What "certain sports programming" do I need a landline phone for?

TomCat4680 · 10-26-2008, 06:39 AM

Hi I'm a new customer and I was reading the fine print on the email they sent me to confirm my order and this line caught my eye:

"Your receiver must be continuously connected to a land-based phone line to activate certain sports programming and to allow Pay Per View ordering by remote control".

I'm not interested in Pay-per-view but what do they mean by "certain sports programming". I subscribed to Sports Pack, do I need the line for those channels? I don't have a land based phone line and I don't want to get one, theyre not worth it since I barely talk on the phone. I also noticed when I was ordering they sell routers for On Demand service. I already have a router though so I didn't buy it.
I also have cable internet service which I'm keeping. Can I just use the router / cable internet instead of getting a phone line?

IamMrDJ · 10-26-2008, 08:23 AM

When I had the sports package I never needed a phone line hooked up to watch anything on the channels. Phone line is only required for using the Caller ID function and ordering PPV through the remote. That is it.

rockaway1836 · 10-26-2008, 08:32 AM

The sports programing they are talking about is most likley PPV. When you order PPV with your remote the phone line is needed for billing. One time I had forgotten that I did not have my receivers connected to a phone line for a couple of years. I let my daughter order a PPV wrestling event, which she got no problem. Then about a year later, I connected back to the phone line. It was then that I got the bill. When I saw it at first, I thought it was a mistake. Then the date of the event caught my eye. I knew then what had happened.

LORETTA · 10-26-2008, 11:21 AM

the certain sports programming that they are referring to is the local regional fox sports net channels which may be the ones that broadcasts your local NBA OR MLB kinds of games. Anything that would be a local transmission of a professional sports team. the phone connection tells the satellite where you are located so that the proper channel can be opened up for you to see. PPV with the remote is also available, but you can use the website to order those quite easily, you could call in to order but I think that there is a charge if an operator orders it for you.

rockaway1836 · 10-26-2008, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LORETTA

the certain sports programming that they are referring to is the local regional fox sports net channels which may be the ones that broadcasts your local NBA OR MLB kinds of games. Anything that would be a local transmission of a professional sports team. the phone connection tells the satellite where you are located so that the proper channel can be opened up for you to see. PPV with the remote is also available, but you can use the website to order those quite easily, you could call in to order but I think that there is a charge if an operator orders it for you.

Not true. None of my receivers are connected to phone lines. (8 in all) No problem with RSNs. Either here or when I lived in NY. When I lived in NY I would bring a receiver here, again no phone line, again no problem with NY RSNs at the time. In fact I know others that still live in NY and come here for a visit to their summer homes. Again NP getting NY RSNs. As most if not all RSNs are Conus not spot. That's why you can get them all over the country when you sign up for sports pack.

TomCat4680 · 10-27-2008, 06:13 AM

Ya the website says professional games on regional sports networks determined by zip code. I'm not interested in any out-of-market sports packages (MLB Extra Innings, NBA League Pass, NHL Center Ice) so I don't have to get a phone line right?

rockaway1836 · 10-27-2008, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomCat4680

Ya the website says professional games on regional sports networks determined by zip code. I'm not interested in any out-of-market sports packages (MLB Extra Innings, NBA League Pass, NHL Center Ice) so I don't have to get a phone line right?

You do not need a phone line, not even for sports packages. One of those I mentioned earlier has The NHL pack and no phone. Also if phones were needed for sports packs I would never be able to see free previews. I get them just fine.

TomCat4680 · 10-27-2008, 06:30 AM

So what they mean is by certain sports progrmming is special stuff like wrestling and not out of market sports packages? I want to be able to watch every channel that I'm subscribing to.

joed32 · 10-27-2008, 09:22 AM

You do not need a phone line!

glennb1 · 10-27-2008, 09:29 AM

Nowadays if it's connected to the internet you don't need a phone line for anything.

TomCat4680 · 10-27-2008, 09:29 AM

Damn rockaway, you have 8 receivers?! You must have a huge family who loves to watch tv. Or you own a sports bar.

TomCat4680 · 10-27-2008, 09:32 AM

I agree, glenn. Landline phones are obsolete and they have been for a long time. I haven't used a landline phone for talking on in several years, and now that I have cable internet instead of dialup I'll probably never have one again. My parents cancelled their home phone service permanently several years ago too.

