OPB Interview on CSN issue

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Worth a listen, good points made by both sides.

interview:
http://stream1.opb.org:9000/tol/episodes/2008/1204.mp3

http://www.opb.org/thinkoutloud/

The Portland Trailblazers are expected to have a great season this year, but many of their dedicated fans won't get to see 65 percent of their games. For a second season in a row, some fans will miss crucial Blazer games because negotiations between Comcast Sportsnet and other cable and satellite providers remain stuck.

A year ago, Comcast spent $130 million on the rights to air Trailblazer games for the next ten years. Comcast Sportsnet said at the time that the deal would make Blazer games more accessible to more fans, but it hasn't worked out that way. Comcast Sportsnet, Direct TV and Charter Communications have not agreed on price and packaging, leaving Direct TV and Charter Communications customers out of luck when it comes to watching Trailblazer games. Some fans have gotten so frustrated that they've joined forces to boycott Trailblazer sponsors in hopes of putting pressure on Comcast and cable providers to reach a deal. At this point, the only option for Blazer enthusiasts without Comcast Sportsnet Northwest is to watch the few games broadcast nationally on ESPN, or their local television networks.

Are you a Blazers fan who has missed televised games? Have you found a way to access every game despite the ongoing negotiations between Comcast and cable and satellite providers? What responsibility does the team have to remedy this situation?

Guests:
Don Brissler: Co-founder of Blazer Access Fan Coalition
Ryan White: Sport writer for the Oregonian
Dave Manougiay: Comcast Sportsnet Northwest's general manager
Craig Watson: Charter Communications' vice president of communications
Mike Reynolds: News editor for Multichannel News

 

[Shooter]

At this point, the only option for Blazer enthusiasts without Comcast Sportsnet Northwest is to watch the few games broadcast nationally on ESPN, or their local television networks.

I don't get it. Does this mean that Blazer fans in Oregon who sign up for League Pass on Comcast cannot get 65% of the games? I find that very hard to believe.

 

[Entity]

Fans in Oregon and SW Washington who sign up for League Pass get blocked for Portland games.

 

[Webster's Dictionary]

If you have Comcast, why would you need League pass to watch Blazer games?

If you have DirectTV and league pass, Blazer games are blacked out in the Portland area. I believe down here in Eugene they are still aired, but comcast is what a fair % of Eugenians have, so I don't have to worry about it.

 

[RR7]

I don't have cable at all, but I haven't missed a single game this year. Internet is a wonderful thing. Would I prefer to watch every game from the comfort of my couch on a nice TV? Sure. But I'll take watching every game for free. Has worked the last two years for me.

 

[chris_in_pdx]

I don't have cable at all, but I haven't missed a single game this year. Internet is a wonderful thing. Would I prefer to watch every game from the comfort of my couch on a nice TV? Sure. But I'll take watching every game for free. Has worked the last two years for me.

Ditto.

If I want to watch a game, I find a way to do it. Now that's not to say I'm not pissed at all sides on this disaster that no one on either side seems to really give a crap about.

Listening to this OPB show, it's all the just same tired WONK WONK WONK blame-game bullshit we've heard a million times from both sides. I'm sick of it. Do a deal, or be honest with us and tell us we're screwed if we have Satellite TV.

 

[BBert]

If you have Comcast, why would you need League pass to watch Blazer games?

If you have DirectTV and league pass, Blazer games are blacked out in the Portland area. I believe down here in Eugene they are still aired, but comcast is what a fair % of Eugenians have, so I don't have to worry about it.

I believe that Blazers games are blacked out pretty much everywhere in Oregon if you don't have Comcast; whether you can get Comcast or not. The only exception I'm aware of are KGW games and national games on TNT and ESPN.

 

[Pontius]

I believe that Blazers games are blacked out pretty much everywhere in Oregon if you don't have Comcast; whether you can get Comcast or not. The only exception I'm aware of are KGW games and national games on TNT and ESPN.

You are right on with this post. They even black out games all the way down here in Chris Hanson, OR. Not cool.

 

[chris_in_pdx]

I believe that Blazers games are blacked out pretty much everywhere in Oregon if you don't have Comcast; whether you can get Comcast or not. The only exception I'm aware of are KGW games and national games on TNT and ESPN.

You are talking about League Pass games being blacked out in all of Oregon and Washington. The games themselves are available on Comcast itself as well as other small-time cable systems that have buckled under and paid Comcast's extortion money ERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR I mean... provided the channel to their customers.