Watching "In Market" NFL Games w/o cable, dish, etc. (1 Viewer)

[DoubleG]

I have an odd question. So...a friend was looking at hishousehold expenses and realized that except for my local NFL team (the Bears) my his family watches almost no TV whatsoever (or at least none that is not easily substituted for on websites, Youtube, etc.)

Is there an easy way (legal would be good too) to watch in market games without a TV (or at least without some expensive "200+ channels" package? He is even willing to pay - just don't love spending $7k a year in cable bills to watch 16 football games.

Any help out there?

(Yes, I realize most FBGs are independently wealthy, but I was just checking....for a friend.)

 

[Long Ball Larry]

Without a TV, I don't know, but can't you, I mean he, just get an antenna? Any ESPN game will normally be broadcast on a local station as well. I'm considering going this route.

I have also been told that if you have a cable outlet and you plug it in and go up really high in the channels (like 1500 or something), the basic channels will come through, even without a subscription.

 

[ex-ghost]

Would love to hear more about the 1500 possibility.....

 

[karmarooster]

Not sure why you don't want to watch the free, over the air HD broadcast on TV with an HD antenna (I have one and it works great, the HD quality of the Fox, CBS, and NBC broadcasts are better than the compressed HD signals you see over comcast/TW etc. for Fox, CBS, NBC and ESPN). Should be even better this year as CBS will carry Thursday night games every week. The only game you won't have is MNF on ESPN game, which you can watch on ESPN.com if you can get someone's cable login.

If you have to use a PC rather than a TV, get a TV tuner card, connect the antenna to your computer, and then you're basically watching over the air HD broadcast on your computer screen.

For PC:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815116034

Regular TV antenna:

http://www.gomohu.com/#

 

[Griffindor]

I haven't had cable/dish since college. I use an antenna for games and Jeopardy, and Netflix/Amazon/HBOGo through the PS3 for everything else. If I really want to see a game that isn't broadcast locally, I walk a block to the bar.

 

[Long Ball Larry]

The only game you won't have is MNF on ESPN game, which you can watch on ESPN.com if you can get someone's cable login.

ESPN games here are always simulcast on a local, over the air channel. I thought that was part of the standard NFL deal everywhere.

 

[Long Ball Larry]

The only game you won't have is MNF on ESPN game, which you can watch on ESPN.com if you can get someone's cable login.

ESPN games here are always simulcast on a local, over the air channel. I thought that was part of the standard NFL deal everywhere.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d8250cb48/printable/the-tradition-continues-nfl-to-remain-on-broadcast-tv

The NFL is the only sports league that delivers all of its games -- regular-season and playoffs -- on free, over-the-air television. (ESPN's Monday night and NFL Network's Thursday night cable games are required by contract to be carried on over-the-air, broadcast stations in the cities of the participating teams, subject to local blackout rules).

 

[Skipdog77]

He has a $583 monthly cable bill?

 

[DoubleG]

He has a $583 monthly cable bill?

It's hyperbole.

On the other hand, thank you to all have have given helpful responses in the thread.

 

[JaxBill]

Not sure why you don't want to watch the free, over the air HD broadcast on TV with an HD antenna (I have one and it works great, the HD quality of the Fox, CBS, and NBC broadcasts are better than the compressed HD signals you see over comcast/TW etc. for Fox, CBS, NBC and ESPN). Should be even better this year as CBS will carry Thursday night games every week. The only game you won't have is MNF on ESPN game, which you can watch on ESPN.com if you can get someone's cable login.

If you have to use a PC rather than a TV, get a TV tuner card, connect the antenna to your computer, and then you're basically watching over the air HD broadcast on your computer screen.

For PC:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815116034

Regular TV antenna:

http://www.gomohu.com/#

Another satisfied Mohu Leaf customer for my kids' room. Works great.

 

[Khy]

Not sure why you don't want to watch the free, over the air HD broadcast on TV with an HD antenna (I have one and it works great, the HD quality of the Fox, CBS, and NBC broadcasts are better than the compressed HD signals you see over comcast/TW etc. for Fox, CBS, NBC and ESPN). Should be even better this year as CBS will carry Thursday night games every week. The only game you won't have is MNF on ESPN game, which you can watch on ESPN.com if you can get someone's cable login.

If you have to use a PC rather than a TV, get a TV tuner card, connect the antenna to your computer, and then you're basically watching over the air HD broadcast on your computer screen.

For PC:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815116034

Regular TV antenna:

http://www.gomohu.com/#

Another satisfied Mohu Leaf customer for my kids' room. Works great.

Out of curiosity... how close are you to your local city?

