Warnings Issued For Blacked Out Preseason Games
August 12th, 2010
Joe’s not the only one bracing for blacked out Bucs games.
JoeBucsFan.com has learned that advertisers in the WFLA-TV, Ch. 8 broadcast of the Bucs-Chiefs home preseason game on Saturday, Aug. 21, have been warned the game might not be shown live. And, if blacked out, the broadcast would be rescheduled to air at 11 a.m. the following day.
Joe took a break from bringing you loads of cool information from the Sirius NFL Radio tour stop yesterday at One Buc Palace to do a bit of real journalism.
(Might as well dust off that damned journalism degree Joe has stashed in his office desk drawer at home).
Bucs beat writer Anwar Richardson, of The Tampa Tribune, said today there was a possibility of both Bucs home preseason games being blacked out, during an appearance on The King David Show on WQYK-AM 1010.
So Joe then started working his phone.
Under the condition of anonymity, a knowledgable source at Media General, owner of The Tampa Tribune and WFLA-TV Channel 8, which owns the broadcast rights for Bucs preseason gams, delivered Joe some disturbing information that reinforced Richardson’s contention: that Bucs preseason blackouts are a strong likelihood.
This is the verbatim response Joe got from his source:
Joe: Heard Anwar on the radio suggest Bucs home preseason games may be blacked out. True or false?
Source: Very true. Only saving grace would be if the Bucs decide to eat the tickets at the last second. Everyone who bought ads for the broadcasts have already been warned. Blackout would cover Bay area/Orlando. Fort Myers and Tallahassee would be spared.
Joe then decided to call cool cat Dan Lucas, sports director for WFLA-TV. Lucas told Joe that games have up to 72 hours before kickoff to sell out. If the deadline is not met, the NFL has the option of blacking out the live broadcast of the game. Lucas said, however, that WFLA is proceeding with standard broadcast plans as normal unless told otherwise by the NFL.
If the Chiefs-Bucs game, for example, is blacked out, WFLA will broadcast the game on a tape delayed basis the next day, Sunday, Aug. 22 at 11 a.m.
Additionally, Lucas said, NFL Network games could be affected as well. The NFL Network rebroadcasts all NFL preseason games. If a Bucs home preseason game is blacked out, the NFL Network cannot broadcast that specific Bucs game until the local affiliate has first aired the game. So the first broadcast of all Bucs preseason games, live or tape delayed, will be seen on WFLA before being shown on NFL Network.
Joe sees a preseason Bucs blackout as a great way for Team Glazer to shock the fan base into the real possibility of regular season games being blacked out locally for the first time since the mid-1990s.
After tens of thousands of empty seats at Bucs games last year, it’s clear that desperate measures will need to be taken to get the whole 2010 schedule on TV.
Clarification: It is the NFL, not the Bucs, which deems a locally broadcast game to be blacked out.
August 12th, 2010 at 4:24 pm
Joe .. Maybe you can help with a technical question …
I have WFTV in Melbourne .. But am technically 150 miles from Tampa … Would i have the game or would it be blacked out since WFTV is with 75 miles of the stadium ??
August 12th, 2010 at 4:25 pm
Okay… so lets say this happens.
Do you really think that it will ‘shock’ the fans into actually buying tickets?
August 12th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
Wow, I haven’t sen a blacked out pre-season game since Hugh!
Nice work Glazer boys!
August 12th, 2010 at 4:44 pm
You’re blacked out javato24.
August 12th, 2010 at 4:52 pm
The bonus about blackouts; central Floridians will get the chance to watch more competitive football games each Sunday!
August 12th, 2010 at 4:56 pm
Joe .. Maybe you can write an article about who really wins ..
Game is blacked out … an extra 1500 people go and buy tickets to the game
or
Game is blacked out .. 3 Million people now are not seeing the new product on the field and find something else to do
It obviously goes deeper than than that .. But in the end the Glazers would be hurt by the declining Buc interest
August 12th, 2010 at 5:07 pm
Ayyyeeeee JA-VAAAtooooooo…
Why are you begging for Joe’s attention?