10-26-2008, 06:39 AM	#1
TomCat4680 My cat can beat up yours Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Flint, Michigan Age: 29 Posts: 655	What "certain sports programming" do I need a landline phone for? Hi I'm a new customer and I was reading the fine print on the email they sent me to confirm my order and this line caught my eye: "Your receiver must be continuously connected to a land-based phone line to activate certain sports programming and to allow Pay Per View ordering by remote control". I'm not interested in Pay-per-view but what do they mean by "certain sports programming". I subscribed to Sports Pack, do I need the line for those channels? I don't have a land based phone line and I don't want to get one, theyre not worth it since I barely talk on the phone. I also noticed when I was ordering they sell routers for On Demand service. I already have a router though so I didn't buy it. I also have cable internet service which I'm keeping. Can I just use the router / cable internet instead of getting a phone line? __________________ TV: Samsung 50'' 1080p Plasma Service / packages: DirecTV with HD Extra and with all premiums DVR / Receiver: HR22-100 and AM21 Antenna / pre-amp: RS U75R & WG HDP-269

10-27-2008, 06:13 AM	#6
TomCat4680 My cat can beat up yours Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Flint, Michigan Age: 29 Posts: 655	Ya the website says professional games on regional sports networks determined by zip code. I'm not interested in any out-of-market sports packages (MLB Extra Innings, NBA League Pass, NHL Center Ice) so I don't have to get a phone line right? __________________ TV: Samsung 50'' 1080p Plasma Service / packages: DirecTV with HD Extra and with all premiums DVR / Receiver: HR22-100 and AM21 Antenna / pre-amp: RS U75R & WG HDP-269 Last edited by TomCat4680; 10-27-2008 at 06:16 AM.

10-27-2008, 06:30 AM	#8
TomCat4680 My cat can beat up yours Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Flint, Michigan Age: 29 Posts: 655	So what they mean is by certain sports progrmming is special stuff like wrestling and not out of market sports packages? I want to be able to watch every channel that I'm subscribing to. __________________ TV: Samsung 50'' 1080p Plasma Service / packages: DirecTV with HD Extra and with all premiums DVR / Receiver: HR22-100 and AM21 Antenna / pre-amp: RS U75R & WG HDP-269 Last edited by TomCat4680; 10-27-2008 at 06:43 AM.

10-27-2008, 09:29 AM	#11
TomCat4680 My cat can beat up yours Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Flint, Michigan Age: 29 Posts: 655	Damn rockaway, you have 8 receivers?! You must have a huge family who loves to watch tv. Or you own a sports bar. __________________ TV: Samsung 50'' 1080p Plasma Service / packages: DirecTV with HD Extra and with all premiums DVR / Receiver: HR22-100 and AM21 Antenna / pre-amp: RS U75R & WG HDP-269

10-27-2008, 09:32 AM	#12
TomCat4680 My cat can beat up yours Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Flint, Michigan Age: 29 Posts: 655	I agree, glenn. Landline phones are obsolete and they have been for a long time. I haven't used a landline phone for talking on in several years, and now that I have cable internet instead of dialup I'll probably never have one again. My parents cancelled their home phone service permanently several years ago too. __________________ TV: Samsung 50'' 1080p Plasma Service / packages: DirecTV with HD Extra and with all premiums DVR / Receiver: HR22-100 and AM21 Antenna / pre-amp: RS U75R & WG HDP-269

10-26-2008, 08:23 AM	#2
IamMrDJ High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 590	When I had the sports package I never needed a phone line hooked up to watch anything on the channels. Phone line is only required for using the Caller ID function and ordering PPV through the remote. That is it.

10-26-2008, 08:32 AM	#3
rockaway1836 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: May 2005 Location: Myrtle Beach SC Posts: 1,035	The sports programing they are talking about is most likley PPV. When you order PPV with your remote the phone line is needed for billing. One time I had forgotten that I did not have my receivers connected to a phone line for a couple of years. I let my daughter order a PPV wrestling event, which she got no problem. Then about a year later, I connected back to the phone line. It was then that I got the bill. When I saw it at first, I thought it was a mistake. Then the date of the event caught my eye. I knew then what had happened.

10-26-2008, 11:21 AM	#4
LORETTA How can anyone watch standard def? Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 16	the certain sports programming that they are referring to is the local regional fox sports net channels which may be the ones that broadcasts your local NBA OR MLB kinds of games. Anything that would be a local transmission of a professional sports team. the phone connection tells the satellite where you are located so that the proper channel can be opened up for you to see. PPV with the remote is also available, but you can use the website to order those quite easily, you could call in to order but I think that there is a charge if an operator orders it for you.

10-27-2008, 09:22 AM	#9
joed32 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 685	You do not need a phone line!

10-27-2008, 09:29 AM	#10
glennb1 chirshey's BFF Join Date: May 2008 Location: Saint Paul, MN Posts: 3,213	Nowadays if it's connected to the internet you don't need a phone line for anything.

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