Blackouts 101 per Joe Reedy's Blog

 

Since the latest questions flowing into the inbox the last two days have been about the amount of tickets remaining and blackouts, I figured now would be as good a time as any to review the NFL blackout rules for the first time since 2003.

 

If the game is not sold out by 1 p.m. on Thursday (72 hours prior to kickoff) and the Bengals do not get a 24-hour extension, the game will be blacked out within a 75-mile radius of Paul Brown Stadium. For you folks in Lexington, even though the station tower is 75 miles beyond Paul Brown Stadium, you are blacked out too because you are considered a Bengals primary market.

 

Even if you have the NFL Sunday Ticket and you live within the radius, the game will be blacked out (if you’re a Bengals fan in say, Houston, you’re safe). Also, this is not like the two preseason games where those were shown on tape delay. There will be no tape delay. You will not see it at all.

 

And for those hoping that Channel 12 comes in at the last moment and buys all the tickets, there are too many available at the moment. Even if all the tickets were in the lowest-costing levels, Channel 12 would have to spend over $300,000 to buy those seats. The folks at Channel 12 have a number in mind, but it isn’t one. It is well under 1,000.

 

Your only options to see the game after a blackout is imposed? Drive to a sports bar in Columbus or Louisville, hope one of your friends outside of a 75-mile radius has a Slingbox and DirecTV with The Sunday Ticket (so you can watch it on your computer) or try finding another outlet to watch the game on the computer (which will mean getting resourceful).

 

Otherwise it’s get ready for our live chat at Cincinnati.Com at 1 p.m. on Sunday along with listening to the game on the radio with Brad and Lap.

 

Would Richmond, Ky carry the game? If so I will make the twenty minute drive from Lex to there to watch it.

Blackouts 101 per Joe Reedy's Blog

 

Since the latest questions flowing into the inbox the last two days have been about the amount of tickets remaining and blackouts, I figured now would be as good a time as any to review the NFL blackout rules for the first time since 2003.

 

If the game is not sold out by 1 p.m. on Thursday (72 hours prior to kickoff) and the Bengals do not get a 24-hour extension, the game will be blacked out within a 75-mile radius of Paul Brown Stadium. For you folks in Lexington, even though the station tower is 75 miles beyond Paul Brown Stadium, you are blacked out too because you are considered a Bengals primary market.

 

Even if you have the NFL Sunday Ticket and you live within the radius, the game will be blacked out (if you’re a Bengals fan in say, Houston, you’re safe). Also, this is not like the two preseason games where those were shown on tape delay. There will be no tape delay. You will not see it at all.

 

And for those hoping that Channel 12 comes in at the last moment and buys all the tickets, there are too many available at the moment. Even if all the tickets were in the lowest-costing levels, Channel 12 would have to spend over $300,000 to buy those seats. The folks at Channel 12 have a number in mind, but it isn’t one. It is well under 1,000.

 

Your only options to see the game after a blackout is imposed? Drive to a sports bar in Columbus or Louisville, hope one of your friends outside of a 75-mile radius has a Slingbox and DirecTV with The Sunday Ticket (so you can watch it on your computer) or try finding another outlet to watch the game on the computer (which will mean getting resourceful).

 

Otherwise it’s get ready for our live chat at Cincinnati.Com at 1 p.m. on Sunday along with listening to the game on the radio with Brad and Lap.

 

The Nfl announced today you can watch it on nfl.com for free, tape delay of course. Should be available at 12:01am Monday morning.

Would Richmond, Ky carry the game? If so I will make the twenty minute drive from Lex to there to watch it.

 

No, because that's still a WKYT affiliate. At least that's how I understand it.

Isn't there a website that will show the game?

 

 

More than likely channelsurfing.net or justintv will show it, no gurantee thought and it's very unreliable.

No, because that's still a WKYT affiliate. At least that's how I understand it.

 

WKYT always carried blacked-out games in the past. Did something change?

See post #51, that's all I know.

WKYT always carried blacked-out games in the past. Did something change?

They haven't for years, and I mean a lot of years.

Supposedly they are down to 2,000 tickets, but less than 30 minutes left.

Supposedly they are down to 2,000 tickets, but less than 30 minutes left.

 

Wonder if TV station picks that amount up?

Read today that each team has 17,000 tickets per year they can "give away" that can be counted as sold tickets.

Wonder if TV station picks that amount up?

 

An article in yesterday's paper said it'd have to be less than 1000 before they would do anything.

 

Looks like we won't know the official word on the blackout until at least 3:00.

Looks like we'll get the final word at 3pm. Doesn't look good though, IMO. That's a shame too.

Looks like we'll get the final word at 3pm. Doesn't look good though, IMO. That's a shame too.

 

If post#70 is accurate then it should be on.

If post#70 is accurate then it should be on.

 

What's this IF stuff?

 

 

Goodell has made a change that should help clubs during the current economic recession. All 32 NFL teams get 17,000 complimentary tickets per season. Previously, clubs had to allocate 1,700 for each of 10 home games regardless of which team they were playing.

 

This season, clubs have the flexibility to divide these tickets as they see fit. So clubs can use thousands of comp tickets to fill empty seats for a slow-selling game. Or allocate hardly any for a divisional game.

 

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2009-09-10-blackouts-update_N.htm

If post#70 is accurate then it should be on.

 

Good point, missed that.

:popcorn: