REVIEW: NHL's Online TV Feed -- NHL GAMECENTER LIVE
by PaintDrinkingPete on Oct 26, 2009 10:51 PM EDT
33 comments
Well, the Center Ice free preview is over, and I won't lie--I'm a bit bummed out by that.
If there are any folks out there thinking about renewing, or just considering their options in general for getting more hockey than they can (should) handle, let me offer my opinion of the NHL's official online offering, Gamecenter Live. This is my second year as a subscriber to this service, and so far I've been pretty happy with it.
You can access the service via NHL.com. This link should work to get information.
CONS:
It's not TV. For many, online viewing just isn't feasable. If it is, chances are your computer screen isn't as big as your TV screen, so there's also that to consider. I get to watch caps games locally on CSN, but if you're unable to do that, you may prefer to get a TV package.
It's not free. The prices changes as the season goes on, so I'm not going to quote prices, you can go to the website to check it out...but it's not "cheap". It appears they are offering a deal though the 31st. They do offer installment payments though, which helps. Plus, if you're considering the Center Ice package on cable, then chances are you've already considered having to spend some money anyway.
Blackouts. Of course, local market teams are blacked out, as well as any nationally televised games on Vs or NHL Network. If you're relying solely on your computer for hockey viewing, these games won't be available.
PROS:
Quality. I've been really happy with the overall improvements to the quality of the feeds this year. My cable company only offers Center Ice in low-def feeds, and I can honestly say that the quality of the online feeds I get are much better than what I can get through my cable company. If you have decent bandwidth and can get the 1600kbps feed, it's really crystal clear (and 16:9). I've actually hooked my PC up to my TV and watched it that way, with great results.
It's not taking over my TV. As I mentioned, I live in the DC area, and get Caps games broadcast locally, so I mainly use this service for non-Caps viewing, but I like being able to throw a game on my computer to watch in the background and still being able to watch other programming on my TV.
Reliability (& peace of mind). The main reason I decided to post this was due to the amount of times I see folks struggling to find pirated online feeds of Caps and other hockey games. Yeah, they're out there if you know where to look, but the availability and quality are always a question mark, and I've also heard several folks complain about getting viruses or malware on their computer after having visited one the pirate sites. Plus, many consider it a "gray area" legally, so you kinda take a risk there as well--most likely nothing will ever come of it if you stream a game from one of "those sites", but you're not getting help if you screw up your PC either. Not worth it in my opinion.
Portability. You can take it with you! Many times when I have had to go out of town to visit friends and/or family members or even travel on business I've watched games from my computer, whereas I couldn't have done that with a CI package from my cable provider.
Features. There are a lot of other features available as well, like in-game stats and replays, plus you can watch multiple games. I've never been able to actually use the multi-game feature myself, but if your ADD doesn't get the best of you maybe you'll enjoy this.
VERDICT:
No, it's not for everyone, but if you're looking for a non-market viewing option, it's definitely something to consider. As I've already mentioned, I've been quite pleased with the service so far. I just wish they'd make it free!
If this FanPost is written by someone other than one of the blog's authors, the opinions expressed in it do not necessarily reflect those of this blog or SB Nation.
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If anyone has any addition questions, please feel free to leave them in the comments—I’m here quite frequently, I’ll try to answer as best I can.
FYI, I wrote this fan post while watching the Leafs vs. Ducks game on my PC and the Monday Night Football Game on my TV!
by PaintDrinkingPete on Oct 26, 2009 11:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
So do you have two computers you use? Giving up my laptop for the duration of a game, or watching on a real small screen, seems to be one of the biggest downsides, IMO. I’m obsessed so I’m not really your target demographic; I’m getting Center Ice regardless. I also like going to visiting GDTs, which would be out if I got the package.
When you say “not cheap” you can’t mean more expensive than CI, even at it’s most expensive, right?
If consequences dictate the course of action, then it doesn't matter what's right, it's only wrong if you get caught. If consequences dictate the course of action, then I should play God...
by Fehr and Balanced on Oct 27, 2009 12:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The price is comparable to CI.
Yes, I have 2 computers—a laptop and a desktop (with dual-monitor setup). That does make it easier.
by PaintDrinkingPete on Oct 27, 2009 9:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I just moved out of the DC area and am looking at options for watching the Caps.
Is there any way to get all the Caps games in HDTV – either via cable/satellite, or internet?
Center Ice seems to only show a rare game in HD?
by Stormblue on Oct 27, 2009 1:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The online games from GCL are what you may call “HD”.
I hate to use the term “high def” for an Internet stream, because variables on your end (bandwidth, video card, monitor quality, etc) can have an effect on what you’ll ultimately see. The feeds are 16:9 and very good quality though—as I said, they look much better than the center ice does available through my cable provider (which has no HD available for CI).
by PaintDrinkingPete on Oct 27, 2009 9:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Which Cable Provider?
