Maybe you more knowledgeable sorts can answer this for me. Like some of those commercials would go, I am in Connecticut, but I want to see the North Carolina at Ohio State game today. First, I see In-Demand pay per view can solve the problem for $14.95. I don't want to see the game that badly. Then I see my ABC affiliate is carrying the same game.
Is there any reason both a pay service and free service would show the same game? Is this a rarity? Does In Demand check what the networks and cable channels are airing and work around this? Do all ABC affiliates air the same game at the same time? It seems dumb for In Demand to air something being given free.

QUOTE (Jim @ Sep 13 2003, 10:02 AM)

Maybe you more knowledgeable sorts can answer this for me.  Like some of those commercials would go, I am in Connecticut, but I want to see the North Carolina at Ohio State game today.  First, I see In-Demand pay per view can solve the problem for $14.95.  I don't want to see the game  that badly.  Then I see my ABC affiliate is carrying the same game.       Is there any reason both a pay service and free service would show the same game?  Is this a rarity?  Does In Demand check what the networks and cable channels are airing and work around this?  Do all ABC affiliates air the same game at the same time?  It seems dumb for In Demand to air something being given free.

Actually, they don't. While most of the nation is getting NC State/Ohio State at 12N ET today, a good chunk of the nation (mostly in the SEC and Big 12 regions) is getting Arkansas/Texas. For the ESPN GamePlan doubleheaders on InDemand, they try to isolate the four best games regardless of availability in any particular market (picking usually from the games that start at 12N and 3:30PM ET) and show those (I believe those are the games priced at $14.95). They also offer (subject to availability) a season package on separate channels that's $119 but gives you more games (including all ABC games--although games shown on ABC in your area will be blacked out).

I have the package, although I'm actually away from home this weekend (and am posting remotely) so I will only be getting what ABC offers me over-the-air.

Not sure if I completely explained it properly, but there you go. Any questions, feel free to E-mail (so those we don't clog up the board with a way off-topic thread).

Doug--soon to celebrate 100 posts (even remotely)