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Chat with League Pass, pt. ii

I've already shared with you part i of my odyssey with League Pass Broadband.  Now it's part ii. 

This time around I tried to get a friendly Turner Sports customer service rep to tell me about what regulations or policies dictate the IP address requirements for paying customers who are too far away from the arena for broadcast TV or radio but who aren't far enough to be able to watch all of the games on line they thought they paid for with the broadband service.  Here's a little sample:

12:23:33 Customernatearch
ok, so can you please tell me how the nba would like me to watch my favorite team?
12:24:00 AgentJesse
On TV.
12:24:28 Customernatearch
i've told you, i don't have cable; are you telling me the NBA wants me to buy additional cable service to watch their product?
12:24:43 Customernatearch
to include games that are on free broadcast tv in the twin cities?
12:26:16 Customernatearch
yes, no?
12:26:50 AgentJesse
I have said this before if it is on TV in your area it will be Blacked out. Even if you have to pay extra to get it is still available to you to access. Those are the blackout rules set by the NBA.

And my personal favorite:
12:32:58 Customernatearch
is there any point to this at all?
12:33:15 Customernatearch
or should i simply take the illegal and lazy route and watch it on justin.tv?
12:33:38 AgentJesse
well it is not pirated streams this is legally authorized by the NBA.
12:33:42 Customernatearch
i'd really like to pay for the product. it's given away for free in the twin cities on channel 45
12:33:57 Customernatearch
i'm sure you can find that regulation
12:34:21 Customernatearch
how can i address this problem if i don't even know what regulates it?
12:34:26 Customernatearch
where do i get that info?
12:35:00 AgentJesse
This chat is becoming unproductive, Is there any thing else I can help you with?
12:35:38 Customernatearch
unproductive? really. i'm trying to find information that will allow me to legally watch the NBA's product and it's unproductive to you?
12:36:16 Customernatearch
the NBA: where unproductiveness happens
Full chat is below the fold.  Don't buy worthless products. 

