My understanding was that the Astros and Rockets were NOT involved in negotiations at all at this point. That it's Comcast that is the expert on these deals. Also...reading sports business blogs, you clearly get the sense that Houston's Comcast channel is a pawn in a larger war....just one market out of many dealing with this right now, and that the implications of a deal in one market impact a deal in another market. Seems difficult to get to a conclusion based on that.
I, too, was told in early December that they felt confident a deal with directv would be in place before the end of 2012. Thus spawning deals with the other providers. Something changed and I'm pinning it on the minor league team down the street. They will not be getting my money for the foreseeable future.
Here you go...hot of the presses. Sources: Astros Blocked a Potential Deal That Would Have Brought CSN Houston, Rockets Games to DirecTV http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2013/01/astros_blocked_csn_deal.php
Wait, so what large provider other than Comcast has a deal done? PS - **** the Astros and **** Jim Crane. I will never spend a dime on that organization, ever again.
None, currently. Just a little background on this that you guys probably already know. DirecTV is considered the lynch pin in most of these negotiations. They are more hard line than the others and most believe that if they agree, the others will fall in line quickly, which is why the negotiating parties are going to go hard and heavy with them first.
Jeff, I think your piece needs its own thread. It is a major piece of revelation and can get buried in this rather long thread.
So basically the garbage ass Astros the one's messing up the whole thing?? If thats the case im offically not a fan of there team. Its rediculous how GARBAGE they have been and want more money?? SMH take your garbage ass self of a team to another city because if this is true I'm done supporting the Astros. The Astors are the NBA's Bobcats how about at least make the playoffs before even thinking about asking for more money
I would say boycott the Astros but it seems like the city has been doing that for 2 years now. Irrelevant franchise is irrelevant.
I'm happy that there's at least some news/rumors going on now...but why did it take so long to find out?
Hey Mr. Crane, the Rangers thank you for their new fan. May you and your team rot like Pittsburgh for years and years to come. You broke my heart first by- - Cutting payroll to field a minor league team. - Left the NL for the AL. (Big BIG NO NO!) - Terrible looking new uniforms - You're a KNOWN bigot. - Now this. I have not been to a game in two years, last year was the first time in 38 years that I did not even watch a complete game on TV. I never wanted you to buy the team, you've ruined the look of the stadium, it reeks of beer league softball, and now your n00b ass is screwing with die hard Rox red fans. Hello Nolan Ryan. My name is LonghornFan. I'm on your teams bandwagon now. Go Rangers! The AAAstros, lol. Who? Edit- Your new little stadium is an eyesoar in the city of Houston's skyline. I'll most likely never go there again, or at least for the very foreseeable future, but I will continue to cringe and that nasty green roof every day as I drive past it. Good luck with your new posters in the outfield. Fantastic idea!
I'd like to thank Clutch as well...I'm kinda new here after lurking for a while, but this place has given us a voice
Anyone else find it unbelievable that Les Alexander would leave the entire TV distribution of his NBA franchise to the whims of Jim Crane and the Astros? Sorry, but I have a very difficult time believing that Les is that dumb.
The Astros have twice as many games being televised as compared to the Rockets, so I'm not surprised the Astros have more power in the negotiations. My feeling is that Les probably is very disappointed in the way this has played out, and if he had to do it over again he would probably do things differently. The article says a deal was done before the Rockets season started and Crane wouldn't sign off on it. I know the people that hate Les are still going to blame him, but I really only blame Crane if this article is accurate.
The Rockets owned their media rights. Whether Comcast or the Astros or Bozo the Clown is involved, at the end of the day it's up to the Rockets to make sure their product is available or not. I won't blame the Astros for the Rockets not being on TV...and I won't blame the Rockets for the Astros media availability. That's on both of them for their own respective franchises.