Blacked Out
August 14th, 2012
Joe’s good friend, sports director Dave Wirth at WTSP-TV Channel 10, the preseason TV home of the Bucs, just confirmed via his Twitter feed that the Bucs game Friday against the Titans did not sell out by today’s 7:30 p.m. NFL-mandated deadline and thus will be blacked out from live broadcasts in the Tampa and Orlando TV markets.
In short, fans failed to lap up a minimum of 85 percent of the stadium’s non-premium seats.
@TBDave: Bucs confirm… Friday’s game
is blacked out, no 85%…
However, the game will be broadcast of a tape-delayed basis by WTSP three times, per the station’s website.
Friday night’s pre-season football game will be blacked out, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have announced.
10 News will air the game on a delay. The game will be shown on channel 10 beginning Friday night at 11:35. At approximately 2:35 a.m., we’ll broadcast David Letterman and Craig Ferguson.
The Bucs game will be re-aired Saturday from 9am to noon on 10.2. A third replay will be aired on 10.1 from noon to 3 p.m. The CBS sports spectaculars will air at 1 and 2 p.m. on 10.2.
The channels “10.1” and “10.2” are the station’s severe weather channel that is available on local cable carriers.
Add to that the NFL Network rebroadcasts, and Bucs fans who aren’t going to the game will have ample opportunities to see the game.
August 14th, 2012 at 8:34 pm
LOL, did they really expect the Bucs vs Titans Preseason to sell out ?
August 14th, 2012 at 9:06 pm
Simple question. What value is there for WTSP to broadcast preseason games on tape delay at midnight? I can’t imagine that being a big money maker for them. Do they really make enough off of the two road preseason games to justify paying to broadcast the other two so late at night?
I guess the obvious answer to that is yes, but are they doing it as more of a loss leader than revenue generator.
For the life of me, I still can’t see the long term purpose in making the preseason games pay per view, especially when the league wants to expand globally. You aren’t going to generate many new fans in places like China when you are charging people to watch/listen to the preseason games on their computers.
August 14th, 2012 at 9:22 pm
Blackout the pre-season….that’s a great way to excite the fan base.
August 14th, 2012 at 9:33 pm
When the second half of these games consists of watching future beer truck drivers and security guards attempting to play NFL football why bother watching anyway?
Last week I turned it off at half-time and the NFL expects me to PAY to watch that crap?
August 14th, 2012 at 9:35 pm
You have got to be kidding…it’s a practice game and they are going to not show it…they do not understand marketing
August 14th, 2012 at 9:35 pm
The Giants-Jaguars game was on local TV up here but the crowd was very sparse. No weather problems.
August 14th, 2012 at 10:59 pm
Well I know it’s only pre-season, but I’m stoked and ready for some live action. To all my Buc Brethren around the Country and Overseas, I wish you could be there with us. I will cheer loud and proud for you and keep you in our thoughts and prayers……………. as we systematically dismantle the Titans and instill fear in the other 31 team’s fandom.
August 14th, 2012 at 11:03 pm
This is a non issue. It’s preseason…it should be $10 at the gate. Nobody is going to pay full price.
August 14th, 2012 at 11:18 pm
As a season ticket holder I have always objected to paying full price for pre-season games. There is no two ways about it, it’s a major rip-off the NFL refuses to do anything about.
That there are no enough single tickets sold that are necessary to lift the blackout is HARDLY a surprise and means nothing.
Having typed that, the pre-season games are enjoyable in that it’s relaxing, fun to catch up with surrounding fans and that mostly die hards are there.
Hopefully the Carolina game will not be blacked out. No excuses, just go. My friends there is nothing better than being at the stadium for an NFL game on Sunday. At least not for legitimate fans of the game and the Buccaneers IMO.
Buccaneers in 2012?
Can’t WAIT!!!
August 15th, 2012 at 2:14 am
Crap. I’m coming in town Friday and was hoping to see the game. So tired of Eagles games.
