The Rockets and Astros own 77% of the network. If they want to dissolve it, I'm pretty confident they can, since they're the majority stakeholders.
Les may be the one guy that can salvage this whole situation. Crane is obviously going to hold out to get the rate he wants because he does not have a team worth watching anyway. Les must be hating this entire situation with a passion right now. I hope at the very least that we get some sort of short term paid streaming option so that we can watch the games. I don't need to see all the CSN programming if they just give me an option to watch the games.
The texans drew higher ratings in houston for their preseason games than the rockets did for their playoff games.
What's your point? Everyone knows that NFL is king, especially in Houston. That doesn't mean their isn't a market for the Rockets, especially with Dwight.
Really what they should do is negotiate a short term deal that will expire right when the other cable companies' deals with FSN expires. Then, when the exhorbitant rates for FSN go off the books the cable providers will be able to shift the cash back to CSN for fair market value of broadcasting the local sports teams. Or so the negotiating ploy from CSN would go. With enough strongarming they should be able to make this happen and still show the city of Houston the great basketball that is to come this upcoming year.
Not only are games jacked in Houston, but there's a hard time seeing games anywhere (sportsbars, restaurants) in Texas. Meanwhile you can see Mavs/Rangers everywhere especially Houston. What an embarrassment. Our teams' owners should be ashamed of themselves.
I've never understood why the providers couldn't get out of the FSN agreement since they are no longer providing the same programming (Astros and Rockets games) as when the agreement was reached.
called att and they gave me 15 dollars off on my internet service (18mpbs). also got a 40 monthly uverse with one HD DVR ( U200).
Called Direct TV and threatened (didn't have any intention to) cancel service, even though I had a couple months left on contract. They gave me NFL Sunday ticket for free and $40 a month off for a year.....I'm ok, for now.....
on top of that i'm getting a 200$ giftcard so essentially my uverse rate is 30 amonth. can't complain, i'll use the giftcard for league pass .
It seems like I was the only one who didn't get a good deal when I had Dish, though they offered me $10 off for a year and was told they were gonna give me $5 more for 4 months but had to reject it and went with Xfinity instead--I had better deal locked in without contract-- plus it seems like it had more HD channels than Dish. However, their DVR sucks compare to Dish but I could deal with that because I am not about to miss anymore Rockets games and I watched a lot of college football, finally I get to watch it on HD(ESPNU). Sure They don't have the best customer service, but so was Dish 9 out of 10 agent doesn't even know what CSN H was...
FWIW, I went to Fry's few weeks ago and they always have people from DIRECTV there so I asked him bout CSN he was like "oh they are getting it for sure, they just got out of a meeting and watch by the time the season starts yall will have it" sounded so confident too I told him i'll come see u if we dont he goes watch yall will have it. Don't believe him but can always hope.
Dude, these reps at Fry's, Sam's, Walmart, etc. work for a third party sales and marketing company. They work solely on commission and will lie and cheat to get a sale because there are no charge backs and meanwhile you're the one stuck with the bill. They're used car salesmen times 10. Don't even waste your time with them. And to go off on a tangent/pro-tip, not all vendors are third party affiliated, so don't let that totally discourage you. For example, AT&T Wireless usually has legitimate corporate employees at a lot of these large national retailers, so they won't try to swindle you any more than anyone at a corporate location would. Anyway... I'm tired of this crap. I need something to happen by October otherwise my Chromecast/Apple TV is going to get a lot of work in.
When the season starts, I'll be making a how-to video on getting a VPN setup, and watching the Rockets without CSN. Just want to give you guys a heads up.
