The "cbs sucks" thread: Post comments about cbs' sucktitude here

[hurleyfor3]

It happens every year. Everyone's boundless enthusiasm for the NCAA Tournament lasts until about 12.15pm Eastern on Thursday, when cbs shoves some apnea-inducing Big Ten game up our collective rear ends... and never switches back.

When it happens... post here. And don't think it won't happen to you. It's not just a crappy game: maybe Clerk Kellogg's head has finally morphed into a basketball, or Seth has more than three hairs out of place, or this year's annual Dean Smith Honorary Studio Studio Analyst turns out to be none other than Jim Calhoun.

Remember, you can't spell "sucks" without "cbs".

[Exiled_Devil]

I am all prepared to curse at CBS, Billy Packer and cutting to a new game after commercial, just as the new game goes to commercial.

However, I did realize yesterday that I will not have to deal with the sportscenter '30 at 30' and the driving of the program I chose to watch into a small screen while Dan Patrick tells me some stupid story about Barry Bonds or T.O.

CBS at least realizes we want to watch interesting games. And commercials, of course.


Exiled
P.S. Gotta love living in the Triangle - Time Warner has all the regional feeds available up in the HD channel range - the 200's.

[CMS2478]

I'm assuming the Duke game is the first one of the evening (correct???) So we don't have to worry about some cut-in of another game's ending during the game. I HATE THAT!!! I ususally like seeing the endings of a good game during the tournament, but during the DUKE GAME!!!:eek:

[Karl Beem]

I am all prepared to curse at CBS, Billy Packer and cutting to a new game after commercial, just as the new game goes to commercial.

However, I did realize yesterday that I will not have to deal with the sportscenter '30 at 30' and the driving of the program I chose to watch into a small screen while Dan Patrick tells me some stupid story about Barry Bonds or T.O.

CBS at least realizes we want to watch interesting games. And commercials, of course.


Exiled
P.S. Gotta love living in the Triangle - Time Warner has all the regional feeds available up in the HD channel range - the 200's.

However, you will have to put up with all the promos for the crappy CBS TV shows.

[devilish]

P.S. Gotta love living in the Triangle - Time Warner has all the regional feeds available up in the HD channel range - the 200's.

Duke, UNC games on HD ... sort of (http://www.newsobserver.com/758/story/553585.html)

[Chard]

I can't post about it enough: 30 @ 30 sucks with a capital SUCKS, baby!

At least we can watch on a puter and see an entire game without much interuption.

[tombrady]

Anyone know of anyway to get these games online without going through the terrible CBS "waiting room"? I'm on a 2 hour waiting list right now, what a stupid idea -- do they not have the bandwidth to let anyone in?

[CMS2478]

I can't post about it enough: 30 @ 30 sucks with a capital SUCKS, baby!

At least we can watch on a puter and see an entire game without much interuption.

It would be different if they were showing some "breaking news" but it is always something that I have already seen after watching ESPN like 12 times that day.

[Karl Beem]

Is it true that CBS will not be initially splitting their HD channels into 3 subchannels, like last year? I can find no mention of extra channels.

[Deslok]

Whatever grips you have about CBS, have to give them props for offering up every game of the first 3 rounds live online. So if you are stuck watching Ohio St drubbing whatever 16 seed they are matched with while another good game is going on... just log in to their march madness on demand and watch the game you want.

[Clipsfan]

Anyone know of anyway to get these games online without going through the terrible CBS "waiting room"? I'm on a 2 hour waiting list right now, what a stupid idea -- do they not have the bandwidth to let anyone in?

I know! I didn't watch online last year (I was back in school, and had set myself up with a couple TVs at home and the DirecTV package), so didn't know that I should have logged on to MMOD a couple hours ago (not that I would have wanted to come to work at 7). This waiting line is crazy.

[Clipsfan]

As a quick update on the waiting line: It's not actually moving! And I'm #26000 or so

[Karl Beem]

Is it true that CBS will not be initially splitting their HD channels into 3 subchannels, like last year? I can find no mention of extra channels.


