Two Years Is Right Now, Larry Miller

[PapaG]

ChrisinPDX went to a fan council a few years ago, during which he was promised that the Blazers would address the Comcast/Blazer TV contract after two years.

Well, it's been two years. Is Larry Miller a liar? Where are the "negotiations", at this point?

 

[chris_in_pdx]

ChrisinPDX went to a fan council a few years ago, during which he was promised that the Blazers would address the Comcast/Blazer TV contract after two years.

Well, it's been two years. Is Larry Miller a liar? Where are the "negotiations", at this point?

All that shit meant as much as when Steve Patterson told me that Darius Miles, Sebastian Telfair, and Reuben Patterson were the "good guys" who would lead the Blazers out of the JailBlazers era.

 

[barfo]

Do the blazers actually have any leverage in this situation?

barfo

 

[ABM]

ChrisinPDX went to a fan council a few years ago, during which he was promised that the Blazers would address the Comcast/Blazer TV contract after two years.

Well, it's been two years. Is Larry Miller a liar? Where are the "negotiations", at this point?

I heard the Blazers Marketing VP say that a TV deal (in the fans' favor) would be struck before the season.....with or without Comcast's participation.

 

[chris_in_pdx]

Do the blazers actually have any leverage in this situation?

barfo

They claim to have verbage in the contract that can cause them to terminate their deal with Comcast if they feel that Comcast is not promoting the team properly, i.e. distributing the broadcasts to the widest possible audience.

Personally I think it's a lot of bullshit. The Blazers know exactly what's going on, and as long as they get paid, they don't give two shits that Joe Blow in The Dalles can't watch the games even if he wanted to pay for them, or that Mary What's-Her-Fuck in McMinnville has no possible way of watching the games in HD. Maybe that'll force them to buy tickets to the game. What, sold out? Well, even better!

 

[Nikolokolus]

The team may have a tiny bit of leverage based on the reputed clause in their contract with Comcast about Comcast's failure to deliver the goods satisfactorily, but it seems unlikely that they would start throwing their weight around now when there seems to have been little movement in that direction to date -- of course, I have no idea if there are things going on behind the scenes that we are not privy to.

My guess is that we won't see any traction on this until at least next season.

 

[ABM]

My guess is that we won't see any traction on this until at least next season.

Again, not according to Sarah Mensah, Blazers VP of Marketing.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Again, not according to Sarah Mensah, Blazers VP of Marketing.

Seeing is believing in my book.

 

[ABM]

Seeing is believing in my book.

I hear ya, but she was adamant on, I believe, Wheels' show. I'm gonna ask him at the upcoming post-M&G happy hour.

 

[barfo]

They claim to have verbage in the contract that can cause them to terminate their deal with Comcast if they feel that Comcast is not promoting the team properly, i.e. distributing the broadcasts to the widest possible audience.

That's interesting. I don't recall hearing that before. [Although, I probably did hear it before, I just don't remember it.]

Personally I think it's a lot of bullshit. The Blazers know exactly what's going on, and as long as they get paid, they don't give two shits that Joe Blow in The Dalles can't watch the games even if he wanted to pay for them, or that Mary What's-Her-Fuck in McMinnville has no possible way of watching the games in HD. Maybe that'll force them to buy tickets to the game. What, sold out? Well, even better!

That would be somewhat short-sighted of them. Presumably the TV revenue isn't viewed as an end unto itself, but a way to maintain enthusiasm among existing customers and to hook new customers.

barfo

 

[Nikolokolus]

I hear ya, but she was adamant on, I believe, Wheels' show. I'm gonna ask him at the upcoming post-M&G happy hour.

VP of Marketing ... marketing ... <---- emphasis

I'm not saying she's lying, but it's her job to put up the best possible public relations spin with respect to the organization; all she has to do is try and make it seem like the Blazers are really upset/disappointed/<fill-in-the-blank-with-some-other-frowny-face-feeling> with Comcast and are doing everything they can to make everything honky dory for the fans, it doesn't actually mean there's any movement in that direction.

 

[ABM]

VP of Marketing ... marketing ... <---- emphasis

I'm not saying she's lying, but it's her job to put up the best possible public relations spin with respect to the organization; all she has to do is try and make it seem like the Blazers are really upset/disappointed/<fill-in-the-blank-with-some-other-frowny-face-feeling> with Comcast and are doing everything they can to make everything honky dory for the fans, it doesn't actually mean there's any movement in that direction.

She stated - unequivocally - there would be a better solution in place by season's start....with, or without, Comcast's involvement.

Oh, and FWIW, she's actually Senior VP of Sales & Marketing.

 

[oldmangrouch]

I have mixed emotions about this. I understand that people are frustrated....but as a Comcast customer, I am afraid that their "solution" will leave *us* as the ones with no TV access. (EG: Comcast's monopoly is replace by a Dish Network monopoly) They need a solution that expands coverage, not one that just screws a different group!

 

[Wheels]

According to BFT today this is liek day 651 or something.. so not 2 years yet

 

[LOTBfan]

get dish

 

[PapaG]

According to BFT today this is liek day 651 or something.. so not 2 years yet

Two seasons and counting. Whatever.

