cardinal service blackout in St Louis

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

Good point, SomeJoe!

Cardinals request rights fee from FSMW --> FSMW requests carriage rights fee from U-verse --> U-verse sets price charged to customer

Customer pays U-verse -->  U-verse pays FSMW --> FSMW pays the Cardinals

No connection between the customer and FSMW or the Cardinals?

[Cardinals_fan]

Wow, if this is the only response we are going to get from AT&T, then I am flabbergasted.  This is the absolute worst argument I have ever seen, possibly in my life.  While I do not hold YOU responsible, I will hold AT&T responsible and change my service if this issue is not resolved by April 19th.  I mean, it's really as simple as that!!

No, I do not blame the gas station attendant every time the price of gas goes up.  You know why?  BECAUSE THE GAS STATION ATTENDANT HAS NO CONTROL OVER THE PRICE OF GAS.  THE GAS STATION ATTENDANT PROBABLY DOES NOT HAVE OPEN LINES OF COMMUNICATION TO OPEC.  AT&T U-VERSE ON THE OTHER HAND HAS CONTROL OVER THIS ISSUE AND CAN COME TO AN AGREEMENT WITH FSMW.  THERE IS AN OPEN LINE OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN AT&T AND FSMW THAT IS NOT WORKING FOR THE BENEFIT OF YOUR CUSTOMERS!  THEREFORE, I HOLD AT&T U-VERSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BLACKOUT!!!!

I am assuming that you are an amployee of AT&T.  {Keep it Courteous}
Furthermore, I pay a premium price for AT&T U-Verse and now it appears that I am receiving very little value.

*****RESOLVE THIS ISSUE IMMEDIATELY!!!!!*******

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

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Cardinals_fan wrote:

I am assuming that you are an amployee of AT&T.  {Keep it Courteous}

---

Your assumption would be incorrect.  SomeJoe is not an AT&T employee.  He is a U-verse customer just as you are.  He volunteers his time on this forum to help other customers resolve issues and get the most out of their U-verse service.  The accusation of being an AT&T employee for those who dot not agree with one's viewpoint is tiresome.

[SomeJoe7777 ACE - Geek]

---

Cardinals_fan wrote:

Wow, if this is the only response we are going to get from AT&T, then I am flabbergasted.  This is the absolute worst argument I have ever seen, possibly in my life.  While I do not hold YOU responsible, I will hold AT&T responsible and change my service if this issue is not resolved by April 19th.  I mean, it's really as simple as that!!

No, I do not blame the gas station attendant every time the price of gas goes up.  You know why?  BECAUSE THE GAS STATION ATTENDANT HAS NO CONTROL OVER THE PRICE OF GAS.  THE GAS STATION ATTENDANT PROBABLY DOES NOT HAVE OPEN LINES OF COMMUNICATION TO OPEC.  AT&T U-VERSE ON THE OTHER HAND HAS CONTROL OVER THIS ISSUE AND CAN COME TO AN AGREEMENT WITH FSMW.  THERE IS AN OPEN LINE OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN AT&T AND FSMW THAT IS NOT WORKING FOR THE BENEFIT OF YOUR CUSTOMERS!  THEREFORE, I HOLD AT&T U-VERSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BLACKOUT!!!!

I am assuming that you are an amployee of AT&T.  {Keep it Courteous}
Furthermore, I pay a premium price for AT&T U-Verse and now it appears that I am receiving very little value.

*****RESOLVE THIS ISSUE IMMEDIATELY!!!!!*******

---

First of all, there has been no response from AT&T in this thread.  No one knows what you're talking about when you say "if this is the only response we are going to get from AT&T".  What response are you referring to?  There is no "response" here.

Second, you're absolutely correct that AT&T has some control of the pricing they pay for programming.  AT&T and Fox Sports Midwest have a signed contract that says exactly the price that was agreed upon.  And now, Fox Sports Midwest is reneging on that contract by failing to provide their programming at the agreed-upon price.  They simply are unhappy with their own situation and want a "do over".

FSMW is the aggressor/bully here, not AT&T.  Their goal is to create controversy and extort more money out of AT&T and 22 other providers, and they are incredibly happy to have you as their pawn doing their bidding for them.

