InTheDriversSeat Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 (edited) http://wgntvsales.com/Sports/White_Sox_Schedule.pdf Because WGN America no longer carries any sports, this has opened the door for many more games to be syndicated to free, over-the-air television stations located in the White Sox' home television territory, which is shown on this map: https://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_ass...torialmap.0.jpg Last season, the 25 games produced by WGN Sports (but shown on WCIU-TV) were distributed to TV affiliates in Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana under the brand 'WGN Sports On The U'. But none of the 30 WGN-TV telecasts were because the games were airing nationwide on cable on WGN America. For the 2015 season, 55 games will be available for free over-the-air viewing across the 3 states. Here are the stations: Chicago Channel 9 WGN-TV Chicago (The CW) - 35 games Channel 50 WPWR-TV Gary / Chicago (my network TV) - 20 games Rockford Channel 13-3 WREX Rockford (Me TV) - all 55 games Quad Cities Channel 8-3 WQAD-TV Moline (my network TV) - all 55 games https://localtvwqad.files.wordpress.com/201...edule-20151.pdf Cedar Rapids / Waterloo / Iowa City Channel 9 KCRG-TV Cedar Rapids (ABC) - 5 games Channel 9-2 (my network TV) - 42 games Channel 9-3 (Antenna TV) - 8 games http://www.kcrg.com/MLB2015 http://www.kcrg.com/subject/news/kcrg-tv9-...-games-20150311 Peoria / Bloomington, IL Channel 59 WAOE Peoria (my network TV) - all 55 games http://my59.tv/programs/whitesox-cubs-2/ Springfield / Decatur / Champaign Channel 23 WBUI Decatur (The CW) - 12 games Quincy, IL / Hannibal, MO Channel 10-2 WGEM-TV Quincy (The CW) or Channel 10-3 (Fox) - 5 games South Bend Channel 28-2 WSJV Elkhart, IN (H&I Heroes & Icons) - all 55 games http://www.fox28.com/story/28282654/2015/0...white-sox-games Fort Wayne Channel 15-2 WANE-TV (Antenna TV) - 46 games http://wane.com/2015/03/05/2015-white-sox-baseball/ Indianapolis Channel 8 WISH-TV (The CW) / simulcast on UHF translator and Channel 23-3 WNDY-TV Marion (The CW) - 12 games http://wishtv.com/2015/03/19/wish-tv-is-th...-and-white-sox/ I noticed that Des Moines is missing this year, which had 25 Sox games televised last year on Channel 13-3 WHO-DT (Antenna TV). WHO-DT is owned by Tribune Company (the same owner as WGN-TV), so I see no reason why Des Moines is excluded. Indianapolis is new for 2015, but only 12 games will be aired out of 55 games that are available. But the same TV station (and a co-owned sister station) in Indy are going to air the entire package of 45 Cubs games. In most of the markets listed above, expect 3 more Sox games against the Cubs to air on a different channel that are produced by WLS-TV having Cubs announcers. Edited April 8, 2015 by InTheDriversSeat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cabiness42 Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 Most of these channels (anything with a -2 or -3 in the number) are subchannels. DirecTV does not carry subchannels and neither does Dish Newtork the last time I checked. If you have one of those providers, you'll need to have a digital antenna (and live close enough to the station) in order to get these channels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickofypres Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 I'm over one too many states. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heads22 Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 WHO said they wouldn't be in DesMoines, but KCWI might http://twitter.com/HotStoveCubbies/status/...6011136/photo/1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balta1701 Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 I am pretty sure I have not watched WGN this calendar year and expect that to be the case for the next many years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bananarchy Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 QUOTE (woods of ypres @ Mar 21, 2015 -> 11:48 AM) I'm over one too many states. I'm over 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InTheDriversSeat Posted March 23, 2015 Author Share Posted March 23, 2015 (edited) Most of these channels (anything with a -2 or -3 in the number) are subchannels. DirecTV does not carry subchannels and neither does Dish Newtork the last time I checked. If you have one of those providers, you'll need to have a digital antenna (and live close enough to the station) in order to get these channels. That's correct. DirecTV, Dish Network, and AT&T U-verse usually do not provide digital sub-channels of local stations (unless a sub-channel is an affiliate of a Big 4 Network: ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, which is sometimes the case in small TV markets like Quincy, IL). However cable TV provides most sub-channels. But viewers do not need to pay for any of those services because the stations I listed are available for free using an antenna. There really is no such thing as a "digital antenna", which is a marketing hoax. An antenna purchased 25 years ago will receive digital TV stations and work the same as an antenna that is purchased today. Viewers should be careful when buying a new antenna because most antennas sold today can not receive VHF signals (channels 2 thru 13). Make certain that the antenna is capable of receiving both VHF and UHF signals, because a few TV stations still transmit on VHF. After 2009, most TV stations moved to UHF but continue to identify using their historical VHF channel number. But several of the TV stations that will be showing Sox games this season still transmit on VHF: WREX Rockford Display channel 13, Transmits on VHF channel 13 KCRG-TV Cedar Rapids Display channel 9, Transmits on VHF channel 9 WGEM-TV Quincy Display channel 10, Transmits on VHF channel 10 WISH-TV Indianapolis Display channel 8, Transmits on VHF channel 9 (WISH-TV also has a UHF translator station that displays as channel 8 but transmits on UHF channel 17, and a simulcast on sister WNDY-TV Marion Channel 23-3 for the benefit of viewers who are not using a VHF antenna or have trouble receiving the VHF signal) WHO said they wouldn't be in DesMoines, but KCWI might http://twitter.com/HotStoveCubbies/status/...6011136/photo/1 Thank you for finding this. Apparently the memo linked at the top from WGN Sports is incomplete. On your link, I see 20 Sox games, and 30 Cubs games. 3 of the 20 Sox games are against the Cubs, but with Sox announcers, therefore the Cubs total is 33 if the Sox broadcasts are added in. This Des Moines TV station is not taking the entire WGN package from either team, which is 55 Sox games available, and 45 Cubs games available. So here is a new addition to my original list: Des Moines Channel 23-1 KCWI-TV Ames / 23-2 KDMI Des Moines (The CW) - 20 games Edited April 8, 2015 by InTheDriversSeat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3GamesToLove Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 QUOTE (woods of ypres @ Mar 21, 2015 -> 10:48 AM) I'm over one too many states. QUOTE (AustinIllini @ Mar 22, 2015 -> 01:46 PM) I'm over 4 At least you two aren't in the blackout zone, though. You can just shell out for EI/mlb.tv If you live in Quincy, Springfield, Decatur, Champaign, or Indy... you're screwed. There are dozens of games you'll miss out on entirely, with no legal way to watch. Having to shell out $130+ to watch games sucks, especially if you were used to catching a chunk of them on the superstation. But this way you can get the rest of the games, too. I'm sure you've been searching for an excuse to give the wife to subscribe. Plus, you don't have to listen to Hawk! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iwritecode Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 QUOTE (InTheDriversSeat @ Mar 21, 2015 -> 12:48 AM) Rockford Channel 13-3 WREX Rockford (Me TV) - all 55 games I can pick up this channel while I'm camping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lasttriptotulsa Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 QUOTE (3GamesToLove @ Mar 23, 2015 -> 10:15 AM) At least you two aren't in the blackout zone, though. You can just shell out for EI/mlb.tv If you live in Quincy, Springfield, Decatur, Champaign, or Indy... you're screwed. There are dozens of games you'll miss out on entirely, with no legal way to watch. Having to shell out $130+ to watch games sucks, especially if you were used to catching a chunk of them on the superstation. But this way you can get the rest of the games, too. I'm sure you've been searching for an excuse to give the wife to subscribe. Plus, you don't have to listen to Hawk! Yep, I'm kind of no man's land where I am. I live in the sliver of White Sox territory in SW Wisconsin. The closest station to me that will be broadcasting these games will be out of Moline (around 90 miles). Even if I were to purchase a good antenna I don't think I would be able to pick up much of a signal. Way to go MLB. Because of your ridiculous blackout rules you won't get the $100+ I would have shelled out for MLB.tv and will instead get nothing as you force me to illegally stream these 55 games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WilliamTell Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 QUOTE (woods of ypres @ Mar 21, 2015 -> 11:48 AM) I'm over one too many states. I'm over 1 too many counties to get Waterloo, Iowa stations. Dangit! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InTheDriversSeat Posted March 25, 2015 Author Share Posted March 25, 2015 (edited) Yep, I'm kind of no man's land where I am. I live in the sliver of White Sox territory in SW Wisconsin. The closest station to me that will be broadcasting these games will be out of Moline (around 90 miles). Even if I were to purchase a good antenna I don't think I would be able to pick up much of a signal. Way to go MLB. Because of your ridiculous blackout rules you won't get the $100+ I would have shelled out for MLB.tv and will instead get nothing as you force me to illegally stream these 55 games. The reason why there is the sliver of White Sox / Cubs / Brewers territory in southwest Wisconsin is that you are close to Dubuque, and MLB thinks your area should be able to receive TV (over-the-air or cable) from the 'Cedar Rapids - Waterloo - Iowa City - Dubuque' market. Problem is that Dubuque is located alot farther away from the other 3 towns, which are closer to each other. If you are located at Dickeyville, Wisconsin, the closest TV station is not Moline (Quad Cities). The closest TV station from your location is KCRG-TV Cedar Rapids. You might be able to receive KCRG-TV using a quality, roof-mounted, outdoor VHF / UHF antenna pointed west by southwest. Make certain that the antenna is capable of receiving both VHF and UHF signals, because most antennas sold nowadays are 'UHF Only'. After 2009, most TV stations moved to new UHF channel numbers (because UHF is easier to receive than VHF), but the stations continue to identify with their original channel numbers. KCRG-TV did not move to UHF, and transmits on VHF channel 9. The tower for KCRG-TV is located about halfway between Cedar Rapids and Waterloo, near Walker, Iowa, which is around 65 - 70 miles from your location. The terrain in your area is very hilly, plus VHF signals can be harder to receive, so you can only try to see what happens, and ask for a refund if the antenna does not work. According to this map at the FCC's website, you are located with the reception area of KCRG-TV: http://www.bing.com/maps/?mapurl=http://tr...%26state=IA.kml That takes care of 55 games (58 if you include Crosstown games with Cubs announcers). For 106 Sox games (98 games live, and 8 games delayed), I think you should be able to receive 'Comcast SportsNet Chicago' on DirecTV. According to this website, when I type in the zip code for Dickeyville, Wisconsin (53808), the channel number is 665: http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/funct...s_sports_lookup So DirecTV together with an outdoor antenna might work. Let me know if the DirecTV information is not accurate. I'm over 1 too many counties to get Waterloo, Iowa stations. Dangit! You should get the phone with Channel 3 KIMT Mason City (CBS on 3-1, my network TV on 3-2). That TV station is located in the zone that is eligible to carry 55 White Sox games and 45 Cubs games produced by WGN Sports. Edited April 8, 2015 by InTheDriversSeat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lasttriptotulsa Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 QUOTE (InTheDriversSeat @ Mar 25, 2015 -> 04:59 AM) The reason why there is the sliver of White Sox / Cubs / Brewers territory in southwest Wisconsin is that you are close to Dubuque, and MLB thinks your area should be able to receive TV (over-the-air or cable) from the 'Cedar Rapids - Waterloo - Iowa City - Dubuque' market. Problem is that Dubuque is located alot farther away from the other 3 towns, which are closer to each other. If you are located at Dickeyville, Wisconsin, the closest TV station is not Moline (Quad Cities). The closest TV station from your location is KCRG-TV Cedar Rapids. You might be able to receive KCRG-TV using a quality, roof-mounted, outdoor VHF / UHF antenna pointed west by southwest. Make certain that the antenna is capable of receiving both VHF and UHF signals, because most antennas sold nowadays are 'UHF Only'. After 2009, most TV stations moved to new UHF channel numbers (because UHF is easier to receive than VHF), but the stations continue to identify with their original channel numbers. KCRG-TV did not move to UHF, and transmits on VHF channel 9. The tower for KCRG-TV is located about halfway between Cedar Rapids and Waterloo, near Walker, Iowa, which is around 65 - 70 miles from your location. The terrain in your area is very hilly, plus VHF signals can be harder to receive, so you can only try to see what happens, and ask for a refund if the antenna does not work. According to this map at the FCC's website, you are located with the reception area of KCGR-TV: http://www.bing.com/maps/?mapurl=http://tr...%26state=IA.kml That takes care of 55 games (58 if you include Crosstown games with Cubs announcers). For 106 Sox games (98 games live, and 8 games delayed), I think you should be able to receive 'Comcast SportsNet Chicago' on DirecTV. According to this website, when I type in the zip code for Dickeyville, Wisconsin (53808), the channel number is 665: http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/funct...s_sports_lookup So DirecTV together with an outdoor antenna might work. Let me know if the DirecTV information is not accurate. You should get the phone with Channel 3 KIMT Mason City (CBS on 3-1, my network TV on 3-2). That TV station is located in the zone that is eligible to carry 55 White Sox games and 45 Cubs games produced by WGN Sports. Yea I get all the Comcast games with Dish Network. When it was just the 20 or so games that were on WCIU that I missed out on that was okay, but now that WGN America is not carrying any it is just too many to miss. I might have to give an antenna a try and see what happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrangeSox Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 As someone without a cable/satellite subscription and a big antenna in my attic, this is good news. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InTheDriversSeat Posted March 28, 2015 Author Share Posted March 28, 2015 (edited) As someone without a cable/satellite subscription and a big antenna in my attic, this is good news. If you are located in Woodridge, Illinois, you should be able to receive both Channel 9 WGN-TV and Channel 50 WPWR-TV with some good rabbit ears (not cheap ones). Of course your big attic antenna will help to receive other TV stations (that don't carry any baseball) which are harder to receive like Channel 2 WBBM-TV and low-power stations. Way to go MLB. Because of your ridiculous blackout rules you won't get the $100+ I would have shelled out for MLB.tv and will instead get nothing as you force me to illegally stream these 55 games. Yea I get all the Comcast games with Dish Network. When it was just the 20 or so games that were on WCIU that I missed out on that was okay, but now that WGN America is not carrying any it is just too many to miss. I might have to give an antenna a try and see what happens. MLB's blackout rules haven't changed. I think the blame should be directed at Peter Liguori, the CEO of Tribune Media. He is the one who decided that WGN America will no longer carry any Chicago sports or news. He is the one who wants to make WGN America more like TNT, TBS, FX, USA Network or whatever. He is the reason why 33 Sox games that were aired on WGN America last season are no longer available (30 games + 1 pre-season + 2 Crosstown games with Cubs announcers). Tribune Media really had a nice deal in the past because Chicago sports were available to a national cable audience, but Tribune only paid for the local rights to air the games. I know alot of fans are upset, but they have other options to view the missing 33 games like MLB.tv and MLB Extra Innings (outside the zone), or local broadcast affiliates (inside the zone). Problems occur however when local affiliates are not carried by cable/satellite, or reception problems, or partial schedules are picked-up, or no TV station at all wants to pick-up the games in a particular town. I think the White Sox management are disappointed too because the Sox no longer have the additional national exposure. Former Chicagoans living across the USA can no longer view the games unless they pay extra money. I can no longer suggest to my family and friends from out-of-state that they can watch the games of my favorite team on WGN America. The only positive from the changes this year is that a larger amount of syndicated games are available to local stations. Previously 'WGN Sports On The U' had 25 Sox games available. This season the amount of games has increased to 55 games available (58 including ABC7 productions with Cubs announcers). Edited March 28, 2015 by InTheDriversSeat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InTheDriversSeat Posted April 8, 2015 Author Share Posted April 8, 2015 (edited) The first regular season game televised by WGN Sports will be tomorrow night, April 8th at Kansas City, starting at 7 PM Central. Here are the 6 TV stations across the network that will air the game: Chicago WGN-TV, Channel 9 (The CW) Rockford WREX, Channel 13-3 (Me TV) Quad Cities WQAD-TV Moline, Channel 8-3 (my network TV) Cedar Rapids / Waterloo / Iowa City KCRG-TV Cedar Rapids, Channel 9-2 (my network TV) Peoria / Bloomington, IL WAOE Peoria, Channel 59 (my network TV) South Bend WSJV Elkhart, IN, Channel 28-2 (H&I Heroes & Icons) The home game on Saturday, April 11th against Minnesota, with Pregame starting at 12:30 PM, will be televised on 8 television stations: Chicago WGN-TV, Channel 9 (The CW) Rockford WREX, Channel 13-3 (Me TV) Quad Cities WQAD-TV Moline, Channel 8-3 (my network TV) Cedar Rapids / Waterloo / Iowa City KCRG-TV Cedar Rapids, Channel 9-1 (ABC) Des Moines KCWI-TV Ames, Channel 23 (The CW) / simulcast on KDMI Des Moines, Channel 23-2 (The CW) Peoria / Bloomington, IL WAOE Peoria, Channel 59 (my network TV) South Bend WSJV Elkhart, IN, Channel 28-2 (H&I Heroes & Icons) Fort Wayne WANE-TV, Channel 15-2 (Antenna TV) I have also found several station schedules that became available after my original message was posted: Rockford http://www.wrex.com/story/28732230/2015/04...x-games-on-metv Des Moines http://www.kcwi23.com/great_day/2015-cubs-...dcast-schedule/ Peoria (new link because original link no longer works) http://my59.tv/programs/chicago-white-sox-on-my59/ Springfield / Decatur / Champaign http://files.sj-r.com/media/news/CW23cubssox.pdf Indianapolis WISH-TV Indianapolis, Channel 8 (The CW) is now simulcast on WNDY-TV Marion, Channel 23-3. 