Ryan White talks to Comcast.

They give him the runaround. He makes Canadian Football Jokes.

Loves it.

-- Ben (benjamin.golliver@gmail.com)

2 months ago Ben. Comment 24 comments 0 recs |

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And the winner is

This is about money. It’s business vs. business, no real good guy, no real bad guy.

by 67 on Oct 15, 2008 11:00 AM PDT 0 recs

where is the competition?….they certainly are not getting any from KGW (with those obnoxious adds) they can’t get any from the satellite companies (they need to be cost effective for their customers.) And as for the Blazers

This is about money. It’s business vs. business

They have an obligation to make money and not to get keep fans that can’t provide (enough)financial support….Comcast seized the opportunity to become a sports bully and the Blazers helped them do it….

by 67 on Oct 15, 2008 11:12 AM PDT up 0 recs

Competition?

Channelsurfing.net

Sergio has a knack for making passes that lead to layups and dunks, for both teams. - Ben G.

by jamon51 on Oct 15, 2008 1:29 PM PDT up 0 recs

I tend to believe that Comcast is at fault

For the provider, things are complicated. They have many channels to worry about, and many can’t afford to raise prices or charge extra for one local sports channel. I’ve never heard of Monroe Telephone Television or Country Cablevision, but I would imagine that they have a tough enough time in today’s economy without having to worry about people jumping ship because they have to raise the rate.

Comcast does have a monopoly on this one, and they certainly seem to be using the Blazers’ craze of late to leverage as much money as they can. It’s despicable, and I agree with 67 in that the Blazers (especially Allen) hands aren’t tied, they could and should intervene.

Incidentally, I subscribe to Verizon Fios, and I get CSN. I’m still incensed that Comcast insists on being donkeys about this.

Also I wish they’d get a HD channel for when the Blazer dancers come on.

by MavetheGreat on Oct 15, 2008 11:35 AM PDT 0 recs

FSN

used to get blazer games on FSN at no extra cost,if you bought the channel…was cheap, if you had a package with the satellite provider….The coverage did not have the frilly stuff that some fans want to see…As for me, I was satisfied just getting to watch some games….I was never a threat to them losing money, since I live over 50 miles away and don’t like big cities (just a country boy that likes basketball and the Blazers)….I figured sooner or later, they would go big time, figuring the air waves belong to them and no one has the right to infringe…the fact is you don’t get something for nothing…it costs money to get them aired to you ….(even though I was paying, just not paying enough)
I still have my old panning dish that worked fine on picking up (legally) transponders of opposing teams, airing the game back to their home stations…The only drawback was you had keep searching to find the satellite they were using….It was more convenient (and relatively cheap) to subscribe to Dish Network, so I did…..

by 67 on Oct 15, 2008 12:27 PM PDT up 0 recs

Talking about game videoclips at the Blazers Official site.

I can´t watch many games and the NBA Highlights are only 2 minutes or so. At Raptors Website I can watch at least a six minutes videoclip of games. Can you asked the Blazer Organization about making something like that?

Sergio + Rudy = 16
Sergio + Bayless = 16
Batum 8+8=16

by amlmart1 on Oct 15, 2008 11:45 AM PDT 0 recs

That's a dicey situation

The NBA is fairly strict when it comes to highlight packages on individual team websites. If the Raptors are providing original six minute video clips of games, it’s probably because the NBA is unaware they’re doing such a thing.

by Lance Uppercut on Oct 15, 2008 12:00 PM PDT up 0 recs

OK, we keep the secret!!!!!

Sergio + Rudy = 16
Sergio + Bayless = 16
Batum 8+8=16

by amlmart1 on Oct 15, 2008 12:29 PM PDT up 0 recs

Perhaps its time for Bedgers to unite against a common enemy here.

The following is contact information for CSN. I would suggest that everyone write them polite emails/letters requesting that they be take a look around at the community they are so interested in supporting, and then do the honorable thing and compromise with the cable providers. Remember that inflammatory or derogatory language will typically only get your message thrown out.

contactus@comcastsportsnet.com

Comcast SportsNet
300 N. Winning Way
Portland, OR 97227

Is this post going to get flagged?

by MavetheGreat on Oct 15, 2008 11:45 AM PDT 0 recs

But the pissed off language

is so tempting.