JBF readers already have to put up with JimBuc seeking Joe’s rebuttles on a daily basis.
August 12th, 2010 at 5:08 pm
javato24…In theory you may be right, but this is Tampa bay, home of the bandwagon fan. Sure, we have our diehards, and some of them are even negative. You will find these fans on sites like this one. Once the Bucs start to rack up some wins the interest will be back and the seats will start to sell again.
August 12th, 2010 at 5:21 pm
News Flash everyone. This 2010, the age of twitter, facebook and multi-media, 24-7 internet access cell phones (PDA’s to others).
Every single team in the NFL has a internet fanbase following their team’s coverage. You can go to ANY team’s fanbase forums, local comments, blogs whatever, and find the opomistic fan and the pessimistic fan. Every team.
I’m sure the Ram’s have fans that aren’t too happy, for not too long ago they were the greatest show on turn.
I’m sure the Raider’s fans that aren’t too happy, and they played us in the Super Bowl and lost. I’m sure they wish they had Jon Gruden coaching them, and I’m sure they think the fans who ran Gruden out of town are the biggest pu$$y$ of all time.
I’m sure the 49 fans want more.
I’m sure the Steeler fans aren’t exactly raving about their head coach. Go to their forum and you can see some disgust.
And yes, there are even Dallas and Patriot fans who aren’t too thrilled about this or that. Wade Phillips, Bill Bellicheat not punting (although Patriot fans are the most satisfied in all the NFL, minus the Saints).
Philly ran McNabb out of town. There were even Colts fans who got tired of Tony Dungy!
It’s everywhere fellas.
Learn to deal with this new era of information overload 24/7.
Joe has.
August 12th, 2010 at 5:35 pm
Jvato:
What station broadcasts preseason Bucs games in your neck of the the woods?
If that station is from Orlando the live broadcast will be blacked out.
August 12th, 2010 at 6:19 pm
Shock the fans into buying tickets?? Really? That’s a joke! You know the T.T.O.TS ( Twin Towers of truth, as the late great Chris Thomas use to call them ) are begging to all mighty god for Rah Rah to be able to turn this team into a winner. Because if not I see ALOT of blackouts coming for next foreseeable future.
August 12th, 2010 at 6:32 pm
Not worried, going to the games, tailgating- happy dance cause It’s football season!!
August 12th, 2010 at 6:46 pm
Javier, I hate to say it…but you are correct.
August 12th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
So Javier…just insirt any city into my post. I did say thast even diehards can be negative. I am refering to the people I see that have changed back to the Fins or one of the NY teams. I know you negative guys on here are die hards, otherwise you would not be on here so much. I am Tampa is a big transplant type place, and the team is younger than a great deal of other teams. Remember back in the day when the Bears and the Lions would have more fans at the sundraro than the Bucs would? Allot of those people jumped on in the 90’s. It is the same with all the NY team fans that are here. People that stopped wearing their Bucs colors. Be negative all you want, but when it xcomes down to it be a Buc fan. That Gannon thing showed it, we are like siblings, we can mess with each other and we can mess with our team, but that jack ass is on his own. Anyway, those are the bandwagoneers I am refering to.
August 12th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
Sorry for the rant, headed to TX to do some weekend presentations tomorrow, so I treating tonight like a Friday.
August 12th, 2010 at 7:00 pm
I knew this was a possibility. I knew my memory wasn’t that bad when I remembered this being done in the past. I really do like being right.
August 12th, 2010 at 7:04 pm
I notice the only people here complaining are those that are NOT going to the games. Those same people ASSUME eveyone else has no interest as well. Wrong.
@ZeroExpectations
It will for some…maybe enough to make a difference. Remember, they don’t have to totally sell out. They could sell enough to make buying out the tickets more affordable. However, after having to listen to the game on the radio, which actually is pretty exciting, and not seeing the game, many people that once attended games will start again. And Preseason games are a great time to get that point apart. I agree with Joe.
