Well, you are the King of this thread and with the crown laying heavy on your head, I thought you should know.
Unlike all of us, Hughes is a federal judge. Therefore, people will give great weight to his comments (as you have). Federal judges should probably exercise better restraint in commenting on cases that are not before them.
Comcast is looking at losing its share of the network if this plan is confirmed. Comcast will likely object, and that objection will have to be litigated. Judge Isgur must ensure that the plan satisfies all requirements of the bankruptcy code. He cannot just rubber stamp the plan...unless you want an appeal to really slow things down.
I think that anyone flaunting their legal credentials while commenting on something that they don't have access to all the facts on runs the risk of folks unwisely giving great weight to their opinion. I will say that opinion regarding the process of the law is a different because it's a defined process. I can say that it's been confusing regarding the forum legal expert's opinion of Judge Isgur. Going in the legal experts here proclaimed that he was this fair and knowledgeable guy but the minute things go south of the forum expert's opinion..... Isgur is wasting people's time and nothing will ever come of this case....blah blah blah. This bankruptcy case became a necessary process given the strategic course of action that each partner in CSN H took once they became at odds over resolving this. Those who were misleading people in to thinking that one party would be allowed to just walk without some legal counter well within the rights of the other parties involved was disingenuous to say the least. I know this is taking a long time but if it all gets sorted out enough to get the teams back on TV to the majority of the market and hopefully the entire market, then it will have been a successful resolution I haven't agreed with everything Isgur has said and done or the speed things have progressed in this case. I just think Isgur has done the best he can with some unreasonable parties involved and might get this figured out. In the end, it looks like people who couldn't afford the risks of being in the TV business will be out of the TV business and that also that a bad business plan for the Network agreed upon by all 3 parties should have been abandoned and reorganized long ago.
I'm sure this has been Max's and Ref's goal through all 15 of these threads....to mislead people and to be disingenous. They were stating their opinions and from most of what I remember, they stated that they were stating their opinion. C'mon, man.
All parties are losing their share in this deal, isn't it also about not being compensated for the start-up money and other losses incurred by Comcast? The Rockets and Astros want money owed them by the Network too. I think Comcast is also squawking about getting paid value for the above market carriage rates they are now stuck paying. From a contractual standpoint, I say tough **** on that point. Comcast took a risk inserting the MFN and it got exploited. Good attorneys get paid to point out loopholes and what might happen. Business people then to decide to move forward knowing the risk. Was it a dick move for Crane to exploit a loophole regarding the MFN? Yes it was and it was detrimental to the partnership. Was Crane aware of the intended purpose of the MFN and by it's inclusion in the contract that there was no guarantee of rates from non-Comcast providers? Unless he is a complete idiot, of course he did. The teams took a risk by not choosing to be part of the RSN in lieu of a no risk in regard to predictability of higher media rights without ownership and that roll of the dice crapped out. The Rockets moved away from the crap table and counted the money they had left knowing the gamble didn't pan out and the Astros decided to claim they were handed loaded dice. It seems that the Rockets, Comcast and the Astros will no longer be partners and the new ownership is buying a Network with Comcast locked in at high carriage rates. Comcast will likely try to hold this up until they get something worked out with the rates plus their start-up loan paid back. I trust the Judge will continue to do what's right in this case. If Comcast gets hosed, so be it. If the Rockets and Astros wind up getting screwed too, fine by that as well.
im thinking about reupping with comcast for 2 years...will lower my current bill by about $40. should i just do it or do you guys think i should wait??
On that quote, I stand by what I wrote as I have been reminded by "at least one expert in the legal field" here of his "credentials" a time or 50 as a trump card over my own opinion while also trying to marginalize my opinion as what he felt was a bitter Crane hater. C'mon man, I state my opinion in these threads too...... For the record, I didn't say that only the legal experts were misleading or being disingenuous in regard to that particular situation. That statement applies to anyone who claims to have rationally thought out that particular situation at that point in time and thought the other 2 parties were just going to let the Astros walk.
