Bengals Thursday night game against the Rams will be blacked out

by Josh Kirkendall on Aug 24, 2009 11:44 PM EDT in Media

Jake briefly touched on this earlier. Joe Reedy writes that if you live in the Cincinnati area, you won't be able to see the Bengals play Thursday night.

For the first time since 2005 fans will not to be able to watch a Bengals game live locally on TV.

Thursday’s preseason game against St. Louis at Paul Brown Stadium is not anticipated to sell out by 7:30 p.m. on Monday, meaning it would be blacked out from airing live in Cincinnati and Dayton. Since Columbus and Louisville fall out of the 75-mile radius, the game would air live there.

If you're expecting to see the game on NFL Ticket, don't read the next line on Direct TV's website. "If it is blacked out on your local broadcast station, it will also be blacked out in your area on NFL SUNDAY TICKET." However, I'm not sure if NFL Ticket actually broadcasts preseason games. Any insight? Also, as a policy of SB Nation, we do not condone the act of illegal broadcasts on the internet to be promoted here. With that said, make sure you drop by if you find a broadcast so I can tell you of this policy again. Just saying.

WDR is ecstatic that regular football fans just wanting to sit back, have a beer and watch a meaningless preseason game to relax after a tough Thursday at work, won't be able to, saying:

If there is anything more of a ripoff then watching a Bengals game that matters (i.e. Before they are mathematically eliminated from the playoffs), it is a meaningless Bengals preseason game.

God, I hope this boycott works -- if that's what is actually happening. Preseason game. Full ticket prices. Thursday night. Economy. It could be just be a matter of falling on a bad night.

Tweet Comment 10 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

WDR is having illusions of grandeur.

Even so, it pisses me off that we won’t be able to catch this game live. I mean, it’ll be on tape delay at 11:35, so we can still TiVo and dissect the game, but come on! Blackouts are dumb.

by jsl413 on Aug 24, 2009 11:47 PM EDT reply actions

Or delusions

by FriarBob on Aug 25, 2009 12:14 AM EDT up reply actions

On the other hand, I am slightly curious about this bit in the snarf-fest and elbow-wrenching-self-back-patting comment thread there…

However, there WILL be a place you can go to watch (real) football on Sundays, drink for cheap and socialize with other WDR members. Stay tuned, the wheels are in motion…

More than likely, I’ll want to find out where this is so I can make sure I’m miles away, but maybe not…

by FriarBob on Aug 25, 2009 12:18 AM EDT up reply actions

I think they have the right idea

But sometimes they come across as self-righteous, no?

by jsl413 on Aug 25, 2009 12:26 AM EDT up reply actions

In spades.

by FriarBob on Aug 25, 2009 8:46 AM EDT up reply actions

Wow.

by Craig Conrad on Aug 25, 2009 12:01 AM EDT reply actions

I wouldn’t mind it if they had done it before it got to this point, but why was 19 the magic number? I think they picked the wrong offseason to make a point. the bengals have made sound moves this offseason and all they’re doing is making it so true fans can’t watch the games. yeah, it’s preseason, but as of yet the opening day game hasn’t sold out.

i live in philly, but i’d be pissed if i were in cincinnati.

by brandone on Aug 25, 2009 7:23 AM EDT reply actions

looks like JustinTV is going to be popular this week!

The torrent site works pretty good. Very grainy during fast action, but watchable.

Then you can watch it clearer when NFL network shows it later in the week.

Welcome to my world, gentlemen.

by UpStateMike on Aug 25, 2009 7:59 AM EDT reply actions

ZOMG ILLEGAL game watching

or you could try ustream….

by Squizza on Aug 25, 2009 11:54 AM EDT reply actions

At least we don't live in Detroit

I went to the Lions/Falcons preseason game while visiting some friends in Detroit, and despite a great stadium and a huge metro area compared with Cincinnati, there were probably under 40,000 in the 80,000 seat stadium, and this was on a Saturday, not a Thursday. Tickets were going for $5 or $6 on sites like stubhub. I know the Lions are terrible, but with a metro area of 4.5 million (ours is 2.1), you would think they could sell out. I dont blame WDR for this, it’s just the economy and bad timing. Plus, it’s not like the Rams are much of a draw, whereas Detroit fans might have wanted to see a legitimate team like the Falcons

by ritalin on Aug 26, 2009 3:35 PM EDT reply actions