The Astros/Rockets (CSN) could easily get all of the providers to agree on including the channel as part of the basic/extended tier today, if they would offer pricing that makes that viable for the channels (which means without requiring the channels to jack up their customers monthly rates in order to pay for it).
Tad Brown asked by Matt J this morning on 790..."what tips the needle here to get deal done?" Tad says: Astros push the needle. Doesn't matter what prognosticators say...content is king, and the Astros and Dynamo provide tons of content. Rockets can only go out so far...but with Astros there's a much bigger footprint in the outer market (outside of Houston, I presume he means)... Call ATT/DirecTV and get a discount, because they will acknowledge that you're not getting sports programming you were previously. Everyone's starting to realize, with way local sports are going.....Fox has exited the Houston market and were barely in to begin with...CSN Houston is the future of Houston sports. Morey says get on board the Astros now because what they're putting together is exciting. Rockets sold rights to network...but Rockets invested in the network as well. It makes sense long term economically...we're incurring debt and building a network for the long haul. FOX didn't even make a strong play to keep Rockets media rights. Primary objective of FOX was to break the network and suppress the market. They knew once we got foothold here, that was it..and it would be the future of Houston sports. Deal Texas Rangers got was in direct response to Astros/Rockets teaming up and pulling everything away in Houston. My take on all this: CSN, Astros and Rockets are unified big time. Talking points or whatever...they're clearly talking one another up to promote their common interests of a bigger footprint.
I head him mention something about calling your provider and requesting a refund. How does this work? Has anyone done this? What did you say?
I have Uverse...I called and they lowered my bill around $40/month and moved me to a tier with about 100 more channels than I had before. I simply told them that having the Rockets/Astros was important to me and requested to talk to someone about cancelling my service. Before they even transferred me to the cancellation department they made the offer.
somewhat implied in your post - but to clarify from what he said there was an out and this is not about the carriage providers paying for two RSN's. That is why they are willing to provide the discounts - they are making money by not providing standard product - and unless you speak up, they will continue to pocket the money. Unlike the caller who came in shortly after, I thought Tad's comments were open and very refreshing. It confirmed some of my suspicions regarding these negotiations and I'm glad to see the inner workings coming to light. Unlike Tad - I'm not as optimistic about he Astros pushing the needle.
Did they actually follow through? I call to complain all the time but they never FCKING follow through.
Their media footprint is huge. 5 states...includes cities like Austin, San Antonio, El Paso, Waco, Little Rock, Oklahoma City, Shreeveport...perhaps NOLA. That's why it moves the needle. It's not simply getting the station on here in Houston...it's moving across 5 states.
You gotta get to the cancellation dept to get the hook up DirecTv hooked it up for me but it was only when I said I needed to cancel that i was transferred to them. Spoke to the cancel rep, it was done instantaneously
I did this back in December. Lowered my bill from $220/month to $140/month with Uverse. I get U450 with all movie channels, the highest internet speed, Palladia and about 200 more channels I never watch since I'm always watching Duck Dynasty. I just told them Direct TV was offering me a better offer and the lady immediately changed my plan.
understood - and I do agree that their negotating power increases now that both are in-season. Just not as optimistic that we get the deal done quickly.
Just wanted to get this to the next page... I'm due to re-up with Time Warner in Austin soon. If there isn't a deal in place by then, I wonder if they'll offer a discount. Certainly can't hurt to try...
