Public Service Announcement!

by David Taylor on Aug 17, 2009 1:26 PM CDT

If you're like me and follow the Bears from somewhere other than "The Windy City," then it's likely you struggle to watch the games in some capacity. Sure there are options, but each of these are limited.

With DirecTV and the NFL Package you can drop $300 ($400 for HD), on top of your regular satellite bill and watch every snap Cutler takes under center this year. But what about people who can't afford the $1,600 yearly cost for DirecTV? What about those die hards who live in apartments, or have H.O.A.'s where satellites aren't even allowed?

Off to the bar, right? Not so fast. While there seems to be more ex-Chicagoan folks residing in Charleston than I originally knew about. South Carolina is bordered by two states with their own NFL franchises. Not to mention the amazing amount of Pittsburgh, Washington and Dallas fans in this area. Finding the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is more likely than finding a Bears game on at a bar on any given Sunday.

What to do then?

Stranded football fans, wait no longer! It appears that the NFL is finally giving its fans another choice, and it comes by the title of NFL Game Rewind.

via farm4.static.flickr.com

• • • • • • • •

NFL Game Rewind gives us out-of-towners a chance to watch every NFL game on-line and commercial free for a respectible price of $39.99 for the entire season.

With this service, you'll be able to watch every game from 2008 and 2009, including Thursday night NFL Network and Monday night ESPN games in "stunning HD." I wouldn't necessarily call it stunning, but the quality isn't that bad. And I think the games will still look sharp on my plasma once I run a cord from my computer.

This package does NOT include pre-season contest, nor does it included the post-season. However, the post season will become available, as a package, at a later date.

The only real downside that I've found from this service is that the games are not LIVE, hence the name. From my recent Q&A with a Rewind representative, it appears that the games are posted to the site somewhere between one to five hours after the live broadcast goes off the air.

As far as I can tell, this is much like the NFL Game Pass, which is offered in some countries outside of the U.S. (minus the live play setback). I'm glad the NFL's finally giving us football fans more options to watch our favorite team play on Sundays. Options other than that of the monopolistic DirecTV.

The NFL Rewind site and their FAQ's are very limited, so I hope this information helps someone on WCG feed their craving for Chicago Bear football this season. Bear down boys and girls, football season is officially here!

This FanPost was written by a Windy City Gridiron member, and does not necessarily reflect the ideas or opinions of its staff or community.

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Comments

Thanks

Great find and write-up.

by Fridge72 on Aug 17, 2009 1:46 PM CDT reply actions

If you have any friends or family in Chicago

Ask them if they have a sling box. You can then download the slingbox app to your computer, get the password from them, and watch their tv!

My parents live in Florida, so my dad watches my slingbox to see the Bears.

"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)

Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
.

by SackMan on Aug 17, 2009 1:57 PM CDT reply actions

+1, very smart idea

never thought of this for family outside chicago area. I just signed up for dish network. I wanted to wait for the vip 922 which is their hd dvr receiver that’s slingloaded to be released, but I couldn’t wait with football season rolling around the corner. If I want to do the slingbox thing, I have to get a stand alone box and it’s not worth it.

by aznsensation on Aug 17, 2009 2:00 PM CDT up reply actions

I forgot to mention that with slingbox,

both ends need a broadband connection. The faster the better. I’m not too sure if there are any subscription fees with sling though.

by aznsensation on Aug 17, 2009 2:02 PM CDT up reply actions

There are no subscription fees.

I bought mine before the 2006, or 2007 season. Can’t remember. I travel a lot for work, so I use it to watch the Cubs or Bears when I’m on the road. I have an older model obviously, but it does the trick. I’m not concerned with overall picture quality (I’m watching on a laptop), I just want to see it live!

Also, if you have a DVR, you can watch anything that you recorded on it. So, if you’re away, you can record the game, and watch it later.

"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)

Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
.

by SackMan on Aug 17, 2009 2:17 PM CDT up reply actions

Can I watch your tv? :)

I'm teaching fools some basic rules.- MR.T

by Ditkavsworld on Aug 17, 2009 2:08 PM CDT up reply actions

LOL

"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)

Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
.

by SackMan on Aug 17, 2009 2:18 PM CDT up reply actions

Thanks.

