Wow! No one posted this yet. FSN broadcasted the Astros vs. Cardinals game today but many of us got Formula One Racing instead It seems that Time Warner won't pay FSN $450,000 for 10 games not on Channel 51. Some of you may remember the Disney/Time Warner battle last summer. I could understand Time Warner, a rival company, not wanting to put more Disney programming on its cable, but this $%^# is unexcusable This isn't the first time either. According to the Chronicle, Time Warner pulled this stunt with the Spurs on FSN last season. Time Warner says FSN isn't paying the Astros extra for the 10 games so why should they pay FSN...maybe customer service..HELLO. ------------------
The Chronicle listed today's game as "subject to blackout". So, as soon as I read that this morning when I woke up I knew I wouldn't be able to view the game. Two large companies acting like children--it is pitiful. ------------------
This is Fox's fault. Every year, Fox and Time/Warner have a deal to broadcast 65 Astros games on FSN. Last year, FSN gave Time/Warner 10 games for free mainly because it was the opening of Enron Field and the Astros were coming off a division championship. This year, FSN and Time/Warner agreed to the same 65 games as usual but FSN said they wanted Time/Warner to pay for 10 more. Time/Warner didn't want to fearing poor ratings due to the poor record last year. FSN ran a 75-game schedule out to the public at the beginning of the season and then, when Time/Warner didn't want the 10 extra games, FSN pulled 10 and picked particularly good games (like today's Cards game) as a way to punish Time/Warner and force them into accepting the extra games. I have NO love for Time/Warner, but FSN is being ridiculous. ------------------ And then, depression set in...
I was very unhappy with this too Thanks to FSN, I had to listen to the game online using sportsterminal.com. Now that site is great but I would much prefer to SEE the game on TV.... ------------------
I subscribe to Time Warner, not to FSN. Fox is being greedy, but many cable companies including both satelite dish services (DirecTV and Dish) televised the game. In the sake of customer relations, Time Warner should have picked up the tab or done something to make it up to the Astros fans. I had no warning. ------------------
I agree with Jeff -- it does sound like Fox is to blame for this one. They had an article about it in the Chronicle last week. Fox signed a contract for 65 games, which had a clause that they would negotiate any other games. Last year, they broadcast 72, and paid for the others. This year, they started with a 75 game schedule, and told all the involved the cable companies they would have to pay for a portion of the broadcasting costs for the additional 10. Four cable companies said "no" -- Time Warner was just the biggest. TW said that the fees were "not insignificant." The $450,000 does sound like a lot, especially since Fox gets most of the revenue. Some analyst said it would be about $0.05 out of everyone's cable bill -- just for those 10 games. The Astros sounded like they agreed. They were disapointed with Time Warner for not carrying the games. BUT, they were upset with Fox as well -- and said that they should not have scheduled 75 games when they only have a 65 game contract. ------------------ Stay Cool...