August 15th, 2012 at 5:37 am
I don’t know if anyone anywhere loves watching (and more specifically, going) to football games more than me. I literally plan every vacation we ever take around the Bucs games. That being said, the preseason sucks! Don’t get me wrong, I watch every snap of every game we play, but I only do so because I feel an obligation as an obsessive fan to never miss a play. However, it’s just not exciting watching a bunch of guys who I don’t recognize (by number) playing under a very basic gameplan, most of which will never sniff a NFL regular season game. I totally understand why a fan wouldn’t want to pay money to watch that in person.
August 15th, 2012 at 7:14 am
Why in the world would anyone pay full price to see future accountants and school teachers live out the last of their high school/college football fantasies? Make the ticket price between 10 and 25 dollars with free parking and then maybe you’ll get people to come out and watch their UPS driver make a tackle.
August 15th, 2012 at 8:46 am
It is unfair to 100% blame the NFL or Goodell. They tried to change to an 18 game season with only 2 preseason games which would have only meant one that we pay for. The NFLPA rejected it soundly, like the stupid practice rules in pads, and not allowing players access to buildings when they are off. This is the kind of thing that makes Unions suck. They think they are making it better for their members and they actually make it worse. Drew Brees is an idiot, a rich idiot, but nevertheless an idiot. The PA needs new leadership and needs to renegotiate some of the stupid rules they bargained for. I blame the PA more than I blame the NFL.
August 15th, 2012 at 9:33 am
Even though this is pre-season… this is a HUGE indicator of what might evolve.
If a regular season gets blacked out, or the Glazers admit that they were forced to buy up to 85%, then the Glazers are all of a sudden in a great position to make plans to move the team.
Think about it, since the big free agent signings and all of the off-season moves and ticket reductions, the Glazers can claim to the NFL that they have “done all that they could have done” to get fans in the seats in Tampa Bay.
Now, after just 1 off-season of moves, now the Glazers have carved out some wiggle room from Tampa.
1st regular season game that get’s blacked out, expect these discussions to be hot and heavy.
August 15th, 2012 at 9:43 am
It’s preseason and nobody wants to pay full price to see third stringers trying to make the team, but seriously, the players should buy up the remaining tickets to get the games on TV, then they should give them away to the military or to their foundations and charities that most of them have. It’d be a win win for everybody.
August 15th, 2012 at 10:03 am
So I get to watch WWE Smackdown, take a short break, then watch the Bucs. OR I record the Bucs in HD, take the time the next day to convert it and watch the game in 3DHD.
I wish regular season games were rebroadcast like this.
I’m going on record…I think preseason games should be free just like training camps. Make them free, broadcast them ONLY on delay. That way they benefit season ticket holders and market the team.
August 15th, 2012 at 6:49 pm
There is no way on God’s Green Earth that Glazers are going to move the Bucs in the near future. We are talking about owners who’s butt cheeks are permanently squeezed together. They’re tighter than frog’s A-hole. No way they will lay out $1Billion in cash to build a stadium somewhere else for the Bucs to play. They have the perfect money making scenario here even when they don’t sell out. There stadium is actually less than free. Hello????? Dumbass alert!
August 18th, 2012 at 2:54 am
Bucs fans or so called football fans. There is no excuse why a professional football team in the state of Florida should have a problem selling out games. I don’t care if it is preseason. Hell you guys can’t sell out a regular season game! I have lived in Tampa for 8 years now and I don’t get it, maybe it’s because your franchise is still young. I’m a loyal Bear fan from Chitown, in fact I pay the NFL the $20 so i can watch “bears preseason” games and yes the future sales reps and bank managers. It’s all about knowing every guy on your roster. I don’t know about the rest of you fair weather fans but there are only 16 regular season games. If the NFL is gonna give me the appetizer before the entree then I’m all for it! Stop whining about blackouts and just go to the damn games! Tailgate, take your kids and family. Tradition is what this team needs.
August 23rd, 2012 at 8:45 pm
If the Bucs Fans fail to fill the stadium this year,expect the team to bolt for LA….many LA fans are now beinning to have Pack The Bucs Parties this preseason.
No fans in the seats, itwill be Goodbye Tampa Bay, Helloooo LA…..sad to see you go…Buc Fan from birth.