How much longer before you guys realize that Les, comcast, and the various cable providers could give 2 shi**ts about what you think?
Actually, it makes a lot more sense for providers to hold out when they have strength in numbers. That way, they don't look like the bad guys and can band together for more leverage. I also disagree that the willingness to give discounts shows the asking price is "too high". Rather, it only proves that the providers believe the money they lose on the discounts is less than picking up the channel. It doesn't necessarily say anything about the asking price relative to other regional sports networks.
This ignores entirely the fact that cable providers would pass the cost along to their subscribers. It makes more sense for them to give discounts to the few that care than it is to irritate their entire subscriber base with increased bills. I say the few because local games draw 1.25 ratings on a good night. If CSN was asking for a price in line with other RSNs, the providers would pay it...just like they have with all the other RSNs. Comcast has a history of this crap...just see Portland.
Nope. It's just funny that it's only the ones that already have it that are arguing on behalf of Comcast. They get the games already. It's only an intellectual exercise to them.
No, Cat has his values. He's one of the biggest homers around, and I'm not criticizing him when I write that. Whether or not he has Comcast, he'd support the Rockets' stance and it would take a whole lot to turn him. I'm with BJ on this, but it's just going to be so hard to hold out with the Texans season coming to an end soon. I'd rather not switch, but I think I'm going to have to.
Batman, you are still a young man, son. You know I know what I am talking about!! Although too much work, a health problem or two and not enough exercise can make one feel old. Likewise I have done the type of political activity that I know could put the heat on Les and the Rockets. I also have to admit that important as the Rockets are to my relaxation it does seem a bit much for me to put too much time into with all the other important world issues to deal with--Despite how much I hate Les who seemingly treats the Rockets as just another corporate device to maximize profit. I will participate, too, Looking for a leader to lead the #We want to watch our Rockets troopers.
Just wanted to thank the Houston Texans for making my decision to switch back to Crapcast. We are Houston sports fans. We deserve the most gut wrenching choke jobs in sports and to voluntarily miss the heartache the rockets will dish out is something I couldnt possibly bear.
Most of the other RSNs are in larger media markets and involving teams with more recent success than the Rockets and Astros. It's my opinion that the providers have banded together and think they can get a sweetheart deal with the Houston market based on the lack of success/ratings in the past two years.
I've been making the exact same argument way back to summer, well before I knew that my provider (which is NOT Comcast) would have CSN. I do not trust big cable companies for anything other than sheer greed.
The cable companies are greedy, yes. All companies are greedy because that is their purpose. Is it the purpose of all businesses and all businessmen to place profit ahead of all else? Perhaps. But then I want them to stopping announcing the team before the games as "Your" Houston Rockets. I won't argue with you about whether or not cable companies are greedy. And, as I've said, I don't have any allegiance to them nor they to me. But I have 30+ years as a Rockets fan, my taxes went toward building their arena, and Les has sold me out and he's sold 60% of fans out. He made the decision that would result in taking "our" Rockets off TV for most of the fans, because he is greedy. I couldn't care less about one cable provider being greedier than another. I know what happened here and we all know what happened here. Les sold us out. You're a good guy, The Cat. But it was very obvious from your posts that you were already getting the games on TV. All of you guys that are display a calm and suggest the rest of us do the same. You guys also inevitably suggest we pound our providers to make a deal that they have obviously determined is not in their interest. And, I have to tell you, that attitude from ones that are getting the games is really freaking annoying. The fact that you have one of those outside of town, tiny providers that gets CSN is no different than having Comcast. My next post to you if you said no was going to be, "I see. Then you live outside the Houston city limits and either have one of those very small providers or you're watching on LP." Because no longtime Rockets fan (including you) would be posting that way if he wasn't getting the games. Thanks for confirming that for me. I have to say again though that this is very much like someone that already got their electricity back after Ike trying to engage in an abstract debate about who to blame and how it's not very fair to blame the city, or the light company, or whomever else. 1. We're blowing off steam and don't need people that already have their lights on (i.e. the games) to explain how these things work because we already know how they work. We're still pissed. And... 2. We're not very interested in people with lights telling those of us without lights how we should feel about it or what we should do.
That sucks. Don't blame you for being upset. I guess Les needs more moeny for his yachts. Hope it gets settled soon.
So, even though the poll associated with this thread is "who do you blame..." it appears that you only want people who are unable to get the games to offer their opinion. Also, honest question, are Houstonian's taxes truly paying for the Toyota Center? I know with Reliant, that it is hotel and rental car taxes. Is it different with Toyota Center?
That's basically what it comes down to. He wants to vent rather than to have constructive discussion. For what it's worth, I did post the exact same way when I didn't think I was getting the games. And I take calls nearly every day from family members not in Houston that aren't getting the games and don't even have the option of changing to a provider that has CSN (since all the providers that have it, including the small ones, are in Houston). I'm very upset about this, whether Batman buys it or not. To go along with his post-Ike electricity analogy, what relevance does your electricity (or lack thereof) have on the ability to make a logical argument? It doesn't. The bottom line is that in these disputes, nothing gets accomplished until BOTH parties feel pressured and are pushed to the middle. I don't want people like Batman to not be mad at Les. The Rockets absolutely deserve some of the blame. But if they're not also blaming the providers, I don't think it's ultimately getting a deal any closer to being done.
Comcast trolling me .. just had an email saying they were giving me complimentary tickets to Rockets vs Hornets ..click link and it says unavailable ... just like games on my TV
Haha, cable conspiracy. Good call. Crazy that the companies want a deal based on ratings. Thats just nutso!
Unlike big sports franchises which you trust like the goober fan you mock others for being. So you don't have Comcast but you have phonoscope so nice sidestep to his point which is you get to see the games so you have nothing invested in this argument, you're just a sideline cheerleader giving your contrarian opinion like usual.
It's crazy to think that the providers would want a good deal to broadcast the Rockets because very few people watch them relatively. They should be willing to pay the same as the other markets like LA!
