<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>One takeaway from early statements, testimony in CSN Houston bankruptcy ... Rockets are moving away from Astros position</p>— Reid Laymance (@ReidLaymance) <a href="https://twitter.com/ReidLaymance/statuses/394890280085647360">October 28, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>And Astros confirmed they had $56 million in rights fees from Comcast this year</p>— Reid Laymance (@ReidLaymance) <a href="https://twitter.com/ReidLaymance/statuses/394890439779565568">October 28, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Ok... so people should stop saying "60% of the city can't see them" since its really only the 60% of TV subscribers, which is what, exactly (in terms of total population of the city)? Again, I've seen it referred more to 40/60 total population... but I agree with you that it makes more sense for it to be based on those subscribing to a service. Even then, Comcast is still the lions share of the market.
Well it would technically be true that 60% of the Houston population can't see them, probably more. All the non Comcast subscribers + folks who don't have cable/satellite (although they aren't really in the market for it anyways)
they own a piece of CSN. they're not just in a broadcast agreement with CSN...they share equity in CSN with Comcast and the Rockets.
They did... but it was really just for the games, and the pre/post game shows. They had far less control over local content... and offered far less locally produced shows than CSN does now. The only good thing about them coming to some sort of agreement to keep the channel in place is that it is, in fact, a good channel... far better than any RSN the city has ever had in terms of production/content/layout.
And if that were the case there would be no need for an involuntary bankruptcy end-around. If there was a loan agreement that said that, you'd see it reflected in pleadings. It's not at all. And by the way, the loan isn't from one of the partners.
max, you asked why there was vitrol. you have a dog in this fight, i don't. you are an mlb guy, it doesn't matter to me
And that can't happen unless a trustee gets appointed and a court decides the trustee has the power to assign those media rights. The Astros are arguing those are not the sort of rights that are assignable. It's an intellectual property argument. And if the Court does that...and empowers a trustee to assign those rights...then you can be damn sure the Astros will appeal and it will delay this thing even further. The quickest resolution..if your goal is just to see them play sooner rather than later...is a dismissal that lets everyone walk away.
If I'm injecting vitriol, I'm very sorry. It is not at all my intention. I love baseball..and I love the Rockets too. I want to be able to watch both of them. I've read the pleadings, and I do this for a living. This is an interesting intersection for me between my profession and Houston sports teams.
FWIW, I've been watching this thread from afar for several weeks now. I've yet to read any vitriol from you per se but I've seen plenty from other posters. I appreciate you digging in the details and filings to keep the rest of us up to date on what's being said/filed. It's valuable info that most of us wouldn't otherwise be privy to.
We're including people without cable/satellite subscriptions in this percentage. I'm actually now sorry I even brought this up...
Where did you get the $236 million? Crane said the Astros's share of CSN was valued at $326 million at the time he bought the Astros. They want out because they don't think it will work. They're seeing the offers and they don't think those offers will allow CSN to be profitable. It's telling that they are willing to walk away..seems to mean they really believe it. I have no idea if they're right.
sure you do..you're a rockets fan. you're a houston sports fan. you just said you're a rockets fan who doesn't care about MLB. so you absolutely have a dog in this fight. and yeah...you kinda sorta threw the vitriol thing on me when you said, "Max, you asked where the vitriol was coming from...you have a dog in this fight..." Maybe I'm misunderstanding you, though.
