Concast says Dish/Direct TV/ Charter do not want to carry CSNW

[illmatic99]

In response to this Huffington Posts article about how Concast is holding the satellite companies hostage, the cable company's VP of Communications runs damage control in the comments section.

But don’t take our word for it. The best evidence that Comcast SportsNet Northwest is available at a fair price is found in the market itself. To date, a total of 12 local TV providers have agreed that the network’s price reflects its value and have contracted to carry it. The network is carried by local cable companies including Comcast as well as those that compete directly against Comcast. For example, when Verizon launched their video service in the Northwest they did so with Comcast SportsNet on their lineup.

And although the network is not fully distributed – and no one is more frustrated about this than us – we are unfortunately not in a position to make companies like DirecTV, Dish and Charter carry it if they do not want it. We have repeatedly offered proposals to carry Comcast SportsNet Northwest on terms comparable to those that others have already accepted, to no avail. When standard negotiations failed, we spent millions on local call-to-action marketing, hoping that these holdouts would listen to their customers and add the channel. Fans generated more than fifteen thousand requests to add the network. Again, no luck. We even made our case before the Oregon legislature without producing any improvements.

The old adage about leading a horse to water has never been truer than it is here. We simply cannot force DirecTV, Dish or Charter to let their fans see our Blazers coverage if they don’t want to add our network to their lineup. Comcast SportsNet Northwest is based in Portland and run by Oregon sports fans. We remain committed to full distribution and continue to seek solutions to break this impasse.

And the battle of he said, she said continues...

 

[julius]

who cares anymore at this point.

 

[ABM]

Beat ya in OT.

 

[illmatic99]

Beat ya in OT.

Oops. Mods, close this thread if you feel like it.

 

[ABM]

Oops. Mods, close this thread if you feel like it.

Nah, they can close mine. In reality, the topic belongs in this forum.

 

[Tortimer]

That's a complete lie unless they have offered something new in the last few weeks. Comcast hasn't offered CSNW at the same rate as other sports networks. They even have tried getting the channel in a more favorable tier not where other sports networks are located which would cost Dish/Directv a ton of money for a sports network with a smaller then most if not all sportsnet viewership.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I wonder if there are certain performance clauses in the agreement between the Blazers and Comcast: such as a certain amount of market availability by a certain date or they can renegotiate or void the deal? Anybody know the exact terms of the deal or has that been disclosed?

 

[julius]

I wonder if there are certain performance clauses in the agreement between the Blazers and Comcast: such as a certain amount of market availability by a certain date or they can renegotiate or void the deal? Anybody know the exact terms of the deal or has that been disclosed?

part of the deal probably states something similar to "We're gonna keep paying to 12 million dollars a year. So, you can quit acting like you care at anytime. Because we know you don't."

 

[Wheels]

Funny how the amount of games I attend each year has gone down each year comcast has been here.

 

[Ed O]

That's a complete lie unless they have offered something new in the last few weeks. Comcast hasn't offered CSNW at the same rate as other sports networks.

That's not what he's claiming, is it? He's saying that some carriers have been willing to pay the same price that others have not.

If they were discriminating against DirecTV, that's different.

If I don't want to spend $80k for a new car that my buddy just bought for $80k, it means I don't want it. If I don't want to spend $80k on a new car that my buddy just bought for $40k, then I'm gonna feel ripped off.

They even have tried getting the channel in a more favorable tier not where other sports networks are located which would cost Dish/Directv a ton of money for a sports network with a smaller then most if not all sportsnet viewership.

I don't understand what you mean here.

Ed O.

 

[TehChad]

Ahahahah, Comcast is funny.

 

[Tince]

That's a complete lie unless they have offered something new in the last few weeks. Comcast hasn't offered CSNW at the same rate as other sports networks. They even have tried getting the channel in a more favorable tier not where other sports networks are located which would cost Dish/Directv a ton of money for a sports network with a smaller then most if not all sportsnet viewership.

What's a lie?

They are saying they have offered their channel to Dish Network, Direct TV, and Charter for the same price many other cable companies have accepted. I'm not sure what that has to do with the rates of other channels.

I'm mad at Comcast, but not to the point where I'm unwilling to think that other parties could also be to blame. If people think that Direct TV and the Blazers are angels in this situation, I feel they are turning a blind eye to the facts.

