My Thoughts on the Comcast Deal

by SloppyJoe on Nov 7, 2007 9:35 AM PST

First off, I realize I might rile a few of my fellow Blazer fans up with my opinion, but hear me out.

I'm tired of seeing people blame the Blazers for the channel not being picked up by satellite or other cable systems. It's misplacing the blame and is short-sighted. In reality, they only control the first link in the chain; the content. (And, in fact, even though they are the 'flagship' of the channel..CSN will also carry Ducks games, etc)

This is business, and how TV deals work. The Blazers simply provide the content which is distributed by Comcast. If Comcast sees no business advantage to offering it sat providers, they have no obligation to. I doubt the Blazers have had much leverage in the beginning to 'force' Comcast to allow carriage on other providers. Since comcast keeps telling us they are 'negotiating' with other carriers, that's what we have to assume they are doing.

Whose to say that DirecTV or Dish, or other local cable companies are even interesting in picking it up? Do you blame the Blazers for that? There's a ton of variables to consider in these 'negotiations'.

Personally, I have DirecTV, and it'll be below freezing in hell (or Los Angeles, - they are about the same IMO) when I move back to Comcast/cable. If the channel isn't made available to me on DirecTV, I'll continue listening on the radio and watching whatever TV networks are showing the game, just like I've always done.

Considering the travesty that was FSNW's (A.K.A. Fox Sports Puget Sound) Blazer's coverage, I'm happy that more games will be available somewhere. Hopefully I'll be watching it on DirecTV at some point.

I have a feeling a deal will be worked out for carriage on satellite systems, then our bickering and complaining will all be moot.

And no..I'm not a Blazer employee..just a uber-fan who is tired of the blamin'

My advice: Relax. Worry about more important things, like what are we gonna do about the point guard position?

(dons his asbestos suit)

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My beef with the organization

They're not giving a large opportunity of fans to see the games,I'd be willing to pay an extra 5 or 7 or 10 bucks a month to have all the Blazer and Duck games, but that's not an option with Dish at the moment. The blacking out of NBA League Pass is ridiculous, which I bought before I had heard they were blacking out Blazer games, although at that point I was getting it to also watch other teams as I thought I could watch the Blazers on some local TV deal. The point is why would the Blazers anger their fragile fan base, and want less people to see the product? It's a history of ridiculous TV contracts.

by morescrillaigots on Nov 7, 2007 9:51 AM PST reply actions

You can't say don't blame the Blazers

because they only provide the content. Even if you remove the "don't alienenate the fan base" position, in this day and age the Blazers should do all they can to reach as many fans as they can. It's called marketing.

What they did was give up all their leverage in their ability to market their product by striking a deal without making sure they had all the bases covered. I'm not sure how many Blazer fans or potential fans in the area have Dish or Direct, but I'll bet it's a lot. If a deal doesn't get done that's not good for marketing. And when I say they gave up their leverage, what I mean is how well do you think this sports channel would do without the Blazers? Not well, Duck games or no.

I don't think we are blaming the Blazers as the problem, it's more like they could have helped avoid some of the problems going on but gave up their ability to do so.

by Blazerholic on Nov 7, 2007 10:29 AM PST reply actions

A while ago,

I mentioned the possibility that nba league pass would black out blazer games and this could become a real problem for sattelite owners if a deal doesnt get down. I was shot down by people saying that there is no way the blazers/sattelite providers would drop the ball like that. The ball has been dropped, and apparently it was made of glass because it is in tiny little pieces all over the floor. This has to be the crappiest situation in blazer broadcasting history. They promise their fans 82 of 82 games on tv, and then they let comcast monopolize blazers basketball. It is really sad.

RUDY > MJ

by myemic23 on Nov 7, 2007 11:04 AM PST reply actions

Question?

I understand what is going on between Comcast and the Satellite providers (and other cable providers), but which party is responsible for blacking out Blazers broadcasts on NBA League Pass in the local areas (I'm also blacked out here in Washington across the river from Astoria)?

Anyone else notice that NBA League Pass is still available free? At least it was as of last night.

by TwoDeep on Nov 7, 2007 11:20 AM PST reply actions

The NBA

As far as I know, it's the NBA that blacks out local games.
I remember back in the early 90s during the Blazers run, my dad and I would have to drive up to Woodland, Washington to watch the playoff games on TNT..they were blacked out to a 30 some mile radius.
Maybe they expanded the radius since then, considering Ilwaco (or whereever you are) is more than 30 miles away.

I agree, it sucks.

by SloppyJoe on Nov 7, 2007 11:36 AM PST up reply actions

Blackout radius?

Does anyone know what the blackout radius is? I've been looking everywhere, and can't find a straight answer. I'm in Dallas, OR. over 50 miles from Portland, and not covered by Comcast.

Although I was really looking forward to watching all those games this year, I'm not shelling out additional money to get a blacked out NBA League Pass, or move my house into Comcast's market area. I guess Brian Wheeler will be my eyes for all the games not on KGW or TNT.

by Steve The Hedge on Nov 7, 2007 2:08 PM PST reply actions