Bobcats TV Viewership- This is bad

[Proudiddy]

The Tv issue is a sore spot with me, because it shows the detachment the front office has from the actual fanbase. The whole "call your provider" thing really works my last nerve. Only time I was able to watch us consistently was our first two years when we were idiotically on News 14. Then the on-campus UNC cable system switched over to DirecTV. I went without them from then until this year and finally, with the help of Steve Martin, I was finally able to see the games on Fox Sports 647-1 and 650-1 on DirecTV... BUT, then the night of the Pacers game before the all-star break, I got hit with the blackout message again on each channel (I now live in the Raleigh metro area - Clayton). I had been getting all the games prior, and now back to square one.

Until the Cats decide to reach out to fans and show they care, then casual fans won't care either. They're putting too much work on the fans to connect with them.

When I was growing up in Fayetteville we got the Hornets game on a completely rinky-dink, non-affilated channel that was the only local channel in Fayetteville. ALL OF THEM. We got stuff like "LJ'S Cookies" in local Harris-Teeters... All that. The Bobcats have never, in their entire existence, reached out to fans statewide like that. That is what is missing.

And now that everyone suspects that the name change is coming, I think it gives people pause before buying anymore Cats merchandise. I almost bought a HOT fitted in neon orange from Lids, but I didn't because of the likelihood of their change and because it was Adidas brand. Regardless, unless they reach out to the state and on a larger level regionally, they are not going to improve anything simply with a name change. Their product has to be available to fans statewide and it's up to them to fix it.

[adam187]

everyone should just move out of north carolina so they can watch the bobcats games on league pass.

[JefDav84]

I bet N. Myrtle Beach is not pleased with this release. They were probably wondering why the tourism numbers have not picked up even after releasing a commercial. Nobody is watching to see it!

[Jerp]

I had games on TV the past couple years when I lived in concord, we had Time Warner then. Moved to Hickory area got Charter and they refuse to carry it.

[spectre]

PD it's NOT the Bobcats' fault. The blackout radii are determined by the NBA as well as the extra cost to the providers for showing the games outside those radii. Pretty much all the Bobcats can do is beg the providers to show them at the higher premium (unless you can think of any incentives?). From my own personal situation I know they've been out there begging.

[Proudiddy]

PD it's NOT the Bobcats' fault. The blackout radii are determined by the NBA as well as the extra cost to the providers for showing the games outside those radii. Pretty much all the Bobcats can do is beg the providers to show them at the higher premium (unless you can think of any incentives?). From my own personal situation I know they've been out there begging.

Well, I have heard this before but the thing that sticks with me was again, how I was able to see the Hornets games when we had them on a non-affiliated local station in Fayetteville as a kid. Did they have the same blackout radius then? Even so, I don't know of any other franchise that has had this many problems in getting their games out to their fans statewide. If it's about money, then yes, it is the Bobcats' fault in my opinion, which is why they always defer to us to "call your service provider."

You are more informed on the subject than myself, but that just seems like a pretty simple solution that they won't touch.

It's weird b/c like I said, I got the blackout message earlier in the preseason and Steve Martin was responding to fans on twitter and gathering zip codes to give to FoxSports. He kept working it and finally we got the games and he said it was a "technical issue" almost like an oversight, as to why we hadn't gotten them earlier. So you're telling me I wasn't able to watch the games for how many years, simply because no one cared enough to look? That is what I'm talking about as far as the actual front office goes. Our play by play man did much more for us than any PR guy or Bobcats rep I ever contacted about the issue before. And if it was about the blackout radius, they shouldn't have been able to just suddenly give us the games on these channels if it was against league rules.

Then again, if it required them to pay a premium to show them and they saw they weren't getting much viewership out of it then that may be why we've lost them again mid-season. It's ridiculous.

[Chef]

Well, I have heard this before but the thing that sicks with me was again, how I was able to see the Hornets games when we had them on a non-affiliated local station in Fayetteville as a kid. Did they have the same blackout radius then? Even so, I don't know of any other franchise that has had this many problems in getting their games out to their fans statewide. If it's about money, then yes, it is the Bobcats' fault in my opinion, which is why they always defer to us to "call your service provider."

You are more informed on the subject then myself, but that just seems like a pretty simple solution that they won't touch.

It's weird b/c like I said, I got the blackout message earlier in the preseason and Steve Martin was responding to fans on twitter and gathering zip codes to give to FoxSports. He kept working it and finally we got the games and he said it was a "technical issue" almost like an oversight, as to why we hadn't gotten them earlier. So you're telling me I wasn't able to watch the games for how many years, simply because no one cared enough to look? That is what I'm talking about as far as the actual front office goes. Our play by play man did much more for us than any PR guy or Bobcats rep I ever contacted about the issue before. And if it was about the blackout radius, they shouldn't have been able to just suddenly give us the games on these channels if it was against league rules.

Then again, if it required them to pay a premium to show them and they saw they weren't getting much viewership out of it then that may be why we've lost them again mid-season. It's ridiculous.

i called direct tv both wed and last night. they basically quit paying the coverage fee. i tweeted steve martin last night during the game. he responded, during the game! said he would look into it again. fingers crossed.

[Proudiddy]

i called direct tv both wed and last night. they basically quit paying the coverage fee. i tweeted steve martin last night during the game. he responded, during the game! said he would look into it again. fingers crossed.

"They" as in the Bobcats?

[Mustachio]

All that may be true but, I they used the same flawed system for all teams.

I agree for those that can switch to Directv- I highly recommend it.

They do use them for all teams... it just means that all the numbers and that entire article are useless.

I didn't need those completely ridiculous and arbitrary numbers from Nielsens to tell you that people arent watching the Bobcats. The team won 7 games last year... meanwhile OKC went on a deep playoff team with some unbelievable talent in a market that lacks any thing else AT ALL to watch. Who here has sat through a complete game of the Bobcats when they are getting blown out by 30... of course you're gonna flip a bit. And that totally negates your "viewership".

I'm just saying that there are people out there watching the Bobcats so theres no need to freak when this "system" chooses to not count them. There are at least 3 very active message boards out there, a few blogs and my twitter stays plenty busy during games. People are watching. Are there a lot of people watching? Not now, but we aren't exactly putting a good product on tv either right now. If we were a 50 win team with decent games and nobody was watching, it would be a big deal.

[Chef]

"They" as in the Bobcats?

no, they as in direct tv. so the viewing contract is this:

home market = inner and outer

for the cats:
inner = 75 mile radius around charlotte
outer = north and south carolina outside 75 miles

all carriers who show ANY nba ie espn, tnt etc must pay coverage fee to all INNER market homes.

carriers have the choice to pay to show to the OUTER markets.

the bullshit thing is the team has taken the stance that is on US to get the provider to show the games. the providers then placate us (meaning there is no way in hell they are paying for the few fans who want it) by tell us to let the cats know about it.

until now, the cats didn't do a damn thing. steve martin has changed this. hopefully he comes through again.