Directv & Comcast Sports at odds

[Oilfan]

http://uk.reuters.com/article/governmentFilingsNews/idUKN0750168120090107?sp=true

Executives from DirecTV, the largest U.S. satellite TV provider, said Comcast is asking for increases of 25 to 40 percent for its subscribers to be able to view games of teams like the National Basketball Association's Boston Celtics and National Hockey League's San Jose Sharks.

The dispute could impact nearly 2 million DirecTV subscribers and also includes programming for other sports franchise like the San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics baseball teams and the Golden State Warriors basketball team on the Bay Area sports network.

[Barmat]

If D* and Comcast cann't come to an agreement and D* loses Comcast Bay Area I'll drop D*. Faster then Randy Johnsons fastball in his prime.

[Pepster]

If D* and Comcast cann't come to an agreement and D* loses Comcast Bay Area I'll drop D*. Faster then Randy Johnsons fastball in his prime.


How ironic. One of the main reasons that I wound up at DirecTV is Dish Network's inability to come to terms with YES which carries to of my local teams (Yankees & Nets).

[ajc68]

If D* and Comcast cann't come to an agreement and D* loses Comcast Bay Area I'll drop D*. Faster then Randy Johnsons fastball in his prime.

Of course that's what Comcast is hoping for. I really believe they want to have their RSN's off satellite to drive customers to its cable. Look no further than Philadelphia and Portland as examples of this. I have a bad feeling about where this is headed. It will be interesting to see what the arbitrator rules.

[colebert]

Does this impact MLB:EI on D*?

[paulman182]

When this kind of things happens with Dish, the channels go away.

When it happens with DirecTV, it gets worked out.

[Piratefan98]

When this kind of things happens with Dish, the channels go away.

When it happens with DirecTV, it gets worked out.

Hopefully it will pan out that way again. I like watching the Washington Capitals on Comcast Sportsnet, and would hate to lose that particular channel.

Jeff

[TimGoodwin]

Hopefully it will pan out that way again. I like watching the Washington Capitals on Comcast Sportsnet, and would hate to lose that particular channel.

Jeff


It looks like it's just the Bay area and in Boston. I hope!

[Red Dog]

CSN Mid Atlantic doesn't have much leverage to try that here. They only have 2 major sports properties (Caps and Wiz) and it's not like they are wildly popular in the DC area to begin with.

Frankly, except for Caps playoff games, I hardly watch it. It's a terrible FSN 'affiliate,' which is one reason why I subscribe to the sportspack in college football and hoops season.

I can see this working in a place like Boston though.

[BJM]

Looking closely at the Reuters story, the story implies that the "40%" increase proposed is as a result of "dropping games" of the A's and Sharks. So is Comcast trying to negotiate its channels separately, that is CSNBA v. CSNBA Plus?

[Araxen]

If D* and Comcast cann't come to an agreement and D* loses Comcast Bay Area I'll drop D*. Faster then Randy Johnsons fastball in his prime.

Good, I hope you and everybody else in that area will pay all for the 40% increase because I surely don't want it tacked on to my bill.

[1948GG]

I really believe they want to have their RSN's off satellite to drive customers to its cable. Look no further than Philadelphia and Portland as examples of this. I have a bad feeling about where this is headed. It will be interesting to see what the arbitrator rules.

BINGO. Look at it strictly from a predatory standpoint (where the cablecos have been for well over 50 years now).

Here comes a competitor, that can pretty easily 'invade' the territory you've paid GOOD MONEY (to the politicians) for, to get pretty much unrestricted and exclusive access to the customer base. You find that the #1 reason those customer 'flip' to the newcomer is Pro Sports. The vast majority of those franchises have tv deals either with small independent carriers (YES, NESN), or with large multi-state concerns that aren't strictly aligned with your company (Fox Sports Net, etc.).

So, you simply engage in a multi-year plan to 'peal away' those contracts to your own multi-state 'outfit'. If your pockets are deep (and the cablecos are pretty much like the telcos), they are. Maybe 5-10 years later, you'll be in a position to hurt this 'newcomer'.

