74 replies to this topic

[frwtv]

Hello fellow Red Wings fans.  Before the 2011-2012 NHL season started, I decided to register the domain freeredwings.tv and operate a site providing live streams of Detroit Red Wings games.  Yesterday, I received a cease and desist email from an NHL attorney ordering me to stop any and all unauthorized streaming of NHL copyrighted works.  With the recent arrest of a Comstock Park, MI man for copyright infringement, I have made the difficult and unfortunate decision to stop streaming NHL games.  I am expecting my first child in August and I cannot get arrested, especially over something like this.  I would like to thank the letsgowings community for always linking to the site in the GDT and being grateful and appreciative fans.  I hope you enjoyed what I was able to provide.  I would have loved to continue providing the service, but you can thank the NHL for ruining the party.

[WizardOfOz30]

Sorry that happened to you. I know many people really appreciated you streaming the games but of course you don't need to deal with legal problems. Good luck with your new little one!

[P. Marlowe]

I'm sorry to hear about this. I've been very thankful of your site ever since I started experiencing problems with drumnj's stream. There's no way for me to be able to afford the channels needed for watching NHL here.

Thank you for everything. It was great while it lasted.

[St. Michael (the Red Wing)]

Yeah thank you so much for always streaming the games. So much appreciated. Also good luck on the new little one too. Unfortunately since I'm pretty broke I can't afford to buy nhl center ice or anything else. I blame Bettman not for being broke but for this BS. Regardless thanks again for all your hard work I will be missing your streams.

Edited by St. Michael (the Red Wing), 20 February 2012 - 09:31 AM.

[Gizmo]

I would have loved to continue providing the service, but you can thank the NHL for ruining the party.

While I confess to having watched a streamed game or two after losing the battle for control of the family TV, I don't "blame" the NHL for anything in the C&D letter. Let's not kid ourselves, unauthorized streaming of copyrighted programming is blatantly illegal. It doesn't matter if it's "for profit" or done as a service for fellow fans. I'm sorry that you no doubt had the daylights scared out of you when you opened the letter, but could you really not see this coming? You registered a domain that screams "Hey, free illegal streaming of Red Wings games over here!!!!" I mean, dude......!

It's also not a Crosby-lovin'-Bettman thing. Show me one major sporting body that doesn't defend their broadcasts in such a manner.

Edited by Gizmo, 20 February 2012 - 09:45 AM.

[Kindl Surprise]

Thanks for the streams! They were such great quality... looks like it's back to listening to the radio feed.........

[Travis]

As a Wings fan without any sort of cable access, I always appreciated being able to tune into your games. Even yesterday, with NBC streaming the games online - I still went to freeredwings to watch.

Thank you for your service and best of luck!

[shoe]

Thanks for the feed man, I got to see a lot more Red Wings Hockey this year than other years because of you.

Your feed was good quality reliable and I didnt have to search through a whole bunch of links before every game.

[lookalive07]

Thanks for being able to do it for at least a while. Because of your streams, I was able to watch a couple of games I couldn't otherwise, and that includes the game against Anaheim recently with the crazy OT and the SO win. Good luck to you!

[puckloo39]

Thank you for your stream and all the good fun, FRW, and good luck and happiness with your new little one. We far-flung fans really enjoyed watching with you. We appreciated your efforts, believe me!

[jeff48109]

Thanks man. and all the best with the little one

[Nightfall]

While I confess to having watched a streamed game or two after losing the battle for control of the family TV, I don't "blame" the NHL for anything in the C&D letter. Let's not kid ourselves, unauthorized streaming of copyrighted programming is blatantly illegal. It doesn't matter if it's "for profit" or done as a service for fellow fans. I'm sorry that you no doubt had the daylights scared out of you when you opened the letter, but could you really not see this coming? You registered a domain that screams "Hey, free illegal streaming of Red Wings games over here!!!!" I mean, dude......!

It's also not a Crosby-lovin'-Bettman thing. Show me one major sporting body that doesn't defend their broadcasts in such a manner.

I don't know why you got hit with a lot of negative reviews for something that is just so obvious. I for one also thank the OP for his efforts. At the same time, I have to agree with you. This kind of thing wasn't going to last forever. The NHL is a big business, and every major sport out there is looking to squash these free streaming sites. Its a shame when it happens, because all they are doing is making this content available to those of us who don't have cable TV or don't have access to the game. At the same time, we shouldn't be surprised.

Thanks again for your efforts! It was good while it lasted.

[xtrememachine1]

Damn! I knew it was too good to be true. Ah well... thank you very much for streaming the games. Red Wings nation appreciated it. Good luck with the little one!

[Danielsm]

Such a shame, it's the only way I can watch the games (I live on university residence) and the NHL streams aref****** terrible compared to yours.

[Hack & Whack Rule!]

I was good while it lasted. Thanks for running it as long as you did. Maybe someone should start up a freepenguins.tv site and only show Wings games...it would probably go unnoticed, and maybe even receive funding from the NHL.

[Rick]

I don't know why you got hit with a lot of negative reviews for something that is just so obvious. I for one also thank the OP for his efforts. At the same time, I have to agree with you. This kind of thing wasn't going to last forever. The NHL is a big business, and every major sport out there is looking to squash these free streaming sites. Its a shame when it happens, because all they are doing is making this content available to those of us who don't have cable TV or don't have access to the game. At the same time, we shouldn't be surprised.

Thanks again for your efforts! It was good while it lasted.

It probably happened because it's so obvious it didn't need to be mentioned. OP isn't naive I'm sure. No need for "Duh, what did you expect" (paraphrase)or other remarks. thanking him for his time and efforts was really all that needed to be said.

Edited by Rick, 20 February 2012 - 11:20 AM.

[drumnj]

uh oh

Very unfortunate to hear that. Definitely scary, but I guess somewhat expected.

I have to commend you for your work. Even though you were kind of a competitor, though it didn't bother me, you put in the effort for your viewers. Having 2 streams is quite the commitment and you didn't have it be all about making money.

The days of online streams are slowly dying with all the legal focus and it being a big topic in legislation. 5 years ago it was hardly known, really shows how the internet can provoke the ways companies and governments do business.

Well good luck to you man, hopefully we'll see you around the forum taking part of the fun filled Wings discussions.

[PROBIE4PREZ]

Wow I wish I knew this site existed damn it!

[Nightfall]

It probably happened because it's so obvious it didn't need to be mentioned. OP isn't naive I'm sure. No need for "Duh, what did you expect" (paraphrase)or other remarks. thanking him for his time and efforts was really all that needed to be said.

I can agree to that. On the same token, bitching about the NHL solves nothing either. A simple thank you, as you said, is really all that is required.

[guif_br]

that's a shame, i've been watching every wings games here in brazil
yesterday's win against the sharks was my last one
best of luck for you and your little child