Whoops! The Multicast just appeared.

[tombrady]

Whoops! The Multicast just appeared.

What does this mean exactly? I have Time Warner Digital Cable with the HD package... will I be able to get all the games at my home? Unfortunately, I live in Ohio, which means the OSU pounding will be on instead of the Duke game.

[willywoody]

it only took them about 15 minutes to figure out they had the regular feed going on the hd broadcast of md/davidson. probably the local yocals screwing it up.

[DankeShane]

OK I thought up a complaint. The score tracker on the top of the TV picture for the other games, the team seeding looks 100% identical to the scores. Not a big deal, but it takes my eyes an extra 4 seconds to process and figure out which is the score. For example,

4 Maryland 19
12 Davidson 18

It hurts my brain...

[tombrady]

for anyone on MMOD, how the hell do you select a game to watch????

[dukeisawesome]

I will not have to deal with the sportscenter '30 at 30' and the driving of the program I chose to watch into a small screen while Dan Patrick tells me some stupid story about Barry Bonds or T.O.


LOL, I almost laughed out loud at that...so true about ESPN, but don't forget the Nascar promos either.

[dukeisawesome]

I probably won't have to watch online this year, but are the online feeds delayed by 5 minutes this year? It was dumb last year cause I had to turn off the TV to watch the game I wanted online so I wouldn't see the current score on my TV.

[sanhew]

My problem at this point isn't with CBS so much as it is with what games are broadcast in a particular region. Here in the Lansing Michigan area, Duke/VCU bumps up against MSU/Marquette. I know, the MSU game could be a great game, but still......... If both Duke and MSU win tonight, then I assume they will be going head-to-head on Saturday as well. Then on Sunday, just when I thought I'd be able to watch the women in their first tournament game, the MSU women's game is scheduled to be shown in this market instead.

I accept the rationale underlying these broadcast decisions so I really don't have groujnds for complaint. But as a Dukie basketball junkie who lives for this time of year, it's still frustrating not to be able to watch my teams in the comfort of my living room. That's the price one pays for living outside of North Carolina, I guess. Oh well, there's always a sports bar......

[Exiled_Devil]

What does this mean exactly? I have Time Warner Digital Cable with the HD package... will I be able to get all the games at my home? Unfortunately, I live in Ohio, which means the OSU pounding will be on instead of the Duke game.

I think that it is only here on Tobacco Road that they put the multi-cast up for free.

I think it is compensation for having to live around so many tar Heel fans

Exiled

[Exiled_Devil]

Duke, UNC games on HD ... sort of (http://www.newsobserver.com/758/story/553585.html)

As I read the article, they are basically saying that the feeds where Duke and UNC are playing will be in HD, but we can't guarantee that BS won't switch over to another game that has more 'interest'.

It is incredibly frustrating when all four national feeds are showing the same exact game because some producer at CBS thinks it is good, and there is no chance to watch any other game. I first noticed this at a sports bar one year.

Exiled
Oooh...just noticed I moved up to 'active member'. A sign of lowered productivity if there ever was one.

[dukeENG2003]

is MMOD actually working for anybody? I can watch for about 1 minute, then the video feed dies, its total crap, its not even worth watching its so unreliable

at least I've got a slingbox :)

as for CBS suckitude, thank goodness they went to show us a couple minutes of dead time in a 20 point blowout game of Lousiville and Stanford!

[willywoody]

this switching around to show the final seconds of 20 point games is ridiculous.

[jacone21]

is MMOD actually working for anybody? I can watch for about 1 minute, then the video feed dies, its total crap, its not even worth watching its so unreliable

at least I've got a slingbox :)

as for CBS suckitude, thank goodness they went to show us a couple minutes of dead time in a 20 point blowout game of Lousiville and Stanford!

