chris_in_pdx
OLD MAN
- Joined
- Oct 15, 2008
- Messages
- 4,855
- Likes
- 1,979
- Points
- 113
After digesting the turnover for 48 hours, to me I see something more unorthodox on the horizon:
The Blazer brass saw the NFL sign a deal with Twitter to broadcast Thursday night games, becoming the first non-traditional broadcast partner (other than Yahoo Sports, which did a London NFL game last season to rave reviews) and realized that online broadcasting has matured to the point that it becomes a viable alternative. Moving forward, this becomes more important as more and more people "cut the cord". The Blazers absolutely do not want to be locked into a long-term yesterday's technology deal that in 5 years might be looked as a dinosaur.
My theory is that the Blazers are signing a deal with Netflix (or maybe Yahoo) to stream video broadcast. Think about it: Netflix wants content. Live broadcasting is something I am sure they have been working on for a while now, and is probably cheaper than their TV shows/Movies that they produce in-house. Blazer games will become available to everyone in America, on Smart TVs, computers, and mobile devices. A nationally recognized voice would be preferential to appeal to not just Northwest listeners, but nationwide. Plus Calabro has just enough NW ties to make his absorption into the Portland broadcast palatable for the locals. A color man with national cred is probably more likely as well, so throwing names out like Mike Fratello, Hubie Brown, Jon Barry, etc. isn't outside the realm of possibility.
In light of this, the release of Antonio Harvey is a bit more murky, but it's been postulated that his involvement with Marijuana growing sealed his fate with the organization. Why they did not think to perhaps move Mike Rice back to radio, if only for next year while they were still paying him, is strange, but making a clean cut of it given his age and deteriorating abilities makes some sense as well. I would think that perhaps the Blazers will go back on their plan to have Wheeler call games alone, perhaps pairing him with "guest color analysis" people such as Terry Porter, Mike Holton, and others already in the organization.
The Blazer brass saw the NFL sign a deal with Twitter to broadcast Thursday night games, becoming the first non-traditional broadcast partner (other than Yahoo Sports, which did a London NFL game last season to rave reviews) and realized that online broadcasting has matured to the point that it becomes a viable alternative. Moving forward, this becomes more important as more and more people "cut the cord". The Blazers absolutely do not want to be locked into a long-term yesterday's technology deal that in 5 years might be looked as a dinosaur.
My theory is that the Blazers are signing a deal with Netflix (or maybe Yahoo) to stream video broadcast. Think about it: Netflix wants content. Live broadcasting is something I am sure they have been working on for a while now, and is probably cheaper than their TV shows/Movies that they produce in-house. Blazer games will become available to everyone in America, on Smart TVs, computers, and mobile devices. A nationally recognized voice would be preferential to appeal to not just Northwest listeners, but nationwide. Plus Calabro has just enough NW ties to make his absorption into the Portland broadcast palatable for the locals. A color man with national cred is probably more likely as well, so throwing names out like Mike Fratello, Hubie Brown, Jon Barry, etc. isn't outside the realm of possibility.
In light of this, the release of Antonio Harvey is a bit more murky, but it's been postulated that his involvement with Marijuana growing sealed his fate with the organization. Why they did not think to perhaps move Mike Rice back to radio, if only for next year while they were still paying him, is strange, but making a clean cut of it given his age and deteriorating abilities makes some sense as well. I would think that perhaps the Blazers will go back on their plan to have Wheeler call games alone, perhaps pairing him with "guest color analysis" people such as Terry Porter, Mike Holton, and others already in the organization.
