It's official .... Out with the Tube in with UPN

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/742103

Nov. 8, 2000, 10:09PM

Rockets back on Channel 20 after ending deal with Channel 55
By DAVID BARRON
Copyright 2000 Houston Chronicle


The Rockets and KTBU (Channel 55) said Wednesday they had agreed to pull the plug on their three-year over-the-air contract, effective immediately, and the Rockets said they will move at least 39 home and away game broadcasts beginning Saturday to KTXH (Channel 20).

Team president George Postolos said the decision to end the Rockets' nascent relationship with Channel 55, known as the Tube, "was in the best interest of our franchise, our fans and our corporate partners."

"We approached the Tube and reached a reasonable business resolution with them such that our relationship will come to an end at this time," he said. "That put us in a position where we could take the games to UPN 20, and fortunately we were able to work out an agreement with them to do so. We're happy to be back on the station that carried us for 14 years."

The Rockets president said the deal with Channel 20 is for the remainder of the current NBA season, adding, "We will talk about future seasons."

Postolos declined to disclose financial details of his talks with Channel 55, as did Channel 55 general manager Dan Patrick. Patrick, however, added, "I would simply say that there had to be some sort of considerations, because we did have a contract.

"The Rockets approached us with an offer we couldn't refuse to allow them to step out of the contract because they had an offer that they couldn't refuse," Patrick said. "We agreed that if it was in the best interest for them and in the best interests for us, we will handle it as gentlemen and move on."

KTXH was the Rockets' longtime television partner until the team moved to KHWB (Channel 39) for the 1997-98 season. Still, the move came as something of a surprise.

Channel 20 is one of the strongest links in the United Paramount Network chain, and it was believed the station would be reluctant to carry local sports teams because it would require frequent pre-emptions for UPN programs. KHWB (Channel 39) cited similar commitments to the WB network when it elected not to renew its three-year deal with the Rockets.

As an example of Channel 20's value to UPN, the Houston station had a 9.2 Nielsen rating with a 12 share Tuesday night for the network showing of the movie Bad Boys. The Rockets' game against the NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers, by comparison, managed only a 2.9 rating and 4 share on Channel 55.

Postolos said the Rockets likely will alter previously announced schedules for Fox Sports Net and for Channel 20, moving games from one outlet to another to cut back on network pre-emptions on Channel 20. Asked if the Rockets would continue as one of the few teams to show all 82 games on local TV, he added, "That's our plan."

It was unclear Wednesday night when negotiations to end the deal with Channel 55 and to sign with Channel 20 began. Tom Hurley, Channel 20's general manager, declined comment, referring questions to Postolos. Postolos, in turn, declined to elaborate on the reasons he approached Channel 55 to end their agreement.

However, the new relationship has faced problems on several fronts.

Nielsen ratings for the games that had aired on 55 averaged only 1.9 with a 3 share. Tuesday night's broadcast, granted, faced stiff competition from the network news coverage of the presidential election, which combined to draw more than 50 percent of the prime-time audience in Houston. But the 2.9 rating -- in a game against the league champions -- was still lower by a tenth of a point than any game on Channel 39 last season.

The location of Channel 55's transmitter in Splendora also had produced complaints from several viewers, particularly in the Clear Lake and Katy areas, who could no longer receive Rockets over-the-air games without powerful antennas. Channel 55 is available on most cable systems but is not offered on satellite mini-dishes.

Advertising sales may have been another factor. The Rockets' deal with Channel 55 -- as it was with Channel 39 and as will be the case with Channel 20 -- was a time buy, meaning the Rockets purchased air time on the station and sold advertising for the games.

As the season begins, however, the team is trying to renew its sponsorship with one of its most visible sponsors, Jim McIngvale's Gallery Furniture. Negotiating a new deal with a major sponsor while airing its games on a station with such low ratings would not appear to be in the Rockets' best interests.

Patrick, however, said those factors had nothing to do with his discussions with Postolos, adding, "It was not a ratings issue. It was not a signal issue. It was a business issue."
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Yeah right Patrick !




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Mind is the fore-runner of conditions. Mind is chief; and they are mind-made. If, with an impure mind, one speaks or acts, then pain follows one even as the wheel, the hoof of the ox.
Mind is the fore-runner of conditions.
Mind is chief; and they are mind-made. If, with a pure mind, one speaks or acts, then happiness follows one even as the shadow that never leaves.