CustomerCustomernatearch

Initial Question/Comment: I have a question about blackouts.
11:58:27 SystemSystem
11:58:27 SystemSystem
Thank you for contacting NBA.com League Pass customer service
12:01:33 SystemSystem
Jesse has joined this session!
12:01:33 SystemSystem
Connected with Jesse
12:01:38 AgentJesse
Thank you for contacting NBA League Pass Broadband, my name is Jesse, how can I help you?
12:02:27 Customernatearch
I am trying to get a question straightened out withi broadband
12:02:40 Customernatearch
last year the nba gave me a code to use for an all access pass on broadband
12:02:57 Customernatearch
this year I can't get it because of a new cable agreement
12:03:17 Customernatearch
i.e. the rules regarding blackouts have changed
12:03:31 Customernatearch
i am trying to figure out what these rules are and how have they changed
12:03:50 Customernatearch
i live 90 miles from the wolves' arena and i can't watch 1/2 of the broadband games on line
12:04:03 Customernatearch
1/2 their games aren't on radio either
12:04:08 AgentJesse
ok give me just a second
12:04:24 Customernatearch
i bought this service because it was made to seem that i would be able to watch the games
12:04:31 Customernatearch
and i can't
12:06:38 Customernatearch
are you still there?
12:07:09 AgentJesse
yes I am trying to get you a link to the blackout rules.
12:12:44 AgentJesse
Ok well I was unable to get the link but I will do all that I can to assist you in this.
12:12:59 AgentJesse
What city and state are you in?
12:13:04 Customernatearch
mankato, mn
12:13:09 Customernatearch
56001
12:16:09 AgentJesse
ok well you would still be in the blackout range for the Timberwolves.
12:17:17 Customernatearch
even though they are not on broacast tv?
12:17:48 AgentJesse
that is only about 81 miles away and the blackout range is 150 miles
12:17:50 Customernatearch
and i can't watch games when they are on broadcast tv and not the local cable sports network?
12:18:13 Customernatearch
so i would be better off moving further away from the team to follow them more?
12:18:41 Customernatearch
they broadcast games on Channel 45 locally. it's not cable. those games are blacked out locally here.
12:18:56 Customernatearch
they are only available in the twin cities over broadcast
12:19:17 Customernatearch
i don't get channel 45; it's too far away
12:19:19 AgentJesse
well if the game is blacked out then it would be on TV and it would still be blacked out even if you don't get the channel or if it has been offered by a different provider then you have.
12:19:42 Customernatearch
i don't have a provider. i can't afford cable.
12:19:52 Customernatearch
that's why i bought this service
12:20:09 AgentJesse
if it is blacked out it IS available in your area.
12:20:33 Customernatearch
what does that even mean?
12:20:40 Customernatearch
i'm telling you that i don't have cable
12:20:53 Customernatearch
it's not available in my area if you don't pay extra
12:21:18 Customernatearch
this includes the games that are on free broadcast tv in the cities (channel 45)
12:21:22 AgentJesse
That doesn't matter at all if it is on TV in your area it will be Blacked out.
12:21:31 Customernatearch
they aren't free here....they require cable
12:23:15 AgentJesse
Like I said if it is on TV in your area it will be Blacked out. Even if you have to pay extra to get it is still available to you to access, whether you have that access or not doesn't factor in.
12:23:33 Customernatearch
ok, so can you please tell me how the nba would like me to watch my favorite team?
12:24:00 AgentJesse
On TV.
12:24:28 Customernatearch
i've told you, i don't have cable; are you telling me the NBA wants me to buy additional cable service to watch their product?
12:24:43 Customernatearch
to include games that are on free broadcast tv in the twin cities?
12:26:16 Customernatearch
yes, no?
12:26:50 AgentJesse
I have said this before if it is on TV in your area it will be Blacked out. Even if you have to pay extra to get it is still available to you to access. Those are the blackout rules set by the NBA.
12:27:20 AgentJesse
There is Nothing that I can do about that.
12:27:42 Customernatearch
and as i have asked before, are you telling me that I need to pay additional money to a cable service provider so that I can watch games that are broadcast for free in the twin cities?
12:28:01 Customernatearch
do you have the blackout regulations yet?
12:28:10 AgentJesse
Yes, Yes you would.
12:28:36 Customernatearch
ok, so that money is in addition to the money i spent on broadband league pass...which doesn't cover 1/2 of the games i would like to watch.
12:29:09 Customernatearch
how do i get my money back?
12:29:21 Customernatearch
so that i can actually watch the nba's fantastic product?
12:29:30 AgentJesse
Unfortunately, I am not able to discuss refunds via chat. To request a refund, please call our customer service line at 1-888-622-0178.
12:30:13 Customernatearch
so you don't know the regulation that guides your action, you can't discuss refunds, you want me to pay extra for a product i thought i already paid for and...am i missing anything else?
12:30:41 Customernatearch
have i mentioned the Wolves have 4 wins?
12:30:54 Customernatearch
or that they had a local broadcast last year with 1700 viewers?
12:31:03 Customernatearch
i really want to watch them
12:31:22 AgentJesse
No the only way you could see those games is on TV. If you get the channel you will still be blacked out on the Broadband.
12:31:46 Customernatearch
