When I see people angrily blaming the cable TV companies, it appears to me that for those people the answer is no. Even when people just talk about CSN without mentioning the Astros and Rockets, it makes me wonder if they realize who is really directing all of this.
While I understand the Rockets and Astros are partners in this...they have both partnered with an entity (NBC/Comcast) that has vast experience in negotiating carriage rights deals like this. In fact, they have specifically negotiated very similar deals. That's part of what NBC/Comcast brings to the table. We've heard comments from both the Rockets and Astros indicating that they're not DIRECTLY involved in negotiations. A few weeks ago, right before Opening Day, Crane made a comment that he thought negotiations were proceeding well, but that he still needed an update from those who had been at the negotiation table that day. Neither the Astros nor Rockets are staffed with people who have any experience with carriage rights with providers like AT&T or DirecTV. Comcast, on the other hand, does that regularly. So while I agree that ultimately the Astros and Rockets will have significant voices in when a decision gets made and under what terms....it seems to me, given the situation of the parties, that their decisions will be primarily made on information and influence provided by the party that's doing the real negotiating here and actually has experience in this particular industry.
Ha True! This goes back to my whole point that Houston is just a battleground in a bigger war over RSN's that has other battlegrounds as well. The scope of the fight is a lot more important and bigger for Comcast/NBC than it is for either the Rockets or the Astros.
While they are almost certainly not DIRECTLY involved in negotiations between CSN and the cable TV companies, they are the primary financial beneficiaries of the cash flow from this venture. The reason that the price to the cable companies is so high is because the price that the Astros and Rockets negotiated with CSN (majority owned and controlled by the Astros and Rockets) is so high. If the Astros and Rockets decide they want to moderate their terms with CSN, then CSN can moderate its terms with the cable companies. So far, the Rockets and Astros have refused to budge on this. And that is why there continues to be at an impasse on this issue.
At this level, everyone uses experienced lawyers, agent's and consultants. Both sides know the details of all the existing regional contracts, the revenue projections and demographics for the various options and the implications this deal has on future negotiations elsewhere. It's only about how they split the pot. I think CSN just overestimated the power of their monopoly. They come from a sports-centric point of view and it's true, live events are growing their share of ad revenue in a world where entertainment time shifting is the dominant trend. (the odds of someone actually viewing commercials is a lot greater for live sports than something they watch on Hulu, Neflix or DVR) But with greater access, people interests broaden. Anecdotally, I have survived my locked out season pretty well with streaming, highlights on the internet and forum discussions. I barely have time to watch all the stuff I DVR now, where I used to watch the second half of the Rockets and Astros every night. The commercial model is a stupid model anyway. Joke's on you MF's, I don't watch commercials, ever. I DVR'ed the game last night when it started and turned it on at 7:30. I watched the whole thing in two hours, commercial free.
CSN Houston offering providers a free preview until the end of May http://blog.chron.com/sportsmedia/2...y-to-all-cable-satellite-and-telco-providers/
790 - Matt Thomas reporting an email from Comcast: CSN offered program to satellite (DirectTV, DISH, Suddenlink, Uverse) to users free from charge for a trial period until May 31st. Would have been amazing a month ago when the Rockets werent on TNT and making a playoff run. So now, we get to watch the Disastros.
The advertisers must be the ones demanding this. I bet they want lower rates commensurate with the low number of viewers.
It's too late as far as I'm concerned. I missed a whole rockets season. Now that I can watch whats left of the season on TNT I don't care.
This is definetly the biggest news yet on the CSN front, and yet all you hear in this thread is crickets. Maybe too little too late... Though, I'm excited.
I'm hoping DIRECTV picks up the offer. Yeah, it's definitely too late, but I wouldn't mind the in-depth analysis after the Rockets games. You don't get too much on national TV. Especially not on ESPN. TNT actually does try though. (sometimes)
Unless I was close to a deal, if I'm a provider I'd turn them down. I want to give my subscribers the channel for a few weeks and then take it away? That's a recipe for disaster for the providers.
Unless, the providers use it against CSN. I'm sure they can determine how many viewers tuned in during the free preview. They can then go back to CSN and say "yeah, no one gives a **** about the astros, here are the stats, now lower your asking price"
They really are assholes if they don't. I get that it's a PR stunt for CSN... but I don't think that the providers accepting this deal would compromise their negotiating position much. I don't think the angry UVerse/DTV/Dish/Time Warner subscribers will see the Astros/Dynamo for the next month and suddenly get way more angry. They already know they're missing the games. Many are already receiving substantial discounts. The bottom line is that, with no cost to anyone, the providers can offer the games for a significant period of time... it would be cruel not to take it. More than anything, I think this "free trial" will serve as a cease fire of sorts, and give everyone involved (CSN, providers, fans) five weeks away from all this drama. I think all of us in this thread could use it...
I don't watch Astros games, only Rockets, so right now I want to see all sides burn until they make a deal. They don't need a cease fire, they need a treaty.