Witty Unpredictable Talent and Natural Game

by iDea on Oct 15, 2008 1:30 PM PDT up 0 recs

I've been posting this . . .

for almost a year. Some BE readers understand that
those that can’t get COINCAST have no other option.

    The parties in Southern Oregon are:
A: An exclusive cable company (Charter – majority owned
     by Paul Allen). No small cable companies for competition.
B: Only two sattelite companies who have the NBA League
     Pass. The NBA protects each team’s geographic rights.
C: The Portland Trailblazers business management who’s
     job it is to make money to pay salaries and profit.
     Completely understandable, but primarily tied to the
     Willamette Valley. In fact last year, the Blazers didn’t even
     have a local radio affiliate. The management must think
     Southern Oregon is L@&#r country !!! RRRRRiiiight !

D: COINCAST CABLE who bought the exclusive rights to
     the Blazer cable games for big money, but initiated a
     NW Sports channel startup. This GIANT cable company
     has bought exclusive rights all over the country and
     then held those broadcasts to blackout enourmous
     geographic areas. Typically rural areas where COINCAST
     CABLE is not available. This cable GIANT knows the
     Portland Trailblazers team is on the rise and will be a
     perrenial top 5 team for the next 7-10 years. A GOLDEN
     EGG if you will.
E: Blazermaniacs who would be happy to pay an extra $ 5,
     $ 10 or $ 20 per month extra beyond regular rates, but
     cannot even pay to get COINCAST SPORTS NW. In the
     case of Charter cable, COINCAST wants an extra $ 2.00
     per month from EVERY subscriber, regardless of whether
     they are Blazer or even sports fans. If Charter was to sign
     that deal, I’m sure they would lose many subscribers to
     the sattelite companies. It’s a TV business battle.
F: The Federal Communications Commission. Will arbitrate
     disputes between broadcast/cable companies. The catch
     is that one of the parties must ask the FCC to arbitrate.

In any case, some BE readers are negative about our plight, as
they haven’t put themselves in our shoes. Or they work for COINCAST !

GO BLAZERS !!! DOWN WITH MONOPOLISTIC CABLE GIANTS !!!!

It's GO time !

by walkoff41 on Oct 15, 2008 1:32 PM PDT up 0 recs

Thank you

Point E is right on the money……

Witty Unpredictable Talent and Natural Game

by iDea on Oct 15, 2008 8:01 PM PDT up 0 recs

Places to watch the games in Vancouver?

Does anyboby know of a good place in Vancouver Washington to watch the games this season? I was driving into Portland all of last year, and would love to find a place closer.

2-4 the who

by 24thewho on Oct 15, 2008 11:55 AM PDT 0 recs

Usually I enjoy Ryans work

That was a waste of my 4 minutes.
Either ask dude to explain himself or dont bother writing the article. I feel bad for my brethren in Portland, as i will be watching on League Pass, but that was a basically a fluff piece as filler

"Why would we lie to ourselves dude?"
"Be excellent to each other."
"All we are is dust in the wind, dude."
"Strange things are afoot at the Circle K."

The Wisdom of Bill S Preston Esquire and Ted Theodore Logan

by GreatOden'sRaven on Oct 15, 2008 11:58 AM PDT 0 recs

Good point

Not much value or new information to offer.

