I think I'll be able to watch the game on ESPN this Friday (hooray!), but I'm not sure if people in Houston proper will be able to. That being said ... prepare to rage if it gets blacked out. Remember, CSN Houston and the Rockets both have Facebook pages!
Dang, Clutch looking snazzy on Comcast Sport Talk Live with the suit and tie. Drop a cluthfans meme for us when you're there next time, like answer a question "maybe, maybe no".
I'm watching a very good quality stream with Houston announcers here: http://www.thefirstrow.eu/watch/158512/2/watch-houston-rockets-vs-washington-wizards.html Option 2.
That's not because I'm not still pissed as hell. It's because I just can't quit the team I've loved all my life.
Have you seen what the Astros are calling a team these days? And with no Deshaies, I predict no uproar to see that broadcast.
I think last night was the first night ever where I had absolutely nothing going on but I didn't want to watch the Rockets. I did laundry instead for christsake!!! Thank you, Comcast. I'll always be a Rockets fan, but I'm less of one now than I've ever been.
LOL, who exactly is going to go in a uproar to see that pathetic excuse of a "franchise?" Those days of sold out games every night and even caring about that team are over. The Rox are heading in that direction for me as well. Not even pissed any longer that I cannot watch them, I forget they're even playing unless I visit the GARM.
Thanks, and I'll try to next time. That was my first time doing live TV so I was nervous, but Kevin Eschenfelder and Matt Jackson made it easy. I believe they're replaying the show at 11am this morning. Crazy moment though -- Calvin Murphy was supposed to be on our panel with us, but he had a complication and was late. So after we did the show, it was around 6 and Rockets pre-game was live in 30 minutes. one of the guys at CSN Houston said, "Calvin may not be here, can you fill in for him on pre-game?" It turned out that I didn't need to, but I about had a heart attack. I do want to say thanks to CSN Houston for both having me on, giving me a tour and explaining to me the situation going on and how important it is to them to get a deal worked out so everyone can watch it. One misunderstanding (that I helped perpetuate) is that the channel doesn't have much motivation to care because fans would then just go to Comcast as a provider. Physically, it's not really possible and makes no sense as a business plan. Comcast is available in Houston and a few surrounding spots, but it's a drop in the bucket geographically compared to where the channel needs to be. Comcast cable, which is completely different than CSN Houston, isn't the end goal. I fully understand the wrath -- 100% -- but honestly, when you get the channel, you will love it. That's not much of a consolation right now, but this is locally produced and focused on local sports 24/7. I even got to see the truck where the games are produced for the first quarter yesterday and it was fascinating. The investment they have made in the channel is impressive. I've posted that I didn't want to get involved before because it's a business dispute. It's not the same as "Save Our Rockets!" because that was a matter of communicating to the city before a political vote. I really didn't see a way here. However, if we're going to do some sort of advocacy to get this rolling, we have to outline a plan of attack. I'd love to hear your suggestions. My feeling is it has to start with contacting the providers... not as some super threat, but as a way of flooding them with "I'm a Rocket/Astro fan, and I need this channel". It's not like you already aren't doing that, but they have to go into this knowing the demand is there. So if we're going to make this a focus to end it sooner rather than later, what do you suggest?
Problem is we will never get the channel. Until they start honestly updating the fanbase and fully explain why this is happening, I give them no benefit of the doubt.
I don't have every negotiating detail, but I can definitely explain why this is happening. What's your question about it?
I wish we were just given the choice to take the channel as an a la carte, as I'd pay the $3.90 or whatever the price is per month via Uverse. I know this is not business smart and will never happen, I just wish I had the choice. I've heard nothing but good things about the channel and it irks me even more.
Have a game tracker with games missed due to lack of CSN coverage on major outlets. Highlight the names of the outlets so that it focuses attention on the providers that haven't subscribed. Have weekly features from fans indicating the impact that it has had on them and the lengths they have gone through to watch the games. Clearly indicate how fans in Houston that are not in a comcast coverage area have to resort to pathetic and illegal means to watch the games. those are my suggestions and by no means am I indicating that I don't thing you've done enough. However, you do have a powerful outlet that has become much bigger than you ever anticipated and it is the voice of the fans. As such, I would love it if you helped us voice the displeasure that we fans have. And I agree with the quality of CSN Houston, for the few times my stream has had it and worked properly, it was very good.
I initially thought the same thing. Definitely from a diehard fan perspective, that would be a win. From a provider's view it would be a major win -- the cost of the subscription is passed directly on to those who want it. And you already know this, but I would think for CSN and casual fans, it would be a big loss. The cost would be passed on directly to fans, so they would feel charged just to watch the games, and CSN would get far less in the deal than if it were part of a bigger package of channels that was as close to "standard" cable as possible. Plus, you want anyone and everyone in the area to be able to watch.
