On fightingillini.com it says our two games in Las Vegas will be shown on hooptv.net.

What is "hooptv.net"?

Costs money. $10 to see both games...

No way that we are going to be able to see any of these games on TV? Just have to watch them through computer..

Two of us would be watching, so it might be almost worth it. But can we watch the video at any time (without buying and waiting for a DVD)?

That's my question...since I'm busy and can't watch them live while they're streaming, I'm not going to purchase it unless I know I can watch them archived shortly after they end.

I just posted this in another thread as well...

I emailed the HoopTv.net people and they told me that the games would be archived "hopefully by Monday." I also asked if I joined the game an hour late or so if I would be able to watch the game from the start..."Sorry, no, the way this works technically is the game has to be encoded live on the server. So the game has to complete before it can be viewed. Unfortunately, it’s not like DVR technology."

That kind of confused me with the whole "has to be complete before it can be viewed" part. I emailed back to get confirmation on if you can sit down at tip off and start watching. Waiting for a response.

The hooptv.net site says they "will be broadcasting the final two rounds live from the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas for basketball fans everywhere." So I assume it will be viewable live and his email to me was poorly writing, or poorly misunderstood by me.

Surely that's not literally correct. Surely we can watch the game as it happens(?). They must be talking about the replay.

Must have a lot of VCR-like limitations.

Sounds to me like if you try to boot it up in the middle of the game, you'll be able to start watching from the middle of the game and will not be able to start watching from the beginning of the game.

Anyway, thanks for the info...I don't think I'll be purchasing the package unless I can watch all or most of each game.

Here is what he replied with, "The game is available live. While it is going on, you can tune in at any time. You asked if you could "return to the beginning". That would require recording like a DVR."

Bummer since I don't think I will be home in time to watch any part of the game on Saturday. But I plan on getting the game on Friday. We will see how good the service is.

Sounds like their tech. team needs to watch and learn from ESPN360. You can tune in live half-way through the game and go back to the beginning. I am not the brightest by a long shot when it comes to computers but this hoopsnet thing sounds like a second rate operation to me. I will just have to listen live and read about it after.

Why does the link not work at this point? I thought you were able to purchase the games starting today.

So... anyone able to even get on the hooptv.net site? I'm unable to.

Try using another internet browser besides IE.

funny, im using firefox. it would seem the site is having issues.

"Our hosting provider is dealing with some unexpected issues this morning that have temporarily slowed our site down. We have every confidence that the site will be up for today's live streaming. If for any reason the streaming is not available we will refund any purchased viewing packages.

Please check back with us soon. We understand your frustration and sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.

info@hooptv.net"

(crosses fingers)

Now they've got a message up saying they're having hosting issues but are sure it will be back up by game time (or else they'll refund).

We'll see...

It says their site is down but they'll be back up for the game.

Ha, well I guess that explains it. I had trouble earlier today using IE, then i opened it fine with Firefox.

Lets hope they don't have these issues tonight.

I work in IT and I know crap happens, but damn! If you win a bid to get to broadcast this weven then you laid out some dough and it would be imperative to have this clickling like RIGHT NOW when people are trying to subscribe. WTF! What do they have like 1 web expert and he is in line somewhere trying to save $5 on a 12 pack of socks....nice.

I am looking to gather like 20 guys around my monitor the next couple nights at 50 cents each to cover this!

Is this still not working?

Actually, due to their incompetence, the game currently being played can be watched for free. http://livestream.com/hooptv

I'm gonna keep the window open until the Illini game starts just in case it never goes out.

What a joke this. Terrible that a tournament with legit teams could be in a broadcasting situation like this. I'm not sure who I'm blaming, I'm just saying.

Wow. This feed sucks. I miss ESPN360.

Couldn't agree more - this is an absolute joke of a tournament.

I can't believe the University of Illinois is allowing the basketball team to be broadcast on such a terrible website. If I would have paid for this, I would be really mad. Hopefully they get something fixed before tomorrow's game.

is it just me, or does it sound like Rooks keeps saying "Camey" ?

its almost as bad as the espn guy saying "Demetri Macorny"

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=4665604

Because of problems last night, they are providing free access for the games tonight at http://events.hooptv.net/

HoopsTV not working tonight.

Mine working flawlessly now...not a single blip since it finally loaded. phew.

Illini on 17-3 run 23 -17 6 min

Keep refreshing.