The Astros got close to a 0 rating last year, while on FSN with all the subscribers/providers having access to watch them. Product is bad on the field, by design. Ratings are 0 because of the quality of the product on the field moreso than simple "access" to the channel. The quality also will continue to improve as all this young talent matriculates... then, the product will be worth a lot as Houston can/will support the team in droves.
Well, poor ratings and what could be an empty promise to improve the team aren't great negotiating tools to ask providers to pass on a huge increase to their customers. Crane picked the wrong time to totally tank.
No, the Astros/Rockets picked the wrong time to become an owner of a RSN. Live sports on TV are still highly valuable to advertising since they remain largely DVR/On-demand proof. Thus, there will always be $$$ to be made from getting your product on television, even if the team is bad. What have the Mariners or Padres done the last 10 years to warrant their large TV contracts? Hell, what did the Astros do to warrant the large deal in the first place? The bubble burst on RSN's right after the Dodgers fleeced LA/Time Warner, and providers started to be suspicious on why they were becoming the main source of income for sports teams (more than ticket sales/advertising/merchandise combined). Additionally, providers are still broadcasting FSN... and subscribers are still paying for that. Had they all been able to stop paying for FSN when the teams left, would have been easier to substitute CSN in its place. The Astros won't have any problem getting a hefty rights fee to have their games shown (even after all the last place finishes, and tanking... FSN would still pay good money for them right away if they get out of the CSN deal)... but if they want to be RSN owners, they're going to hold out for the best possible deal equivalent to what other comparable teams have.
They are going to hold out till that Network folds......and no providers are going to ask all their subscribers to pay 3.40 a month for the channel.
I'm not the owner of any team, just a Rockets fan that could give a **** about baseball that got free tickets with the CSN Houston email thing. Why not make money off the team that is probably causing me from being able to watch Rockets game (saying this I know it's just as much the Rockets fault for leaving FSSW, i'm referring to the reports that Crane was the one blocking any deals from being made). You guys need to get Crane's crane out your mouths.
Happens in much smaller markets than Houston. Also, they wanted to LEAVE the network prior to the filing of bankruptcy... but CSN blocked it because of the value they provide to the channel. Like I said earlier, if it was purely about rights fees, Astros could sign a very lucrative deal tomorrow (likely with FSN... which would likely lead to a price increase in the channel)... but they probably want to hold out for ownership.