@eric
For years, the fans all complained that our players were old and needed walkers on the field. They screamed for younger players…without realizing that meant to make room, their favorite players had to be cut.
The Glazers were faced with a no-win situation…remain semi-competitive for years, or take a couple years of flak to put a new, more competitive, long-term team on the field…and maybe start selling out games again.
I applaud the Glazers for having the liberty bells to take the heat in order to improve this team. It’s the bandwagoners that are hating what’s happening right now, because they want a winning team right away or they threaten to leave.
@jvato24
Sure…they’ll feel the heat…but not in the end. In the end they will be selling out games again, and have a long waiting list for season tickets.y? Because they will have taken the time to put together a quality, winning team. Don’t think it’s being done right? Look at the Rays.
@McBuc
You are possibly right. Tampa (along with the rest of Florida) is a snow-bird state…we get people from all over. And THEY are fans of other teams. The decide to make the Bucs their “second” team…but only halfway care about the team. Then we have to folks that only think things through as far as wins and losses, and these are the bandwagoners that move on to other teams. But I do believe there are enough die-hard Bucs fans in the area to sell out games.
The big question is budget. I suspect many people WISH to go to the games, but simply cannot afford it. These people rely on others so that they can see the games on television. It’s not always something they have a choice in.
@pewterpirate99
Again, only the bandwagoners are complaining. Personally, I think it’s a good move. Tampa has been taking television broadcasts for granted for years now.
There are plenty of reasons to go to games now…seeing the development of these players makes it worth it. This is the time we form bonds to the players, just as we did with Brooks, Sapp, Lynch, Alstott, and others.
August 12th, 2010 at 7:16 pm
Joe,
please,
more.
Yesterday one of you said we would have a lot of news from yesterday. I’m not saying I’m ungreatful, but I was sort of expecting a flood. I realy got my hopes up and have drained my battery on my phone checking your site. Is there anything else? Or is that all from yesterday?
August 12th, 2010 at 7:22 pm
I wish I lived in Tampa. I would grab a season ticket and never give it up. Atleast I have Sunday Ticket. And I get to record every game, thats a plus.
August 12th, 2010 at 7:30 pm
Hey Joe. What channel is the game on this Saturday night? I just checked my Outhouse program guide and couldn’t find it. Thanks.
August 12th, 2010 at 7:36 pm
@DEW, NFL network will have it.
August 12th, 2010 at 7:43 pm
I sure hope it’s also on local. I can’t get Verizon that fast.
August 12th, 2010 at 7:45 pm
Peter…Great post, you are spot on.
August 12th, 2010 at 7:47 pm
Blackmagic, Joe seems to have cranked it out today. Maybe some of the stuff scrolled off the fron page. He said there will be more on Fri and Sat as well.
August 12th, 2010 at 7:51 pm
@pete
Great post-I agree with your bandwagon comments.Rebuilding is very painful process that some fans are not willing to accept.They would rather bitch and moan about how the Glazers suck and only care about their soccer team and Rah and Dom are idiots that are completely incompetent. But they will jump on the bandwagon when the Bucs turn it around.They only love a winner and until that time arrives they will keep on complaining.
Their motto-We love you when you’re winning and we hate you when you’re losing.Now that’s some real loyal fans.
August 12th, 2010 at 8:19 pm
blacked out preseason games ?? Bwahahahahahah!!!
What’s the point??
August 12th, 2010 at 8:19 pm
If you feel that your fanhood is defined by how many tickets you buy, then go buy 10 sets. I wish there were more real fans like you who are willing to drop a lot of coin on tickets. That way we wouldn’t be having these black outs. Now is the time for all the REAL fans to buy even more tickets, buy until it hurts.
I sure want to be able to watch the game on TV, so buy up fans!
