GameSearch tech lets DirecTV subs navigate games that are blacked out

DIRECTV scores another first in sports broadcasting technology with
GameSearch
, a new search-engine based
technology that illuminates the problem of local sports game blackouts
for frustrated fans. When a DIRECTV receiver is tuned-in to a channel
with a blacked-out game, GameSearch

recognizes the blackout and immediately looks to see if the game is on
another channel.

Sports blackouts, a long time source of frustration and confusion for
sports fans, occur when a sporting event is not televised in a certain
market to protect the teams, the sports leagues, and the stations, who
are the rights-holders to the game broadcast. Regardless of the specific
sport or league, the end result is always the same –
perplexed fans frustrated at the inability to view their desired game
broadcast.

“Blackouts have always been the bane of sports
fans and while we can ’t make them go away, we
can be the first to make it easier for fans, who have been left in the
dark, to find their game if it ’s being
broadcast on another channel, ” said Eric
Shanks, executive vice president of DIRECTV Entertainment. “Like
our HD and interactive services, GameSearch is another DIRECTV
technological innovation developed in response to what our customers
want and what will provide them with the ultimate viewing experience. ”

GameSearch will automatically recognize when the DIRECTV receiver is
tuned-in to a channel with a sports blackout. The search engine will
immediately scan the DIRECTV channel lineup to find alternative channels
that may be broadcasting the blacked-out game. If a non-blacked out
broadcast of the game is found, GameSearch displays an on-screen message
giving the viewer the option to tune in to that channel. If a
non-blacked out version is not available, an on-screen message will let
the viewer know the game is not available. When a game is scheduled to
be recorded on a DVR, GameSearch will find the game that is not in
black-out and automatically record it.