Worked really well for me. I watched most of the BC game with very little interruption. The picture quality could be better, but it wasn't bad at all. I'm on a wicked fast internet connection. Don't know how much difference that makes. Looked like the mmod feed was delayed 20 seconds from tv time.

[dukeENG2003]

I'm on a really fast connection here too, but it still drops out on me constantly. . .

[Clipsfan]

What I want to know is why the Georgetown game appears to be on according to the scoreboard, but not according to MMOD?

[34dukegal]

MMOD works great for me here in my office. My only problem is I keep getting bumped for the 30 minutes of inactivity, but that's fine I get back in no problem.

As for waiting forever to get in, I received an email last week and signed up as a VIP member, didn't have to pay anything, it looks like it lets you in much faster, not sure though.

[jacone21]

Have you guys checked out the Boss Button on MMOD? Hilarious.

[captmojo]

commercials be sacred-------they can't lose this contract soon enough!!!!!!!!

[phaedrus]

ODU 20, butler 19 at halftime. thanks cbs for showing such a compelling game.

on the flip side, MMOD is working spectacularly on my pc right now.

final note: will there be any upsets this year?

[34dukegal]

Have you guys checked out the Boss Button on MMOD? Hilarious.

When I first saw it I was confused about what it actually was then when I realized and started reading it I thought it was great. I especially love the Pepto comment.

[phaedrus]

is MMOD actually working for anybody? I can watch for about 1 minute, then the video feed dies, its total crap, its not even worth watching its so unreliable

at least I've got a slingbox :)

as for CBS suckitude, thank goodness they went to show us a couple minutes of dead time in a 20 point blowout game of Lousiville and Stanford!

sounds like something that was happening with mine (are you using firefox?). try right-clicking on the video feed, go to options, then at the bottom turn the "video acceleration" to about half. i also turned off my pop up blocker, not sure if that changed anything.

[DukeinDC]

So far in DC, I've seen parts of G-town, Butler, Texas AM, and GW and nothing has been in HD. Is this possibly right? Comcast is a little dodgy here, so I wouldn't be shocked if it's on them (hopefully not my TV!), but it seems pretty weak if that's the case. Are others getting HD for these games?

[willywoody]

everything has been in hd down here in s.c. call your local channel and complain. they probably didn't switch the feed over.

[Karl Beem]

Here in Atlanta, not a minute has been in HD. When showing, 809, 811-812 have been 704x480, while channel 9 is 525x480.

[throatybeard]

pause this thread for a TV timeout

[hurleyfor3]

Len Elmoron seemed to spend more time talking about Duke losing than about the Indy/Gonzo game right in front of him.

[Lulu]

for anyone on MMOD, how the hell do you select a game to watch????

Although the tourney certainly seems over, I guess it isn't. I had this problem on my laptop running xp; the orange buttons which say "Watch this game" (or something to that effect) simply don't appear where they should, which is right under the game in the scrolldown list on the right. Drove me nuts for a little while. CBS links to a patch for this, but it didn't work for half the day so I just watched on my desktop with Win2K.

What kills me is the little popup that wants to ensure you're watching before kicking you off to reclaim the bandwidth you're using. Always comes up during commercial when I'm not paying attention anyway... Were lines really 2hours long??? Do the early VIP notice thing with the button in the upper left for next year, takes about 30 sec every time (and I thought it was just a gimmick...)

I read an article, just a few weeks or a month ago maybe, that said in very clear terms that CBS was going to broadcast some first round games on CSTV. What happened? I see no indication they are doing so now. How long until ABC/ESPN/2/U/News can buy this back???

30@30 blows!!! any chance the stanford pick has ended kellog's career?

[coblue]

I only have 2 gripes really, their greed driven mentality and how many of their announcers could barely control their giddiness at how mediocre a team Coach K and the boys produced this year.

[SharkD]

It used to be tradition, at least at my home, to mute the TV and tune the radio to 620AM to listen to Bob Harris (and Jay Bilas, at the time).

I tried doing it in DC, but the online audio feed/XM sync delays made it nearly unwatchable.