 

[Tortimer]

That's not what he's claiming, is it? He's saying that some carriers have been willing to pay the same price that others have not.

If they were discriminating against DirecTV, that's different.

If I don't want to spend $80k for a new car that my buddy just bought for $80k, it means I don't want it. If I don't want to spend $80k on a new car that my buddy just bought for $40k, then I'm gonna feel ripped off.



I don't understand what you mean here.

Ed O.

The few cable systems that have signed up for CSNW are very small and it didn't cost them that much total cost. Most of them are local cable systems where most of their customers possibly could like the Blazers/Ducks etc. The way the contract works is they have to pay per subscriber where Dish and Directv have close to or maybe even a little more then 20 million subscribers each. Most of those subscribers could care less about CSNW. Comcast wants it in popular tier with a large amount of those 20 million. I'm not good at explaining it but there is a big difference from a local cable company then a National cable or Satellite company. Plus Comcast was trying to charge a ton more per subscriber even if they would allow Dish or Directv to put in their sports package like the rest of the Sportsnets. I haven't heard what the latest offer is from Comcast but earlier it was $2.oo per subscriber when the going rate for other sportsnets was between .05 or .10 cents per subscriber. Don't believe anything Comcast is trying to put out there. It is all complete bull shit. Of coarse Dish or Directv would want CSNW if it was costing them equal to what they pay other comparable sportsnets.

 

[espn_hall_of_famer]

I held out for a long time due to my hate for what Comcast was trying to do. I've since gone with Verizon FIOS and have to admit I love the ability to watch every game. So I feel it was a good compromise that I'm giving my business to another franchise, yet getting to see all of the games that all of the Comcast folks do. And hey, being able to play less than Comcast prices and get this ridiculous internet speed that actually connects at 25Mbps compared to the 5-6Mbps that folks actually get with Comcast is just gravy on top.

 

[Tortimer]

That's not what he's claiming, is it? He's saying that some carriers have been willing to pay the same price that others have not.

If they were discriminating against DirecTV, that's different.

If I don't want to spend $80k for a new car that my buddy just bought for $80k, it means I don't want it. If I don't want to spend $80k on a new car that my buddy just bought for $40k, then I'm gonna feel ripped off.



I don't understand what you mean here.

Ed O.

Directv or Dish have many Tiers or packages. They each have close to 20 million subscribers with the lowest tier having close to all 20 million people. Normally outside of ESPN and a few other huge sports networks they are only in the sports package (tier). People only get their closest sportsnet channel in there basic package and you have to subscribe to the sports package if you want all the regional sportsnets. So, if Comcast will only allow Dish or Directv to only put CSNW in a lower tier(more popular) or one that has more subscribers then the Sports package it is going to cost them a ton more money and most of those people could care less about CSNW. Even if they only charged the going rate of lets say .10 cents per you would have to multiple that by 20 million instead of say probably less then 1 million. I'm sorry if that doesn't make sense. I could explain it a lot better in person.

 

[Tortimer]

What's a lie?

They are saying they have offered their channel to Dish Network, Direct TV, and Charter for the same price many other cable companies have accepted. I'm not sure what that has to do with the rates of other channels.

I'm mad at Comcast, but not to the point where I'm unwilling to think that other parties could also be to blame. If people think that Direct TV and the Blazers are angels in this situation, I feel they are turning a blind eye to the facts.

Like I posted in a response to Ed O that isn't correct even if they did offer it at the same price. The local cable systems have customers that probably would want to watch the Ducks/Blazers where tthe vast majority of Dish and Directv could care less. So, the local cable company's might be willing to pay more then the going rate compared to other sportsnets. Comcast was trying to get $2.00 per subscriber when all the normal regional sportsnets are going for around .10 cents or less per subscriber. I guess it might not be a lie that they are offering CSNW at the same price but it is way more then any other regional sportsnet. Dish and Directv would carry CSNW tomorrow if they were offered at the same price as any of the other comcast sportsnets they carry.

 

[Tortimer]

One more thing. I do believe Comcast has been so far apart from what Dish or Directv would pay I think they possibly have quit trying to negotiate but I believe if Comcast came back and offered anything close to reasonable they would still want to carry CSNW.

You can just look at Charter owned by Paul Allen. I'm sure if it was close to reasonable he would want his own cable company to carry CSNW. At least I would hope so. Charter is a national cable company with the same problem as Dish or Directv.