2-4 the who

by 24thewho on Oct 15, 2008 12:05 PM PDT up 0 recs

all it did

was re-open a can of worms that is fodder for the discussion rings….gee…. all us peons can do, is bitch and complain….We can’t fix this problem and no one is listening anyway….At least not the ones that can do something about it…..and there is no will, so there is no way….

by 67 on Oct 15, 2008 12:34 PM PDT up 0 recs

in my opinon, what ryan tried to do was show the absurdity of the comcast executive with the CFL talk, the brochures, etc.

point blank, people only care about the blazers. and there was no answer to that, except “wait.”

he pointed out a disconnect between what the issue is to people and what the issue is to comcast.

i know it’s not what people wanted to hear but i do think this piece had value.

honor terry porter

by Ben. on Oct 15, 2008 1:34 PM PDT up 0 recs

It was just another rant that accomplishes nothing

Comcast is paying the Blazers over $100M for the right to broadcast their games on CSNNW. BendBroadband says adding CSNNW will add $2.00 to the price of their Preferred Digital package price (currently about $48) and it will not affect any other customers (check its website). BendBroadband won’t do it. So what’s a fair price for Comcast to charge to earn back the money they paid the Blazers?

I feel sorry for anyone that can’t get CSN. But I don’t think complaining about Comcast is going to fix anything. It just gives the other providers an excuse to do nothing while Comcast takes the criticism. Comcast has been creating these sports channels for a while and probably won’t cave in on whatever economic model they have. In the short term, I think lobbying the smaller, local cable companies would be much more effective. Monroe, Country Cablevision, Ashland, and Canby cable probably have CSN because they are small and listen to what their customers want.

by BlazerFanSince1970 on Oct 15, 2008 2:23 PM PDT up 0 recs

I have to disagree

No offense of course. But isnt this the same guy who went on Canzano and said this exact same thing. I mean I think it would be a story if he DIDNT get the run around. I figured the run around was status quo on this deal and in all honesty most incomplete business deals unless one is trying to use the media to sway public opinion, and we all know comcast could give a turd what we think.

"Why would we lie to ourselves dude?"
"Be excellent to each other."
"All we are is dust in the wind, dude."
"Strange things are afoot at the Circle K."

The Wisdom of Bill S Preston Esquire and Ted Theodore Logan

by GreatOden'sRaven on Oct 15, 2008 3:09 PM PDT up 0 recs

Broken Economic Model

Cable is doomed. In the age of wireless networks and satelite reception the use of a cable to transmit information is being pushed to obsolesence. Rather than embracing that undoubtable fact and evolving, they’re going through the death throughs and their dying spasms are beating up the very people that can keep them alive a little longer.

Wake up Comcast. You’re market is limited and you’re behind the technological wave. You paid too much for the rights and now you’re forced to hold everyone not in your service area hostage in order to cover up your mistake.

I’m sure at this point they’re praying the Blazers void the contract just so they can get out of paying the $10 million per year. You can’t tell me they’re making any money from their limited distribution.

by Steve The Hedge on Oct 15, 2008 1:38 PM PDT 0 recs

Wireless is too slow

and Satelite is only 1 way. Cable of some sort will be around for a while yet

"I figured out how to get the canoe down the mountain, but I will need a snow blower and all your butter"-Michael Kelso

by 92wastheyear on Oct 15, 2008 3:13 PM PDT up 0 recs

Gotta disagree

A wired network will continue to have huge advantages over wireless in the world of broadband. Current (and forseeable future) wireless spectrum simply can’t handle the demands of ever-increasing broadband. Think wireless for two-way communication…wired for the majority of one-way broadband. An optical fiber can carry much more bandwidth than any available spectrum slice.

That’s my 2 cents….

by antediluvian on Oct 15, 2008 4:37 PM PDT up 0 recs

Hmm. Try this

Making money means being able to sell your product for more than it cost to make, or in this case maintain. A cable company is hampered by geographical limitations which limit their influence and thus their market capacity. Their service must be competatively priced to compete, and in this case that means they need to keep their prices within reach of the satelite providers or face the loss of customers. That combination of factors limits the profitability of cable, and will spell it’s doom unless they adapt and evolve either a new business model (focusing on data transmission and storage) or create new technology to rival satelite.

Cable provides a superior product when talking about broadband 2-way communication, but the portion of the market that needs that is less than the television viewing market in general. Beta was superior to VHS, but VHS won. IBM built a great computer, but eventually had to shift their focus to being a service provider or risk being left behind.

by Steve The Hedge on Oct 15, 2008 7:53 PM PDT up 0 recs