Help for a fellow Wildcat fan in Connecticut

by Truzenzuzex on Jul 5, 2009 9:09 AM EDT Comment 14 comments

I recently received a note from a UConn Husky fan who is married to a Kentucky Wildcat fan, and they live up in Husky territory. They have a young family and can no longer just run off to sports bars to watch the UK games.

Can any members, particularly those who reside out of state, give recommendations for the best satellite provider for receiving UK games? I personally have no clue, since I am on Insight cable and have never used satellites for my television feed.

Any assistance for our expatriated sister in the Northeast would be greatly appreciated.

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Well,

I currently reside in Montana, so obviously I rely on satellite for not only the watching of sports, but everything on television — and we have DIRECTV and I love it. The only downside is that they don’t offer local channels in all areas, but this probably won’t be a problem for you since I’m sure you live in a heavily populated area. Btw, one plus with satellite is that the HD is fabulous. Some of our friends still have cable (I’m astounded at the people who still use cable, actually) and from what I can tell, satellite is a much clearer, crisper picture than cable. Geez, I sound like a satellite advertisement, don’t I? : )

Dish Network is another satellite provider that is pretty popular out here (they offer local channels), so that may be an option for you, also.

One thing though: As I understand it, the new ESPN/SEC deal (along with CBS) will make the majority of UK basketball (and football, too, I think) games available with just your pretty basic satellite package, which for me is a huge plus as I won’t even dare mention how much $$ I have spent in the past on ESPN Full Court packages, FSN packages, etc, in order to make darn sure I was able to view each and every game that was possible for me to see. So, anyway, I guess what I’m trying to say is that if your top priority is watching UK basketball games, I would just make sure that whichever provider you choose, just make sure you have access to the ESPN channels and locals.

Good Luck!! : )

by BigSkyCat on Jul 5, 2009 12:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Funny to hear you evangelize for satellite

My apartment building actually has the ability to receive either cable or Directv (through one apartment-wide dish). I have had both in my apartment (and am still currently paying for both – don’t ask). In my estimation, cable is far superior to Directv, for two main reasons:

1) Rain fade. Nothing is more annoying than not being able to watch TV when the weather is bad (“searching for signal” is the bane of my existence). This happens surprisingly often.

2) I think the interface on directv is poorly designed. The grouping of channels (HD next to regular, etc.) is poorly thought out (for those of us that like to flip channels), and the delay when a channel is switched is maddening.

I switched back to cable after 3 months. Yes, I would like some of the channels that directv offers, but on balance, I find it to be a sub-optimal system.

The King is dead! Long live the King!

by NYCCats on Jul 6, 2009 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

"searching for signal"

That’s hilarious. The "searching for signal" has actually happened to us, also. It’s only happened twice in 5 years (just lucky, I guess), but on those two occasions I have had to send my poor husband (begrudgingly, mind you, as this requires he get the ladder out and climb a fair distance) up on the roof to clear the snow off the dish, so I can appreciate your point about the weather issue, and on those two instances, let me tell you, my husband has tried advocating for cable television, too. It didn’t work, but he certainly tried. : )

As far as the new ESPN/SEC deal, I was my understanding that just the regular ESPN channels (ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN U (and yes, ESPN U is extra $$ money for me, too)) along with CBS would cover all the basketball games so I wouldn’t have to get the Full Court package this year. No? It would suck to have to pay for the whole Full Court package just for 1 or 2 games. I will of course pay the money if I must as I don’t really like watching on my computer, and we usually tend to have parties at our house on game days, but I was really hoping that I wouldn’t have to. Guess we’ll see.

by BigSkyCat on Jul 6, 2009 6:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You're probably right

The games that might still be on FullCourt are the ones that are broadcast on the “Big Blue Network,” if any (ie., those against the Mississippi Valley States of the world). So if one cares about those games, then maybe the package is worth buying. But I really don’t know if that is that case or not – I will just play it by ear and order it if it becomes necessary.

The King is dead! Long live the King!

by NYCCats on Jul 7, 2009 8:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't use satellite, either.

But I get ESPN 360, which is computer-based (watch the games on your computer). My friend has a cable that runs from the computer’s USB to the AV jack on my TV so I can watch them there instead of my laptop.

by mrmondaynite on Jul 5, 2009 12:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

A lot of cable internet providers allow free access to ESPN 360 as well.

I will be watching some games online this year, as I do not get ESPN U or ESPN Classic……nor ESPN 8 “The Ocho”

If peeing your pants is cool, consider me Miles Davis.

by btcoop71 on Jul 6, 2009 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Interestingly enough

TimeWarner Cable (at least in NYC) does not support ESPN360. I don’t know what the cable service is in CT (depends on where) but that may prove a problem.

I, too, have been a big supporter of the Full Court (and Game Plan, for football) package to view UK games – it is amazing how many random UK games are on there (unlike, say, UL games).

But I agree with davw below, that once ESPN picks up the conference, that should cover the vast majority of it. Throw in Full Court, and you should be all set (whether on satellite and cable).

The King is dead! Long live the King!

by NYCCats on Jul 6, 2009 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

"Dodgeball" reference!

awesome

by blue kentucky girl on Jul 8, 2009 7:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

DirectTV Works For Me

I live outside the U.S. (Panama & Ecuador) and have DirectTV in both places. Get ESPN and ESPN2 so that will get most UK games with new SEC contract. Would also suggest SlingBox arrangement with a TV in southeast.

"The prosperity of commerce is now perceived and acknowledged by all enlightened statesmen to be the most useful as well as the most productive source of national wealth, and has accordingly become a primary object of its political cares."

--Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 12, 27 November 1787

by Wild Weasel on Jul 5, 2009 2:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

My .02

When I lived in St. Louis, ESPN Full Court got me EVERY UK game that wasn’t nationally televised. I’m not sure how the new ESPN/SEC deal will affect this, but at the time I got it all.

At $99/season, it was terribly expensive, and it was much less expensive than watching all those games in sports bars and drinking and eating the whole time.

Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
--O.W.

by blbskue on Jul 6, 2009 12:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

They wont need satellite this year

any run of the mill cable provider should have ESPN, 2, and U. If you have those beginning this season you will have 90 percent of all uk games.

DEEETROIT BASKETBALLL!!!

by davw83 on Jul 6, 2009 1:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

ESPNU

A lot of cable providers don’t give you ESPN U without paying extra. I don’t get it with Insight in Louisville, and I didn’t get it with Charter in St. Louis.

Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
--O.W.

by blbskue on Jul 6, 2009 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs