isn't NBA league pass just great?...

[Slomo]

The truth is, the NBA's protecting the value of their TV contracts. Simple as that.

Follow me here. First, the NBA and its teams sell international, national, and local TV rights. They get big, big bucks from that. Then, they sell NBATV and NBALP on cable/satellite for much smaller bucks, so they don't want it to impact the big bucks they get from TV rights. So, they black out anything that would possibly compete with local or national broadcasts.

Then, they decide to add broadband Internet streaming of games to get even more $ from people. Oooh, wait a minute, they say. How do we do blackouts over the Internet? We have to know where subscribers are, so we can black them out selectively. How do we do that? Use some fancy IP-address-mapper thing? Come on, that can be spoofed. Hey, let's tie it to NBALP, and require that you have a valid cable or satellite subscription with a "verified" address/zipcode BEFORE you get access to broadband games! Yeah, that's the ticket.

See how it works?

Well I do, but you on the other hand don't have a clue.

First we are talking about non US markets where your so called national coverage is non existent. So the black out is not an issue.

If you wanted to limit streaming to certain countries, it's the easiest thing to do (oh and btw spoofing IPs - not easy at all specially if you want the bandwidth needed for a webcast).

You take the credit card billing address as the base for approval and yes IP numbers are territorial, so you just authorize certain classes and block others. The system wouldn't be fair to a minority (as opposed to the majority now) of viewers and there's the potential for someone to re-broadcast the stream. The solution is again very simple: Don't limit it, and just sell it to whoever wants to pay for it.

As for the few countries where TV coverage is available two things are a factor: Nobody outside the US has the option to chose which game they're going to watch, so even in the countries with the local commercial coverage there's a legitimate market and second nobody who has TV coverage will chose a lower quality web cast, when for roughly the same money they could watch it in comfort on their big ass TVs.

[YoMamaIsCallin]

Well I do, but you on the other hand don't have a clue.

First we are talking about non US markets where your so called national coverage is non existent. So the black out is not an issue.

no, there are games that are broadcast internationally on satellite nets such as ESPN.

If you wanted to limit streaming to certain countries, it's the easiest thing to do (oh and btw spoofing IPs - not easy at all specially if you want the bandwidth needed for a webcast).

You take the credit card billing address as the base for approval and yes IP numbers are territorial, so you just authorize certain classes and block others.

Yeah I agree they could go that way but I suspect they just haven't worked through all the negotiations and set up everything they way they want and gotten everyone to sign off on it. For all I know they may be working deals to get Rockets games broadcast in China and Spurs games broadcast in Argentina, that would certainly put international Internet streaming discussions on hold.

I also think they are worried about opening up naked broadband subscriptions, just verified by a credit card, either international or national.

On the other hand, Major League Baseball has done exactly this. You can sign up for a $15/month subscription to get all games streamed to your PC, and they do enforce blackouts by region. So, maybe, the NBA can get a clue from this.

The system wouldn't be fair to a minority (as opposed to the majority now) of viewers and there's the potential for someone to re-broadcast the stream. The solution is again very simple: Don't limit it, and just sell it to whoever wants to pay for it.

You are making the mistake of thinking rationally! I hope this does come to pass over time. Not this year though.

As for the few countries where TV coverage is available two things are a factor: Nobody outside the US has the option to chose which game they're going to watch, so even in the countries with the local commercial coverage there's a legitimate market and second nobody who has TV coverage will chose a lower quality web cast, when for roughly the same money they could watch it in comfort on their big ass TVs.

Yes, but I get the feeling they are fearing losing control of the webcasts.

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

Didn't the NFL just start an internet service for overseas customers? I wonder what that's been like so far for int'l customers as far as intellectual property and profits.

[Slomo]

no, there are games that are broadcast internationally on satellite nets such as ESPN.

If my info is correct we are talking about a game a few times a week (sometime as little as once a week) in a few markets. Beside those you have countries like France, the UK, Italy and I believe Spain where NBA TV is available and they are showing one game a night.

Yeah I agree they could go that way but I suspect they just haven't worked through all the negotiations and set up everything they way they want and gotten everyone to sign off on it. For all I know they may be working deals to get Rockets games broadcast in China and Spurs games broadcast in Argentina, that would certainly put international Internet streaming discussions on hold.

I also think they are worried about opening up naked broadband subscriptions, just verified by a credit card, either international or national.

Technically it's not an issue, I get the feeling it's just not high enough on their priority list.

On the other hand, Major League Baseball has done exactly this. You can sign up for a $15/month subscription to get all games streamed to your PC, and they do enforce blackouts by region. So, maybe, the NBA can get a clue from this.

So does the NFL. And the Euroleague for at least the final 4 and FIBA for the WC. You have to realize that pirate sites are already offering NBA games on the net at ridiculously low quality and without any kind of guarantees and quality of service considerations. They are successful and making a fortune only because there isn't a legal alternative - actually any alternative. The only way to stop piracy is to offer a compe ive product at a compe ive price (more expensive and better quality will work).

You are making the mistake of thinking rationally! I hope this does come to pass over time. Not this year though.

You have a point, but I'm a fan that stays up late for games that usually start at 2 am and all I have are scoreboards - this forum is the only thing keeping me sane (the game blogs at least give me a glimpse into what is happening). So I do get emotional on the issue .

Yes, but I get the feeling they are fearing losing control of the webcasts.

Fear is irrational, hire some specialist and do it! (or take the NFL commissioner to dinner and ask him how they did it - I mean he can't eat that much!) And if live streams are such a delicate subjects, why not make recording on google video available to international fans? What's the rational there? Please bear in mind that the NBA isn't even making non US (NTSC) DVDs or sell those outside the US (except through the web) so what are they afraid of there? Screwing up all the pirates that offer torrents of the games?

Anyway some of your concerns are probably in order, but I have been listening about the internationalization of the NBA from Stern for years now, and have yet to see some real results. Somebody need to explain to Stern that there's a lot more countries out there.

[Slomo]

Didn't the NFL just start an internet service for overseas customers? I wonder what that's been like so far for int'l customers as far as intellectual property and profits.

I believe they started it last season. It works just fine, watched some games and it's not like TV but it's a of a lot more than what we get from the NBA.

[Man In Black]

So I need to ask a question, because I have league pass and all that in California and I am going to Australia for a few days, does that mean that since I should be authenticated, that I do get to watch the Spurs from the Sydney Mercure Hotel on Broadband?

[Slomo]

So I need to ask a question, because I have league pass and all that in California and I am going to Australia for a few days, does that mean that since I should be authenticated, that I do get to watch the Spurs from the Sydney Mercure Hotel on Broadband?

That's a good question. You should be able to. I don't think they'll filter it out if it's a temporary occurence (IP from foreign country). I would imagine it would just raise a red flag and they would follow it if it persists for a longer period.

In any case let us know!

I'm curious about it.

[ShoogarBear]

I'm curious, too. Maybe I get make some extra cash from a certain desperate Slovenian.

(Note to NBA monitors: just joking!)

[BeerIsGood!]

If people outside the US want to watch NBA league pass and they know someone in the US that has it - they should get a slingbox and have that person install it for them. That would be the absolute best way to do it provided you have someone stateside willing to have the slingbox set up.

Offer to split the cost of LP or something.

[YoMamaIsCallin]

So I need to ask a question, because I have league pass and all that in California and I am going to Australia for a few days, does that mean that since I should be authenticated, that I do get to watch the Spurs from the Sydney Mercure Hotel on Broadband?

I would think yes because they advertise the broadband service as being the way to keep up with games when you are traveling.

Why don't you call them and ask, and share the results here?

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

yomama - on the selling rights overseas issue, I bet in most countries they make peanuts from that. I know that in Australia they used to sell a game a week to FTA TV, but even that got too expensive, so now the only NBA in Australia is 2 games a week (I think) on cable. If they allowed webcast league pass on a delay, they'd make sooooo much more money.

As for losing power over their IP, really, who are they kidding? Except for exceptional games in the playoffs that are special to fans, you don't really re-watch basketball. I mean, you wouldn't copy heaps of games from the regular season and then re-watch them or re-broadcast them, it's a very immediate service - most times you watch a game, then move onto the next. I don't see their issue here.

If people outside the US want to watch NBA league pass and they know someone in the US that has it - they should get a slingbox and have that person install it for them. That would be the absolute best way to do it provided you have someone stateside willing to have the slingbox set up.

Offer to split the cost of LP or something.

That's all good and well except the time differential which makes it rather difficult. A good system for the playoffs though.

Someone ought to send a link to this thread to NBA marketing and get a reply from them.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Oh, and I'd say Man In Black is NOT going to be able to watch those games because the IP address of his host will be in Australia and that means he'll be banned. When you in Sydney MIB, and whatcha doing?

Man, when they announced NBA Google video I was so exstatic, then after repeated disallowed attempts to buy games, I felt like... I'll keep my thought about what i wanted to do to the NBA marketing dept to myself, but it was nasty I can tell you!

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

Ruffn......

At least you get to watch some spurs games on ESPn or Fox Sports in Australia I didnt get to see more than one Nuggets game last season

Spurs vs Mavs is on Fox Sports and Spurs vs Cavs is on ESPN. Do you have cable ?

[dougp]

Why not download the games off of Google Video?

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Nuggets - I don't have cable, and because NBA and then Australian NBL basketball disappeared from TV, now there aren't many places (bars, etc) that will even switch it on for you.

enigma - Google video is only available in the US, that's the bleeding point! Grrrrr...

[MaNuMaNiAc]

Why not download the games off of Google Video?

why not read the entire thread before posting?

[SequSpur]

If you can't watch something on your TV then blame your got damn government, not the NBA.

.

[ShoogarBear]

If you can't watch something on your TV then blame your got damn government, not the NBA.

.

This is true. If we've got something you want, you need to come take it from us.

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

Terrific
Viewing
Usually

[BeerIsGood!]

That's all good and well except the time differential which makes it rather difficult. A good system for the playoffs though.

Someone ought to send a link to this thread to NBA marketing and get a reply from them.

With the slingbox you can choose to record the game to your HD and then watch when you want. Then you erase it and record the next game. I believe you can set it with the software - but I might be wrong about that.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

With the slingbox you can choose to record the game to your HD and then watch when you want. Then you erase it and record the next game. I believe you can set it with the software - but I might be wrong about that.

Sure, but the slingbox is with the person in the US, and I'm hardly going to try to tell them how to run their life so that I can watch NBA.

If you can't watch something on your TV then blame your got damn government, not the NBA.

Sequ, WTF are you talking about? It has nothing to do with govt and everything to do with the NBA marketing dept being lazy/making bad decisions. At the moment they are killing their OS fan base for illusory monetary reward.

Your non-sequiters are continually becoming less intelligible over time.

[BeerIsGood!]

You don't have to tell them how to run their life. Once it's hooked up you can control what channel you want through the software that comes with it. All they would have to do is hook the thing up - after that they don't have to do a thing.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Okay, cheers, Beer, I have a cunning plan...

[SequSpur]

Dude, just because your govt only allows you to watch Greg Norman reruns and Crocodile Dundee redos, has nothing to do with David Stern.

[ShoogarBear]

Has anybody gotten this to work yet? When I click on a gam i try to get by broadband, I get a window (which seems to buggy, since I also get an error message with it) saying I need to create an account. I already have, WTF?