I was wondering what will happen moving forward if they ATT/DTV deal goes through and Comcast is stuck paying 3.50 (0r whatever it actually is). I haven't read where Comcast Subscribers got a rate hike before or after CSN H went on the air. I am wondering if they will pass the higher rates they are stuck with to their subscribers once the deal get signed. That said, I doubt the situation above costs you $40 a month and you'd be putting off a rate hike for the new Network for a couple of years. It might be a good time you and others loyal to Comcast to do it now.
[rQUOTEr]BOSTON — Astros owner Jim Crane said Thursday he is pleased on multiple levels that a plan to take Comcast SportsNet Houston out of bankruptcy has emerged, both for the team’s health and the concerns of the fans. If approved by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Marvin Isgur, Comcast SportsNet Houston will become Root Sports Houston as soon as this fall under a plan that would convert the Astros-Rockets-Comcast partnership into a new company co-owned by AT&T and DirecTV Sports Networks. “We’re happy we’ve got a solid offer on the table,” Crane said. “What the offer does is, is one, we haven’t gotten paid this year. It’s going to get us paid, hopefully, when we get it cranked up in time for the Rockets. Which is a huge deficit to us. I mean it’s huge — last year and this year. “And then we’re going to have coverage. We’re going to have AT&T and Direct(TV), and then hopefully we keep the Comcast contract, which is what’s in the deal, and then they’re buying Time Warner, they will fall into place too. So our fans will get to see the games and we can move on with our lives. I mean, it’s been very painful for the team and very painful for the fans. You know, as much as they want to place the blame on us, Comcast is there to execute the deal.” Crane expressed hope that the Astros could receive back pay for the past two seasons. Based on court documents filed last week, approximately $133 million in rights fees between the Astros and Rockets have gone unpaid since last summer. “It’s unclear what’s going to happen ’til the judge rules, but certainly that’s something we’d like to see,” Crane said. “We don’t know exactly what’s going to happen. The good news is, if he approves the deal, they’ll own it and we’ll get paid. And we can move forward. The biggest thing, the absolute biggest thing is we’ll have coverage and this mess will be over. From the fan’s point of view, we’ve had people put up with this for way too long. On both sides. It hurts the Rockets (too).” Nothing is set in stone yet. Comcast is expected to object to several aspects of the reorganization plan at a Sept. 4 hearing before Judge Marvin Isgur. An Oct. 2 hearing that could end with approval of the AT&T/DirecTV ownership proposal is also set. http://goo.gl/lf9SW6[/rQUOTEr]
If Comcast is stuck paying 3.50, it's gonna be awhile if ever. If Dish pays less than 3.50 the Comcast pays less than them. Dish will have to feel like they are going to lose a lot of customers over not having the Network and unfortunately that hasn't been the case the past 2 seasons.
Yeah, but the last two seasons the only real options for them to lose customers was for people to switch to Comcast. If Dish is the last major provider in the city NOT offering the channel, I have to imagine they'd feel the pressure a lot more.
I actually agree with the vast majority of this post. Absolutely, Comcast wants to be compensated. The judge is also rightfully concerned about how the $100M secured start up loan is going to be treated under the plan. If they can't agree, it will be litigated. People want this done yesterday to get the games on the air. While there has been a ton of progress, the judge has a duty to make sure that the plan complies with the Code.
Request for clarification on 2 points: What was the loophole that Crane exploited? In what sense was it a "dick move" on Crane's part? Not being an ass, I honestly don't remember the issue.
well i reupped for 2 years...have 30 days to back out if i want. Reading the update J.R just posted im tempted to cancel and maybe wait it out "And then we’re going to have coverage. We’re going to have AT&T and Direct(TV), and then hopefully we keep the Comcast contract," does that mean there is a chance comcast wont be carrying the rockets games this coming season or in the future for that matter?
From that quote, there would seem to be that chance. Depending on litigation and how the deal gets worked out it may be that they void the agreement. At this time there really isn't a lot of info to go on. I think Crane is optimistic it gets finalized but for me I'm holding off any major swapping/re-upping decision until I know more.
thank you, thats how i interpreted it as well. Well at least i still have the 30 days to back out and maybe some more info will be out by then. Ive never had trouble with comcast but if i can swing a better deal with at&t/Directv then its probably better to wait it out.