All program suppliers, irrespective of small wobbles like the Aldelphia 'rules', should be forced into arbitration. Just remember all the 'noise' from Congress when MLB ExInn wanted to go exclusive with DirecTV...? Notice that when the cablecos try the same thing, you never hear a peep.

'All Politics Is Local'. And all those cablecos are 'local' in the communities. They say 'jump' and the local pols say 'how high'. They know which side their bread is buttered one (franchise fees are a HUGE item on most communities income base).

[DCSholtis]

When this kind of things happens with Dish, the channels go away.

When it happens with DirecTV, it gets worked out.

Agreed. Things like this don't happen to D*. Expect a resolution.

[pfueri]

Agreed. Things like this don't happen to D*. Expect a resolution.

Directv will just charge more ! That's the only resolution Directv work's out . More money !

[jimmyv2000]

It looks like it's just the Bay area and in Boston. I hope!

It better not happen in Boston
Or i will be forced to cancel and get COMCRAP and have to pay huge $$ to run an underground line to my house.:mad:
(BLANK) That
I hope an agreement will be reached
My commitment runs out 2/13/09

[mx6bfast]

Good, I hope you and everybody else in that area will pay all for the 40% increase because I surely don't want it tacked on to my bill.
My thoughts exactly.

[evan_s]

BINGO. Look at it strictly from a predatory standpoint (where the cablecos have been for well over 50 years now).

Here comes a competitor, that can pretty easily 'invade' the territory you've paid GOOD MONEY (to the politicians) for, to get pretty much unrestricted and exclusive access to the customer base. You find that the #1 reason those customer 'flip' to the newcomer is Pro Sports. The vast majority of those franchises have tv deals either with small independent carriers (YES, NESN), or with large multi-state concerns that aren't strictly aligned with your company (Fox Sports Net, etc.).

So, you simply engage in a multi-year plan to 'peal away' those contracts to your own multi-state 'outfit'. If your pockets are deep (and the cablecos are pretty much like the telcos), they are. Maybe 5-10 years later, you'll be in a position to hurt this 'newcomer'.

All program suppliers, irrespective of small wobbles like the Aldelphia 'rules', should be forced into arbitration. Just remember all the 'noise' from Congress when MLB ExInn wanted to go exclusive with DirecTV...? Notice that when the cablecos try the same thing, you never hear a peep.

'All Politics Is Local'. And all those cablecos are 'local' in the communities. They say 'jump' and the local pols say 'how high'. They know which side their bread is buttered one (franchise fees are a HUGE item on most communities income base).

Comcasts behavior seems to support this pretty well. As someone who is already dealing with this issue in the portland area it seems par for the corse for Comcast. I'm just glad I'm not originally from the area and so not a ducks or Blazers fan so don't really end up caring about CSN NW but I still hate Comcasts tactics.

[celticpride]

I just hope it doesnt impact any of the nba league pass games,I would be angry if i couldnt watch my celtics.

[paulman182]

Good, I hope you and everybody else in that area will pay all for the 40% increase because I surely don't want it tacked on to my bill.

Sorry, if there is an increase you'll have to pay a small portion of it, just as he will have to pay a small portion of any increase caused by higher rates on your favorite channels.

[Dusty]

CSN Mid Atlantic doesn't have much leverage to try that here. They only have 2 major sports properties (Caps and Wiz) and it's not like they are wildly popular in the DC area to begin with.

Frankly, except for Caps playoff games, I hardly watch it. It's a terrible FSN 'affiliate,' which is one reason why I subscribe to the sportspack in college football and hoops season.

I can see this working in a place like Boston though.

I won't be so sure about that. Comcast Sportsnet Northwest only has one major sports property. Didn't stop them to call it a "premium" channel. Two years without a resolution here already.

I privately see this as a good news for me. It's better to have 17 million subscribers with the same problem than 500 thousands here.