August 12th, 2010 at 8:21 pm
Blackouts may be what we need to get fans interested again. More people need to buy tickets and stop bitching. If you can’t afford tickets that is one thing, but many fans or former fans can afford it but choose not to. Businesses could offer ticket giveaways as a promotion to get customers in the door. I feel sorry for those that would like to watch the games and don’t have the money or have to work Sundays. I really feel bad for all of our Soldiers and Airmen at MacDill that will get shut out. As for the rest, just suck it up and keep on bitching about it, I guess. I’ll be at the Games. I’ve cleared my schedule on Sundays in the fall as always, and it isn’t hurting my feelings. It is much about priorities and everybody has some vice. Mine is my season tickets. Give up smoking cigs, or drink less, eat out less, stop smoking weed, whatever. There is a myriad of ways to save money and cut costs in a down economy.
August 12th, 2010 at 8:23 pm
I did my part I have four season tickets. But are we going to get the game this Saturday night on local TV? I don’t have the NFL Network yet. Thanks.
August 12th, 2010 at 8:28 pm
Lakeland Bob
“Their motto-We love you when you’re winning and we hate you when you’re losing.Now that’s some real loyal fans.”
Love you when your winning, unless your Jon Gruden, then we run you out of town and complain if anybody is critical of the incompetent replacement.
August 12th, 2010 at 8:34 pm
Joe here,
BlackMagic – Joe promised you more from NFL Radio in Tampa, and you’ll get it over Friday and Saturday.
Appreciate you burning out your phone on these here pages. Take a deep breath. Joe usually posts between 8 and 5 daily but sometimes breaks from that if the urge strikes him or there’s news or a game.
August 12th, 2010 at 8:42 pm
Dew:
All Bucs road games will be broadcast locally in the Tampa Bay area. Those are not in danger nor in question.
August 12th, 2010 at 8:44 pm
@LOL
So true yet be prepared to get hated on my man.
Again, I just want to reiterate that I AM ALL FOR you guys buying up the tickets. I don’t mind someone calling me a not quite as loyal fan because I don’t drop thousands on season tickets, no siree.
I do want to watch the game on TV though, so all you loyal fans, please extra tickets! Do it for your family, do it for you friends, heck do it for charity.
Afterall, the poor ole Glazers need you guys. For they have loans so large that they may not be able to meet their commitments to the UK Man U squad. The tax payers money to buy the stadium and practice facility is not just to make the franchise more valuable, but to attract top notch free agents and (doh! scratch that one).
Anyway, just buy tickets, the Glazers need all the help they can get. And if you don’t, well hmmpff! You ain’t no REAL LOYAL Buccaneer fan.
August 12th, 2010 at 9:27 pm
I hear you Joe and know you have the NFL Network. I searched my program guide for Outhouse and can’t find the game listed on any channel. Does anyone know what local channel the game will be on Saturday night??????
August 12th, 2010 at 10:16 pm
Eric
Jon is not coming back.The Dream obviously was terrible last year and very well might be this year.But he is still the head coach and there’s nothing we can do to change it.Maybe it’s just me,but I cannot understand constant negative comments from loyal Buc fans.Yes these guys have made a lot of mistakes and they will probably make a lot more.And if the Glazers dump the Dream because he’s proven he cannot get the job done,then I will join the bashing.But not until he’s been given a chance.
August 12th, 2010 at 10:34 pm
Dew:
If you live in the Tampa Bay area all Bucs preseason games (whether live or tape-delayed) will be on WFLA Channel 8.
If you live outside the Tampa Bay area, monitor NFLNetwork.com’s online schedule.
August 12th, 2010 at 10:44 pm
Thanks. I live in Tampa so it must not be live because right now WFLA is showing gymnastics on Saturday night at 8pm on the Outhouse programming guide. And I’m not sh..ing you. Unreal.
August 12th, 2010 at 10:48 pm
Dew:
You are really over-stressing man. 🙂 All Bucs road games this and every season, no matter if it is preseason or regular season, are broadcast live.
WFLA has the rights to all Bucs preseason games and will broadcast the two road games live. Saturday night’s game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
August 12th, 2010 at 10:59 pm
Maybe too much Jack Joe. 🙂
August 12th, 2010 at 11:11 pm
I still don’t understand why Fort Myers isn’t blacked out.
