A few weeks ago, I dropped $50 on a subscription to the NBA Broadband League Pass service, allowing me to “Watch every regular season, out-of-market game LIVE on your computer.” As you probably already know, I’m a Lakers’ fan and Cali-raised boy, displaced to the Midwest.
I love Chicago, but I’m far away from Fox Sports West and I can’t get coverage of all the games. So NBA.com’s service seemed to be a savior of sorts.
Far from it.
In the past ten games, other than the incredible 61 points Kobe dropped on the Knicks, I haven’t been able to watch due to “Blackout Restrictions.” Now, I know there are licensing issues when it comes to game content, but this is the NBA site, and I figure they can probably get that sorted out. Whenever an NBA broadcast closes, they say something about getting “written consent from the NBA” if you want to replay the game, right? Not “written consent from Fox Sports West” or some other affiliate. So what’s the deal here?
To further irritate me, if you go to the NBA.com All-Access FAQ page, there’s an image of Kobe Bryant staring you in the face. And they consistently use Lakers’ logos/imagery when promoting the service, despite the fact that you can’t seem to get the games.
Here’s the email I sent to every email address I could find on the NBA.com site:
I am EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED with my NBA Broadband League Pass account.
Granted:
I love the quality.
I love the features.
I love the load time.
However, as a Lakers’ fan, I cannot find use in a $49.99 service that consistently displays the Lakers’ games as blacked-out. I’ve been able to view ONE game out of the ten available since I signed up — thankfully, Kobe’s great game against the Knicks — but I’m concerned that the service I purchased to FOLLOW MY TEAM and continue my loyalty to the league will turn out to be a wasted $50.
In this economy, that’s something I can’t afford.
What’s the deal?
Why do you use Kobe and the Lakers to market this service, when I can’t watch any of the games? Seems like one big lie.
Yours (Quite Literally),
Clay Parker Jones
Can anyone at the NBA help me out? Is there anyone out there on Twitter from NBA.com’s customer service? Are you guys even using Google Alerts?
Please at least explain this to me.
9 Comments
Holy cr*p!
I’m exactly in the same boat. I want to follow my team (also the Lakers) and you think you’re doing the right thing by supporting the NBA and getting the content legitimately for the $49.99 fee.
It’s extremely disappointing. They should ask you who your team is. If they can determine whether or not you’re allowed to see it or not they should warn you that you may only be able to see “x” amount of games.
No response yet from the NBA.
Poor form, folks.
And Victor, feel free to swear if you like in the comments. It’s all good.
I hear ya, it pisses my off as well!!
I understand the blackout rules when one is actually IN the city of a home game but I truly don’t understand it when I’m out of the country and no where near LA.
Right.
And the funny thing is…every ad I see for this service includes the Lakers. And in the ad, they play against some big-time team…a game that would assuredly be on national TV, and thus blacked out. I bought this service so I could patronize the NBA, and not have to pay for cable.
C’mon, NBA. Get your act together.
sam thing for me man. i used to find illegal free streams, and i though i will just save myself the hassle and buy the LP. turns out on half the nights i am still searching for that illegal stream. I tried to support the NBA, but they make it pretty difficult
I completely agree. The pass is absolutely NOT worth the money due to ANY of the games worth watching are a “BLACKOUT!” I wont pay for it again. Ever.
in fear that you will start hate mail - am a celtics fan in the UK - having terrible trouble watching the playoffs. Unlike you it is not restrictions but the service cutting out.
Due to time differences I watch most through replay and all have had problems, the worst being game 7 against the bulls when a splash screen appeared with 8 minutes left in the 4th quarter, saying the game would start shortly. It started 8 minutes later at the beginning of the 1st Q.
Live help took an hour and told me that I would have to watch again
It has happened 4 times now and have not had any satisfactory help - they tell me that the NBA cares - but not for its paying customers!
I am very disapointed. I just signed up for NBA Broadband for 5 teams, but mainly Cleveland. I am in the military and like to still see how my team is doing. So far 5 of the 7 games since I singed up have been blacked out, and tonight it’s not on TV nor am I within 600miles of the game, but still can’t get it. NBA’s answer is ignoring the problem as they did a week ago when I raised the question.
Dont Sign up for this service!!!!
hey this year i bought the package for $150. all laker games after february are unavailable according to their schedule sheet. it’s unfair that i had to pay so much and i have seen less than 20 games. the problem is that there’s nobody to appeal to other than your elected officials (ha!), so there’s no immediate way to amend this problem. it seems like we’ve all been duped. that’ll teach me to read the fine print (even if it takes hours and hours web surfing).