February TV blackout
Anyone know or can find out why Tech chose to black out all their February home games?
When families can't watch their kids play it hurts recruiting. It also hurts fan support & NIL contributions.
Our only February televised game is Tue at 3PM & only because its at JMU. ESPN+
75 Replies
5mo
You can expect subpar performance. VT Athletic Dept is the most poorly run organization I have dealt with. Worse than Hughesnet. They should all be given that book titled Good to Great. Of course someone would need to teach them how to read first... Just my 2cents...
(In response to this post by 5thFloorLee)
5mo
Closed circuit tv?
It is puzzling a Tech school can’t seem to get their tech right!
(In response to this post by 5thFloorLee)
5mo
They did a review when I was there on Saturday. So there's a camera in there somewhere.
(In response to this post by AnotherTechW)
5mo
poles just past the dugout on the first and third base lines. I believe those are PTZ cameras, meaning they're controlled remotely and don't have to be operated by someone in the park, and they're on basically all the time. My guess is they used those when they went to review. Not fantastic angles, though.
(In response to this post by Chris Coleman)
5mo
Games not involving the host school were not televised in any fashion, but there was replay reviews available. I dont know how many camera angles were available - for Georgia, there were basically two cameras - even for the telecast.
(In response to this post by Chris Coleman)
5mo
for revenue -
But he wont consider selling tics for WSB that regularly wants to pay for tickets and has a very live following...
Make no sense - and is nonsense.
Rant over...
(In response to this post by 5thFloorLee)
5mo
So he's not making any revenue for these games.
I think it's just laziness and the lack of drive to be the best you can be.
I'm actually going to write a quick article about it tomorrow. I was thinking about it, and when I ran the numbers today and saw that everyone else is doing it but we aren't, then it became obvious that it's just a conscious decision by VT. And it doesn't make any sense.
For the first time we'll be able to watch a game tomorrow at JMU on ESPN+.
** Edited by Chris Coleman at 2/23/2026, 6:29:45 PM
(In response to this post by U2Hokie)
5mo
** Edited by Brewing_Hokie at 2/23/2026, 7:03:05 PM
(In response to this post by Chris Coleman)
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N2VT2
5mo
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5mo
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5mo
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5mo
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5mo
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5mo
really? Frankly, baseball management has not made their case where this is so important to the program. Coaches have to be marketing and branding experts, not just coaching tactics. 1) VT baseball has not moved the bar on reputation, it has lost its naming rights to English Field, and starting the year losing ot Rutgers. Appearance is everything.
yawn.. yawn....
appears Wrestling dont have this problem.
(In response to this post by U2Hokie)
5mo
Implying Whit should physically clean dirty rest rooms. But then again, Whit is supposed to make sure the restrooms are clean. The buck is supposed at his door.
He IS supposed to make sure the restrooms are clean. Through supervisors if they are employees of VT, or through the contractor if it's been farmed out.
(In response to this post by 1947Sunbowl)
5mo
Elbin has retweeted some Tweets that have been critical of the decision. They aren't happy with it at all.
The school motto is Ut Prosim, and yet the athletic department has made the Conscious decision to not serve the baseball program when it absolutely could do so. It's either a lack of drive and dedication, or simply a horrible decision. There's no other way to explain it. Maybe we need to get James Franklin to make them do it.
** Edited by Chris Coleman at 2/23/2026, 3:01:37 PM
** Edited by Chris Coleman at 2/23/2026, 3:38:46 PM
(In response to this post by 1947Sunbowl)
5mo
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saret
5mo
"The school motto is Ut Prosim, and yet the athletic department has made the conscience decision to not serve the baseball program when it absolutely could do so." This decision is not exclusive to just baseball. Also, the AthDept spent millions of dollars for dual studio capabilities when it was required by the ACCN. Yet, I cannot name once when there were simultaneous events simultaneously broadcasted (spring game/softball comes to mind). Yet, apparently the capabilities built are seldom utilized. Yet, the AthDept spent ~$10MM dollars on the dual studios out of the ~$30MM Whit borrowed. And, approximately ~$10MM of that $30MM was spent on baseball. Whit keeps repeating and doubling down on his lack of financial acumen.