August 12th, 2010 at 11:43 pm
hey Joe- any insight to how many tickets are available for these 2 preseason games? I mean are they anywhere close to a sellout?
August 12th, 2010 at 11:51 pm
Pete Dutcher said “@eric
For years, the fans all complained that our players were old and needed walkers on the field. They screamed for younger players…without realizing that meant to make room, their favorite players had to be cut.
The Glazers were faced with a no-win situation…remain semi-competitive for years, or take a couple years of flak to put a new, more competitive, long-term team on the field…and maybe start selling out games again.
I applaud the Glazers for having the liberty bells to take the heat in order to improve this team. It’s the bandwagoners that are hating what’s happening right now, because they want a winning team right away or they threaten to leave”.
This is the view of the informed, intelligent football fan.
August 12th, 2010 at 11:56 pm
Some of u I swear have never heard of a team rebuilding especially in our market ( this isn’t Dallas or Washington). What is this college football? U fans of the old gruden / Allen way must have been braves fans in the 90’s. News flash: No one remembers divison championships, only super bowls.
August 13th, 2010 at 12:14 am
Mark:
The impression Joe got was that the two home preseason games are far from a sellout.
Cleveland game is still up in the air. Pittsburgh game is nearly soldout.
August 13th, 2010 at 12:27 am
Isn’t the real issue Why the NFL blackout policy applies to preseason? Can’t blame fans for not wanting to pay to see second rate football played by backups and guys who won’t make the roster
August 13th, 2010 at 12:29 am
@Joe
What other games could be sold out?? We have home games against crap teams like the Rams and I’m thinking people would buy tickets to those games. Also, the throwback game will likely be a sellout too.
August 13th, 2010 at 12:33 am
Patrick:
Don’t be so confident about the throwback game. Last year’s throwback honoring Lee Roy Selmon against the Packers, a team that often travels very well, had large clumps of empty red seats in the upper deck. If they couldn’t sell out a throwback game for the Packers, not sure how that will happen against the Falcons.
Maybe the Saints. May… be.
August 13th, 2010 at 1:18 am
@Joe, who said:
“Last year’s throwback honoring Lee Roy Selmon against the Packers, a team that often travels very well, had large clumps of empty red seats in the upper deck. If they couldn’t sell out a throwback game for the Packers, not sure how that will happen against the Falcons.”
I thoughts that game sold out, but many ticket buyers did not attend the game?
Some people are willing to buy tickets just to do their part to get the game aired, but almost never go to the games. I think someone above even hinted at doing this.
As to the blackouts, I believe channel 8 isn’t listing the game because the game is blacked out.
August 13th, 2010 at 1:28 am
Silly me…it’s an away game…it won’t be blacked out for us. Duh…
August 13th, 2010 at 7:55 am
Pete:
The NFL does not black out broadcasts of road games. That simple. The Miami game will be televised locally. Joe checked a number of TV listings online and while the game is not on the listing, Joe can assure you this game will be on WFLA.
Joe doesn’t have the exact numbers from the Tampa Sports Authority handy, but there were plenty of empty seats in the upper deck which was depressing. Yes, it was technically “soldout” but the stadium was hardly full.
August 13th, 2010 at 7:57 am
Obviously none of you are very good Poker players.
These games aren’t going to be blacked out , the Glazers are simply trying to bluff the community into buying tickets , and then at the last minute they will eat the tickets , JUST LIKE THEY DID LAST SEASON.
Why ?? Because being on TV is the best advertisement a team can have. It’s the best way to generate interest and maintain interest. If they are not on TV , they are no more revelant than the Tampa Bay Storm.
Mark my words, the games will be on TV.
August 13th, 2010 at 8:00 am
…unless the attendance gets really REALLY low , like below half capacity, of course….
August 13th, 2010 at 8:32 am
I would be very surprised Radio.
(But also delighted.)
August 13th, 2010 at 8:33 am
Joe here,
Radio – Joe’s quite a good poker player. And you have to factor in what the Bucs might be charging now on their radio broadcats for advertising. That might be quite a pretty penny if blackouts are planned. Joe doesn’t have that info.