 

[JaxBill]

Not sure why you don't want to watch the free, over the air HD broadcast on TV with an HD antenna (I have one and it works great, the HD quality of the Fox, CBS, and NBC broadcasts are better than the compressed HD signals you see over comcast/TW etc. for Fox, CBS, NBC and ESPN). Should be even better this year as CBS will carry Thursday night games every week. The only game you won't have is MNF on ESPN game, which you can watch on ESPN.com if you can get someone's cable login.

If you have to use a PC rather than a TV, get a TV tuner card, connect the antenna to your computer, and then you're basically watching over the air HD broadcast on your computer screen.

For PC:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815116034

Regular TV antenna:

http://www.gomohu.com/#

Another satisfied Mohu Leaf customer for my kids' room. Works great.

Out of curiosity... how close are you to your local city?

I'm in the city limits(although Jacksonville is the largest city land mass in the lower 48). If you go to that link, it shows you what channels you should see based on your zip.

 

[karmarooster]

The only game you won't have is MNF on ESPN game, which you can watch on ESPN.com if you can get someone's cable login.

[Local] ESPN games here are always simulcast on a local, over the air channel. I thought that was part of the standard NFL deal everywhere.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d8250cb48/printable/the-tradition-continues-nfl-to-remain-on-broadcast-tv

The NFL is the only sports league that delivers all of its games -- regular-season and playoffs -- on free, over-the-air television. (ESPN's Monday night and NFL Network's Thursday night cable games are required by contract to be carried on over-the-air, broadcast stations in the cities of the participating teams, subject to local blackout rules).

Yes, the ESPN MNF games that happen to feature a local team will be on local channels. For example, when the Bears play on ESPN MNF, those games will also be available locally, further to the point that an Antenna is a great investment for HD NFL games.

Every other ESPN MNF, for example the double header on opening weekend between NYG-Detroit and SD-Arizona, will not be available on local channels in Chicago. The Bears play two MNF games this year. For the other 15, you'll need to either watch on ESPN.com, in a bar, or stream on a bootleg site.

 

[MoveToSkypager]

The internet is around here somewhere...

 

[Long Ball Larry]

The only game you won't have is MNF on ESPN game, which you can watch on ESPN.com if you can get someone's cable login.

[Local] ESPN games here are always simulcast on a local, over the air channel. I thought that was part of the standard NFL deal everywhere.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d8250cb48/printable/the-tradition-continues-nfl-to-remain-on-broadcast-tv

The NFL is the only sports league that delivers all of its games -- regular-season and playoffs -- on free, over-the-air television. (ESPN's Monday night and NFL Network's Thursday night cable games are required by contract to be carried on over-the-air, broadcast stations in the cities of the participating teams, subject to local blackout rules).

Yes, the ESPN MNF games that happen to feature a local team will be on local channels. For example, when the Bears play on ESPN MNF, those games will also be available locally, further to the point that an Antenna is a great investment for HD NFL games.

Every other ESPN MNF, for example the double header on opening weekend between NYG-Detroit and SD-Arizona, will not be available on local channels in Chicago. The Bears play two MNF games this year. For the other 15, you'll need to either watch on ESPN.com, in a bar, or stream on a bootleg site.

Right, he said that all he really cares about is watching the Bears though, so I was trying to speak directly to his situation.

 

[Chaka]

Sports bar.

 

[Lott's Fingertip]

You can actually make your own antenna, too. I jerry rigged an antenna for the playoffs in January, used a metal mirror bracket and two lamp harps (the part that holds the shade). I still use it and get ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, CW, and various other channels. I checked which game was on tomorrow night, and CBS channel 6 is showing Raiders-Packers here in Orlando... but channel 6.2 is showing Jags-Lions. Basic cable would only be showing one game (not including ESPN or NFLN).

As far as DIY antenna, you can print out an HD antenna schematic and glue aluminum foil to the pattern. Over the air HD is actually better than cable HD if you are in an area with a strong signal.

 

[cstu]

Does your TV have a Clear QAM tuner?

 

[elguapo07]

One of my tv's is not hooked up to a cable box but I do get about 10 or so local digital channels. You should get your local abc, nbc, cbs, fox, pbs, upn, wb channels along with a few other. It's like going back in time about 35 years before most people got cable. You should be able to see your local Fox/cbs slate each sunday with with just a tv.

 

[Yenrub]

I have dish network but will typically watch the over the air broadcast for the Sunday night game the picture is so much better

 

[MCguidance]

Build an HTPC. Up front cost is gone within 6mo to a year.

 

[renesauz]

- just don't love spending $7k a year in cable bills to watch 16 football games.

Ummmmm...huh?????

 

[DoubleG]

- just don't love spending $7k a year in cable bills to watch 16 football games.

Ummmmm...huh?????

See post #9. TIA