** Edited by saret at 2/23/2026, 6:29:13 PM
(In response to this post by Chris Coleman)
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VTScoop
5mo
made it known. Baseball staff has nothing to do with finding naming rights to the stadium. You simply have no idea what you are talking about. Not sure what Wrestling has to do with this at all, especially since they wrestle in the facility where the cameras are presently stationed. Good gosh, and it is only Monday.......
(In response to this post by 1947Sunbowl)
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RJHokie
5mo
Almost as bad as Amptech (CALS72)…….😂
(In response to this post by VTScoop)
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2hhoop3
5mo
equivalent of saying King Kong was just an ape. ;-)
(In response to this post by RJHokie)
5mo
their name to English field. Where do you think $$$ comes from? We did this in 2016!
This was after Hughes took us to a Regional in 2013 - then tWhit hire Pat Mason down the hall and Baseball TANKED till he was fired and we got CJS (Super Regional 2022). We will never be an ACC Baseball perrenial leader w/o more NIL money to spread around - but being Blacked out wont put buts in Seats to watch 4hr ball games.
Do understand what a black-out is - it is seen outside of a 50 or 150 mile radius on TV, but not available locally. Kills interest regardless of lost revenue...and Wrestling does not charge for entry to Cassell to watch them.
"Decisions regarding blackouts of Virginia Tech (VT) athletic games are primarily made through contractual agreements between the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), broadcasting partners (such as ESPN/ACC Network), and the Virginia Tech Athletics Department."
(In response to this post by 1947Sunbowl)
5mo
** Edited by Nortazhokie at 2/23/2026, 8:10:23 PM
Link:
Weaver Names Mason HC
(In response to this post by RJHokie)
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2hhoop3
5mo
late June or early July 2013 I think and given JW's health the down the hall was not surprising.
(In response to this post by RJHokie)
5mo
at least you could halfway watch. I still contend that it's because all of the available cameras are in Cassell for basketball, but that doesn't explain how they were able to broadcast last year this time (unless VT is down a camera from last year). @VTScoop do you have any input?
** Edited by Nortazhokie at 2/23/2026, 9:55:45 AM
(In response to this post by 5thFloorLee)
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VTScoop
5mo
the equipment until the season is done. That decision has been a disappointment to lots of folks.
(In response to this post by Nortazhokie)
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saret
5mo
just a "gift" that keeps on giving.
(In response to this post by VTScoop)
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QCP
5mo
or someone else?
What would be the best avenue for pushing to resolve this for future seasons? Email directly to Babcock?
@chrishirons - any idea how much an additional camera + needed equipment would run to dedicate to the baseball team for at least streaming home games?
(In response to this post by VTScoop)
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VTScoop
5mo
communications, broadcasts/video/ACC Network, brand advancement, in game experiences, etc. are all under his purview. He oversees all external operations for VT Athletics. Ironically, fan development also falls in this category as well. I don't wish to pile on, but this one was a bad call. No other way to put it. In a day and age, when the product has to be taken to people all over (outside of Blacksburg and we have capability of doing so), and we hope to create "memorable experiences," this should not be happening. Hard to have it both ways, on one hand asking for help from supporters and, on the other hand, not putting forth a better effort. That is probably stronger than I should say in this setting. Apologies....
(In response to this post by QCP)
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saret
5mo
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QCP
5mo
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5mo
season about the lack of TV coverage for baseball early season and got a generic canned response. Didn't even address my question.
(In response to this post by QCP)
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QCP
5mo
provide a phone number. I certainly won't call it during his out of office time but may call it in the future if I don't get any sort of email response.
(In response to this post by Nortazhokie)
5mo
A few teams haven't played home games yet because it's too cold. I couldn't find information for Miami. Here's how it has looked for TV coverage for the other ACC teams. As you can see, everyone else is putting their games on ACCNX...except for us. It's really a terrible look.
** Edited by Chris Coleman at 2/23/2026, 3:41:08 PM
(In response to this post by VTScoop)
5mo
network/streaming option.
(In response to this post by Chris Coleman)
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VTScoop
5mo
should.
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2hhoop3
5mo
are a succinct and perfect summation of the weakness that hurts the department across a lot of areas and the culture failure of department leadership.
(In response to this post by VTScoop)
5mo
goes to JUNK because he be gone. George Allen HC of the Redskins had a motto - The Future Is NOW!
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saret
5mo
goes immediately into the electronic ether. Whit doesn't answer his emails.
(In response to this post by laphroaig)
5mo
Insane you have a sports journalism school and don't have enough cameras to cover events.
(In response to this post by VTScoop)
5mo
I would be pissed if I was baseball coach as well.
Especially after last 2 epic games.
(In response to this post by VTScoop)
5mo
The coaches aren't very happy about it. It hurts in recruiting because other staffs can say "see, they don't care about baseball at Virginia Tech if they can't be bothered to move a camera or two to televise your baseball games."
An honestly, they'd be right.
Before the FSU basketball game, a graphic ran on the screen saying it would be Tyler Johnson's first game back from injury. They had it prepared just in case, and then somebody accidentally ran it. Earlier this year they got a couple of dates wrong on the screen when they were advertising future games. Simply too many people are getting away with not doing their jobs because they lack oversight. That's what happens when your AD doesn't fully staff his athletic department like he should. Lots of things slip through the cracks. Some trivial of course, but all those things add up to an athletic department that will not reach peak efficiency until there are some major changes.
** Edited by Chris Coleman at 2/23/2026, 10:08:39 AM
(In response to this post by AnotherTechW)
5mo
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5mo
He was a huge factor in landing Franklin, And he hires great coaches (sans football). He's good to go at least until 2027.
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HokiePWC
5mo
allowed to take shape in that excellence is not the expectation.
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5mo
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saret
5mo
HokieSports.com. I downloaded it (update it every so often), and review it when questions come up. As one example, look at how many people are in some "communications" position, yet how little we communicate. Then, remember, that in addition to those people listed, there are numerous contractor personnel that aren't listed. Many of the mundane activities of the AthDept are performed by contractor personnel. That's why I frequently post about the lack of contractor oversight. HokieSports.com is handled by wmt (go to the bottom of the page), which is a partner of Paciolan/IMG/LearField. A lot of the ticketing is done by contractor personnel, not AthDept employees. And, a lot of the other AthDept financial activity is supposedly done by contractors (if anyone wants the contracts, let me know).
Many on here probably believe I am against out-sourcing, but I'm not. But out-sourcing requires constant assiduous oversight, and that type of oversight is not being done by AthDept leadership. In the federal contracting system, a person is assigned as for oversight (used to be called a COTR (Contracting Officer's Technical Rep) and I think now is called a COR (Contracting Officer's Rep). I spent decades of my life investigating contract fraud, and the most common thread when fraud occurred was a weak COTR/COR. And, as I look at the AthDept, it has some of the weakest oversight I've ever seen. I have seen dozens of instances where the contractor isn't doing what is called for in the contract,... chronically. Yet, this chronic non-performance occurs season after season, year after year.
@VTChip is well aware of the obstacles instituted by Whit and his Minions to obstruct his fundraising for softball. In fact, in at least one instance, I came to believe Whit and his Minions hadn't even read the contract they signed. But in the overall picture, whether it is the AthDept itself responsible for the miscues, or a contractor, the AthDept is responsible.
(In response to this post by Chris Coleman)
5mo
warrant and investigate. If the employee is "working at home" but is not actually working at home, that's theft so a search warrant is applicable.
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5mo
the office as well. And these AD issues have been around since well before COVID increased the remote work numbers. I assume you're being silly about the search warrant stuff though...
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5mo
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5mo
Shouldn't needs like this have been included in the BoV presentation and budgeting?? SMH
** Edited by 91HokieBob at 2/23/2026, 10:13:35 AM
(In response to this post by VTScoop)