Crap I forgot you don't follow the astros and know nothing about what happened with the franchise since Enron opened.
You are probably right but I bet they regret it now. There is a lot of area not covered by Comcast. I live in the Beaumont area and our only options are Time Warner or the satellite providers. The reason I say Direct TV has more leverage on this type of situation is that ANYONE can switch to them while you can only switch to Comcast if they have the service in your area.
So basically, the Astros will be unable to take their media rights back while CSN Houston is under Chapter 11 protection correct?
You still need to have a clear line of sight for the south bound satellites. Can't live in an area with tall buildings obstructing. Need to have the authority to have satellites installed (i.e. - not good for renters), etc. Satellite dish's are not all that common in the city for those reasons. Sure, in the suburbs, they're the more popular choice (mainly because some of those areas didn't have comcast or TWC to begin with). And uverse is even less widespread.... and many were thinking they would be the first domino to fall.
I seriously doubt he lets them walk. He knew full well that was their plan all along and would have not granted the Ch 11 if he were going to let them do that. IMHO there will end up having to be some kind of deal, either carriage deals or some kind of buyout of the Astros portion of CSN-H.
As long as the Astros have veto power, they won't (or shouldn't) accept carriage deals that don't make financial sense. There will have to be a buyout.
The Astros lawyers have already said as much, that they will pull their media rights. That will probably be the next fight; to see whether they are assignable or not. I don't think anything has been heard on this yet and if they aren't assignable they will pull them and negotiate elsewhere. That will probably really stir up you Astro haters, because it leaves the possibility that the Rockets will be stuck until reorganization thru ch.11 is finished while the Astro games get broadcast. Don't get me wrong, I'm not against the Rockets, I'd like to see both teams. But dragging on thru reorganization isn't going to make that happen quickly. That is why I can't understand all the ones wanting this to end like it did today.
You do have a point about renters but I doubt there are many people affected by tall buildings however there would be some. IMHO the satellite providers have the potential to service many more people than any one cable provider(although some people would not be able to switch for the reasons you stated). I will add: although I have never had Comcast cable, I can speak from experience that DTV is light years better than TIme Warner Cable.
http://blog.chron.com/ultimateastro...aces-comcast-sportsnet-houston-in-bankruptcy/ A federal bankruptcy judge Tuesday placed the parent company of Comcast SportsNet Houston under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, clearing the way for the start of what could be a contentious, complicated path to make the troubled regional sports network a financially profitable concern. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Marvin Isgur’s order came at the conclusion of a day-long hearing at which attorneys for Comcast and the Rockets asked that the case remain under bankruptcy court jurisdiction and the Astros asked that the case be dismissed. Dismissal would have resulted in the almost certain demise of the 16-month-old network owned by the Astros, Rockets and Comcast, which is owned by a limited partnership known as Houston Regional Sports Network. Isgur’s order assures that the network will remain in operation while the three network partners work on a reorganization plan. A key to that plan will be arranging the carriage agreements that management has thus far been unable to arrange with such major carriers as DirecTV, Dish Network, AT&T U-verse and Suddenlink. CSN Houston at present is available to no more than 40 percent of the Houston area’s 2.2 million TV households. Isgur set an 11 a.m. Friday hearing for the next phase of the bankruptcy case, which was filed last September by four Comcast affiliates. The Astros had sought dismissal of the case so they could retain their broadcast rights and shop them to another carrier, which would have doomed the network. Reorganization could have a major impact on the company’s future, with potential changes in ownership and management structure. Isgur even broached the possibility that Comcast, which is the Houston area’s major cable carrier, could be left out of the new partnership agreement. Comcast, however, has expressed desire to gain complete control of the network and break up the management logjam that had held up carriage agreements that the Astros complained were harmful to CSN Houston’s future. “What we have here is an entity that is important to our community and an entity that has very capable people that are (in charge), dnd it is an entity that if properly operated by its fiduciaries can succeed and reorganize,” Isgur said. He added, “There is a world of opportunity out there. … I am going to make the debtor explore those options and figure out what is going on.” The Rockets in recent weeks have been charged with trying to craft a business plan that will make the network profitable, and Rockets CEO Tad Brown, a member of the four-member CSN Houston board, said Tuesday that the Rockets thought over the weekend and as recently as Monday that they were close to a solution. Brown said the plan involved “carriage solution with primary carriage partners with long-term incentives to support the success of the network.” He did not elaborate and did not say why the plan was unable to be completed. None of the three network partners – the Astros, Rockets or Comcast – had immediate comment on the judge’s ruling, and the Astros did not indicate if they would appeal Isgur’s decision. Four Comcast affiliates filed the involuntary bankruptcy petition last September to prevent the Astros from taking back their media rights from the network after they had not been paid their rights fees for July and August.
I seriously doubt it too. But its a possibility, and probably the next thing he will rule on. He sounds fairly optimistic about CSN Houston's viability, which I just don't get. I think this whole thing was done for when the Astros and Comcast got into it publicly. I'm sure the other TV providers are enjoying watching Comcast bleed like a stuck pig on this. With the current demand for the Rockets and Astros (i.e. not much and none at all, much as it pains me to say it), I don't see why they would agree to any deal that makes CSN Houston financially viable.
Exactly... the Astros not getting to get out of this will prevent the Rockets from getting on widespread TV likely throughout the rest of the season.
That's the main pisser in all of this. I don't really care who is right or wrong, I just want the teams to get on TV. LOL at the posters who are overjoyed that Crane didn't win so they can all celebrate by...not watching the Rockets or the Astros.
I thought it would be thrown out. I was wrong. Won't be the last time I'm wrong about what a judge will do with a case. Wasn't the first, either. I'm disappointed as a fan, because I think this is the long road. A Chapter 11 BK with no trustee.
Insert internet handshake here... Cool. Hatchet buried. I'm glad the Judge was smart enough to see through Crane's deliberate acts to sabotage the network. Im wondering if the Judge hammering the Astros Attorney about this below means no more Crane vote. Issue being debated is whether Jim Crane should be allowed to vote on CSNH matters as board member if he is best served if company fails.
