Maybe they would give CSN a certain time period (not a long one) to come up with a carriage deal? This again assuming the Astros are no longer a part owner. I don't know, just throwing that out there as another option. It would be a smoother transition I think with all of CSN's people in place.
I don't think DirecTV can guarantee U-verse and others. They can guarantee their own business and Comcast at a lower rate than what they pay. Agreed on picking your poison. However, if the Astros want the most money possible they have to assume risk. The more risk the higher their equity stake. If they want the Network to assume risk and the Astros get more guaranteed money then they will lose equity share. That will happen at DTV or CSN H. Fox is gonna take away equity ownership. If that happens, the Astros will want a lot more revenue for their media rights. Fox won't likely give them anywhere near the total value that media rights and an equity stake would have brought to the table which is what Crane had been dead set on getting. Fox means leaving Comcast altogether and could potentially mean no Comcast distribution.
I thought Crane bragged about being the the overnight business. Shouldn't the deal have been done by now? He's had 2 days.
If the judge is convinced it's going to put them all right back in the spot where they were before, that's not a likely alternative. If this is going to end in a situation where they're back with Comcast with one lone offer from DirecTV that projects to losses in the hundreds of millions of dollars, then a bankruptcy judge is going to do things to avoid that outcome.
Crane wants the guaranteed $$$... I don't know if he cares that much about equity in a channel that right now has no chance of ever making money. Also, if Fox takes ownership of the channel, it does not mean "leaving Comcast altogether"... they already have an agreement in place with Comcast (along with the other providers), and would have no problems taking over the RSN and getting it on within one day. As far as the first point, I feel if a channel is available on both Comcast and DirecTV (#1 and #2 in terms of total subscribers in Houston), the other providers will have to follow suit or risk losing subscribers.
Yeah, maybe... obviously keeping the current channel as is would be the easiest solution... I just don't know if they can get the carriage deals.
It sounded like they could get them (or at least DirectTV to start) but at what price? Isn't that what started this whole mess?
Exactly. What if DTV gambles and says they will refuse to sign carriage deals with the mindset that they could get control of the network if the Astros agree to deal exclusively with them? What if Fox decides to take the same route also? That's why I think this precedent has basically eliminated Comcast from running the channel in the future, as getting carriage through them is still no longer a given no matter what the actual rates negotiated are.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/CSNHouston">@CSNHouston</a> will offer another 45-day free view to carriers beginning with the Mavericks-Rockets game Friday. More details ASAP.</p>— David Barron (@dfbarron) <a href="https://twitter.com/dfbarron/statuses/396006197733511168">October 31, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
I'll be shocked if they do it. If they DO accept then we should feel pretty confident that it's resolved because there's no chance DTV would do the free trial if they don't anticipate keeping the network on air long term.
Potentially huge news <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/CSNHouston">@CSNHouston</a> will offer another 45-day free view to carriers beginning with the Mavericks-Rockets game Friday. More details ASAP.</p>— David Barron (@dfbarron) <a href="https://twitter.com/dfbarron/statuses/396006197733511168">October 31, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
It could also be used as a measuring stick for providers. If they air the station for free, they'll see what the ratings are like, which gives them a better idea of how much they'll pay
No way. As has been said a lot here, if they put it on for a free trial and people watch, CSNH has them by the balls. It's really hard to take something away from your customers once they have it.
Last year, CSN did this as a cheap way to win the PR war - knowing full well that none of the providers would take part. And none of them did. Will this time be any different?