Also, you act like they’ll be off TV completely. People will be seeing extended Bucs highlights of a blacked out Bucs game on all the local news shows, plus they’ll be seen on various national highlight show.
If Mike Williams makes two great TD grabs on opening day, and the Bucs win, I assure you the whole sports community will see those highlights.
The NFL has blossomed in the face of this blackout policy. The owners believe in it.
August 13th, 2010 at 8:38 am
Mushy, I think you’re wrong, at least for now. If they blackout our opening game, ticket sales will increase. Too many fans want to see the team, especially if they win their first couple of games. If sales do increase and start to get close, say over 45,000, they may go ahead and show the games. I think they are making a point, and we are very fortunate to have our own pro team that needs to be supported like any other. The Jags are going to lose their team or so it seems.
There are many Season Ticket holders that sell their tickets or live up north and skip many of the games. There also are fans that buy the cheap seats and watch the game from the ship or the rail, rather than way up in the corners.
August 13th, 2010 at 8:49 am
Radio Mushmouth:
Are you behind this?
The Mind of Raheem
August 13th, 2010 at 10:07 am
I don’t watch pre-season games anyway.
August 13th, 2010 at 11:17 am
d-money, your not starved for any kind of buc football no matter if its preseason for not?
August 13th, 2010 at 4:18 pm
LOL, no “Mind of Raheem” is not my facebook page , but I did think it’s funny.
As far as the black-outs…I can still remember what it was like in this community during the 80’s , when the team sucked and all the games were blacked out. I was a kid , and I remember no one gave two sh*ts about the bucs. There were more Dolphin , Bears , and Packer fans in this town than bucs fans . If you happened to tell anyone you WERE a Bucs fan, you were generally mocked and made fun of- Bucs fans were not even taken seriously.
I still believe the general disinterest towards the team was more than just because they sucked. It had alot to do with not being on TV every week. How is the casual fan going to develop a rooting interest or attachment when the only game on TV is the Dolphins ??
It was a huge mistake I don’t see the Bucs making again. It never increased attendance , and only added to the apathy.
I could be wrong , but as of now I am calling the Glazers’ bluff.
August 13th, 2010 at 4:25 pm
BigMac….they might do that also…blackout preseason and the opening day – just to try and scare people and generate some last minute ticket sales,, but I don’t see them doing it all season.
It would be counter-productive for them. They need people watching and building up an attachment to these new guys . Josh Freeman, Gerald McCOy ,Mike WIlliams, etc. is who’s is going to ultimately sell tickets for this team, not black-out threats from a crappy team.
August 13th, 2010 at 5:31 pm
Radio…I grew up in the area and eremember the same thing. The fans of the northern teams were transplants, and the Bucs were very young so many Floridians were Fins fans. Many of those fans became Bucs fans in the 90’s, as the Bucs begain to rise (after the Glazers purchased the team). Thise are the bandwagon fans that all of a sudden are routing for the fins, Packers, Giants, etc. The TV had little to do with it. The nicwe thing back than was eben kids with a part time job could go to a game or even have season tickets. Do I want to return to those days, NO WAY, nor do I beleieve the Glazers will let that happen. Once the team starts to look good, all those fair weather fans will return. I agree with Joe though, we probably will see blackouts before it happens.
August 13th, 2010 at 9:29 pm
Radio, I can tell your fired up. I can see right thru it. You’re hard core.
August 13th, 2010 at 9:41 pm
I am fired up ! Let the season begin.
August 14th, 2010 at 1:55 pm
Glad I read here I was trippin for a minute. I have tickets for the KC game so I will post how bad the attendance is.
August 16th, 2011 at 12:15 pm
I done with the NFL anyway, who cares. Since I live in hillsborough county I get to fund the cost of the stadium and its renovations but if I dont spend $100 on tickets every home game I cant watch the game on TV? Really….complete bullspit.
August 16th, 2011 at 12:21 pm
J:
Please keep in mind blackouts are dictated by the NFL, not the Bucs.