Thought about the slingbox option, but don’t have any friends in the area. Not that I could watch all the games live anyways, having a little girl and all.

Another option, not sure how legal, is going in with a friend on DirecTV and getting SuperFan. You could watch all of the games live online, but the person with DTV would have to surrender their online password. And doing so, the other person could go in and change their package and such. So it would have to be a pretty good and trusting friendship.

Either way, I can do the $40 and just watch the games after my little girl goes to sleep for the night. Works for me.

- Smudgers

"Newbie, if the next two words out of your mouth aren't 'See ya' then the third word will be 'Oh my god. My crotch. You've punched me in my crotch." - Dr. Percival Ulysses Cox

by David Taylor on Aug 17, 2009 2:15 PM CDT up reply actions

Thanks for the heads up...

if you really can’t find ANY bar, try the Wild Wing on, I think, Market St. They should have ALL the games on. At least the ones here in Columbia do, that’s the only way I get my fix!!

wake me in September...

by ChiTown2ShineIn'09 on Aug 17, 2009 2:57 PM CDT reply actions

Yeah, I've tried that and others like it.

Blue’s House of Wing’s seems to be better, but it’s always hit and miss. And usually, a lot more miss.

- Smudgers

"Newbie, if the next two words out of your mouth aren't 'See ya' then the third word will be 'Oh my god. My crotch. You've punched me in my crotch." - Dr. Percival Ulysses Cox

by David Taylor on Aug 17, 2009 3:05 PM CDT up reply actions

I used to frequent the local Beef O'Bradys.

You won’t get the big screen and you have to get there early to get a table but other than that it was good times for me.

I'm teaching fools some basic rules.- MR.T

by Ditkavsworld on Aug 17, 2009 3:24 PM CDT up reply actions

We just got one of those, not too long ago.

Maybe I’ll check it out. Thanks.

- Smudgers

"Newbie, if the next two words out of your mouth aren't 'See ya' then the third word will be 'Oh my god. My crotch. You've punched me in my crotch." - Dr. Percival Ulysses Cox

by David Taylor on Aug 17, 2009 3:26 PM CDT up reply actions

Thats where us bears fans stationed at Fort Rucker live on sundays

But we get their early enough and schmooz the waitresses just the right amount, so we get the bears on the Big screen with the audio.

"If God had wanted man to play soccer, He wouldn't have given us arms" - Ditka

by EricEmpire on Aug 17, 2009 3:49 PM CDT up reply actions

ha

did that in Colorado at Fox & Hound every week, that and we would just scream over the Bronco fans anyways, 4 of us were louder than an entire “bar” full of people. Bears fans = Loud

I would debate you, but that would only lead to me being dragged away in handcuffs...

by BearNecessities on Aug 19, 2009 6:22 AM CDT up reply actions

There are a few options for catching it live.

Though it always seems like they’re being squashed as soon as they go up. The sling box is a great option if you can find a local Bears fan to piggy back off of. And it looks like the game rewind will be a nice option as well.

Personally, I DVR the games (the ones I’m not at of course) and start watching an hour into the game. This gives me enough time to skip through commercials and half-time by the time you reach the end of the fourth quarter. I don’t have to watch the game live to enjoy it, thought that may not be the same for everybody.

When you go to somebody's house, you don't crap on their floor. Being a fan of one team does NOT give you license to be a dick to fans of another.

by Robert Rence on Aug 17, 2009 4:13 PM CDT reply actions

You can watch it live on your comp

All you have to do is install satellite TV software on your comp. Usually runs from about $20-100.

Or, you can be cheep and go here, and find the bears game(Not the best of quality at times, but it gets the job done)

http://channelsurfing.net/

by jbeks on Aug 17, 2009 10:12 PM CDT reply actions

Also for Gamepass

if you are overseas like me, covers the whole season for 239.99, all games including preseason, which after the games are over, look like it streams NFL Network programming during the week.
it shows all games live, in “HD” at 400, 800, 1200, 1600, 2400kbps respectively.
i run it on 1200kbps and it doesnt seem to lag too badly.

I would debate you, but that would only lead to me being dragged away in handcuffs...

by BearNecessities on Aug 18, 2009 8:35 AM CDT reply actions