84 replies to this topic

[SmokyJoe]

I hear that there will be even more Fox Saturday blackouts this summer. I believe we can put an end to them if we band together. If we wait for the FCC to do something it may never happen. What we need to do is watch the first baseball games that Fox broadcasts this year and make a list of the advertisers during those games. If we write thousands of letters to Fox's advertisers and tell them that we are organizing national boycotts of their products because they support Fox's unfair blackouts, by advertising with Fox, they will listen and put pressure on Fox to end them. We could even make lists of Fox advertisers for all of their programming, not just sports. It would take thousands of letter and emails, but there are tens of thousands of us. We need baseball fans that have some time to help organize. I'm very busy and don't have a lot of time to organize but I can help. We could reach thousands of fans very quickly using this site and other fan sites and social media. Who is with me?

[teddywingman]

I'll help with the advert. list. The Saturday blackouts have been pissing me off for years.

[absintheofmalaise]

Me too. I'd recommend going here and using their free petitions app. Once you get it going we'll make sure all of the baseball boards in our vast network know about it. There are some people who work for some of the big baseball sites that would help get the word out too. This should go viral quickly. I'm really excited about this.

[SmokyJoe]

Here's an idea. After we generate a list of advertisers, we gather up a bunch of the advertisers' products and hold public bonfires all over the country. We invite the press (newspapers, TV, radio) to watch baseball fans burn the Fox advertisers' goods, in protest to blackouts that don't serve any real purpose. Like I'm going to watch two teams on Saturday that I don't care about.

[teddywingman]

Here's an idea. After we generate a list of advertisers, we gather up a bunch of the advertisers' products and hold public bonfires all over the country. We invite the press (newspapers, TV, radio)

I'll be the longhair with boxes of 87 topps!

But I'm way more riled up about this than kids in Congo.

[AlNipper49]

I'll be the longhair with boxes of 87 topps!

But I'm way more riled up about this than kids in Congo.

Then let's take this to the big time... To our Facebook walls we go !!!!!

[Van Everyman]

Can we use this model to protest DirecTV's monopoly on the NFL Sunday Ticket internet package while we're at it?

[backpeddling]

Getting a hashtag trending on Twitter during every Saturday broadcast would be a good strategy. #StopMLBblackouts or some such idea. Also we need to take the list of advertisers and collate their Twitter handles so you can direct mention them in conjunction with the hashtag.

[Lose Remerswaal]

How about holding our breath? Does that still help? Cuz I'm up to 4 minutes 20 seconds, and I'm pretty sure I can get it to 5 minutes if we think it can help.

[InstantKarmma]

Then let's take this to the big time... To our Facebook walls we go !!!!!

Joseph Kony supports the Fox blackouts.

[absintheofmalaise]

Gentlemen, I think we have the beginnings of a MOVEMENT here. I for one, am proud to be on the ground floor of this.

FIGHT THE POWER!!

Smoky Joe, you're in charge of generating the advertisers list. Once you have it compiled, post it here so we can plan our next step.

[E5 Yaz]

Gentlemen, I think we have the beginnings of a MOVEMENT here.

I know I do. Back in 15

[Rocco Graziosa]

Can we use this model to protest DirecTV's monopoly on the NFL Sunday Ticket internet package while we're at it?

Not sure why you would call it a monopoly. They paid MASSIVE ammounts of money for the exclusive rights. Same with ESPN which people have to pay to watch.

[johnmd20]

Not sure why you would call it a monopoly. They paid MASSIVE ammounts of money for the exclusive rights. Same with ESPN which people have to pay to watch.

It is a monopoly. It is only available through one cable company. ESPN is available through every cable company.

[Reverend]

It is a monopoly. It is only available through one cable company. ESPN is available through every cable company.

I've been thinking for awhile that there should be some leverage here against the league. I mean, the league works because they have an anti-trust exemption that is granted to them because we want one elite league so we get the highest level of play.

It in no way follows that they must be allowed to transfer that monopoly to exclusive rights; insofar as their monopoly is dependent upon legislation, it seems like there could be conditions written into that legislative grant.

[Reverend]

Also, this idea to start a movement is built of awesome.

[Rocco Graziosa]

It is a monopoly. It is only available through one cable company. ESPN is available through every cable company.

But anyone can get dirctv. I dunno, I just don't see how its possibly illegal to sell exclusive rights to ALL your games to one provider. NFL fans still can watch games on ESPN, CBS, NFL network and NBC. If you want ALL the games you need to buy directv. Seems fair/legal to me.

[Reverend]

But anyone can get dirctv. I dunno, I just don't see how its possibly illegal to sell exclusive rights to ALL your games to one provider. NFL fans still can watch games on ESPN, CBS, NFL network and NBC. If you want ALL the games you need to buy directv. Seems fair/legal to me.

To clarify: the NFL can only negotiate those exclusive rights because of the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 that gave them an anti-trust exemption in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision declaring their approach to negotiations an anti-trust violation.

It is legal because it was legislated as such. But it is unequivocally a monopoly allowed by the representatives of the people of the United States--and it is worth noting that that without anti-trust exemptions, the NFL would not be nearly as lucrative as it currently is. As such, it seems entirely reasonable to me that some of the difference of that lucrativeness could be split with the fans now that that the NFL is makes so much more money than when the laws were put in place to make that money possible.

[Spelunker]

And, for argument's sake, not everyone can get DirectTV.

[teddywingman]

What pisses me off most about the Saturday blackouts is that I have directv, and I've ponied up $200 something dollars for the Extra Innings package so I can watch ALL the games.... but NOOOOO. Only Fox can show baseball on Saturday.

If this campaign fails I may just take a hostage.

[InsideTheParker]

What pisses me off most about the Saturday blackouts is that I have directv, and I've ponied up $200 something dollars for the Extra Innings package so I can watch ALL the games.... but NOOOOO. Only Fox can show baseball on Saturday.

If this campaign fails I may just take a hostage.

Select your hostage carefully. McCarver will be thrilled to entertain you hour after hour with this:

[Reverend]

Select your hostage carefully. McCarver will be thrilled to entertain you hour after hour with this:

What's the opposite of Stockholm Syndrome?

[Laser Show]

So much awesome potential here. I'm in.

[teddywingman]

Select your hostage carefully. McCarver will be thrilled to entertain you hour after hour with this:

McCarver? I'm not that dumb.
Part of taking a hostage is to select someone that people wish no harm upon, correct?

[soxhop411]

McCarver? I'm not that dumb.
Part of taking a hostage is to select someone that people wish no harm upon, correct?

Vin scully? I am making my own petition to have him call a WS before he retires... BEST announcer in history of sports

[teddywingman]

Only a philistine would want Vin Scully to have a bad day.

[Hyde Park Factor]

McCarver? I'm not that dumb.
Part of taking a hostage is to select someone that people wish no harm upon, correct?

Or that they want back for some reason.

Lovin' this. I'm in.

[Dehere]

The blackouts exist because In Demand is not capable of blacking out the game being shown on the local Fox affiliate.

If you're a Sunday Ticket subscriber maybe you've noticed that whatever games are airing on Fox and CBS in your market are not available to you via Sunday Ticket. The out-of-market carrier is obligated to protect the local broadcaster. DirecTV is able to blackout the locally broadcast game. In Demand can't. MLB is not willing to amend the policy for one but not the other, and so here we are.

[teddywingman]

who killed this thread?

[pedro1918]

Seriously. I just came in here looking for a progress report. I assume FOX is on their knees, begging for us to come back.

Either that or Lose has completely passed out by now.

[Van Everyman]

The blackouts exist because In Demand is not capable of blacking out the game being shown on the local Fox affiliate.

If you're a Sunday Ticket subscriber maybe you've noticed that whatever games are airing on Fox and CBS in your market are not available to you via Sunday Ticket. The out-of-market carrier is obligated to protect the local broadcaster. DirecTV is able to blackout the locally broadcast game. In Demand can't. MLB is not willing to amend the policy for one but not the other, and so here we are.

I can't tell if this post is about football, baseball or both. I have Extra Innings on Comcast in DC and Nats/O's games are always blacked out on it.

[kenneycb]

who killed this thread?

The Apathy Monster

[absintheofmalaise]

SmokyJoe is gathering a list of the Fox sponsors so we can buy their products and then have a bonfire.

[SmokyJoe]

The first Fox Saturday game is April 7. I don't believe they will broadcast any spring training games. I'll be ready with my note pad for the first game.

[absintheofmalaise]

The first Fox Saturday game is April 7. I don't believe they will broadcast any spring training games. I'll be ready with my note pad for the first game.

We would prefer it is you would put it in a spreadsheet which will include not just the individual companies but also the number and length of times their ads are shown. Those you can put in a graph.

[SydneySox]

Also, colour coding. Without colour coding no one will take us seriously.

[teddywingman]

Between this here movement and a new season of Finding Bigfoot, this may become the best year of my life.

[E5 Yaz]

There's an epidemic of Tide detergent being stolen from stores. If Tide sponsors FOX Saturday baseball, we might have our first hint of an offshoot insurgency.

Color coded orange, of course

[SmokyJoe]

I have my DVR set to tape the Royals @ Angels on Saturday. It would be helpful if other folks made lists of advertisers from the other Fox games in their areas. Let's focus on the national advertisers. The local advertisers maybe later.

[Laser Show]

Unless something comes up, I should be able to watch the Sox game on Fox. I'll do what I can for advertisements.

[Reverend]

This is intolerable.

[axx]

This is intolerable.

I know, Buck and McCarver are unlistenable.

[Reverend]

I know, Buck and McCarver are unlistenable.

Literally.

[Snodgrass'Muff]

Central Connecticut on Cox Communications on 4/7/12: Red Sox vs Tigers

I'm not listing repeats

ESPN Radio
Power Home Remodeling Group
Smilow Cancer Center at Yale New Haven Hospital
Xfinity
Dodge (Journey)
Taco Bell (for Doritos Tacos)
Lowes
Touch (the show)
Ford (F-150)
Scotts (snap fertilizer system)
Direct TV
USAA (Auto Insurance)
Viagra (for penises)
Lexus (CT Hybrid)
One a Day Men's Pro Edge
MLB Network
Battleship (movie)
Geico
Gillette (Fusion pro-glide styler)
Burger King
Chevy
Dow (Solutions)
USPS
Prudential (retirement)
Budweiser
Mazda CX-5
Scotts (tough builder lawn food)
Just for Men (autostop)
Chevy (Camero)
UFC on Fox
Sketchers
Fox (local network facebook page via A1-Toyota)
Fox local news
Butler Power Equipment/Husqvarna
EdwardJones
1&1.com
Pennington (the grass seed people)
American Ladders and Scaffolds
Roundup
Prudential
Lexus IS
E*Trade
NASCAR on Fox
Bayer
Chevy (Malibu Eco)

[JimBoSox9]

I call bullshit. There's not a single FOX primetime show on that list. I know how they roll.

[SmokyJoe]

Can someone dig out snail mail addresses for these advertisers? Written letters get more attention. Emails will also work.


Spread the word. Post to other boards. If we can get this to go viral we can stop the Fox blackouts. The only leverage we have is our collective buying or boycotting power. We don't have any influence with MLB, but we can affect the Fox advertisers' bottom line. It's time to stop complaining about the blackouts and instead put some time and energy into boycotting Fox advertisers and their products. By advertising during Saturday Fox games these advertisers are supporting the Fox blackouts, against the best interests of millions of baseball fans everywhere.

Fox blackout game advertisers, Saturday April 7, 2012, Royals @ Angels:

Taco Bell. tacobell.com
DirecTV. directv.com
Just for Men AutoStop. justformen.com
Just for Men Mustache & Beard. justformen.com
1&1 My Website (1and1.com)
Budweiser. budweiser.com
Chevy. chevybaseball.com
Chevy Cruze LS. chevrolet.com
Prudential. prudential.com
Lowe’s. lowes.com
Gillette Fusion ProGlide. gillette.com
Mazda CX-5. mazdaUSA,com
One A Day vitamins VitaCraves. oneaday.com
One A Day vitamins Men’s Pro Edge. oneaday.com
RoundUp weed & grass killer. roundup.com
StubHub. stubhub.com
Dow chemical. dow.com
Lexus (cars). lexus.com
usps.com (postal service)
Ford F-150. ford.com
Ford Taurus. ford.com
Dodge Journey. dodge.com
Fox “Touch.” fox.com
Fox Monday. fox.com
Fox Tuesday. fox.com
New Girl. fox.com
Scotts Snap lawn fertilizer. scotts.com
Scotts Turf Builder lawn food. scotts.com
USAA insurance. usaa.com
Viagra. viagra.com
MLB Network. mlbnetwork.com
Battleship (the movie). battleshipmovie.com
Geico. geico.com
Burger King. bk.com
ArmorAll. armorall.com
Bayer aspirin. bayerus.com
mlb.com
Jeep. jeep.com
EdwardJones. edwardjones.com
ETrade. etrade.com

[Lose Remerswaal]

You should start an online petition!

[Laser Show]

You should start an online petition!

Yes this. The sooner this gets viral the better.

[PortageeExpress]

SmokyJoe - my problem is that there are a few of those products (budweiser, taco bell, etc.) that I'd prefer to not give up. Do you think a sternly worded letter to those companies would help the cause if I continued to purchase their products? If it would help, I could buy their stuff with cash, so it couldn't be associated with me. Let me know.

Keep up the good work! (and put up the online petition!)

[NortheasternPJ]

I work for one of those companies. I may start bringing this up soon in a meeting. Grassroots.