The NC State fans guide to never having a televised Wolfpack game ‘blacked out’

When we started Pack Insider, we figured we’d have a lot of fan interaction. We figured we’d get messages asking us to ask players and coaches certain questions, and while that happens from time to time, the most asked question BY FAR is…

“What channel is the NC State game on?”

This question is one that is usually asked in a moment of urgency. It’s usually something the fans don’t think about until they click the television on to sit down and watch the game. And that’s when the mood goes from excitement and anticipation to pure panic.

So we’ve decided to dedicate this article to help you understand how to stay ahead of the curve and not be caught off guard this season.

Televsion & Streaming

1. Nationally Televised Games (Major Cable Networks)
Things are easy when the game is nationally televised. If a game is on ESPN, ABC, CBS, or some national channel, then as long as you have that channel in your cable or streaming package, you’re good.

2. Streaming on ACC Network (or ACCNX)
Things are almost as simple when the game is simply not televised on cable at all and is only streaming on the ACC Network Stream on the WatchESPN app. Again, you’ll still need an ESPN subscription to watch these games, but there won’t be any potential blackouts.

3. Televised on RSN (Regional Sports Network)
The real problem comes when games are airing on regional channels. This is where people get confused and frustrated.

Let’s look at an example: NC State’s second game of the season is against Charleston Southern. It’s a game that GoPack.com is saying will air on RSN.

Most State fans will go to their cable guide or their streaming guide and look for a channel called RSN. However, no channel of that name exists.

So what is RSN?

RSN stands for Regional Sports Network. Here is how GoPack.com describes RSN.

“RSN, which reaches in excess of 51.4 million homes, includes Bally Sports South, Bally Sports Florida, Bally Sports Sun, Bally Sports Midwest, Bally Sports Kansas City, Bally Sports Indiana, Bally Sports Ohio, Bally Sports Great Lakes, Bally Sports Detroit, Bally Sports North, Bally Sports Wisconsin, Bally Sports Southwest, Bally Sports New Orleans, Bally Sports Oklahoma, Bally Sports Arizona, Bally Sports West, Bally Sports SoCal, Bally Sports San Diego, Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN), New England Sports Network (NESN), the YES Network and the Marquee Sports Network,. All ACC games produced as part of the RSN package will be available via WatchESPN, but are subject to regional blackout.”

Since it’s NC State, you’re very likely looking at it being on Bally Sports South, but there is the off chance that NC State is playing another team in one of these regions and the game is only airing on THEIR RSN, which could be any of the others listed above.

So be vigilant. If you want to watch all of NC State’s games, then you’ll need to get Bally Sports South for (almost) all of the RSN games.

How to get NC State’s RSN (Bally Sports South)
To get Bally Sports South you’ll need to subscribe to Direct TV Stream, as they are the only steaming cable package that offers them according to CordCutterNews.com. Otherwise, you’ll have to go the traditional cable or satellite route and get Direct TV or Spectrum (formally Time Warner Cable). If you’re not in the Triangle area, then you’ll have to check with your local cable provider to see if you can get it.

But what if it says it’s airing on ACC Network and RSN?
Now, here is another caveat to RSN. As stated above, all RSN games are going to also seem available via the WatchESPN app. HOWEVER, if you live in a region of any of the channels listed above, you will be blacked out of the Watch ESPN ACC Network stream. So don’t get fooled! If it’s RSN, you’ll need the RSN channel if you’re in that region or you’re out of luck.

It’s complicated, and it’s unfortunate where it’s gotten to. Only 15  years ago we were all subscribed to basic cable, and dreaming of a utopia where we could go through our cable guide and pick and choose the package we wanted, lowering our monthly price and opting us into only the stations we were interested in.

Instead, we got thousands of streaming options, fighting with cable providers over rights, and we’re all paying as much or more than we were before, only it’s 1000 times more complicated to navigate.

That’s why we thought this write-up was necessary.

If I can’t get it, how do I listen on the radio?

If there is literally no way for you to watch the game, or if you’re driving, or just don’t feel like dishing out the money to subscribe to these platforms, then you can listen to games on the radio. But what station is it on? Well, it depends on where you’re at.

If you’re out of state, you’re going to need to just subscribe to GoPack.com’s All-Access plan. You can get a 24-hour pass, a monthly subscription or an annual subscription.

But if you’re in North Carolina, you can listen for free. You just need to know these stations.

Raleigh
WRAL 101.5 (Games) / WCMC 99.9 (Shows)

Albemarle
WZKY 1580AM & 103.3FM

Asheville
WWNC 570AM

Charlotte
WXRC 95.7

Fayetteville
WMRV 1450AM/106.5FM

Greensboro/Triad
WVBZ 105.7FM

Greenville
WECU 1570

Jacksonville
WJCV 1290AM/98.3FM

Laurinburg
WLNC 1300AM/95.1FM

New Bern
WNBB 97.9FM

Sanford
WWGP 1050AM & WFJA 105.5FM

Wilmington
WRMR 98.7FM

Winterville
WECU 107.5FM