It's Thursday and there's Sunday planning ahead for the Jets-Packers game. And we don't mean planning of the shrimp vs. steak tailgate kind.
For the Jets fans among the 3 million Cablevision subscribers in the tri-state area who want to watch Sunday's game on TV, contingency plans must be made in case the game is not aired on Fox.
One thing the NFL has been known for over the years is fantastic finishes, so we won't rule out an 11th-hour agreement between News Corp. and Cablevision that will restore Fox on Cablevision in time for Sunday's 1 p.m. kickoff. But being realistic, we also want to provide options for our readers here at newyorkjets.com.
One option is to watch the game from your favorite local sports bar/restaurant. And here we can help. Click on the PDF link below to see a list of more than 300 establishments, with addresses and phone numbers, in the Cablevision areas of New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania that show games on NFL Sunday Ticket. This is not a complete list so you may want to check with establishments you know of that are not listed to see if they also are carrying the games.
Or if you prefer using your iPhone or Android smartphone to find a sports bar/restaurant in your area, you can download the DIRECTV Sports Bar Finder application. This app will have additional locaitons that may not appear on the above list.
Also, the Federal Communications Commission issued a consumer advisory in which it answered a few frequently asked questions that are surely on Jets fans' lips as we head toward the game. Here are summaries of those FAQs:
What can I do while WNYW (Ch. 5, Fox's New York affiliate) isn't available on Cablevision systems?
You may be able to use one of the following options to continue viewing the station:
- Subscribe to another pay service that is carrying the station. In the affected areas, other available pay services include: AT&T, DIRECTV, DISH Network, RCN (limited areas of Brooklyn) and Verizon FIOS.
NOTE: Not all of these pay service providers are available throughout Cablevision's service areas in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. You should contact the pay service provider to determine if they provide service to your residence. In addition, you should be aware that DISH's agreement for these stations is set to expire on Nov. 1 unless a new agreement is reached between DISH and Fox.
- Watch the station (and other broadcasting stations) over the air using an antenna and a digital television.
- Watch the station (and other broadcasting stations) over the air using an antenna and an analog television attached to a digital-to-analog converter box.
How can I watch a station over the air without a pay TV subscription?
To watch a television station over the air, you need either a digital TV set or an analog TV set connected to a digital-to-analog converter box.
In either case, you will need an appropriate antenna connected to the TV set or the converter box. Depending on your location, this could be either an outdoor rooftop antenna or an indoor antenna.
To check for the over-the-air signals that can be received at your location, click here to use DTV Reception Maps. And for more information on antennas, click here to see the FCC's Antenna Guide.
Why do I need a converter box if I have an analog TV set?
Federal law required that by June 12, 2009, all full-power TV broadcast stations stop broadcasting in analog format and broadcast only in digital format. Although cable subscribers can still rely on analog TVs to work with their cable systems, if you are using an analog-only TV and want to watch a station over the air, you will need to use a converter box that receives the digital signals broadcast over the air and converts them so that you can see them on your analog TV.
Converter boxes may be available from consumer electronics retailers in your community and online.
Finally, we just wanted to respond to Radar commenters who have asked about other TV options. The NFL's television policies are very clear in such situations. The visiting team dictates which network carries every Sunday afternoon NFL game. With Green Bay as the visiting team, the NFC network is Fox and that is the only network that can air the game. The Jets cannot make that signal available on another network or online.
But we suggest you check out our TV alternatives above, listen to the radio call by Bob Wischusen and Marty Lyons on 1050 ESPN New York — which is also streamed live on newyorkjets.com — and come to our Website for the Live chat during the game and for our exclusive Game Center containing game photos, videos, live and postgame statistics along with links to all our stories and features on Jets-Packers.
And we all wish Jets chairman/CEO Woody Johnson all luck and skill in his contacts with Cablevision and Fox in an effort to resolve this matter in time for kickoff.