I actually only hope NBA to lilft the blackout rules on league pass. I don't need others to subsidize my interest. I'd be happy to pay for it if my team is not blacked out from me.

[sum_random_dork]

I will not be a happy camper here, I left my cable co (Suddenlink) becuase they didn't have CSNBA Plus and HD as well as CSNCA. I can tell you that the A's have left CSN Bay Area to probably sign a deal wtih CSNCA (home of the Sac Kings). CSNBA is owned partly by Fox and the SF Giants as well as Comcast. Comcast CA is owned by The Maloof's and Comcast with the Oak A's negoiating to move their games there as well as get ownership. Currently the GS W's are in the process of fighting with CSNBA over the Giants now owning part and could be leaving and moving their rights to another RSN as well. I am not sure why the article says the Sharks would not be in the new deal, there's been no info about them leaving. CSNBA is supposed to be building new studios and going 24hr HD sometime soon according to reports, their #'s are driven by the Giants then probably the W's behind them. The A's never really got big #'s and the Sharks #'s have grown. It will be interesting to see how this all shakes out.

[DCSholtis]

I will not be a happy camper here, I left my cable co (Suddenlink) becuase they didn't have CSNBA Plus and HD as well as CSNCA. I can tell you that the A's have left CSN Bay Area to probably sign a deal wtih CSNCA (home of the Sac Kings). CSNBA is owned partly by Fox and the SF Giants as well as Comcast. Comcast CA is owned by The Maloof's and Comcast with the Oak A's negoiating to move their games there as well as get ownership. Currently the GS W's are in the process of fighting with CSNBA over the Giants now owning part and could be leaving and moving their rights to another RSN as well. I am not sure why the article says the Sharks would not be in the new deal, there's been no info about them leaving. CSNBA is supposed to be building new studios and going 24hr HD sometime soon according to reports, their #'s are driven by the Giants then probably the W's behind them. The A's never really got big #'s and the Sharks #'s have grown. It will be interesting to see how this all shakes out.

Could the A's move to CSNCA possibly be a precursor to their move to a new Stadium?? It's going to be closer to Sacramento isn't it?

[Ice Runner]

What I like about CSN Mid-Atlantic (one of two RSNs I get, the other is MASN) is that nearly all games are in HD.

[sum_random_dork]

Could the A's move to CSNCA possibly be a precursor to their move to a new Stadium?? It's going to be closer to Sacramento isn't it?

The current plan is to move to Fremont which is further south on 880 from Oakland. Although, those plans seem to be changing and San Jose could come back into play as a home for the A's. They deal to leave CSN Bay Area is more over frustration that it's now partially owned by the Giants. Same reason the W's are mad....CSN Bay Area was the old FSN Bay Area which was Sportschannel/Pacific Sports Network. When Comcast purchased the holdings of Rainbow Networks (FSN Bay Area and Boston) they renamed the channels. A few months later the SF Giants purchased part of it (owerniship never said how much). It's really a pretty bitter situation the Warriors don't have a pre-game/post-game show becuase of their lawsuit against CSN. All of the other major players on CSN had/have both (Giants, A's, Sharks). CSN Bay Area could be in for some interesting times if they lose the A's and possibly W's.....they already lost Cal Football/Basketball, and Saint Mary's Basketball to CSNCA (old CSN West).

[cweave02]

Maybe D* needs to start negotiating with the NBA, NFL, and the other alphabet soup franchises directly and cut out the comcrap.

[DCSholtis]

The current plan is to move to Fremont which is further south on 880 from Oakland. Although, those plans seem to be changing and San Jose could come back into play as a home for the A's. They deal to leave CSN Bay Area is more over frustration that it's now partially owned by the Giants. Same reason the W's are mad....CSN Bay Area was the old FSN Bay Area which was Sportschannel/Pacific Sports Network. When Comcast purchased the holdings of Rainbow Networks (FSN Bay Area and Boston) they renamed the channels. A few months later the SF Giants purchased part of it (owerniship never said how much). It's really a pretty bitter situation the Warriors don't have a pre-game/post-game show becuase of their lawsuit against CSN. All of the other major players on CSN had/have both (Giants, A's, Sharks). CSN Bay Area could be in for some interesting times if they lose the A's and possibly W's.....they already lost Cal Football/Basketball, and Saint Mary's Basketball to CSNCA (old CSN West).

