OSU Sports and 97.1 Web streaming... gotta pay if you want OSU

[xmusicmatt]

Looks like starting with the 09/19 game WBNS is now requiring you to buy a buckyee blitz pass if you want streaming audio of the Ohio State games... previously this was streamed free...



Taken from The Fan's website.:


"If you can't hear the game on 97.1 FM, don't worry, you can listen to all the games on-line. Use the link above to purchase your single game or season Buckeye Web Blitz pass. You can get a single game pass that lets you listen to any one regular season game, or buy the season pass and get in on every regular season game (starting 9/19).

Buckeye Web Blitz may not be compatible with Mac operating systems. Windows is recommended. Please see other technical requirements below.

    * Regular season pass: $24.95
    * Single game pass: $4.95 (valid for any single regular season game)

You will need a Buckeye Web Blitz pass to listen to regular season Ohio State games on-line starting 9/19 for the Toledo game. "

[Nu_Roo_2]

Wonder if they would have done this differently if 99.7 the Blitz were still around...

[OhioMediaWatch]

This is probably not a WBNS/RadiOhio decision, it's probably an Ohio State decision.

The University of Akron did the same up here, as did Kent State University.  The games are not on the respective audio streams for the flagship stations (WARF/1350 Akron for the Zips, WNIR/100.1 for the Golden Flashes), and they have these fancy sections similar to "Buckeye Blitz" where you can get access for $$$.

[xmusicmatt]

This is probably not a WBNS/RadiOhio decision, it's probably an Ohio State decision.

The University of Akron did the same up here, as did Kent State University.  The games are not on the respective audio streams for the flagship stations (WARF/1350 Akron for the Zips, WNIR/100.1 for the Golden Flashes), and they have these fancy sections similar to "Buckeye Blitz" where you can get access for $$$.

It could be a RadiOhio decision but then again.. RadiOhio is owned by Wolfes    But either way they had previously until the 09/19 streamed the games free without blockage.

(they now put ESPN Radio's feed on the stream during the Ohio State games).

[OhioMediaWatch]

Looking into it further, "Buckeye Web Blitz" does indeed appear to be handled on the WBNS/RadiOhio/Dispatch side.  The technical support E-mail address is even (whatever)@dispatch.com.

The KSU and University of Akron products are handled by the universities.

[jharmon]

Another clever way to monetize their biggest franchise.  How many people do you think will pay a fee for the games?  A lot of Nuts out there (Buckeyes) will probably fork over the cash. 

Another possibility is that the streaming rights are owned by the new rightsholder, and Radiohio is merely handling the exchange...

Or they handle the transactions and split the cash with new rightsholder.

[OhioMediaWatch]

Oh, I'm sure it's legally checked six ways to Sunday (Saturday?), within the contract between all the involved parties.

I just thought it was odd that it's a separate product from tOSU's own "Buckeye Vision", which looks similar to the other University-run programs I described.

I can't tell from the material, but I suspect "Buckeye Vision" also offers up the radio play-by-play, along with everything else...where "Blitz" is not on the Buckeyes site, it's only on the WBNS "Fan" site, and only offers the radio audio.

[tr130]

This is run by IMG/OSU.  Had been in place for three seasons with The Fan.

[alans613]

$$$ to LISTEN to an OSU game online?  What a friggin' joke!  Paying to listen to an OSU game amounts to sheer lunacy when you can watch it on cable or satelitte, which you're already paying for.  Also, in the event that the game isn't televised, why wouldn't someone just listen to the game on 97.1 for free, or will RadiOhio come up with a way to block the signal from getting to your radio unless you pay $5 a game?  What a bunch of money hungry morons! 

[tr130]

It is not a Radiohio driven program but do know it brings in a pretty decent amount of cash.  Not a bad idea as most of the $ comes from outside of central Ohio and a lot from around the world. We live in a capitalistic society, so why not? Business is business and OSU is big business as is sports marketing anywhere.