 

[PapaG]

I have mixed emotions about this. I understand that people are frustrated....but as a Comcast customer, I am afraid that their "solution" will leave *us* as the ones with no TV access. (EG: Comcast's monopoly is replace by a Dish Network monopoly) They need a solution that expands coverage, not one that just screws a different group!

How about the solution that Comcast made in Northern California? They sold their network there to Dish and DirecTV so everybody in the region can see the games. Why not in Oregon?

 

[barfo]

I have mixed emotions about this. I understand that people are frustrated....but as a Comcast customer, I am afraid that their "solution" will leave *us* as the ones with no TV access. (EG: Comcast's monopoly is replace by a Dish Network monopoly) They need a solution that expands coverage, not one that just screws a different group!

That wold be ugly (for us comcast customers). But do you think that's a likely outcome? They'd have to break the contract with Comcast, and wouldn't that have a rather high legal barrier to overcome?

barfo

 

[PapaG]

According to BFT today this is liek day 651 or something.. so not 2 years yet

Canzano must not know his facts, since the deal was announced May 21, 2007.

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-163702745.html

Article: Comcast SportsNet, Portland Trail Blazers Announce A New Regional Sports Network.

Article fromR Newswire Article date:May 21, 2007CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2007 PR Newswire Association LLC. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)

Comcast SportsNet Northwest To Serve Sports Fans Across the Region

PORTLAND, Ore., May 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Comcast SportsNet President Jon Litner and Portland Trail Blazers Executive Vice President, Business Operations Mike Golub today announced the formation of a new 24-hour, seven- day regional sports network, Comcast SportsNet Northwest, to serve sports fans in Oregon and across the Northwest. The announcement was made today at a press conference at the Rose Garden.

Comcast SportsNet Northwest will feature coverage of the Portland Trail Blazers as the flagship programming as well as other compelling sports content. The network will be owned and ...

 

[barfo]

Canzano must not know his facts

Now there's a shocker.

barfo

 

[Wheels]

Canzano must not know his facts, since the deal was announced May 21, 2007.

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-163702745.html

not sure when the date starts.. maybe he is referring to the beginning of the first season where fans couldnt watch the games? I just heard the day total

 

[PapaG]

not sure when the date starts.. maybe he is referring to the beginning of the first season where fans couldnt watch the games? I just heard the day total

That makes sense, but the fact is it has been two complete seasons since the Blazers and Comcast decided to limit the potential audience of their sponsors.

 

[julius]

I heard the Blazers Marketing VP say that a TV deal (in the fans' favor) would be struck before the season.....with or without Comcast's participation.

I'm all for them giving me free tickets to a suite for every game this year.

 

[ehizzy3]

I heard the Blazers Marketing VP say that a TV deal (in the fans' favor) would be struck before the season.....with or without Comcast's participation.

i heard that too on john strongs radio program

 

[mgb]

Last year there was a STH meeting that promise that if no deal had been made by next seasaon they would 'talk' to Comcast about it. Nothing more. Someone posted that they said they would break the contract, but when I email my ticket rep he corrected that saying they are very happy with Comcast and that they would 'talk' to them about. I think it was just a stalling tactic hoping complaints would die down and for the most part they have.

 

[crandc]

All that shit meant as much as when Steve Patterson told me that Darius Miles, Sebastian Telfair, and Reuben Patterson were the "good guys" who would lead the Blazers out of the JailBlazers era.

Did he seriously say that? Telfair maybe, we figured him as a good guy but a convicted rapist?

 

[maxiep]

Now there's a shocker.

barfo

When barfo and I agree on something, you know it must be true.

 

[maxiep]

I have been a staunch defender of Comcast, as they were the ones that stepped up, created an entire network around the team and are paying the Blazers a hefty sum to do it. They have the right to the product and the right to profit from it. Whenever I'm back in Portland, I love channel 37, and word is now that it's in high def. The channel is fantastic for the Blazers, for the Ducks and for Oregon in general.

However, I'm getting to the point where enough is enough. I don't feel sorry for those people who could get Comcast, but choose another provider. Should they feel sorry for me that I don't have access to NFL Sunday Ticket? It's a choice, plain and simple. The situation of the folks who live far from Portland, who love this team, where Comcast isn't available and who are still in the NBA League Pass blackout zone are the ones that kill me. Those are the real victims.

It's time for the Blazers to at least request a seat at the table. They need to represent the fans. If they have to give up some of that $13MM annually to get a deal done, then they should. However, by putting a public spotlight on the negotiations, they'll force each side to give a little. In every other market where Comcast has set up a sports network, they've reached agreement with other providers. Why not Portland? What are they asking for that's different than other areas? And why won't the other major providers step up and pay for the product when they're willing to pay for it in other areas?

I never thought the negotiations would go on this long. Enough is enough.

 

[Wheels]

Wow... we now have Maxiep on our side.. the time for the Rebel Alliance to strike is NOW!

 

[Masbee]

Personally I think it's a lot of bullshit. The Blazers know exactly what's going on, and as long as they get paid, they don't give two shits that Joe Blow in The Dalles can't watch the games even if he wanted to pay for them, or that Mary What's-Her-Fuck in McMinnville has no possible way of watching the games in HD. Maybe that'll force them to buy tickets to the game. What, sold out? Well, even better!

I find it hard to imagine any reasonable business person holding such views.

In other words your fantasy is a crock.