People think U-verse doesn't have warts either. Their Internet sucks compared to Comcast's. I've had comcast for a year and I haven't experienced the problems a lot of people post here. Maybe they learned and changed their Customer support practices before I signed up by value wise I love my TV/ISP package.
The funny thing is that UVerse is on the completely opposite side with the Longhorn Network and SEC Network (debuting next year)... they're the only major provider to carry either. They also aren't on a special "sports tier", so tons of people are forced to pay for them. My in-laws are diehard Aggies with UVerse, and they complain all the time about having to pay for LHN. Now, I completely understand why it's different. Because UVerse jumped on those channels first, they can play the "switch to us if you want your games!" card, the same way Comcast is using CSN in their advertising right now. But for me, as I've said from the outset, that completely undercuts their pitch of "we're just looking out for the little guy!". No, you're a big, greedy corporation just like Comcast -- whatever it takes to maximize margin.
It could also mean that their impact analysis reports showed them better ROI for LHN and the SEC network than they do for CSNH.
If that were the case, then why hasn't any other major provider added LHN or SECN? I highly doubt UVerse has wildly different impact analysis reports than DTV, Dish, Comcast, Time Warner, etc. The most reasonable conclusion is that like Comcast with CSN, they're partly willing to make the leap because they're first and can get new business from those willing to switch.
Of course they do. The impact analysis reports for DTV are wildly different than other carrier. They are big boy on the block and the NFL Sunday Ticket is the single most important sports contract that's out there. Dish is different for a different reason. They are getting the discount shopper. I don't know anything about Time Warner's internals so I can't comment on them, but I can 100% tell you that any analysis on cost/benefit for ATT/Dish/Comcast/DTV would show vastly different findings on many issues.
I blame that horse **** on the Astros. The Rockets have been quite for the most part. Morey doesn't talk about it at all and Thad Brown has not played the, "we want what's fair" card either. He was the one who recomended DTV and Uverse subscribers call carriers and ask for discounts on their packages remember? The Astros obviously have more to lose but have also brought nothing to the table. I don't fault the Rockets for a minute.
Morey is the GM. Luhnow is the Astros' GM and hasn't said anything about it either. Thad Brown was one of many who suggested people call DTV and Uverse and ask for their discounts. Matt Hutchings was featured on a TV ad trumpeting that idea...that the consumer wasn't getting what they really paid for. Crane's been vocal, but only since Postolos has been gone. His comments were pretty much waving a white flag. Truthfully, Postolos is the common thread here...he started working on this concept when he was with the Rockets and that carried over to his time with the Astros. I think this was largely his undoing with the Astros, ultimately. The Astros and Rockets jumped on board with a huge media company that is fighting this very same fight on a much larger scale in a larger war...we're in the middle of one battle in their larger war. The implications of a deal for the Astros and Rockets are immediate and direct...and confined. The implications of a deal for Comcast influences future deals with carriers in many different markets around the country. Tad Brown had this to say on the eve of the Rockets season starting: “The product is terrific. It’s everything we hoped and thought it would be,” Brown said. “We were told this is the normal course of business as it relates to carriage discussions. We are optimistic that Comcast can work out distribution leading into our game.” -- ( http://blog.chron.com/ultimaterockets/2012/10/many-viewers-likely-to-miss-rockets-season-opener/ ) Comcast is running this negotiation. They're qualifying the expectations to their partners, the Rockets and Astros. Which only makes sense considering this is their primary business...and they're doing the very same thing in various markets all around the country.
As far as I can see, most sports networks have either widespread distribution across all major carriers or are limited to one (CSN with Comcast, LHN/SECN with UVerse, etc.). I can't think of many networks, if any, that are truly split down the middle. If the carriers usually act in lockstep, I have a hard time seeing the economics of CSN (or any other RSN) being wildly different from carrier to carrier. Sure, there are some demographic differences in their customer bases, but there's an overarching trend in most cases.
Well let's be clear that the carriers are doing something here that they don't normally do and that's hold the line against an RSN. That is something you are 100% right about. They are deciding to wage war here. Normally they don't do that so the impact analysis reports that each one would see internally is irrelevant. Additionally, as long as DTV is holding out it makes it easier for ATT, Dish, etc. to do so. The fact that Comcast has a junk reputation also makes it easier.
Sounds like they won't be keeping that "single most important contract" when its up for renewal. Sounds like even the "big boy" is finding a way to lose money on the surest bet in all of television (the NFL). http://money.msn.com/top-stocks/post.aspx?post=28af1f95-ef6f-4979-8f40-49afc7e44c26 It really doesn't surprise me... the amount of fantasy football fans that used to get NFL sunday ticket far exceeds the transplants that get it. And the fantasy fans are finding more bang for their $$$ with Redzone, despite the slashed prices that DTV now offers (like I mentioned before, they're basically giving it away now... even to non DTV subscribers).
Changes in technology. (you mentioned Redzone) It still holds true that more people sign up for DTV to get Sunday Ticket than are leaving them to get CSNH.
Sure... but they face the same problems that every other "provider" faces when it comes to these deals. If the subscriber rate doesn't justify the cost, they lose money and make changes. Once they no longer have exclusive rights, they'll probably put it on a basic tier to entice subscribers... but they'll still likely lose money on the overall deal.
I'm not sure what you are arguing. If the impact reports for DTV showed them subscriber loss or diminished subscriber sign ups due to CSNH not being available, they'd make a deal. Those reports don't show that. Instead they are willing to give significant discounts and freebies to anyone who calls in because they know CSNH has no impact in the marketplace.
And the fact that they're stuck with sports deals that are now losing them money (NFL Sunday Ticket) is a part of the reason why they're taking a hard-line stance on any new sports channel (pay or otherwise). TV sports contracts are no longer sustainable. Its a bubble long burst. That being said, CSNH is trying to get what other comparable teams/cities have accomplished or its all a waste... and comcast is a large enough company to be able to wait it out. DTV already made their pitch to the Rockets/Astros back when they were shopping for a home for this channel... I believe they went with comcast because they'd already established a precedent in other markets.
Yes I agree with what you are saying. CSNH was created at the wrong time. But it's not that sports never had the power that CSNH thought they had, it's that it really only existed in certain markets and that it has been heavily depleted by the expansion of online options and other channels.
Speaking of Tad Brown, he was on the Matt Thomas show today and talked quite a bit about carriage deals. For the most part, it was the same old song and dance. But he did say: "The last thing that Les will let happen is starting the season without fans being able to see the team." Wording may not be exact, but that's what he said. He even mentioned that he participated in a three hour conference call earlier today in regards to carriage issues. Didn't mention with who though.
Comcast would actually be smart to offer a mobile/computer subscription option for the channel... would actually get them more revenue than they're getting now. Basically treat it like DTV is currently treating NFL Sunday Ticket (giving it away with the hope of recouping most of the losses with new subscribers or with mobile on-demand fees). And the ala-carte movement can continue to commence...
I hope he's right, but the Astros said that they wouldn't let what happened to the Rockets happen to them. Would be nice if maybe CSNH would let you subscribe to a streaming option online. Edit: I actually feel like this was discussed already last year and that they aren't allowed to make it available online.
