
Yeah, we know ESPN is not the originator of the football game. Paul Rogers will do just fine for UofL basketball, thanks, whether he’s on WHAS or WKRD radio. Don’t get me started on that one.
Some day, some way, ESPN is going to pay. It’s inevitable.
Just for you, Charlie…the four letter network has set the kickoff against USF for 11 a.m.
“We are the victims of what we have created.” -William S. Conner
I think that the earlier start for College BB is causing the doubling up of games. I do know that UK was in the same position as UL. Their games overlapped and they put the UK BB game on ESPN3.
While I don’t have a problem with ESPN3, I do have a problem with the overlap of games. It’s hard to watch both games with equal attention. Plus, the UL football game was not actually given an official starting time until last weekend. So ESPN knew they were going to have a conflict.
I hope they can resolve this for future conflicts, but I suspect that, as Charlie so aptly put it, “Sounds like desperation to build audience for an Internet site, someone with “vision” but blind to common sense.” is spot on.
ESPN3 is a good thing and I have no issue with the game not on another insight channel. And, Insight knew the answer before they asked.
Not sure why it’s “expected”…
However, this Louisville fan won’t tune in until football is over.
A few years ago, the local station could make arrangements with the city in which U of L was playing to have games broadcast locally. That is becoming more and more rare, with the networks controlling everything.
Living in Texas, I can watch just about every Louisville Basketball or Football game on some type of format thanks to ESPN. Long live ESPN.
Some serious competition for ESPN would be nice. Lots of games to go around. But then again, maybe that’s why ESPN is sticking its nose in so many conference realignment situations.
I hear the conference survivors will be changing their names to ESPN Conference I, ESPN Conference II, ESPN ………
I’m with you,Mr.Springer. These next two football games are way more important right now. Much too important to conflict with basketball. I’ll have the football game on the TV. I’ll try to find a site…such as justin.tv…to stream the basketball game on my phone. As Coach Bedford said…I’m on the train!
GO CARDS…Football and Basketball!
ESPN is certainly not worthy of any sympathy in almost any situation, but I don’t see the point in being so vitriolic about the assignment of the UofL basketball game to ESPN3.com.
If you look at their programming schedule for tomorrow (http://espn.go.com/espntv/onair/index?start=11-19-11-9:00-AM), they are committed (probably contractually) to airing college football on ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNU between 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM ET.
Where would you have them air the UofL game except on ESPN3, which I have used to watch games several times this fall and have not had an issue?
Heck, living in Texas, I’m GLAD they’re showing it on ESPN3.com. Otherwise, I’d have no opportunity to see it at all.
Good points, David. The irritation stems in part by the Noon start for the football game. I guess you’re telling me that college football is more important, which is probably a good argument. But the conflict was probably caused by ESPN wanting a 2 p.m. start for the basketball game. Why not schedule the basketball game on a Sunday when ESPN programming is begging for viewers?
There is a gadget called Slingbox which would enable you to view Louisville sports in Texas but you would have to have a local relative or friend with a hookup here.
I’m aware of the Slingbox, but had never really thought of it as an option for watching local broadcasts from Louisville. Very good suggestion.
If only my family were not so unsavvy in the ways of technology. 🙂
What is worth vitriol is that Insight here asked ESPN to put the ESPN3 feed which they get onto one of their cable channels and was turned down with no explanation.
Sounds like desperation to build audience for an Internet site, someone with “vision” but blind to common sense.
As I inferred, ESPN’s hands are dirty in this situation.
They, along with FOX Sports, dominate the college sports landscape, and the lack of competition is what leads them to make selfish, non-customer friendly decisions. Just like any monopolistic enterprise.
Here’s the irony, from a Louisville perspective.
Back when Louisville’s football program was on the rise in the late 1990’s, we were all ecstatic about ESPN’s willingness to showcase the program on nearly any day of the week they asked us to play.
Now that all of college sports are in bed with either ESPN or FOX (save the SEC and its relationship with CBS), we view the broadcast partners with antipathy.
Things change.
Wrong word choice; sorry about that.
I should have said “Now that all of college sports are in bed with either ESPN or FOX (save the SEC and its relationship with CBS), we view the broadcast partners with enmity.