I’ve been nothing but pleased with Directv since I switch from Comcast to them last summer. Don’t disappoint me now. I know these things run down to the wire, so hopefully they’ll get it straightened out soon.

Posted by penguinsfan on 09/01/09 at 07:25 AM ET

I am in the same boat as you PF.  Hopefully, by the time the puck drops, we will once again be able to watch Versus.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 09/01/09 at 07:27 AM ET

good.. punishment for not showing the hurricanes this season.. I switched to DirecTV in June, am very happy with it.. and in this case.. I dont care… I have no reason to even send a nasty gram to either party which I would under normal circumstance..

Posted by canesice on 09/01/09 at 07:44 AM ET

I agree, although it’s not strictly a hockey issue....

Posted by Tony from Virginia Beach, VA on 09/01/09 at 08:00 AM ET

I prefer DirecTV too but I’m not that hopeful that they’ll work this out.  I guess we will see.

Posted by jennyquarx on 09/01/09 at 08:01 AM ET

I can’t see why Comcast would want to give DirectTV any programming. I assume they will do the same thing to Verizon Fios soon enough. Personally, I think Comcast sucks bigtime and will never subscribe to them again so if Versus gets dumped I guess I won’t watch Versus. But I won’t go crawling to Comcrap.....

Posted by kevin from boston on 09/01/09 at 08:55 AM ET

I watch my local team on the local sports network, I buy NHL Center Ice and I get the NHL Network. Most of the games Versus shows are games I don’t care about, other than the playoffs I rarely watch Versus.

Posted by Bo from FL. on 09/01/09 at 09:31 AM ET

The NHL needs to talk to Versus about this and get them to reach an agreement. The NHL can’t afford to lose Direct TV hockey audience

Posted by Randy from Butler PA on 09/01/09 at 11:31 AM ET

Agreed Randy, this power-play by Comcast (which is usally very hockey friendly) is going to be a terrible blow to Versus.  In addition to the millions of home viewers, many sports bars use DirecTV and this sort of debacle would be a deadly blow to NHL revenue and revenue growth.

That being said, now I’m cursing the fact that I have to stop being a loyal 10-year DirecTV customer and go with the evil empire.

Posted by Hippy Dave from San Francisco by way of Detroit on 09/01/09 at 12:21 PM ET

I think it’s funny they say comcast regulary “charge(s) us amounts well in excess of what is fair and reasonable”, when DirectTV charges the subscriber amounts that are well in excess of what is fair and reasonable for NFL Sunday Ticket.  Granted I’m sure the NFL has something to do with that.

Posted by DannyClearyFan on 09/01/09 at 01:25 PM ET

Thank Goodness for center ice!!
But I do feel for those who can’t get it for whatever reason.
It’s bad enough most fans can’t afford to go to any/many games.Now there making it so they can’t even watch them on TV.

Posted by Lindas1st from New England on 09/01/09 at 02:04 PM ET

Even with Center Ice, I’d assume that the games would be blacked out since VERSES would hold the national broadcasting rights to that particular game. The only exception would be if it’s your local team covered by your local regional network. So, since I’m out of the pittsburgh market, if this isn’t resolved, I’d miss 8 Penguins games because they’re carried nationally by VS. Or am I wrong here?

Posted by penguinsfan on 09/01/09 at 02:06 PM ET

I’m surprised there isn’t some sort of recourse to the FCC or similar body to license programming at “fair and reasonable” rates.  Monopolistic industries are often regulated with such provisions.

Posted by V on 09/01/09 at 03:46 PM ET

Even with Center Ice, I’d assume that the games would be blacked out since VERSES would hold the national broadcasting rights to that particular game.

Good point.

Posted by Lindas1st from New England on 09/01/09 at 04:47 PM ET

this is all about getting comcast sportsnet philadelphia onto directv.

Posted by FlyersFan on 09/01/09 at 08:19 PM ET

This makes me ill.  Having Center Ice will not help here, Versus gets exclusive rights to their games so they will be blacked out on Center Ice.  So I’m looking at missing at least nine Wings games plus whatever the playoffs brings.  I think I’m gonna be sick.

Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 09/02/09 at 02:47 PM ET

I’ve sent a letter to DIRECTV telling them how important VERSES is to me in order to be a customer. I suggest anyone concerned does the same:

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPageIFnorail.jsp?assetId=P4960010#h:1106.683

Posted by penguinsfan on 09/02/09 at 02:58 PM ET

F&^k Versus!!! Directv give us TSN and CBC full time, I would pay x-tra for that, and would never look back to Versus again, TSN and CBC cover the same games as Versus, with much better coverage.......including the playoffs.

Posted by P.M. from Cali on 09/17/09 at 09:33 PM ET

I’m personally pissed at DirectTV. They already charge me 80 bucks a month so i can watch the 3 channels i want in high def. The only thing i make time for in my schedule is hockey, and now they’re wanting me to fork over about 50% more each month to watch it.... They have the audacity to call comcast’s 20% hike outrageous, then in the same breath offer me a service i used to have for 50% more?

I call BS.

I’m tempted to pull the plug on both, and pay the NHL directly to stream games online.... at terrible quality, i’m sure.

Posted by David from Iowa on 10/02/09 at 10:47 AM ET