 

[DeanMoriarty]

Damn, sounds like B-Roy and his Hoops Family need to take throw some sh*t down.

http://twitpic.com/2fibkt/full

 

[BlazerFanForLife]

When you watch the video BRoy looks confused about his role of just standing there looking hard... he looks away from the camera at the last second

Damn, sounds like B-Roy and his Hoops Family need to take throw some sh*t down.

http://twitpic.com/2fibkt/full

 

[illmatic99]

bwahahahaha. BRoy trying to look hard: doesn't seem "Natural."

[video=youtube;7iwH_wvfJDg]
This is more fitting.

 

[MickZagger]

Meh, I don't really care anymore.

Something gratifying about watching the games on illegally streamed websites. Kinda has a little bit of a criminal element to it.

 

[MickZagger]

bwahahahaha. BRoy trying to look hard: doesn't seem "Natural."

[video=youtube;7iwH_wvfJDg]
This is more fitting.

lol, now thats some funny shit. Not Brandon Roy at all.

 

[Nate Dogg]

i have never heard of Concast. Is it a new company? hahah.

 

[mgb]

Ya, he's comparing apples to oranges. Yes local carriers are willing to pay because the Blazers are a local team and there is other local sports on it, but a national provider isn't going to pay as much because most of their viewers could care less about the Blazers. Tell me how many national providers Comcast has made deals with, not a single one and that is because they are charging way to much. I mean come on if they were asking a reasonable price at least one national provider would pick the channel up. Offer the same price that the rest of comcast channels that Directv is already carrying and I'm sure Directv would pick the channel up just like they have for so many other comcast local channels.

Btw, from what I read Comcast won't allow Directv to put the channel in the sports package where you have to pay extra to get. They want it on the basic platform so more can view it, but to me I would be more than willing to pay extra for the sports package to get the channel.

Anyway I think it's complete BS when they point to all the local providers that carry the channel, sure, but just show me one national provider!

 

[PtldPlatypus]

That's not what he's claiming, is it? He's saying that some carriers have been willing to pay the same price that others have not.

If they were discriminating against DirecTV, that's different.

If I don't want to spend $80k for a new car that my buddy just bought for $80k, it means I don't want it. If I don't want to spend $80k on a new car that my buddy just bought for $40k, then I'm gonna feel ripped off.



I don't understand what you mean here.

Ed O.

If my employer tried to charge national distributors the same price as local resellers, they would balk and choose not to carry our product--even though they would like to--because we were being unreasonable in our pricing. I see this as very similar.

 

[julius]

bwahahahaha. BRoy trying to look hard: doesn't seem "Natural."

[video=youtube;7iwH_wvfJDg]
This is more fitting.

That was a horrible....well, it was just shit.

 

[illmatic99]

i have never heard of Concast. Is it a new company? hahah.

I'm about to move into a place that is less than 2 miles from the company's corporaye headquarters. Trust me. It's Concast.

 

[Wheels]

Meh, I don't really care anymore.

Something gratifying about watching the games on illegally streamed websites. Kinda has a little bit of a criminal element to it.

while I kinda agree... it seems that 75% of them get shut down. which is annoying.

 

[Masbee]

In response to this Huffington Posts article about how Concast is holding the satellite companies hostage, the cable company's VP of Communications runs damage control in the comments section.



And the battle of he said, she said continues...

Wow. Fuck that Comcast exec for trying to spin this so deceptively.

He is not telling the full story in a way that an average person could decide the fairness of his position. He is LYING by purposefully witholding essential facts.

Fuck him.

And for those that support Comcast in this long sordid tale, his attitude, his footloose with the facts, his bullshit, THAT is at the core of the problem with Comcast. Comcast is a company run by executives who when they have the power, will do what they want.

Normally, that would be of interest to only some people. In this instance, Comcast's sleazy business practices affect many, many people because they are granted government issued franchises to be a monopoly provider of a service.

Government has failed (yet again) to keep these fuckers in check.

 

[hasoos]

All their statement really says is some companies fell for their pricing, and they are using that to justify the pricing. It's the old "Well somebody paid that much for it, so it must be worth that much." It's kind of like when people sell comic books. It is only worth that much to some people. To the rest, it is not.