Sorry South Texas Husker Fans
12 comments so far
November 24, 2009 by
If you or someone you know lives in the San Antonio area and were planning to watch the Nebraska v. Colorado game on television this Friday, I'm offering you my condolences. The ABC affiliate, KSAT, is going to be showing regularly scheduled programming like Dr. Phil and Oprah during that time slot instead of the Husker game. For all of you out there who had big plans to lounge in front of the game after your Black Friday shopping sprees, you have some work to do if you want to see that game on television.
If you call into the station and ask about the game this Friday, the kind receptionist there will gladly read you a prepared statement indicating that you can watch the game on ESPN360.com. For those of you normal people who don't enjoy staring at your old laptop monitor or don't have one of those fancy TVs you can plug your computer into, that is not an acceptable option. So I asked "Why?" to which she responded, that information wasn't given to her.
I was transferred to a station representative (who for fear of reprisals of angry Husker fans, I will call Mr. X). He indicated that the game would draw no ratings in San Antonio. He said that they had offered to ABC to air it on their secondary digital channel. Of course their reasoning was that they always want to have the big Texas and A&M game, but since it was moved to ESPN, I guess they felt the need to stick it to corporate. They felt that this was just a second or third tier game anyway, so no big loss.
Mr. X felt that since the game was pretty much decided (since Colorado is 3-8) that there's not reason to put in on their station. They want to be the "alternative" choice that day since football will be everywhere else. People who want to what regular daytime TV will turn to them.
He indicated that they had offered their secondary channel, it would be a good choice since local cable networks would pick it up, but corporate indicated they would rather have it on ESPN360 than on the secondary station. He thought it meant that they must not believe it's a big game either because they wanted to put it only online. He said that the ratings last year for the game were really low, with not many people watching.
"It's just the way it is unfortunately." Mr. X indicated. "Sorry for the inconvenience, it's business, you know," he concluded.
So for those Nebraska fans that were hoping to catch this game in the San Antonio, Texas area: too bad. Others have reported that this game will be on a secondary station, but Mr. X said that ESPN360.com was the only way to catch it in South Texas. Not all internet providers have the ability to stream the games from that site.
If you don't think this is right, and feel like you have to do something about it, please feel free to (politely) contact the station at (210) 351-1200. If you'd like to send an email, use their handy Contact Form on their website.
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TXHusker Nov 24 09
Austin TimeWarner shows the game listed on KVUE 2:30pm. I guess only the SanAntonio ABC affiliate elected not pick it up.
Jason Nov 24 09
The San Antonio station (KSAT) is the only ABC affiliate in the country that opted out of showing the NU/CU game.
Do a favor for your friends to the south and give the station a call and encourage them to reconsider.
darren Nov 24 09
Nice work, Tom. You are the new Michael Moore. :-)
Seriously, does anybody think that an Oprah re-run would put up a bigger ratings number than the NU-CU game? Or, for that matter, any college football game?
Especially on Thanksgiving weekend...
TXHusker Nov 24 09
I've sent an email from the link above, please support a husker brother and do the same!
GO BIG RED
Aaron Burgess Nov 25 09
I live in Lincoln but I'm happy to help out fellow huskers so I wrote an email to them. You might let people know who to send it too though. I just assumed it was the programming department and thats who I had it sent too,but you might add that to make sure.
Good luck guys, I hope you get it.
GBR
Matt Nov 25 09
I sent an email. I hope everything works out for you. GBR
Spaceman Spiff Nov 25 09
This is a nonissue.
You can watch the game - for free - in the sports section of:
www.justin.tv
The game, or any game not in your programming zone - will be viewable there - a little pixilated, but its better than nothing.
Robert Nov 25 09
Yeah because watching the game from a crappy internet feed is so much better than on my 50" HD TV.........No thanks spaceman. Still an issue.
Jason Nov 25 09
Update: The general manager changed his mind. KSAT will be showing the game now.
Thanks for all of you that called and emailed!
That's the power of red.
MP Nov 25 09
Yeah, I emailed my nephew who lives in San Antonio. He helped spread the word down there and flooded their inbox this morning. Now he won't have to watch infomercials featuring “hooker beater” Vince Shlomi selling Slap Chop’s or Shamwow’s and an Oprah RERUN. Thanks to all who emailed. Like a blind side sack from big Suh, the manager felt the power of red.
Larry Nov 25 09
KSAT12 has announced that contrary to belief they ARE showing the Nebraska v. Colorado game in lieu of regular programming.
So us fans can rest easy and enjoy the games on our big screens.
tom Nov 25 09
Good. When I spoke to them yesterday, they didn't seem in the least bit interested in showing the game and were saying how bad the ratings would be. To me, it seemed more like a tactic they were trying to use with ABC/ESPN to say that they really wanted the Texas/A&M game to be shown locally on their affiliate. The "don't mess with Texas" attitude was showing. But unfortunately, ESPN can, and will mess with Texas if they have to. Good thing that the power of the Husker fan base was able to get this on TV.