Astros blocked CSNHouston deal?

Yeah, it almost sounds like he's going to give the carriers 30 more days, then give in.

If that's the case, it's a pretty weak negotiation technique to say that out in the open.

 

I totally missed this update the other day.

CSN's leverage is gone. A deal will break out eventually where CSN will get far less than they told the Astros and Rockets they could reasonably expect in terms of carriage rights fees.

 

Why they can't agree to a shorter term deal with out options based on ratings and/or on-field performance is beyond me. Why does it have to be a 20-year deal?

3-year deal at the (lower) negotiated price per subscriber and then get on with the rebuild/rebrand/reinvention.

 

I'm sure the carriers would live that, but no major league team would ever want its tv revenue tied to wins and losses

 

Just saw this.

So much for "Postolos gone-Ryan in-Deal will be struck!"

Oh well. Those who don't have it are probably used to it and/or no longer care.

 

Why can't they offer a cheap deal at 3 years, and let them know it's going to cost them more than what is being currently offered for the 20 year deal. It gets their feet wet, customers on other carriers get to see what's on CSN.

 

I do still care that I cannot see the games. However, I am now getting used to doing other things and enjoying time with the family. Frankly, I don't know if I will ever get back to my life long routine of planning my evenings around watching the Astros game.

This has been a lot more damaging to my desire to follow the team than was the 1994 strike. Drayton made the deal for a ton of cash without bothering to make it a priority to make sure a plan was in place to obtain carriage agreements ahead of launch.

 

Same here. I wish I could watch the games too but it looks like the Astros / Rockets were all about getting their cash and damn the fans.

 

Like I said at the time, the hate being dumped at Postolos feet was ridiculous. The chron writers who committed character assassination because he fired some of their friends should be ashamed.

 

Understood, but if there was ever a time to do it, it'd be now. The last three years the Astros have finished with 86, 106, and 107 games (average of 100/year). Say they negotiate an out where they improve their winning percentage by 8% OR average a certain number of viewers (i.e. ratings) over the next three years they can re-open the contract. An 8% improvement in winning percentage would mean going from 100 loss team to a 95 loss team (If I did that math correctly). They get the added bonus of having people see their content and maybe get excited about the players and the direction the team is going. Just something to get a "fair deal" and get the games back on TV for the masses.

 

lol I ran into Jim Crane tonight at dinner at Da Marco. He had to stand by the bar for 45 minutes before a table opened up. Interestingly nobody came up to him to talk... I would also note that the Astros game was still ongoing while he was there.

 

I was in the Insperity Club at the game tonight and saw him down in the seats right behind home plate through the first few innings...guess he left after that.

 

I hate to say it but I saw this playing out this way when I saw them flush the Rockets' season down the crapper. The Astros season is a certainty to follow them and I wouldn't be the least surprised if the 2013-14 Rockets' season followed suit. While I consider Crane to be an unprincipled, arrogant POS jackass the economics of the situation have dictated this impasse. At this point in time, no deal will be made unless one side capitulates to the other.

As I see it, the carriers have no incentive to cave because they don't see any benefit from doing so and I have to agree with them on that point given the way Crane & Co have F'ed the Astros' history and long time fans such as myself. So I have no empathy for the situation he's in. At the same time, this RSN is vital to future of both franchises because without it they won't be able to attempt to compete in their respective leagues. So they can't back down - it would be committing financial suicide. This is the very definition of a perfect storm and it's one that will last for years to come.

 

I don't really understand the venom towards Crane after less than half a season. I like "the plan" and I'm glad he's not wasting money on veterans just so they can go 75-87. Wasn't the CSN deal started under McLane? Is this all because of the AL move and the billboard in left field? I think Bo Porter, Jeff Luhnow, and Reid Ryan are great hires and he seems to be able to hire good people and stay out of the way.

 

IF you really think they are worried about getting the games on TV "for the masses" . . .don't you think they would have taken up the free offer csn gave?

Also, in your winning percentage determines price or whatever, how will you figure the Rockets in that deal?? The soccer dudes too??

And if they took a 3 years deal at a low rate now, why would the Astros think they would then get the price they want in 3 years?

As I said, I would be shocked, absolutely shocked, if a major league team (any sport) was ever willing to tie TV revenue to winning and losing, hell Crane himself says their key to winning is getting the big TV revenue first

 

Uh, i'm fairly certain that the carriers don't give a darn about anything Crane did to the "Astros history and long time fans" such as yourself.

I would guess the carriers don't like the price.

I suppose I could be wrong though, I mean I guess there could be some ATT execs sitting in an office in Atlanta or somewhere saying "hey, don't do that deal with csn Houston, that new owner screwed around his fans moving to the AL, and I just don't want our corporation doing business with a guy that would throw away all of that tradition"

 

Crane is a jerk, he talks to his own fan base as if we were trash. Yes, there are many professional sports owners who are a-holes, but when you buy the worst team in professional sports, you probably shouldn't talk down to your fans

 

I guess...maybe I don't read "between the lines" or maybe you can educate me with some specific quotes.

 

hyperbole much?