Regional Blackouts Don't Make Sense

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I'm a Leafs fan. I have no problem saying that. I love the Leafs. Yes, I watch other teams, but it's so I can see players, not teams. For example, I used to watch Washington, to see how Eric Fehr was doing. That has since been resolved. In any case, I love watching the Leafs which is why I hate...regional blackouts.

Why is it that every Saturday night, I can be sure to see that little Filipina girl sign the anthem in T-dot, but this evening, TSN doesn't see fit to let me watch the game? Regional blackouts, that's why.

What is the purpose of these fucking things? It seems to me they take more money out of the hands of the NHL, the broadcaster and the cable companies than it helps put in. And I know that every single human being on Earth hates them. So, ok...money is the name of the game. But this can't help.

TSN, tonight, on TSN4, will air a black screen in place of the most popular hockey game in Canada, and therefore North America, and therefore the World. They are giving up on viewers outside of a certain limited region. That means that advertisers have less exposure, which makes their spots less valuable, which earns TSN less money. I know how this works. TSN is telling you that you don't matter, and that the money you pay for their network shouldn't afford you the ability to watch their programming.

Well, maybe it's to get people in the building?

Since when have the Toronto Maple Leafs had a problem getting butts in the seats? Since never, that's when. I couldn't even if I wanted too. It's a lengthy flight and a hotel stay, I'm not their target demographic for tickets.

So, subscribe and stream Leafs TV? Well, no, that's not available in this part of Canada.

So, subscribe and stream NHL GameCentre Live? Well, yeah, but it's blacked out.

So, subscribe and stream Sportsnet Live? I do, TSN has this game.

It is beyond my comprehension how a network that is as tired and failing as TSN can have any rights to Leafs games with their absolutely abysmal on-line presence. There is no reason to black out games.

Maybe they want me to be a Jets fan. Well, you can play all 82 fucking Jets games, all season long and I won't be one, that's not how it works. NHL, TSN, Sportsnet, etc etc, you are weakening your position in the sports entertainment world with these stupid fucking blackouts. You have made it so fans that know the schedule like the back of their hand, now have to jump between broadcasters, and then jump between channels, pray for a streaming service to carry it and then cave and stream it on some illegal network.

You are your own worst enemy, and your regional blackouts are bullshit.

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