Comcast-D* rivalry effect on CSN carriage?

[Dusty]

Comcast is launching a Comcast Sportsnet Northwest in October, which will carry majority of Blazers games. I first thought giving the rivalry between Comcast and DirecTV, it will be quite unlikely for DirecTV to carry this new channel and that I would have to find a way to get that channel. However, on a quick search, it seems Comcast Sportsnet is carried in many regions. Since DirecTV has no problem signing up Versus HD, I wonder if the relationship between Comcast Sportsnet and DirecTV is not quite as bad as I imagined. I don't know if there is anyway I can find out before October. However, if it is carried, will it be counted as a local channel? If not, what programming tiers will it be in? Does D* carry all its HD games or only occasionally?

Thanks for the answers!

[fade2black]

I believe every other area's Comcast SportsNet is carried on DirecTV except here in the Philly area. (Others feel free to correct me!) Due to a loophole in carriage laws going back to the Prism era... microwave delivery (at that time) vs. satellite. Which is weird that Comcast did let Verizon carry SportsNet Philly on FiOS. Go figure...

[Earl Bonovich]

DirecTV and Comcast have reached agreements in some markets...

The "loophole" doesn't apply to the HD broadcasts, which in many markets are being carried.

Here in Chicago, Comcast SportsNet-HD is 24/7 so anything they show in HD, DirecTV carries in HD

[skaeight]

DirecTV and Comcast have reached agreements in some markets...

The "loophole" doesn't apply to the HD broadcasts, which in many markets are being carried.

Here in Chicago, Comcast SportsNet-HD is 24/7 so anything they show in HD, DirecTV carries in HD

I think the loophole is more about how the channel is being transmitted (landbased vs satellite). There are fiber links distributing CSN Philly, which provide ample bandwidth for the HD channel.

I'd love to be wrong on this and have the HD version of CSN Philly show up some day, but I don't think it's going to happen because they'll continue to distribute it via landbased means rather than satellite.

[Earl Bonovich]

I think the loophole is more about how the channel is being transmitted (landbased vs satellite). There are fiber links distributing CSN Philly, which provide ample bandwidth for the HD channel.

I'd love to be wrong on this and have the HD version of CSN Philly show up some day, but I don't think it's going to happen because they'll continue to distribute it via landbased means rather than satellite.

That is what I mean.

The loop hole, was Microwave for their SD channels.
But the HD version of the channel is not broadcasted in the same way, so they actually had to work out an agreement to carry it.

[skaeight]

The difference though was that CSN Chicago was a new channel which from the start was distributed via satellite. Also part of the Adelphia aquisition was that Comcast agreed they wouldn't used the loophole on anything but CSN Philly. So I don't think the loophole really applies anywhere else.

Again, it would be cool if it didn't apply at all to HD even in Philly. I'd love to go from no CSN Philly to CSN Philly in HD. I just haven't heard anything about this before.

[DCSholtis]

Comcast is launching a Comcast Sportsnet Northwest in October, which will carry majority of Blazers games. I first thought giving the rivalry between Comcast and DirecTV, it will be quite unlikely for DirecTV to carry this new channel and that I would have to find a way to get that channel. However, on a quick search, it seems Comcast Sportsnet is carried in many regions. Since DirecTV has no problem signing up Versus HD, I wonder if the relationship between Comcast Sportsnet and DirecTV is not quite as bad as I imagined. I don't know if there is anyway I can find out before October. However, if it is carried, will it be counted as a local channel? If not, what programming tiers will it be in? Does D* carry all its HD games or only occasionally?

Thanks for the answers!

The Blazers and CSN NW have already stated that it will be available to other cable AND satellite carriers so there should be no problems with D* getting it.

[jpl]

I believe every other area's Comcast SportsNet is carried on DirecTV except here in the Philly area. (Others feel free to correct me!) Due to a loophole in carriage laws going back to the Prism era... microwave delivery (at that time) vs. satellite. Which is weird that Comcast did let Verizon carry SportsNet Philly on FiOS. Go figure...

I wondered about that, too. How in the world did Verizon ever get CSN Philly? And they definitely do carry it - both SD and HD. I'd read (don't know how valid it is - just getting this second-hand) that part of the agreement reached with the FCC to keep the loophole open required that Comcast allow other cable carriers to offer it. Again, don't know if that's true, but I really can't imagine Comcast giving it to Verizon voluntarily. BTW, CSN in HD is really nice. Better than ESPN on average.

