Grandpa Duck No. 1 Share Posted August 29 When I heard about the blackout of Duck football on Comcast, my TV provider since April of 2001, I called comcast. After the usual trudge through the electronic voice that answers and makes you take the circular route through repeatedly asking: "Speak to an agent," I actually reached "Alexis", a real person. I was not convinced that was her real name. I explained that I have been a long-term customer and that my wife and I enjoy Xfinity TV with lots of extras, plus internet and land line that we need in order to remotely open the gate of the community where we live for guests to enter. We also have two comcast cell phones and pay the company something around $340 a month. I also explained that we have a separate smart TV with no box where we stream things, just in case our comcast service is not functioning. So I know it would cost me less for every service they provide were I to choose to make a change. But, I am age 85 and despise change of any kind. A few dollars a month is worth the convenience of familiarity. After lots of audible key clicks on Alexis' end of the call she thanked me for our long term as a customer and assured me that since I have had the sports package including the B1G network for more than a year that unlike others in my zip code I would be getting the Duck game on B1G this Saturday. I made it clear to her that if that does not happen, as inconvenient as it will be for me to change all of the services that comcast provides our household, I will be dropping them. Not being trusting by nature and experience, (I am a retired, recovering lawyer) I looked at the B1G upcoming broadcasts and realized that the UCLA vs. BYU soccer match would be broadcast live on B1G at 7 p.m. this evening, Wednesday, August 28, 2024. That would give me a test of the blackout. Well, you guessed it, Alexis either intentionally deceived me, or she was ill informed. As the previously scheduled content ended at 6:59 p.m., the B1G notice that they will not be carrying live broadcasts of Bruin football, volley ball and soccer contests flashed on the screen together with the 800 number for me to call and complain. UCLA vs. BYU soccer is not available in my household. However B1G is broadcasting in its place a fascinating history of UCLA, frequently interrupted by the blackout notice. Clearly the executives of the B1G network have an edge on those at comcast. No, way more than an edge. Probably the whole playing field. I wish I could reconnect with Alexis and tell her just what I think of her and her employer. But, tomorrow my Grandson will come over and explain how streaming works and how to change my internet provider. Once the new internet is in place and I am sure Youtube TV is where I want to watch the Ducks this fall, I will box up the comcast equipment and head down to their office and cancel the whole business, keeping the cell service until I have the new provider make that change for me. The change from AT&T to comcast a few years ago was seamless and a savings of about half. Hopefully I can learn how to stream. From reading other threads I know that some other aged fans in my predicament have been able to navigate through the process. Not so sure my less than tech facile spouse will manage, but I can probably teach her to find the WNBA and the FBI and crime shows. From prior experience in the difficult torture of being current with this fast-paced life, this is not a punishment I am eager to endure. And, I will suffer through finding the WNBA games on the TV my wonderful life partner uses in order to maintain peace in the household. She gets them now by hollering voice commands at the TV. I fear that's not a streaming feature. How stupid can it be for people who run a highly successful business to mess with our Duck football viewing, and that of the other three west cost teams joining the B1G. There's a message for them hear. Don't mess with my Duck football!!! 1 1 1 1 6 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
criticalduck No. 2 Share Posted August 29 Thanks for the thorough reporting GD! I knew Comcast was going to scr*w us! Ok well, less money for them. I wonder how many Beavis and Bheads are managing Comcast? It would make sense that they stop west coast broadcasts of the B1G... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Marsh No. 3 Share Posted August 29 Streaming isn't so bad. It's the fear of something new that is the biggest thing. The clickers have FEWER buttons and the interface is pretty clean. I'm sure you'll take to it in no time. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
1Ducker1 No. 4 Share Posted August 29 YouTube or Sling, thats where Im going F Comcrap Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuackyQuack No. 5 Share Posted August 29 Made the switch to YouTube TV a little over two years ago and I can’t recommend it enough. It has everything you will need and very user friendly. I also love the unlimited DVR so you can record every game every week and never have to worry about running out of space. Change is hard but you won’t be disappointed! 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Fischer Administrator No. 6 Share Posted August 29 We already had one thread about this issue with TONS of information in it, including my decision last evening of how I am proceeding, and why. I will let you read them right here, and of course we have to start a whole new thread about this topic, and people will miss items in the first one because...it is your experience, after all! Canzano had another article today about this today, and the bottom line, I believe is that Comcast/Xfinity will NOT pay the fees the B1G Network (primarily owned by Fox) wants. The fees are between triple and quadruple, and not just for those who use the B1G Network, but ALL subscribers. Between the Oregon Brand, the Seattle market and the massive LA market between the four teams blacklisted...it would be ENORMOUS fees that Xfinity/Comcast would have to pay. I do not believe they will. What I am doing for this game is detailed at the end of the thread linked above. Oregon Sports are my major form of entertainment, between the events themselves and this wonderful forum with so many great people. Whatever it takes...I will do it and pay it. I can be frugal about many things, but this one is not in that category. Not going cheap when it comes to Our Beloved Ducks. Mr. FishDuck Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cartm25 No. 7 Share Posted August 29 On 8/28/2024 at 9:07 PM, Grandpa Duck said: When I heard about the blackout of Duck football on Comcast, my TV provider since April of 2001, I called comcast. After the usual trudge through the electronic voice that answers and makes you take the circular route through repeatedly asking: "Speak to an agent," I actually reached "Alexis", a real person. I was not convinced that was her real name. I explained that I have been a long-term customer and that my wife and I enjoy Xfinity TV with lots of extras, plus internet and land line that we need in order to remotely open the gate of the community where we live for guests to enter. We also have two comcast cell phones and pay the company something around $340 a month. I also explained that we have a separate smart TV with no box where we stream things, just in case our comcast service is not functioning. So I know it would cost me less for every service they provide were I to choose to make a change. But, I am age 85 and despise change of any kind. A few dollars a month is worth the convenience of familiarity. After lots of audible key clicks on Alexis' end of the call she thanked me for our long term as a customer and assured me that since I have had the sports package including the B1G network for more than a year that unlike others in my zip code I would be getting the Duck game on B1G this Saturday. I made it clear to her that if that does not happen, as inconvenient as it will be for me to change all of the services that comcast provides our household, I will be dropping them. Not being trusting by nature and experience, (I am a retired, recovering lawyer) I looked at the B1G upcoming broadcasts and realized that the UCLA vs. BYU soccer match would be broadcast live on B1G at 7 p.m. this evening, Wednesday, August 28, 2024. That would give me a test of the blackout. Well, you guessed it, Alexis either intentionally deceived me, or she was ill informed. As the previously scheduled content ended at 6:59 p.m., the B1G notice that they will not be carrying live broadcasts of Bruin football, volley ball and soccer contests flashed on the screen together with the 800 number for me to call and complain. UCLA vs. BYU soccer is not available in my household. However B1G is broadcasting in its place a fascinating history of UCLA, frequently interrupted by the blackout notice. Clearly the executives of the B1G network have an edge on those at comcast. No, way more than an edge. Probably the whole playing field. I wish I could reconnect with Alexis and tell her just what I think of her and her employer. But, tomorrow my Grandson will come over and explain how streaming works and how to change my internet provider. Once the new internet is in place and I am sure Youtube TV is where I want to watch the Ducks this fall, I will box up the comcast equipment and head down to their office and cancel the whole business, keeping the cell service until I have the new provider make that change for me. The change from AT&T to comcast a few years ago was seamless and a savings of about half. Hopefully I can learn how to stream. From reading other threads I know that some other aged fans in my predicament have been able to navigate through the process. Not so sure my less than tech facile spouse will manage, but I can probably teach her to find the WNBA and the FBI and crime shows. From prior experience in the difficult torture of being current with this fast-paced life, this is not a punishment I am eager to endure. And, I will suffer through finding the WNBA games on the TV my wonderful life partner uses in order to maintain peace in the household. She gets them now by hollering voice commands at the TV. I fear that's not a streaming feature. How stupid can it be for people who run a highly successful business to mess with our Duck football viewing, and that of the other three west cost teams joining the B1G. There's a message for them hear. Don't mess with my Duck football!!! I had the distinct honor and privilege of helping my grandpa rid himself of the Comcast/Xfinity/Direct TV racket. Here's my recommendation: - Internet only from whatever provider you choose - $50-$60 per month (maybe more if you go for Fiber speeds) - YouTube TV - $73 per month. If you have friends and family that live in your area, you can family share with 2 since there is a 3-device streaming limit, and have them reimburse you to reduce cost even further. Just make sure each household understands you can only have one device/TV using YouTube TV in each household at the same time. - Streaming box: Apple TV 4k (if you have Apple phones/products; it's the best) = $150 one time purchase OR similar Roku, Firestick, Google device; all one-time purchase YouTube TV's Live view looks just like a regular cable provider. You will not regret the move. I would do it anyway to free yourself from the Comcast/Xfinity shackles . . . You WILL NOT regret it. 1 3 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanLduck No. 8 Share Posted August 29 Thanks GD, I'm cutting cable also. Been with them forever, paying over $300/month. No more. I already have to pay $10/month extra to not be able to watch BTN. Thanks Charles and all the others for your tips. Go Ducks! Whip those potato heads! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duckman60 No. 9 Share Posted August 29 We just changed to youtubetv and are very happy. I still have Xfinity internet and would like to move on from them totally, does anyone have a good suggestions? Paying $116 for 1000 mbps Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drake Moderator No. 10 Share Posted August 29 Testimonial time. Tried free trial of You Tube TV (2days) yesterday for the first time. The interface was easy to figure out, with unlimited cloud space to record your preferred programming. I have used sling, and fubo free trials in the past, and I will opt to use the YTTV platform as others have stated. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Fischer Administrator No. 11 Share Posted August 29 YouTube TV has unlimited cloud storage for shows and games, BUT, they are only saved for nine months! Mr. FishDuck Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JabbaNoBargain No. 12 Share Posted August 29 (edited) On 8/29/2024 at 11:09 AM, Duckman60 said: We just changed to youtubetv and are very happy. I still have Xfinity internet and would like to move on from them totally, does anyone have a good suggestions? Paying $116 for 1000 mbps I’m in the same boat as you, but have been unable to free myself from the yoke of Xfinity as my ISP. I try about every 4 months and still can’t find a viable substitute, even in PDX. I had Google Fiber for 3 years when I lived in Raleigh, NC…it was fantastic and half the price, highly recommended if available in your area. Edited August 29 by JabbaNoBargain Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirklandduck Moderator No. 13 Share Posted August 29 On 8/29/2024 at 11:47 AM, JabbaNoBargain said: I’m in the same boat as you, but have been unable to free myself from the yoke of Xfinity as my ISP. I try about every 4 months and still can’t find a viable substitute, even in PDX. I had Google Fiber for 3 years when I lived in Raleigh, NC…it was fantastic and half the price, highly recommended if available in your area. Check your mobile phone provider. I have T-Mobile's home wifi and in their 5G UC network coverage area, so I average around 300mbps typically. Not gigabit speeds but more than enough for my household and only $50/month. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JabbaNoBargain No. 14 Share Posted August 29 On 8/29/2024 at 2:00 PM, kirklandduck said: Check your mobile phone provider. I have T-Mobile's home wifi and in their 5G UC network coverage area, so I average around 300mbps typically. Not gigabit speeds but more than enough for my household and only $50/month. Great if it works and that’s a good deal, I need the bigger bandwidth though. Xfinity still has a choke hold on my part of town for 1000+ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeotechDuck No. 15 Share Posted August 29 Another vote here for YouTube TV. The multi view is pretty cool too: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cartm25 No. 16 Share Posted August 30 On 8/29/2024 at 12:09 PM, Duckman60 said: We just changed to youtubetv and are very happy. I still have Xfinity internet and would like to move on from them totally, does anyone have a good suggestions? Paying $116 for 1000 mbps If your household only streams TV/Movies, then I would argue you don't need the full 1 Gig speed. That said, I fully appreciate that once you get used to a certain speed, it's hard to go backward. I have 300 mbps ($55) but I make sure to connect my Apple TV directly to the router via internet cord so I get the full, uninterrupted 300 mbps. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cartm25 No. 17 Share Posted August 30 On 8/29/2024 at 12:31 PM, Charles Fischer said: YouTube TV has unlimited cloud storage for shows and games, BUT, they are only saved for nine months! I'd be good with 1 month if the tradeoff was never having to watch a commercial again in my life!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven A Moderator No. 18 Share Posted August 30 On 8/28/2024 at 8:07 PM, Grandpa Duck said: (I am a retired, recovering lawyer) Great club to be a member of! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
1Funduck No. 19 Share Posted August 30 This isnt the first time Comcast has done this and I'm done. YoutubeTV is coming into my household. I didn't even give Comcast a chance to fix this by Saturday. Utter ridiculousness. Oh, and its over $100 cheaper per month after bundling with my phone service as well thank you. Wings anyone? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrJacksPlaidPants Moderator No. 20 Share Posted August 30 The same thing happened last year with Spectrum Cable refusing to broadcast ESPN. Of course, they went off the air just as the Utah/Florida game was about to start. Spectrum lost a ton of customers that weekend according to the lady who helped us cancel our cable service. We did keep their internet service. It’s fast and there aren’t many options in my neck of the woods. Also, it was ESPN who moved the goalposts and charged Spectrum huge rates to carry their channels. ESPN knew that the start of football season was the best time to Jack up their rates. The B1G is basically doing the same thing to Comcast. They’re telling the cable companies “Either pay our prices or your customers will find another way to watch our channels”. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Joseph Moderator No. 21 Share Posted August 30 An update that isn't much of an update. Two corporations playing chicken. I get the anger with Comcast but why did FOX wait so long to demand an increase in payment for games that were considered to be 'out of market' before FOX, in part, caused the Pac-12's demise? Oregon Ducks Fans Outraged at TV Networks for Big Ten Blackouts WWW.YARDBARKER.COM If you have Comcast/Xfinity, you may be blacked out from viewing the Oregon Ducks and multiple other Big Ten conference teams. The four West Coast schools to join the Big Ten this year:... All of this STUFF hastens the coming of a Super Conference. Why sell inventory to a 3rd party who in turn sells broadcast time to advertisers when a Super Conference could go the NFL network route with its own network, linear and streaming broadcasts, and direct sale of the product to advertisers and customers. Among the 24 to 42 (?) Super Conference teams, there would be no 'out-of-markets' games. Broadcast dates and times would be determined by the Network. Tony Petitti President of the B1G National League, Greg Sankey President of the SEC American League, Larry Sco, er NIck Saban, Commissioner. No NCAA. The Super Conference would govern itself with the agreement of Player representatives. I believe FOX and Disney will soon (early 2030s?) be hoist on their own petard. [This from a 'recovering lawyer,' LOL + thank you Gramps, who too often misses meetings and jumps off of the Use-By-Date Barrister's Wagon. ] 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duckman60 No. 22 Share Posted September 8 I found out something interesting, I cancelled my comcast cable but not my comcast wifi. Now Peacock comes with comcast and I found out I still get it because it is a streaming service and is associated with my wifi not cable. Sorry if this has already been mentioned. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDuck No. 23 Share Posted September 8 As Laugh-In's Arte Johnson German soldier character would say..."verrry interesting." Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
