Another game, another point, another overtime loss, It’s getting a tad frustrating around the Bridge lately as the Nashville Predators dropped their third straight game in overtime last night. This time to the Pittsburgh Penguins. As boring as Tuesday’s loss to Calgary was, well… this one was the exact opposite... a lot of fun to watch.

It was the second time in three games that the Preds let a late lead slip away… both to Eastern Conference powers, however, there were some real positives to take away, The Predators were much more crisp in their game and their special teams were better, much better. The power play broke out of its’ slump with a nice goal from Cody Franson and the penalty kill held the lethal Pittsburgh power play to 0-5 on the night.

A interesting quote from Jerred Smithson after the game ”Maybe it’s good for us to go out on the road and kind of get away and just get back to a gritty hard-nosed style where it doesn’t have to be pretty.” Well said, and Jerred will get his wish… eleven of the next thirteen games are away from the friendly confines of Bridgestone Arena.

-----------------------------

The Fox Sports Network/DISH Network battle is starting to show collateral damage to those that aren’t even DISH customers. It is strikingly similar to last year’s brouhaha between Versus/Comcast and DirecTV… or the battle between the NFL Network and Comcast two years ago. For those that are not familiar with the current conflict, Fox and DISH Network are battling over their carriage agreement. The agreement to carry the 19 Fox regional sports networks, FX and National Geographic channels on DISH network expired on September 30, 2010, the agreement for DISH Network to carry the FOX television network expires on November 1st. From where I stand, that seems to be the only thing that both sides agree on.

DISH Network is claiming that Fox is demanding a rate increase in excess of 50%.

Fox is claiming that DISH Network’s “suggestion that we’re seeking a 50 percent increase in programming fees is flatly wrong.”

Both entities are furiously spinning their particular point of view in this battle. Ok... I hear you say, I don’t use DISH Network, I’m a Comcast/DirecTV/Center Ice/Game Center Live subscriber… how does the poop throwing between these two corporate entities impact me? Apparently, quite a bit. Here’s what I have been able to find out from fairly knowledgeable sources.

Fox owns the decision to allow the NHL to lift local blackouts, the NHL in turn will contact the local team’s broadcast department to let them know about permission being given to lift a local blackout. The team then decides if they want to lift the blackout on things like Center Ice and Game Center Live.

That is fairly straight ahead, but here's where things go off the rails a bit...

Due to the Fox/DISH Network issues, Fox has rescinded the ability to lift blackouts for all NHL teams. It doesn’t matter who is carrying the game, the blackout restrictions stay in place for any game that is not being carried by the local Fox Sports Network affiliate network. There is no recourse at the local level, this is a Fox decision that the NHL and its’ teams need to comply with. I know that quite a few hockey fans are not happy with this and are being very vocal about it.

As things stand right now, Pred fans who subscribe to Center Ice or Game Center Live will not be able to see the Dallas feed of Saturday night’s Predators / Stars game in the Predators broadcast area as FS Tennessee will not be carrying the game. The kicker on that one is that Fox Sports is not even broadcasting the Dallas game, it is being carried on Dallas’ over the air partner, but Fox controls the blackourt decision.

It is an unfortunate situation as DISH subscribers (and all Center Ice subscribers) are really caught in the middle… and this unfortunate situation could get even worse… Should this dispute not be resolved in the next ten days, it is a fair thing to assume that the Fox Television Network would disappear from DISH on November 1st, just like FX and the regional sports networks disappeared from DISH lineup on October 1st... and with it the potential Games 5, 6 and 7 of the World Series and Fox’s regular season NFL football coverage. Now that will make people really scream... to say nothing of the Gleek's and American Idol fans...

It's just one more example of two entities trying to carve out bigger pieces of the pie for themselves, and placing the blame on one another. I don’t know who is right in this squabble, and quite frankly... I don't care! The ones I feel for are the DISH networks subscribers who are caught in a titanic battle between two corporate behemoths trying to maintain their hefty profits… at the expense of the little guy once again.

----------------------------------

You are invited to follow me on Twitter. Search for PredPAPaul… Not only will I be updating when I get news or updates, but we are having a bit of fun by getting your input on Gnash introductions, weigh in on Twitter and who knows, we may use your introduction for the best mascot in the NHL at the next Preds game!

Thanks to @codeyh who submitted last nights intro... "Introducing the only mascot who gets hungry watching "March of the Penguins."

--------------------------------------

COMING UP ON THE NEXT SLAPSHOT RADIO…

SlapShot Radio’s is back for season three and we have a great sseason planned. We are putting together next week’s show and should have the guests booked in the next day or so…

SlapShot Radio, SportsRadio 560 WNSR, every Wednesday at 6pm… listen online or on podcast at www.slapshotradio.com... Join us tonight!

For the most updated guest information go to the SlapShot Radio website.

Join the Discussion: » Comments » Post New Comment

» The time has come

» Whining through Game 3

» Playoff Picks

» Waiting for he playoffs

» A special night in Smashville