[fade2black]

I wondered about that, too. How in the world did Verizon ever get CSN Philly? And they definitely do carry it - both SD and HD. I'd read (don't know how valid it is - just getting this second-hand) that part of the agreement reached with the FCC to keep the loophole open required that Comcast allow other cable carriers to offer it. Again, don't know if that's true, but I really can't imagine Comcast giving it to Verizon voluntarily. BTW, CSN in HD is really nice. Better than ESPN on average.
One rumor was that Comcast made Verizon promise not to compete in the city. Which, if true, and I'm Verizon, that takes me all of 2 seconds to think about! Just a rumor....

[tonyd79]

Other cable companies have ALWAYS had access to CSN in the Philly area. Comcast kept it away from satellite providers because they viewed them as competition and used the loophole that said if the station was never on satellite for distribution, they could keep it away from satellite companies. But if they withheld it from Verizon (non-sat) while selling it to cable companies not in head to head competition, I am sure they would get slammed and have a lawsuit on their hands.

They probably never envisioned having "cable" competition in most areas when they setup their strategy.

[kevinwmsn]

Comcast/Charter Sports Southeast is exclusive for cable, no coverage for D* or E* . Link to this info. http://www.csssports.com/faqs.cfm.

[jpl]

One rumor was that Comcast made Verizon promise not to compete in the city. Which, if true, and I'm Verizon, that takes me all of 2 seconds to think about! Just a rumor....

I heard that too, but I don't think it has much merit. There are areas of Philly that have been strung up with fiber, from what I understand. I'm more inclined to believe that Comcast is unable to prevent another cable operator from carrying CSN.

[Steve Mehs]

The whole idea that a channel not be available on a system because it's owned by a competitor is just silly. Do you have any idea how many channels you have that are owned, in full or partially by Comcast, Time Warner and Cablevision? Comcast Sports Net Mid Atlantic, Comcast Sports Net West, Comcast Sports Net Chicago and SNY are all on satellite, as are HBO, Golf Channel, Bravo, AMC, E! and a whole slew of others. CSN Philadelphia is a special situation due to the loophole. Comcast Sports South carries no pro sports, there is as Comcast Sports Net Local (or something to that effect) that covers Michigan. These two CSNs are similar to the new Time Warner Sports Net available on TW systems in Upstate NY.

[bwaldron]

Comcast/Charter Sports Southeast is exclusive for cable, no coverage for D* or E* . Link to this info. http://www.csssports.com/faqs.cfm.

Yes, that is one I really miss having -- lots of college sports.

[finaldiet]

As Earl said, we have had CSN here in chicago for a number of years. Seems strange to have CSN on DTV. WE have CSNH and several stations to watch White Sox on, whether home or away.:D :D :D

[myselfalso]

I'm just concerned about if Comcast were to take over FSN Pittsburgh. I live in Harrisburg, and Comcast pulled FSN Pittsburgh (and HTS [at the time]) to "encourage" the subscribers to watch Philly sports. That's when we jumped ship to D*.

[SamC]

The loophole is simple. Any channel that is distributed by a sat, must be made available to sat owners. Since most RSNs are sat (BUD) distributed, they have to be made available to DBS. In the FLAT and geographically SMALL Philadelphia region, Comcast, with 90% of the market, is able to use the loophole by paying for a microwave link.

Such an adventure is impossible where the hinterland of the team is much larger, and where other cable companies (which have no interest in the deal) control the region.

[Dusty]

The Blazers and CSN NW have already stated that it will be available to other cable AND satellite carriers so there should be no problems with D* getting it.

What I read from Comcast press release was that CSN NW will be launched on Comcast cable in October and will be "made available" to other cable and satellite providers. To me, that only says there is hope but means little until it actually happens.

[skaeight]

The loophole is simple. Any channel that is distributed by a sat, must be made available to sat owners. Since most RSNs are sat (BUD) distributed, they have to be made available to DBS. In the FLAT and geographically SMALL Philadelphia region, Comcast, with 90% of the market, is able to use the loophole by paying for a microwave link.

Such an adventure is impossible where the hinterland of the team is much larger, and where other cable companies (which have no interest in the deal) control the region.

The Comcast Sportsnet Philadelphia "region" isn't all that flat or small. It extends over past Harrisburg and up into North Eastern PA both of which aren't by any means flat. They use fiber links now instead of microwave. Also, they aren't distributing it terrestrially because Satellite distribution isn't necessary, they're doing it because they want to exploit the loophole.