Gotcha so its like CSN Chicago where a team{s} own a slice.

[kevinwmsn]

They need to have a deal out there for all of comcast's sports channels to be carried on D*. I'm sure there are a few areas besides mine that comcast has the lock down on a few sports channels that you can't unless you have comcast, even on another cable network where comcast isn't available.

[TheRatPatrol]

Great. This is why cable companys should not be allowed to own cable networks, especially sports channels.

If you ask me the leagues themselves should start producing and showing their own games and do away with all of these greedy RSN's. Or teams should own their own channels, like with NESN, the Bruins and Red Sox own it.

Maybe its time for D* to buy up all these CSN's. ;)

[Barmat]

The current plan is to move to Fremont which is further south on 880 from Oakland. Although, those plans seem to be changing and San Jose could come back into play as a home for the A's. They deal to leave CSN Bay Area is more over frustration that it's now partially owned by the Giants. Same reason the W's are mad....CSN Bay Area was the old FSN Bay Area which was Sportschannel/Pacific Sports Network. When Comcast purchased the holdings of Rainbow Networks (FSN Bay Area and Boston) they renamed the channels. A few months later the SF Giants purchased part of it (owerniship never said how much). It's really a pretty bitter situation the Warriors don't have a pre-game/post-game show becuase of their lawsuit against CSN. All of the other major players on CSN had/have both (Giants, A's, Sharks). CSN Bay Area could be in for some interesting times if they lose the A's and possibly W's.....they already lost Cal Football/Basketball, and Saint Mary's Basketball to CSNCA (old CSN West).

Can you answer why CSNCA is not part of my local programing. I live in 94550 Livermore and would think Cal and St Mary's would be local to me. I called a D* rep and she said it was in the Sacramento Local area.

[bobnielsen]

Can you answer why CSNCA is not part of my local programing. I live in 94550 Livermore and would think Cal and St Mary's would be local to me. I called a D* rep and she said it was in the Sacramento Local area.

According to the Directv website, you should get the San Francisco locals and CSN Bay Area. The DMAs generally go by county.

[inkahauts]

Looking closely at the Reuters story, the story implies that the "40%" increase proposed is as a result of "dropping games" of the A's and Sharks. So is Comcast trying to negotiate its channels separately, that is CSNBA v. CSNBA Plus?

Not the way I take it.. I think they are asking for 40% more than the rates now, and dropping all those games...

Similar thing happened in LA when Fox split FSNW into FSNW and FSNW2 years ago, when Fox owned the dodgers. It took months to get FSNW2 on all the cable systems... but they showed up eventually...

As for comcast.. I think they are trying to make up for losses of income by loosing subs for their ridiculous rate hikes to customers, by raising their rates on the channels....

I think its time to make some changes on what cable companies can charge for their channels... limits on rate hikes or something...

[BJM]

Yup, inka, I think you are right... plus I wasn't aware of the possible moves of the A's and Warriors off CSNBA.

Do Bay Area folks get CSNCA? I'd think not...?

[n3ntj]

If D* and Comcast cann't come to an agreement and D* loses Comcast Bay Area I'll drop D*. Faster then Randy Johnsons fastball in his prime.

That is exactly what Comcrap wants.

