11-30-01, 06:00 PM
Does anyone know if there is a way to legally bring Comcast Sports of Washington, DC into a "fitness center" other than by C-band or from franchised cable? I'm not sure if this class of customer is "commercial private viewing" "or commercial public viewing". I can use DirecTV's "fundamentals" and "favorites" for the other channels that I will need.
When I set up a private cable system, one in which the system owner can charge for programming (so distinct from "free-to-guest"), I have the choice of using C-band or setting up a three-sided deal with programming broker like WSNet, SMS or 4Com as a middleman and paying a modest "DBS transport fee" to DirecTV, DISH or HITS for each headend receiver authorized, which enables me to use the less expensive, DBS hardware. Comcast Sports has been the tough one to include, because they require C-band reception and a Scinetific Powerview 9223 receiver that has special "security pool" software, so I can't even buy a used one from Tulsat or whomever. Typically, it costs about $4,000 to $5,000 in hardware plus installation labor to add this channel to a retirement home's private cable system. I have never asked any of these program brokers to allow me to use DBS transport for a situation in which the programming is free-to-guest, however, since it could not be cheaper than buying it directly from DirecTV or DISH. Has anyone else?
I've noticed that several of the other regional sports networks are now available through DBS transport for resale, but Comcast Sports Washington is not on those lists. When I recently spoke to an employee at Comcast/HTS, regrettably, she seemed to know less about it than I did, so I will continue to assualt their receptionist until I at least can find someone who can give me a definitive answer on this.
When I set up a private cable system, one in which the system owner can charge for programming (so distinct from "free-to-guest"), I have the choice of using C-band or setting up a three-sided deal with programming broker like WSNet, SMS or 4Com as a middleman and paying a modest "DBS transport fee" to DirecTV, DISH or HITS for each headend receiver authorized, which enables me to use the less expensive, DBS hardware. Comcast Sports has been the tough one to include, because they require C-band reception and a Scinetific Powerview 9223 receiver that has special "security pool" software, so I can't even buy a used one from Tulsat or whomever. Typically, it costs about $4,000 to $5,000 in hardware plus installation labor to add this channel to a retirement home's private cable system. I have never asked any of these program brokers to allow me to use DBS transport for a situation in which the programming is free-to-guest, however, since it could not be cheaper than buying it directly from DirecTV or DISH. Has anyone else?
I've noticed that several of the other regional sports networks are now available through DBS transport for resale, but Comcast Sports Washington is not on those lists. When I recently spoke to an employee at Comcast/HTS, regrettably, she seemed to know less about it than I did, so I will continue to assualt their receptionist until I at least can find someone who can give me a definitive answer on this.