I live in the district and get my cable through Comcast. The claim that I would get CI in HD, but the channels aren’t in the HD range. . .
I'm trying to work out a deal with a club in Europe
by D'ohboy on Oct 27, 2009 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I have Comcast in Alexandria and the free preview was in shitty, shitty SD.
Maybe play with an edge, be a little more physical -- maybe be more of a prick out there.
by jordanDC on Oct 27, 2009 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m Fairfax County…Cox Communications.
FYI.
by PaintDrinkingPete on Oct 27, 2009 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Also, I believe DirecTV does offer most (if not all) of the game feeds in HD with the CI package, although you’d have to deal with the fact that they don’t have Vs. Someone may want to chime in here and correct me if I’m wrong.
My cable company, however, does not.
by PaintDrinkingPete on Oct 27, 2009 9:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You are on the mark, I think it’s mostly dictated by whether or not the RSN does the broadcast in HD.
Russian Machine Never Breaks
by macvechkin on Oct 27, 2009 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is a good review, but one big caveat to CI: BLACKOUTS. Your mileage may vary depending on where you live, but keep in mind that all local games, all VS. telecasts, AND all NHL Network broadcasts will be blacked out on GameCenter online.
I live in the NYC area, and there are 3 local teams here which makes this much worse. But of the 10 Caps games so far, all but 3 of them (at most) have been blacked out for me. @ BOS (VS), TOR (NHLN), @ PHI (VS), NYR (local), NJ (local), SJ (NHLN), and @ NYI were all blacked out for me. I didn’t have a chance to check for the road game at DET, so I’m not sure if it was. I’ve been able to watch the NSH and @ ATL games on Gamecenter Online.
This is really frustrating for me because (a) Gamecenter Online is expensive, and (b) at least for the VS and NHLN broadcasts, there is no reason I can comprehend why those games should be blacked out. Last season, they showed full commercials during games on Gamecenter Online. I’m sure it’s a ratings-related reason, but the NHL is basically pushing me to watch these games over crappy and illegitimate online streams even though I’ve paid full price to watch them. At least that’s the way I see it.
For the curious, I do get those channels on my cable system, but the reason I got the online package is that I am rarely at home in time to watch them and this lets me put it on in the background at work.
by grapejoos on Oct 27, 2009 1:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Sorry, all references to CI should refer to the online Gamecenter service…that’s what I am talking about here.
by grapejoos on Oct 27, 2009 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is really frustrating for me because (a) Gamecenter Online is expensive, and (b) at least for the VS and NHLN broadcasts, there is no reason I can comprehend why those games should be blacked out.
And welcome to the 21st century of sports broadcasting. Any threat to making those TV contracts even 1% less valuable will be quashed. Fans be damned.
Russian Machine Never Breaks
by macvechkin on Oct 27, 2009 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You’re right, but it boggles my mind. I’ll watch the commercials. Surely the NHL can get those online viewership ratings quantified somehow since it, you know, has complete control over the service. The NHL Network thing is even more egregious.
I love the quality of Gamecenter (and the new DVR and game archive features they added are great). It’s worth the money for 82 games, no question. It’s probably even worth it for me for 60 games. But I’m not getting that many, and given that I know there are free, illicit streams of these games that are easy to find (since I have no other way of watching online when Gamecenter is blacked out), it’s going to be hard to justify renewing my subscription next year.
By the way, I don’t mean to discourage others from getting it, as long as you understand the blackout restrictions. If you live in a Western Conference market or something, the blackouts are less of an issue due to less local TV conflicts.
by grapejoos on Oct 27, 2009 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
speaking of free, illicit streams, how about helping a brother out for tonight’s game? last time i spent 45 minutes following endless links and dead ends, at which point my will was broken. i am weak.
Russian Machine Never Breaks
by macvechkin on Oct 27, 2009 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
google atdhe
Maybe play with an edge, be a little more physical -- maybe be more of a prick out there.
by jordanDC on Oct 27, 2009 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yup. ATDHE and MyP2P are the best for that. I get all my streams from one of those two sites (MyP2P is a little more of a labyrinth). I’ve heard there’s malware in those streams, but I haven’t really encountered that.
by grapejoos on Oct 27, 2009 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is myp2p still linking to the Elitserien games? I looked last week and didn’t see any.. I got salty.
Maybe play with an edge, be a little more physical -- maybe be more of a prick out there.
by jordanDC on Oct 27, 2009 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
no wonder i got nowhere….someone transposed that URL. ATDHE is pretty straight forward. will try it tonight, thx!
Russian Machine Never Breaks
by macvechkin on Oct 27, 2009 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is Center Ice not prone to the exact same blackouts as GCL? I believe so. You are right though, I probably should have listed that as a “CON”.