[islesfan]

This is the first news this season that makes me happy to be an Isles fan rather than a Sharks fan (I live in the Sharks territory in Nevada). Well, that and Tavares... :)

[Littledude]

CSNCA (thats the King's one right?) is blacked out during King's games. Sometimes I pass by there during game time and get the channel not purchased message. (in response to BJM)

[sum_random_dork]

A bit of an update here, looks like the A's are very close to moving all their games over to CSN California. Their contract that was with KICU for some games has expired, which might be good news because KICU had no HD games. CSNCA has the ability to offer HD (already does for Kings games). So it looks like instead of some games being over-the-air and some being on CSN all games would move to CSN. Also, around the begining of baseball season CSN Bay Area plans to roll out the 4 hr nightly show filmed in HD, which would seem to indicate sometime around there they will also be going 24hrs HD (like their sister network did a few months ago in Boston). Some have asked about CSNCA in the Bay Area, Comcast already offers it to their subs in the SF Bay Area on channel 400. CSNCA is also the home of The Gary Radnich show which is simulcast from KNBR and I believe CSNCA is managed by the former Sports Channel Pacific GM Ted Griggs. So, it would look like things are lining up for this actually to be a big win for A's fans no longer having to share space with the Giants on CSNBA. The SJ Sharks are also looking to move to CSNCA, how this would work with the Kings I am not sure. But according to reports that's at least a year away.

[BlackHitachi]

A bit of an update here, looks like the A's are very close to moving all their games over to CSN California. Their contract that was with KICU for some games has expired, which might be good news because KICU had no HD games. CSNCA has the ability to offer HD (already does for Kings games). So it looks like instead of some games being over-the-air and some being on CSN all games would move to CSN. Also, around the begining of baseball season CSN Bay Area plans to roll out the 4 hr nightly show filmed in HD, which would seem to indicate sometime around there they will also be going 24hrs HD (like their sister network did a few months ago in Boston). Some have asked about CSNCA in the Bay Area, Comcast already offers it to their subs in the SF Bay Area on channel 400. CSNCA is also the home of The Gary Radnich show which is simulcast from KNBR and I believe CSNCA is managed by the former Sports Channel Pacific GM Ted Griggs. So, it would look like things are lining up for this actually to be a big win for A's fans no longer having to share space with the Giants on CSNBA. The SJ Sharks are also looking to move to CSNCA, how this would work with the Kings I am not sure. But according to reports that's at least a year away.
Yes! Great news. Oh i hope this happens before the season!

[dodge boy]

Directv will just charge more ! That's the only resolution Directv work's out . More money !

As long as the rest of us don't jave to subsidize it...
Heck they could start a separate Comcast Pack and charge just for it....
That would be D*'s best solution kinda like HBO being $1.00 more than everyonelse. :eek2:

[DCSholtis]

Yes! Great news. Oh i hope this happens before the season!

I agree more baseball for MLB EI is always good, even if it is the A's. :lol:

[schoolyard]

It is interesting to read this because all of the news out here is about the Giants and Manny and now that the Giants have allot of new money from there new TV deal they should spend it.This sounds like the Giants trying to get the A's off of there network.There are so many games where the A's,Giants,Sharks and Warriors are trying air games at the same time on two channels,it just doesn't work.By the way most of the games on CSNBA are not in HD.We down here in Bay Area get CSNCA in sd,but we get blacked out when anything in on hd alternative.With Comcast unless you have a box you can't get CSNBA-II only main channel,so if you live in the city and don't have a box and one of your teams is on CSNBA-II you can't watch the game.

[decrink]

I wouldn't mind getting the Blazer games but I'd have to switch from cable. You should see how often Comcast runs ads on TV and full page spreads blaming DirecTv for the debacle. With the money they spend on "blaming" ads they could probably lower their fees they want from the dishes. The situation stinks but at least they get games on local TV pretty regularly (but not in hi def)

[rnbmusicfan]

Maybe D* needs to start negotiating with the NBA, NFL, and the other alphabet soup franchises directly and cut out the comcrap.

Can't because the teams are in the middle of the equation. Teams part of leagues, but the teams themselves contract with the RSN ownership entity, which then contracts with the cable/sat co.

Sometimes the cable co. and RSN ownership are under the same ownership, and sometimes the teams and the cable co. have some ownership, and sometimes both: (Comcast Philadelphia franchise, CSN Philadelphia, Philadelphia 76ers/Flyers).

While some teams own and operate their channels, its often easier to have the job outsourced to a major cable company (which likely owns majority of the systems in the area) to do it, where cable co. pays the team or shares the ad/subscription revenue.

In some markets, where the team has popularity (and thus greater leverage...Red Sox, Yankees), the owners prefer running the network themselves or through a related entity in the ownership, rather than having a cable co. owned RSN or Fox RSN operating it (financially, teams figure they get a better cut in advertising/subscription doing it that way).

[ht2]

I hope SF bay area can get 2 free local sports channels like LA, Chi, NY and Denver.

[inkahauts]

Can't because the teams are in the middle of the equation. Teams part of leagues, but the teams themselves contract with the RSN ownership entity, which then contracts with the cable/sat co.

Sometimes the cable co. and RSN ownership are under the same ownership, and sometimes the teams and the cable co. have some ownership, and sometimes both: (Comcast Philadelphia franchise, CSN Philadelphia, Philadelphia 76ers/Flyers).

While some teams own and operate their channels, its often easier to have the job outsourced to a major cable company (which likely owns majority of the systems in the area) to do it, where cable co. pays the team or shares the ad/subscription revenue.

In some markets, where the team has popularity (and thus greater leverage...Red Sox, Yankees), the owners prefer running the network themselves or through a related entity in the ownership, rather than having a cable co. owned RSN or Fox RSN operating it (financially, teams figure they get a better cut in advertising/subscription doing it that way).

Actually, in some respects, they do... All the league pass, mlb ei, etc are done with the leagues, not the temas or rsns... Which is why the biggest issue in these disputes is how the LOCAL people in a market loose their own home teams games, not the ones in out of market... most.... MLB makes philly comcast supply their feeds to Directv for IE, but they still blackout the channel in the philly market...

[cariera]

Some years back when the Fox group owned Directv, I was under the impression that they had to make the FSNs available to cablecos at a reasonable price. How come the reverse is not true?

Comcast NW and now Comcast CA seemingly are holding the subs to other providers hostage.

Is this a double standard or am I just remembering incorrectly?:)

[TheRatPatrol]

Some years back when the Fox group owned Directv, I was under the impression that they had to make the FSNs available to cablecos at a reasonable price. How come the reverse is not true?

Comcast NW and now Comcast CA seemingly are holding the subs to other providers hostage.

Is this a double standard or am I just remembering incorrectly?:)
I think its a double standard. Cable co's should not be allowed to own cable networks, especially RSN's. In fact, they need to do away with all these RSN's and just let the major leagues produce and show their own sport. But thats just my opinion.

[TANK]

Some years back when the Fox group owned Directv, I was under the impression that they had to make the FSNs available to cablecos at a reasonable price. How come the reverse is not true?

Comcast NW and now Comcast CA seemingly are holding the subs to other providers hostage.

Is this a double standard or am I just remembering incorrectly?:)


If I remember correctly - it was one of the conditions imposed by the FCC on the sale of D* to News Corp

[flogduh]

The current plan is to move to Fremont which is further south on 880 from Oakland. Although, those plans seem to be changing and San Jose could come back into play as a home for the A's. They deal to leave CSN Bay Area is more over frustration that it's now partially owned by the Giants. Same reason the W's are mad....CSN Bay Area was the old FSN Bay Area which was Sportschannel/Pacific Sports Network. When Comcast purchased the holdings of Rainbow Networks (FSN Bay Area and Boston) they renamed the channels. A few months later the SF Giants purchased part of it (owerniship never said how much). It's really a pretty bitter situation the Warriors don't have a pre-game/post-game show becuase of their lawsuit against CSN. All of the other major players on CSN had/have both (Giants, A's, Sharks). CSN Bay Area could be in for some interesting times if they lose the A's and possibly W's.....they already lost Cal Football/Basketball, and Saint Mary's Basketball to CSNCA (old CSN West).


Current plan is no longer - announced last night....No move to Fremont