Thread: So now that the lockout seems pau, what happens with Center Ice subscribers?

Originally Posted by kings022

A note on my DirecTV bill awhile back said that if and when the season started the charge would be prorated, so 1/2+ the full-season cost. But if they discounted it from there it would be their gesture of good faith the the fans.

That would probably be worst case imho. We may have to do like we did a few years ago with the DTV/Fox fiasco and tell them "sorry" and walk away for a day or until they call us back and credit our accounts. It seems to be a lot of work for the carriers to do it that way but their job is to bilk us of every penny they can. We'll see. Should be a interesting next couple weeks for us fans.

Originally Posted by hokiecat

That's why it won't happen. NHL knows the sucker fans will come back no matter what. They'll pro-rate it for the shortened season and sell it like it is a good deal. "Look suckers, Center Ice at nearly half off the 2011-2012 price!". I am also curious to see what the NBC and NBS Sports/Versus schedules look like. In recent years there have been enough "free" games that I haven't felt the need for CI.

Prorate isnt a new concept with CI dude. They do it every year at this point in the season. Like I said, I will wait it out and see what comes down from DTV and the NHL. If I dont like it, I'll sit tight and call their bluff. The second I say "Sorry, I dont want the package you're offering @ $75 for a half season." They (DTV) will throw offers at me. IT HAPPENDS EVERY TIME THERE IS A DISRUPTION IN SERVICE.
Its the game they play.

Don't forget that in the past, CI was available for free to everyone at the beginning of the season and then again around the middle of the season. I'm guessing that there will be, at the very least, a similar two/three week freebie to kick things off. And maybe I'm just being an optimist, but I still think that the league will make it free for the season. I don't know what that will cost them, cuz I seriously doubt that the providers will just give that bandwidth away for nothing, but still, I think the league must start making amends somehow.

Well a 50 game season is about 61% of the 82 games, so figure I will gladly pay 61% of the original price on NHL Center Ice. I think last year it was $179 for a full year, so think $107 for this year.

I dont care, really, i am just glad hockey is back.

I've been so discusted with both sides all during this rediculous power play that now, finally hearing that it's come to a halt, I'm acually numb as to just how I do feel about it. Oh, I'll continue to be a hockey fan and carry CI but, it's going to take me a long time to get over how I'll now watch these greedy bastards.

They just spent 7 months bitching over money. You really think they give 2 ****s about what their fans want?

We had CI for years with Directv but switched to Fios in June (hello $500 gift card for switching).

I don't think CI was going to be in the budget for this season anyways, even if there wasn't a lockout. So free would be great.

Seeing as i subscribe to Dish network and I still dont subscribe to the upper tier so i can get NBCsport network(which makes center ice obsolete after playoffs 1st round), and at near $180 a season they charge us now for CI they better damn well give us the season for free or at a extreme discounted rate otherwise i just stream the games on countless free sites ive found anyway

Originally Posted by nocturn

Prorate isnt a new concept with CI dude. They do it every year at this point in the season. Like I said, I will wait it out and see what comes down from DTV and the NHL. If I dont like it, I'll sit tight and call their bluff. The second I say "Sorry, I dont want the package you're offering @ $75 for a half season." They (DTV) will throw offers at me. IT HAPPENDS EVERY TIME THERE IS A DISRUPTION IN SERVICE.
Its the game they play.

Ouch, you are hurting my head. You realize that Directv and Center Ice are not the same company right?

1. I don't think NHL will offer free Center Ice. I think they will just make it $100 or so (basically pro-rated) and tell the hockey-starved fans it is a bargain.
2. Whatever deal you get from Directv has nothing to do with NHL/Center Ice. I got CI for free a few years back when Directv dropped Versus during the negotiations with Comcast.
3. There is no disruption in service right now. I also got free Showtime for 6 months and bill credits during the 2012 Viacom fiasco because my kid couldn't watch Nick. But I don't think Directv is going to give you any credits for lack of hockey over the past 4 months; because you haven't paid anything for it. But they generally give free stuff to subscribers who spend a lot monthly and make the effort call to complain about their bill.