[BrettR]

I wanted to know when DirecTV and Dish's contract for CCSN-Midlantic expires?

I'm wondering if its legally acceptable for Comcast to demand DirecTV carry E! Style and G4 in Total Choice, require DirecTV to move Golf Channel into Total Choice (so its ads can be seen in more homes) just so DirecTV can continue carriage for the D.C. Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic Carriage. But at the same time withhold Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia (to keep cable penetration higher here)?

For these tie-ins, I do know Disney and NewsCorp can tie unrelated channels for continued access of premiums and RSNs. But do the program access laws prevent Cablevision and Comcast do the same for their RSNs? If Cablevision, Time Warner and Comcast legally cannot tie one channel to another, being they are cable providers also, what's DirecTV's incentive to continue carrying QVC?

Its already known Disney tied ESPNews into carriage for ESPN in many markets and providers. Time Warner didnt do the same with CNNsi. ESPNews was seen in over twice as many homes and CNNsi didnt have a niche and wasnt reaching enough homes to be profitable. Also I dont know of any RCN cable system carrying Cablevision's News12 channel or Comcast's CN8 even though RCN does deal with Cablevision for sports access and Comcast for CCSN-Philly access.

I know QVC gives a small compensation to DirecTV, but wouldnt it be better if DirecTV and Dish yanked QVC then QVC loses so many viewers and Comcast's profitable sector starts hurting. Comcast would get what they deserved. Yeah, some might lose jobs over at QVC if the network began to hurt, but look who they'd have to thank, QVC's parent company Comcast.

Are the Orioles really planning on starting their own network? After the Yankees and Cablevision situation, is it still likely?

 

[ramcm7]

Having recently moved from the Balt-Philly area, I am quite familiar with the frustration of not having Comcast(Philly) on D*. They continued to get around this by supposedly delivering to the cable systems without using satellite. Does anyone know if they are setting up the same infrastructure to do this in the former HTS, now Comcast Sportsnet Mid-Atlantic?

I have not heard about the O's setting up their own network. As Comcast owns a good chunk of the cable systems in the Baltimore area, it very well could end up like Yankees and Cablevision. D* would likely pick it up, as Baltimore was not one of the early Locals served and I am guessing D*'s penetration there is not where they would like it. I see a run on oval dishes in the Baltimore area.

If I were D*, I would insist on Comcast Philly coverage in contract renewal of ANY of Comcast's other networks. Of course, my wife might be upset when E! gets dropped and she can't watch the Anna Nicole Show. Sometimes you might feel your life is lacking something, but just watch the Anna Nicole Show and you'll feel a whole lot better about your own life; things could be worse - you could be living in her world.