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The Portland Trail Blazers will bring back online streaming of games that are aired on Comcast SportsNet Northwest for the 2013-14 season, beginning with Friday's game against the Sacramento Kings. Fans who do not have access to CSNNW within the NBA-approved Blazers territory across Oregon and Southwest Washington will be able to stream the games live.
"We want to make sure we are doing everything we can to make games accessible to fans," a team source said. "We don't see streaming as the solution, but a stop-gap."
Fans will be able to purchase a season-long pass for $99.99 that covers 58 games. Single-game purchasing options will not be available.
An official announcement -- including more details -- will be made later this week. The streaming set-up will be similar, if not identical, to last year's version.
Interested fans will be able to find streaming details and purchase information on Blazers.com later this week.
Fans who ordered the streaming option last season but now have access to CSNNW through Comcast's new distribution deal with Charter Cable will not be able to stream games online this year.
More coverage information will be available shortly.
Update (Thursday): Here's the release from the Blazers.
The Portland Trail Blazers will again offer live streaming of games broadcasted on Comcast SportsNet within NBA-approved territory where the network is currently unavailable. Access to streaming will begin Friday, Nov. 8 as the team hosts the Sacramento Kings. The 58-game package is available for $99.99.
"As an organization, we want to ensure that Trail Blazers fans throughout the region have the ability to access our game broadcasts," said Chris McGowan, President & CEO of the Trail Blazers and Moda Center. "One step toward accomplishing that is through live streaming in areas that have no other viewing option."
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Fans that live in areas where CSN is not available can order the 58-game package by visiting this site. The Trail Blazers partnered with NeuLion, Inc. (TSX: NLN) to provide the streaming platform.
-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter