Idaho_Sabre Posted July 28, 2010 Report Posted July 28, 2010 OK, I’ve got basic DISH network right now that does NOT have VS. or the NHL Network. A couple of times in the past I’ve just bought the Center Ice Season Ticket, which was nice… got to see a fair amount of Sabres games and Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday. And it was cool to have the Buffalo home broadcast to see local commercials and hear Rick Jeanneret. But one thing I hated about it was that come playoff time, it would only show the first two rounds and even then it wouldn’t show the games on VS, which of course were the best match-ups. Plus, it’s almost too much hockey; I wallow in it for a few weeks and then get burned out. So a cheaper option would be to get the next TV package up (on DISH or switch to Direct) that includes VS and the NHL Network. This would be plenty of games to watch without being overloaded. From what I can tell from the NHL Network site, they also have College Games and show Hockey Night in Canada each week. Is this true? Plus I’d get the other TV/Sat. Radio bennies of the package. The obvious downside would be not as many Sabres games. A third option, if it even is an option, is to ask if I can watch Sabres games on the Web? I’m investing in a new whiz-bang laptop soon (a MAC), and I wanted to know if there is a way to watch the Sabre’s games live, or even if you have to pay a bit. Anybody have any experience with this? Any out-of-major-market hockey/Sabres fans have any advice on this? If you only had VS/NHL Network, how many Sabres games did you usually see in a year? All comments appreciated, thanks!
Calvin Posted July 28, 2010 Report Posted July 28, 2010 option #3.. *cough cough* google 'online sports streaming' and see the second link that has P-2-P in it *cough cough*
bunomatic Posted July 28, 2010 Report Posted July 28, 2010 Atdhe.net or justin.tv are how I pick up games on the net but there are most likely better options. I just haven't found them yet. Waiting...waiting...
Idaho_Sabre Posted July 28, 2010 Author Report Posted July 28, 2010 OooooKayyyyyy… not quite reading between your lines Calvin. Maybe I’ve been out here in potato country a bit too long. Is there something else that I should know about this and any of those other sports live online sites??? Please type slowly, I’m in Idaho… And if it means anything... it'll be a MAC I'm buying.
Eleven Posted July 28, 2010 Report Posted July 28, 2010 Idaho, in my experience, the NHL is the last of the leagues to figure out that the games are streaming on the first site that bunomatic mentioned, but that could change in an instant. Try it anyway when October comes around. (And bunomatic, that's what PMs are for, my friend; let's not advertise!) And I'm not certain, but I thought that the NHL offered an online-watching package kind of like what baseball does, but less boring, because it's hockey and not baseball. If none of those work, maybe you're in range of a local sports bar? And if even that doesn't work, well, you can do what I did in the late 90s when I didn't live in Buffalo and technology still was young: you can listen online. If worse comes to worst, do you have a friend or family member in Buffalo? If so, a slingbox is about $130, and there is not a monthly fee. Install it at your friend's / family member's house, and watch all the Buffalo TV you want (not just the Sabs).
jpgr909 Posted July 28, 2010 Report Posted July 28, 2010 I'm in your situation, only worse. I currently live in a time zone that makes it impossible to watch a weekday east coast game live. So for some in my position, the NHL package may not be the wisest investment (unless you're into taping live sports--BLECH!). But still, I've had Center Ice for many years now. For you, though, one complaint was that it was too much hockey. Personally, along with the NFL, it's the greatest spectator sport out there, so I can't relate to that. But regardless, I'd rather have too much hockey available to me than too little. I can always just turn the channel, but what if there's a truly spectacular game on, say a "revenge" game between the Sharks and Ducks where in the previous game Saku Koivu threw a wicked elbow at Joe Thornton but connected with his groin and afterward the Sharks' newly acquired Drew Stafford vowed to take Koivu out with a skate blade to the knee? Would you want to risk missing that? I wouldn't. Go for Center Ice! That said, the NHL Network does carry HNIC on Saturdays and they do have several college games. I wish they had more, particularly the Beanpot, but it's better than nothing.
billsrcursed Posted July 28, 2010 Report Posted July 28, 2010 Idaho, in my experience, the NHL is the last of the leagues to figure out that the games are streaming on the first site that bunomatic mentioned, but that could change in an instant. Try it anyway when October comes around. (And bunomatic, that's what PMs are for, my friend; let's not advertise!) And I'm not certain, but I thought that the NHL offered an online-watching package kind of like what baseball does, but less boring, because it's hockey and not baseball. If none of those work, maybe you're in range of a local sports bar? And if even that doesn't work, well, you can do what I did in the late 90s when I didn't live in Buffalo and technology still was young: you can listen online. If worse comes to worst, do you have a friend or family member in Buffalo? If so, a slingbox is about $130, and there is not a monthly fee. Install it at your friend's / family member's house, and watch all the Buffalo TV you want (not just the Sabs). C.I. for online viewing is a current option. It's pretty interactive and is "easy on the eyes".
MattPie Posted July 28, 2010 Report Posted July 28, 2010 OooooKayyyyyy… not quite reading between your lines Calvin. Maybe I’ve been out here in potato country a bit too long. Is there something else that I should know about this and any of those other sports live online sites??? Please type slowly, I’m in Idaho… And if it means anything... it'll be a MAC I'm buying. The sites mentioned above are of pretty questionable legality. Actually, it's probably not all that questionable. But, it's doubtful the NHL is going to go after the viewer, so you're *SOMEWHAT* OK. (I'm not a lawyer like a lot of the people here, so don't take my word for it) Other places to look: Yahoo Sports and VS used to stream a few games a week on their web sites, and I watched probalbly 5-10 that way. I haven't looked in the last two years since I've been a CI TV subscriber. The Slingbox is a good idea if you have a local contact. I used one when I was in England to watch some of the Buffalo-Ottawa series (the bad one). The time zone issue was difficult though, the game started at 1AM or something.
Stoner Posted July 28, 2010 Report Posted July 28, 2010 The sites mentioned above are of pretty questionable legality. Actually, it's probably not all that questionable. But, it's doubtful the NHL is going to go after the viewer, so you're *SOMEWHAT* OK. (I'm not a lawyer like a lot of the people here, so don't take my word for it) Other places to look: Yahoo Sports and VS used to stream a few games a week on their web sites, and I watched probalbly 5-10 that way. I haven't looked in the last two years since I've been a CI TV subscriber. The Slingbox is a good idea if you have a local contact. I used one when I was in England to watch some of the Buffalo-Ottawa series (the bad one). The time zone issue was difficult though, the game started at 1AM or something. OK, when did we decide there were a bunch of lawyers on here? I'm not sure I want to be seen hanging around this kind of crowd.
Eleven Posted July 28, 2010 Report Posted July 28, 2010 OK, when did we decide there were a bunch of lawyers on here? I'm not sure I want to be seen hanging around this kind of crowd. I only know of two. As of this time yesterday, I only knew of one.
thesportsbuff Posted July 28, 2010 Report Posted July 28, 2010 Don't resort to free online streams -- they are terrible quality and not worth watching. I think your best bet would be subscribing to NHL Center Ice on NHL.com -- I did that last year (even though I'm in the area and can watch Sabres games on TV) and as long as you have a pretty good internet connection, you can watch any game in almost HD-quality (it is HD quality, but because of the limits of internet and bandwith I wouldn't say it's quite the same, but very close). I have a MacBook Pro (assuming that's what you're getting) and when you full screen it, it's just like watching it on a slightly smaller LED TV. There's also options (mini-DVI-to-HDMI cord) that allow you to put your MacBook's screen on a TV -- the only downside is that DVI doesn't carry audio, so you would have to listen through your macbook speakers. I don't remember exactly how much it costs, I think it was $20 a month or you could get the full season for ~$120-$150. If I recall there was also a free trial available at the beginning of the year, which I used to make sure the picture quality was up to my standards. Local area games are still subject to blackout, but if you're watching the Sabres it won't be an issue.
Stoner Posted July 28, 2010 Report Posted July 28, 2010 I only know of two. As of this time yesterday, I only knew of one. Make it three! I'm one too. I mean, why not, it's the Internet. If chz can be a tight little blonde, what's stopping me. Who told you to put the balm on?
Eleven Posted July 28, 2010 Report Posted July 28, 2010 Make it three! I'm one too. I mean, why not, it's the Internet. If chz can be a tight little blonde, what's stopping me. Who told you to put the balm on? Do you know what a balm is? Have you ever seen a balm?
RayFinkle Posted July 28, 2010 Report Posted July 28, 2010 If you have family or friends in WNY, buy yourself a slingbox. I live in NC and haven't missed a Bills or Sabres game in 3 years. One time investment of about $150. Best invention ever, I can even watch it on my iphone...
Stoner Posted July 28, 2010 Report Posted July 28, 2010 Do you know what a balm is? Have you ever seen a balm? Balms are unpredictable! (I love watching "Curb" for the echoes of Seinfeld. When Richard Lewis' cousin in a coma, Larry points out how "comas are unpredictable.")
ntjacks79 Posted July 28, 2010 Report Posted July 28, 2010 OK, I’ve got basic DISH network right now that does NOT have VS. or the NHL Network. A couple of times in the past I’ve just bought the Center Ice Season Ticket, which was nice… got to see a fair amount of Sabres games and Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday. And it was cool to have the Buffalo home broadcast to see local commercials and hear Rick Jeanneret. But one thing I hated about it was that come playoff time, it would only show the first two rounds and even then it wouldn’t show the games on VS, which of course were the best match-ups. Plus, it’s almost too much hockey; I wallow in it for a few weeks and then get burned out. So a cheaper option would be to get the next TV package up (on DISH or switch to Direct) that includes VS and the NHL Network. This would be plenty of games to watch without being overloaded. From what I can tell from the NHL Network site, they also have College Games and show Hockey Night in Canada each week. Is this true? Plus I’d get the other TV/Sat. Radio bennies of the package. The obvious downside would be not as many Sabres games. A third option, if it even is an option, is to ask if I can watch Sabres games on the Web? I’m investing in a new whiz-bang laptop soon (a MAC), and I wanted to know if there is a way to watch the Sabre’s games live, or even if you have to pay a bit. Anybody have any experience with this? Any out-of-major-market hockey/Sabres fans have any advice on this? If you only had VS/NHL Network, how many Sabres games did you usually see in a year? All comments appreciated, thanks! I feel your pain, but I'm not sure I'm seeing why you just don't go with DirecTV? If you have an HD TV, and you need access to out-of-market sports, there really isn't a better option. Not perfect, but far better than alternatives... in picture quality, channel options, and sports programming.
wjag Posted July 28, 2010 Report Posted July 28, 2010 OK, when did we decide there were a bunch of lawyers on here? I'm not sure I want to be seen hanging around this kind of crowd. Exactly what did you think we did? Of course we're all lawyers.
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