and the product i paid for doesn't work and/or requires me to pay money i don't have to a cable company for a bunch of crap i don't want
12:32:10 AgentJesse
like I said There is Nothing that I can do about that.
12:32:19 Customernatearch
why shouldn't i simply watch pirated streams at this point?
12:32:43 Customernatearch
why should i continue to try and resolve this with your customer service?
12:32:58 Customernatearch
is there any point to this at all?
12:33:15 Customernatearch
or should i simply take the illegal and lazy route and watch it on justin.tv?
12:33:38 AgentJesse
well it is not pirated streams this is legally authorized by the NBA.
12:33:42 Customernatearch
i'd really like to pay for the product. it's given away for free in the twin cities on channel 45
12:33:57 Customernatearch
i'm sure you can find that regulation
12:34:21 Customernatearch
how can i address this problem if i don't even know what regulates it?
12:34:26 Customernatearch
where do i get that info?
12:35:00 AgentJesse
This chat is becoming unproductive, Is there any thing else I can help you with?
12:35:38 Customernatearch
unproductive? really. i'm trying to find information that will allow me to legally watch the NBA's product and it's unproductive to you?
12:36:16 Customernatearch
the NBA: where unproductiveness happens
12:37:15 AgentJesse
No I have assisted you in what you have asked about and advised you that there was nothing that I could do and you keep asking the same questions over and over that I have already answered.
12:37:53 AgentJesse
THE ONLY WAY YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THOSE GAMES IS ON TV.
12:38:11 Customernatearch
you haven't. my first question was about the blackout regulations. you said you couldn't find it. i am now asking if you can point me in the right direction so that i can better understand the changed blackout rules.
12:38:19 Customernatearch
and now you're yelling at me in caps.
12:38:20 AgentJesse
Now is there anything else that I can assist you with today?
12:38:35 Customernatearch
you haven't assisted me yet, why start now?
12:39:15 AgentJesse
no I am trying to get my point across, and I have repeated my self many times.
12:39:50 Customernatearch
and i have asked several different questions....my lastest being where do i need to go in order to find out how the rules have changed?
12:40:11 AgentJesse
The blackouts are based off of your IP address.
12:40:41 AgentJesse
Any game in your local area (over the air station or regional sports network) and any game that is on national TV or picked up by a national TV station will be blacked out.
12:40:47 Customernatearch
and i'm trying to find specific language that details how this is different than last year when i was able to watch
12:41:28 Customernatearch
something has changed and whether that is internal policy or contractual obligation, i want to find out what it is and to read it
12:41:56 Customernatearch
i've never asked how the blackouts work...which is what you keep on claiming is your "point"
12:42:11 Customernatearch
i've asked how they've changed from last year and where i can get that information
12:42:16 AgentJesse
Last year the broadband was run by time warner and it was not based off of IP addresses, now it is run by Turner Sports and is based off of IP addresses.
12:42:33 AgentJesse
that is what has changed.
12:42:40 Customernatearch
so who do i need to talk to in order to get this specific info?
12:45:16 AgentJesse
well for one you are in the blackout area and the games are available in your local area, I don't know how specific you would like it?
12:45:26 Customernatearch
12:03:31 i am trying to figure out what these rules are and how have they changed
12:46:48 Customernatearch
ok, when companies or organizations decide to do things, they typically put their decisions down in writing; i'd like to see the specific regulation guiding Turner Sports decision to run with IP addresses as a threshold for viewership
12:47:10 Customernatearch
i've told you several times exactly how specific i would like it
12:47:16 AgentJesse
the blackout range is 150 miles, if it is on TV in your area it will be Blacked out. Even if you have to pay extra to get it is still available to you to access, whether you have that access or not doesn't factor in.
12:47:18 Customernatearch
should i yell in caps too?
12:47:35 Customernatearch
good lord, should i just call the 1-800 number and ask for a lawyer?
12:47:40 Customernatearch
or a manager?
12:47:46 AgentJesse
you can if you like that would not bother me at all
12:48:05 Customernatearch
i don't think i'm worried about that at this point
12:48:21 AgentJesse
well I have already given you the number to call in.
12:48:41 Customernatearch
fantastic, one piece of solid info in almost an entire hour of service
12:48:57 AgentJesse
Well is there anything else that I can assist you with today?
12:49:31 Customernatearch
only if you can respond to the trouble ticket i put in about this issue back in october but haven't heard back from yet
12:49:46 Customernatearch
the NBA: where customer service happens
12:50:02 AgentJesse
ok what is the ticket number?
12:50:40 Customernatearch
i have an email...
12:51:01 Customernatearch
starting with an October 14th email
12:51:52 AgentJesse
ok give me gut a second and I can pull that up for you.
12:52:01 Customernatearch
it's the same issue
12:52:14 Customernatearch
there's little sense in re-hashing the whole thing
12:52:23 Customernatearch
i'm just going to call the 1-800 number


Next up: 1-800 madness or salvation?