I'll bet if AT&T passed the increased cost on to you and all other customers in the St. Louis Cardinals territory, increasing your monthly charge by several dollars, that you'd be screaming bloody murder.  You simply want everything and don't want to pay for it.  As ridiculous as that position may be, AT&T is actually trying to deliver that to you by pressuring FSMW to adhere to their contract.  And all the while they're doing that, they have to endure your rants.

I'm amazed AT&T is even going out of their way to help you.  With your attitude, it would be fine by me if they just dropped FSMW completely and passed the savings on to all other customers.

[Dread Pirate Ro…]

---

Cardinals_fan wrote:

Wow, if this is the only response we are going to get from AT&T, then I am flabbergasted.  This is the absolute worst argument I have ever seen, possibly in my life.  While I do not hold YOU responsible, I will hold AT&T responsible and change my service if this issue is not resolved by April 19th.  I mean, it's really as simple as that!!

No, I do not blame the gas station attendant every time the price of gas goes up.  You know why?  BECAUSE THE GAS STATION ATTENDANT HAS NO CONTROL OVER THE PRICE OF GAS.  THE GAS STATION ATTENDANT PROBABLY DOES NOT HAVE OPEN LINES OF COMMUNICATION TO OPEC.  AT&T U-VERSE ON THE OTHER HAND HAS CONTROL OVER THIS ISSUE AND CAN COME TO AN AGREEMENT WITH FSMW.  THERE IS AN OPEN LINE OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN AT&T AND FSMW THAT IS NOT WORKING FOR THE BENEFIT OF YOUR CUSTOMERS!  THEREFORE, I HOLD AT&T U-VERSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BLACKOUT!!!!

I am assuming that you are an amployee of AT&T.  {Keep it Courteous}
Furthermore, I pay a premium price for AT&T U-Verse and now it appears that I am receiving very little value.

*****RESOLVE THIS ISSUE IMMEDIATELY!!!!!*******

---

this is a peer to peer fourm. No uv employee is going to answer you. somejoe is a regular poster on the forum that offers insight and help. If you don't like his answer....don't respond.

DPR

[costanza]

Why wasn't last night's game on? I know this is about FMWpicking up the 20 games KSDK used to televise,

but 90% of those games were on Sunday afternoons. No way would KSDK have shown a Monday night game

from the west coast. Uverse is using bullying tactics.

[kjupka]

I just got off the phone with AT & T.  After a few different people, I was able to get to the retention department.

AT & T agreed to discount my bill since I haven't been able to watch the games. While I am far from satisfied because I would rather have the games then the discount it is at least something.

If you are unhappy with missing the Cardinal games and for some reason aren't going to change providers I would encourage you to call and see if there is something that At & t can do for you.  You will save yourself some time and frustration just asking directly for the retention department.  1800-288-2020

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

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costanza wrote:

Why wasn't last night's game on? I know this is about FMWpicking up the 20 games KSDK used to televise,

but 90% of those games were on Sunday afternoons. No way would KSDK have shown a Monday night game

from the west coast. Uverse is using bullying tactics.

---

From the article that has been previously posted in this thread, here is the list of the 20 affected games:

AFFECTED GAMES

• Sunday at San Francisco 3:05 p.m.
• Monday at Arizona 8:40 p.m.
• Tuesday at Arizona 8:40 p.m.
• April 17 at Los Angeles 3:10 p.m.
• April 19 Washington 7:15 p.m.
• May 1 at Atlanta 12:35 p.m.
• May 2 Florida 7:15 p.m.
• May 13 at Cincinnati 6:10 p.m.
• May 15 at Cincinnati 12:10 p.m.
• May 22 at Kansas City 1:10 p.m.
• June 12 at Milwaukee 1:10 p.m.
• June 14 at Washington 6:05 p.m.
• June 22 Philadelphia 7:15 p.m.
• June 23 Philadelphia 7:15 p.m.
• June 26 Toronto 1:15 p.m.
• July 10 Arizona 1:15 p.m.
• July 17 at Cincinnati 12:10 p.m.
• Aug. 7 at Florida 12:10 p.m.
• Aug. 14 Colorado 1:15 p.m.
• Sept. 4 Cincinnati 1:15 p.m.

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/article_16903232-623d-11e0-84dd-0019bb30f31a.ht...

As you can see, these games pertain to all 23 providers that have not agreed to pay additional fees to FSMW to carry the 20 games picked up from KSDK.  There are no special "bullying tactics" used by U-verse.

[donmc]

I called and was offered a discount.

I told them I just wanted the ballgames.

The CS rep I talked to today said that all twenty games will be blacked out.

I hope she is wrong and they fix this issue.

If it turns out that all twenty game are really blacked out I plan on changing providers

as soon and my current agreement expires.

She gave me the discount anyway.

[Robtsewell]

If these 20 games are not picked up I will be cancelling all U-Verse services!!!!  There is no reason I should not be able to see Cardinals games when I live less then 1 mile from the stadium.  I am extremely unhappy with this information

[Robtsewell]

There is a very simple answer to this problem, if you are unsatisfied with U-Verse services due to this issue, just as I am, then lets all cancel.  I could care less who is to blame, I see it as not recieving the value needed for this programing.  I can get all the games on CHARTER

[shepstl]

I also got the discount but am still not happy. I think I will be canceling my service, which is a shame, I've been a fairly happy customer (for the most part) over the past two years that I've had them.

What's strange is the customer support rep I talked to when they gave me the discount said it would be settled by tuesday or wednesday, which I highly doubt. I don't think either side is going to back down and, as a result, the customers lose out. 

I will definitely use the CSR's promise as fodder when I call back if the rest of the scheduled dates continue to be blacked out. I already know of some people canceling their service and a bunch of others who are getting the discount. In the grand scheme of things, you think it would be cheaper just to give in to FSM's fee increases, like everyone else has.

[dolwig]

I am really sorry I switched to AT&T. I can't believe they are not providing the service they said they would.  I would not have changed if I had known that we couldn't get all the Cardinals games.   AT&T You're going to lose so many customers over this black out of the Cardinals! Ridiculous

[Cardsfan01]

My first question when signing up for UVERSE was will I get all the Cardinals games on FSMW.  If I had been told that there would be blackouts I would have stayed with my previous provider.  I wish someone would give me an answer on what's going on.  I want all the Cardinals games, especially on Sunday.

[Cardsfan01]

Where and how did you get the discount?  Is it worth trying to get it?

[costanza]

Yes, what kind of discount are we talking about? A previous poster said to ask for

the retention department.

[howard_beale]

Three strikes and Uverse is out of this house. 

{Keep it Relevant}

[eltonron]

Could you tell me where you were able to obtain the discount from?  Even better, have you found any contact information as to where to send complaints to AT & T?   I've searched the entire site and can't find a thing!    Thanks.

[milkman]

milkman wrote:

Perhaps the Cardinal Organization should be contacted. I mean, they pulled their games off local channels after the season had started (that's dirty pool in my book) to Fox Sports. It wasn't because they love their fan base. It was because they love their money! Had the Cards honored their original agreement none of this would be happening. They could have waited until next season to change providers after negotiating through the off season. Cards could have given notification to the fans of new providers who then could make alternate viewing plans. Fox Sports would still have been at the door next season with checkbook in hand.

Oh? Can't talk mean about the Cards here. The cash register swings both ways.

No. I'm not an AT&T employee. Just pointing out the obvious.

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dwinth wrote: 

The Cardinals did not pull their games off of local channels after the season had started. It was announced on July 14, 2010, that they were moving the twenty local telecasts (KSDK Channel 5 in St. Louis) to Fox Sports Midwest.

I found an article from the St. Louis Post Dispatch by Post television writer, Dan Caesar, about the move, dated July 15, 2011.

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/profession​al/article_36e902c5-dff9-5d18-a423-b8d194286e19.h...

I found this part interesting. It was mentioned in the article from last July that blackouts of Cardinal games could occur. So what is happening now is not a total surprise. Here is part of the article by Dan Caesar:

"The Cardinals will place their entire television package on Fox Sports Midwest beginning next season, marking the first time none of their locally produced telecasts will be on over-the-air TV since they began televising games in the 1940s.

The number of telecasts in that package on so-called "free TV" have decreased in recent years, down to about 20 annually on KSDK (Channel 5) in a deal that began in 2007. But all 150 will be on FSM next year.

"Having the entire television package in one place is fan-friendly, the fans know for the most part where the games are night after night," FSM general manager Jack Donovan said Wednesday.

But there is one potential huge fan-unfriendly aspect to the move — there is no guarantee all FSM customers will receive all the telecasts.

When the Blues eliminated over-the-air TV last season and moved their full package to Fox Sports Midwest, Dish Network and several cable systems balked at paying an increased fee to FSM and blacked out 35 games. Donovan acknowledged there is no guarantee a similar situation won't arise with those 20 or so Cardinals telecasts FSM will add.

"We may not have deals in place everywhere, but we don't anticipate problems," he said, adding that no movement has been made yet with the Blues' situation."

---

Thank you dwinth! I stand corrected.

I wonder if all these fans are also contacting Fox Sports with their complaints?

[lfelton]

My approach will be very simple.  The program log says that the Cardinal game is supposed to be on FSM - but it's not.  Since the games have been blacked-out for  3 days, I will deduct 1/10 (3 days out of 30) of my bill before paying.  It is my opinion that U-verse is guilty of false advertising.

[shepstl]

1-800-288-2020

Call them. Ask to speak to customer retention department. Tell them you're unhappy and want to cancel. Explain that losing Cardinals baseball lost you as a customer. They offered me $25 off a month. Others have been offered $15 off a month. Depends on your plan and who you talk to I guess. 

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

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milkman wrote:

Thank you dwinth! I stand corrected.

I wonder if all these fans are also contacting Fox Sports with their complaints?

---

It appears that those who realize that it is not a one sided issue are contacting FSMW.

Fox Sports Midwest

[bmwscooter]

Interesting, and should be a good way to get their attention.  This "issue" is what led me to these forums - because there is no actual "contact" email address anywhere on the website.  

I changed to ATT for the ability to get Cards and Blues games - now I find that ATT is still the same old phone company that it used to be!  Being in business for myself I sometimes have to provide a consistent service at an earlier agreed to price when my suppliers raise their rates.  It's a question of honesty in business - ATT is demonstrating their level of honesty.

[montecristo75]

This is absolutely ridiculous {Keep it Relevant: The forum is not a venue for legal discussions}   I was also told when I signed up for uverse a few months ago that I would be able to see all the cardinal games.  I in fact chose my provider based on who offered FSN and what other crappy channels I would have to subscribe to in order to get it.  I look forward to coming home and watching the cardinals and I am so angry over this.  I don't know if anybody else has noticed the majority of other companies that have paid the extra fees to air the cardinal games.  AT&T is the largest company by far on this list and if walnut telephone co can afford to pay the fees, there is no reason that this behemoth cannot.  I will also be switching providers if this continues after a few games.

[dwinth]

I noticed on page 14 and 15 there are a total of three posts that have no message. Maybe these One Post One and Done Wonders are so mad, they cannot find the words to express their anger. I contacted a One and Done Wonder from another page, and here is an actual recording of how this poster felt.

{Keep it Courteous}

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Owning a computer and not having the internet is like buying a refrigerator and not stocking it with food.

[milkman]

 Outstanding!

[jrhallqu]

Without a doubt, I will be switching to Charter if this is not corrected.  AT management has grossly under-estimated the importance of Cardinals baseball to this region.  I  know several others who will do the same.

[Skitt5]

I feel exactly the same way, and I am from Arkansas. There are plenty of us who live in states other than Missouri that are extremely unhappy about this, so if someone from AT&T is taking the time to read this, you should know that Cardinal fans from all over are thinking seriously about swiching providers. My other choise is Comcast, and this provider has been knocking on my door for a long time.

[Dread Pirate Ro…]

3 down, 17 to go, hang in there guys!!!

• Sunday at San Francisco 3:05 p.m.
• Monday at Arizona 8:40 p.m.
• Tuesday at Arizona 8:40 p.m.

5 in May

5 In June

2 in July

2 in Aug

1 in Sep.

so it's like 12% of the total games. At least it's early in the season. Can you local guys get it through an OTA?

DPR

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

The Cardinals moved the games from free broadcast TV to FSMW, thus they are not available using an OTA antenna.