A long time ago, it was possible to call WDNC's phone number and ask to be put on hold to listen to the game -- my father used to do that on his cell phone while driving out of state...

[throatybeard]

They talked incessantly about the Hendo/Hansbrough experience during UNC-Michigan State, complete with replays from every angle and 27 8x10 color glossy photographs with a paragraph on the back of each one explainin what each one was.

[Exiled_Devil]

T-beard,
Are we here to talk about the Draft?

[Indoor66]

I have been watching the Men's & Women's games today and realize that I truly dislike the coverage of the games. The announcers (all of them) on CBS talk too much and say so little. The conversation is so tangential to the action. Too much color and not enough coverage of the action taking place in front of us. I seem to enjoy it more with the Mute on.

The women's games on ESPN are not as bad - but there is more and more of it creeping in.

I get tired of hearing how great the players are, how unique, how this & how that. Why can't we be allowed to watch what they are doing. If their "history" is illustrated by play, OK, but why must we listen to all of the players, coaches and programs being puffed. Let them perform to earn praise.

It seems the Vitale approach is becoming universal. :mad:

[throatybeard]

T-beard,
Are we here to talk about the Draft?

I'm just sitting on the group W bench.

[grossbus]

they say each game is in HD, but a lot of them are not coming across that way (e.g. purdue/florida). hey also managed to miss key parts of the end of the uva game because the florida game had started (i am in florida) and they had it on and were trying to catch the last moments of the uva game.

[Atlanta Duke]

According to the CBS affiliate in Atlanta (which I called after DirecTV told me that they had no control over what the local affiliate fed for them to broadcast into the my local CBS HD channel and not to blame them for no HD of the Duke game being available Thursday night) they are splitting the signal to max out the number of games available - that split leaves insufficient bandwidth for a HD signal except over the air.

So I guess that is why I got no HD Thursday or Friday and HD for only the UVA-UT game today (I currently am getting Kentucky-Kansas and Nevada-Memphis in low def on the DirecTV HD and standard def channels for the Atlanta CBS affiliate). For whatever reason, the Atlanta affiliate had a HD game all day Saturday on my DirecTV CBS HD channel - go figure.

I suppose if the split signal theory continues I will get all the Sweet Sixteen games on Thursday and Friday but only in standard def.

This would be an argument for having ESPN/ABC get the tournament and broadcast over ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPN Classic but that would involve having Vitale for the Final Four and NC games - I will stick with low def to avoid that fate.

[Exiled_Devil]

I'm just sitting on the group W bench.

Well, then I have one question -

"Are you rehabilitated?"

Exiled

[dockfan]

CBS: "Hmm... let's cut away from a compelling run by Vanderbilt against Georgetown to see if the last 1:30 of the Florida-Butler game might be interesting."

They dramatically cut to Florida-Butler...... right when they go into a timeout. CBS goes to commercial.

So then they go back to the Vandy/G'town game, for about 30 more seconds of action (Hibbert fouled out, so at least it was a key moment).

THEN, they go back to Florida-Butler, and it is basically decided with 40 seconds left.

Well done, CBS. Well done. Who knew that juggling only two games at once (that are about four minutes of game time apart) would be so difficult?

[dukie8]

CBS: "Hmm... let's cut away from a compelling run by Vanderbilt against Georgetown to see if the last 1:30 of the Florida-Butler game might be interesting."

They dramatically cut to Florida-Butler...... right when they go into a timeout. CBS goes to commercial.

So then they go back to the Vandy/G'town game, for about 30 more seconds of action (Hibbert fouled out, so at least it was a key moment).

THEN, they go back to Florida-Butler, and it is basically decided with 40 seconds left.

Well done, CBS. Well done. Who knew that juggling only two games at once (that are about four minutes of game time apart) would be so difficult?

how hard is it to keep the score of the only other game up on the screen? we don't need the score of the game we are watching as the score on the top as well as the bottom.