I've had quite a few questions about the local TV broadcast of Saturday's USF game at Louisville -- much of the confusion had to do with DirecTV's schedule showing the game on WFTS Ch. 28, the ABC affliliate in Tampa.
The game will be on Bright House Sports Network (previously Catch 47), and I checked with Ch. 28 on Monday -- they'll instead be showing the Florida State-Virginia Tech game, which like USF, kicks off at 3:30 p.m.
The Big East says the game will be available as part of ESPN's "GamePlan" premium package, though ESPN.com's own schedule doesn't reflect that. If you're not a Bright House customer, one option is SportsNet New York, which is scheduled to show the game live. If you're a DirecTV customer, for instance, you can get SNY as part of its premium sports package, which costs $12 for a month and can be cancelled with no additional charges. SNY also has UConn-Cincinnati at noon, so you get a Big East doubleheader ...
Times sportswriter Greg Auman, who covers USF, will post news and thoughts on the Bulletin and we invite your participation in the comments area.
According to ESPN.com's schedule, the game will be on ESPN360.com. Again, not all ISPs get access to ESPN360.com, so if you haven't watched a game there, it's good to check ahead of time ...
Posted by: G.A. | October 22, 2008 at 10:23 PM
I saw somewhere (think it was the ESPN score tracker) that the game would be on ESPN 360. Hope that helps Joe.
Posted by: Cat | October 22, 2008 at 09:42 PM
Will the game be on espn 360? also how do i get the espn gameplan on verizon fios?
Posted by: joe | October 21, 2008 at 06:20 PM
This is the reason I will never switch to setellite. Bright House usually air at least 2 to 3 football games per year and at least half the Men's basketball schedule.
Satellite Blows!!!!!!
Posted by: USF Top Ten by the end | October 21, 2008 at 02:43 PM
Speaking of which, I'll be on Bright House just after Jim Leavitt's news conference today at 1 p.m. ...
Posted by: G.A. | October 21, 2008 at 11:31 AM
If you've never seen Bright House Sports Channel, your missing out. With all the local high school football, fishing and USF games and press conferences, it is worth it. Verizon may give you CMT in HD , but you get nothing local.
Posted by: Tim | October 21, 2008 at 10:47 AM
I'm with Cat, Love the DirecTV sports-pack. Can usually catch all the Big East games every weekend & it's cheaper than ESPN GamePlan.
Posted by: Norb | October 21, 2008 at 09:28 AM
Perhaps there are costs involved in picking up one game that aren't involved in others. I don't know all the specifics of this decision. Perhaps the station sees the ACC Championship game coming to Tampa in six weeks and wants to showcase two teams who could be coming to town. Honestly don't know.
Posted by: G.A. | October 21, 2008 at 09:00 AM
"Geographical proximity"? Greg, this is the home team! This isn't carrying the game of the more distant FSU rather than the the nearer UCF.
Posted by: Ken | October 21, 2008 at 07:31 AM
Boycott channel 28! :) So, the options for Verizon customers are go to a friend's house, go to a sports bar, or listen on the radio?
Posted by: Ken | October 21, 2008 at 07:28 AM
Thank God for the Sportspack from Directv. Will be watching.
Posted by: Cat | October 20, 2008 at 11:13 PM
What about ESPN360?
Posted by: Jay | October 20, 2008 at 11:05 PM
Again, geographic proximity isn't the only factor in the decision, and the fact that it's available on another channel for some viewers could weigh in as well ...
Posted by: G.A. | October 20, 2008 at 09:42 PM
All that's true, but those teams are from other cities--USF is from Tampa. That's just awful. Where are LeeRoy Selmon and president Genshaft?
Posted by: Ken | October 20, 2008 at 09:06 PM
Greg,
We need some basketball info and answers as to why Stan can't recruit anyone to play here!
Givon Crump, another one bites the DUST.
Stan must go!
He is supposed to be a recruiter, and what has he done??
Posted by: reality | October 20, 2008 at 07:47 PM
Joe, both sides of the ACC are fighting to make the Championship game, and FSU probably can't lose another game and make it. It's important for both teams.
Posted by: Windbane | October 20, 2008 at 07:15 PM
I am sure your local watering hole will have the game on. The USF Alumni Association has watch parties at various locations in the Bay Area.
Posted by: Don Corleone | October 20, 2008 at 06:42 PM
Doesn't look like Verizon FIOS TV gets SportsNet New York, so you'd have to go with GamePlan.
Posted by: G.A. | October 20, 2008 at 06:30 PM
Hey Greg, what about Verizon?
Posted by: Jordan | October 20, 2008 at 06:22 PM
G.A. is right. I know it's a conference game, but with them being in different halves of the conference it doesn't matter as much, because they can still win out their side and play in the conference championship game.
Or maybe I'm just mad that Knology won't be showing the game. :)
Posted by: Joe | October 20, 2008 at 04:20 PM
Guys. Virginia Tech was ranked last week, FSU is ranked this week. It's essentially two ranked teams. Louisville is not, has not and likely won't be ranked. It's just as much a conference game as the USF-Lville game is.
Posted by: G.A. | October 20, 2008 at 04:12 PM
Does anyone actually have Brighthouse?
Posted by: | October 20, 2008 at 03:52 PM
Yeah let's not show the conference game between USF (16 in BCS) and Louisville that could have Big East championship implications.
Let's show a semi-conference game between FSU (25 in BCS) and Virginia Tech.
ABC = Fail
Posted by: Joe | October 20, 2008 at 03:38 PM