I also happen to have a slingbox for doing the “watching the game at work thing”, so I’ve never been a victim of the dreaded blackout, but I can see how that is frustrating.
by PaintDrinkingPete on Oct 27, 2009 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think the difference is that if you are watching NHLCI and a game is blacked out you simply tune to that channel (NHLNet, VS), whereas with NHLGCL you can’t do that, theoretically.
Russian Machine Never Breaks
by macvechkin on Oct 27, 2009 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That is assuming you get VS or NHLN.
If consequences dictate the course of action, then it doesn't matter what's right, it's only wrong if you get caught. If consequences dictate the course of action, then I should play God...
by Fehr and Balanced on Oct 27, 2009 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Which you can’t always assume…
by PaintDrinkingPete on Oct 27, 2009 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pretty sure you get NHLNet if you subscribe to NHLCI, no?
Versus is it’s own ball of wax, of course.
Here’s an idea: subscribe to NHLCI and get all the games you want (pending blackouts of course) on NHLGCL at no charge. That’s what you get with NFLST.
Russian Machine Never Breaks
by macvechkin on Oct 27, 2009 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, but Sunday ticket is much more expensive, and you only get games 1 day out of the week.
by PaintDrinkingPete on Oct 27, 2009 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
CI does black out home team games, VS games, and NHLN games.
If consequences dictate the course of action, then it doesn't matter what's right, it's only wrong if you get caught. If consequences dictate the course of action, then I should play God...
by Fehr and Balanced on Oct 27, 2009 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Original post has been edited — I agree, blackouts are at the very least something to consider.
by PaintDrinkingPete on Oct 27, 2009 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
What’s the issue though? I’m also NYC and have TWC-Brooklyn. All the NJD, NYI & NYR games are available in HD on MSG, so even as a CI customer, I still get the game. Are there local cable systems that don’t get all 3 MSG’s? If so, I feel for you, and that’s terrible.
I actually like the local or VS or NHLN games better, because I know they will be in HD, because TWC-Brooklyn only gets 1 or 2 CI games in HD a night.
Thank god for CI. Don’t know how i lived before. Been getting it every year since TWC started to carry it.
by 718CapsFan on Oct 27, 2009 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just to be clear, it wouldn’t be an issue if I could watch the games at TV. But I rarely have the ability to do so – I’m usually in front of my computer at work during games.
Strangely enough, the PHI-WSH game on Versus right now is NOT being blacked out for me on Gamecenter Online . I only tried it because I couldn’t find a working free stream. I hope they changed the blackout rules, but probably just a mistake on their part (either that, or they lifted the restriction for Versus games due to the DirecTV dispute, but VS was definitely blacked out on opening night).
Of course, the commercials are blocked out during the game. So LOGICAL. But I’m not complaining about that.
by grapejoos on Oct 27, 2009 7:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Also on TWC-Brooklyn, BTW, definitely can’t complain about getting all 3 teams’ games in HD.
by grapejoos on Oct 27, 2009 7:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’ve ponied up for GameCenter this year, I realize I won’t be able to watch most, if any, of the Caps games, but having access to basically every other game in the NHL is very appealing. I agree the quality is astounding- if you download a plugin it can do an adaptive setting and auto adjust to your linespeed, so currently I’m getting a 2200 Kbps feed. It takes about ten seconds for it to clear up the fuzzies, but then it pops into darn near HD quality. The 4 games at once works great, as well as the PIP and popout feature. I like popout best because I can then maximize and do F11 to get wall-to-wall, top-to-bottom picture on my 22" monitor.
If you’ve had Gamecenter in the past, though, there are a few things missing— you can no longer choose between home and away radio feeds for the audio, and there is no support for multiple camera angles (not that there really was anyhow last year, but it was a neat idea). One thing I haven’t checked on but theoretically should be possible is watching blacked out (due to locality) games when I travel. I know from reading the Gamecenter FAQ that they check your locality via IP addy and apply any blackout rules, so if I’m in another state I should be able to watch the blacked out game. We’ll have to see on that one.
"I tried to capture the spirit of the thing"
by tuvanhillbilly on Oct 28, 2009 10:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I was able to watch Caps games while “on the road” last year. Haven’t had a change to test it this year, but it should work.
by PaintDrinkingPete on Oct 29, 2009 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like popout best because I can then maximize and do F11 to get wall-to-wall, top-to-bottom picture on my 22" monitor.
Nice indeed…I actually like the non-popout full screen because I can still see other scores! Either way, it’s win/win!
by PaintDrinkingPete on Oct 29, 2009 11:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington
|
21 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 30 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
19 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 23 |
|
Atlanta
|
18 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 22 |
|
Florida
|
19 | 8 | 9 | 2 | 18 |
|
Carolina
|
21 | 4 | 12 | 5 | 13 |
(updated 11.20.2009 at 9:16 AM EST)
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