12 games will be carried. http://wishtv.com/2015/03/31/you-can-now-s...n-channel-23-3/ Edited April 8, 2015 by InTheDriversSeat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Middle Buffalo Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 This kills my ability to see games with any regularity. I could usually count on seeing the Sox a few times a month. Now I have to rely on ESPN and mlb network, and they're virtually nonexistent on both channels. Actually, this probably does more damage to the Cubs since they have a larger national following that depended on Wgn games. Bad timing for Cubs fans out of market. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3GamesToLove Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 QUOTE (Middle Buffalo @ Apr 7, 2015 -> 10:01 PM) This kills my ability to see games with any regularity. I could usually count on seeing the Sox a few times a month. Now I have to rely on ESPN and mlb network, and they're virtually nonexistent on both channels. Actually, this probably does more damage to the Cubs since they have a larger national following that depended on Wgn games. Bad timing for Cubs fans out of market. So you're in the same situation as out-of-market fans of every other team. Braves fans across the country lost this (to a greater degree, as I believe way more Braves games were on TBS than Sox games on WGN, and maybe even way more than Cubs games on WGN) As I said, fortunately for you, you're not in the blackout zone so you can get Extra Innings or mlb.tv and watch every game. Fans in parts of Iowa, Indiana etc have no such luck. I realize that it sucks because of what we've grown accustomed to, but I think out-of-market fans need to realize how ridiculously lucky they were for decades to get to see Sox/Cubs games on cable basically nationwide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cabiness42 Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 I got a Roku for Christmas, so I decided to fork over the dough for MLBEI this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3GamesToLove Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Apr 8, 2015 -> 08:22 AM) I got a Roku for Christmas, so I decided to fork over the dough for MLBEI this year. MLB EI is through your cable/satellite provider. I assume you mean mlb.tv? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elrockinMT Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Mar 21, 2015 -> 10:00 PM) I am pretty sure I have not watched WGN this calendar year and expect that to be the case for the next many years. I am in a state of depression over this at the moment. I had been checking to see if I would be able to watch Sox games over WGN-A this season. I was answered by Sox public affairs saying yes that the Sox had a contract for WGN to carry 35 Sox games in 2015. But, WGN-A said they don't carry sports. Since I live in MT I just wasn't sure of the difference between WGN and WGN-A. All I see over Charter Com cable TV is WGN-A and broadcasting a bunch of syndicated TV shows-all reruns of course but no baseball. I probably will not watch WGN-A anymore. I am considering MLB-TV streaming over royko oir some other device. I think the cost is about $20 a month Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3GamesToLove Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Apr 8, 2015 -> 04:55 PM) I am in a state of depression over this at the moment. I had been checking to see if I would be able to watch Sox games over WGN-A this season. I was answered by Sox public affairs saying yes that the Sox had a contract for WGN to carry 35 Sox games in 2015. But, WGN-A said they don't carry sports. Since I live in MT I just wasn't sure of the difference between WGN and WGN-A. All I see over Charter Com cable TV is WGN-A and broadcasting a bunch of syndicated TV shows-all reruns of course but no baseball. I probably will not watch WGN-A anymore. I am considering MLB-TV streaming over royko oir some other device. I think the cost is about $20 a month And that's to get just about every Sox game all season, rather than just the 50-60 you've been getting on WGNA. It's a steal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elrockinMT Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 QUOTE (3GamesToLove @ Apr 9, 2015 -> 02:05 PM) And that's to get just about every Sox game all season, rather than just the 50-60 you've been getting on WGNA. It's a steal. I think so too. But, I will have to wait just abit until my wife is done with The Voice and American Idol so I can have the heavy machinery back that being the remote control Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elrockinMT Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 QUOTE (Middle Buffalo @ Apr 8, 2015 -> 04:01 AM) This kills my ability to see games with any regularity. I could usually count on seeing the Sox a few times a month. Now I have to rely on ESPN and mlb network, and they're virtually nonexistent on both channels. Actually, this probably does more damage to the Cubs since they have a larger national following that depended on Wgn games. Bad timing for Cubs fans out of market. Yes, but think how lucky you are to be able to watch every Yankees-Red Sox game on ESPN and MLB-N Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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