Best Friends Forever!

by Basil on Aug 11, 2006 7:48 PM EDT in News

You know how everyone was all back-slapingly happy last week when Comcast and MASN finally came to an agreement? The era of good feelings seems to be over. The following is a press release from MASN "on Comcast['s] annual rate hike":

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) --- In response to a recent effort by Comcast to blame the Nationals and Orioles for its annual subscriber rate hike, MASN spokesman Todd Webster issued the following statement.

"This is a deceitful effort by a cable monopoly that made a half-billion dollar profit last quarter to find a scapegoat for its annual rate increases. Comcast is gouging its subscribers once again and misrepresenting the amount it is paying to carry the Nationals games.

The truth is that Comcast is only paying $1.25 per subscriber for carrying the Nationals games this year. Next year, when the Orioles join MASN, there should be no net increase to Comcast customers, since they are already paying for Orioles games on Comcast SportsNet.

Comcast will also recoup 25-30 percent of this cost through advertising, thereby making its net cost approximately one dollar per subscriber.

MASN pays annual rights fees to the Nationals and the Orioles. In 2006, MASN paid the Nationals $20 million. In 2007, MASN will pay $25 million to the Nationals and $25 million to the Orioles in rights fees.

It is deceitful for Comcast to blame MASN, especially when Comcast regularly raises its subscribers' rates by 5 percent or more, regardless of whether it offers new programming.

This is one more effort by Comcast's David Cohen to spread falsehoods about MASN. He knows full well what the contract provides because he signed it."

{list of national Comcastic rate hikes snipped}

I really could go two ways on this. On the one hand, I could parse this statement, do some research, and try to figure out to the best of my ability as a blogger---as opposed to an industry analyst, journalist, or even citizen journalist---who's scamming whom, i.e., who wants to scam the customer more. On the other hand, I could express a genuine sentiment---one you might also harbor---that I'd wish both of those wretched, horrible, corrupt, sniveling, craptastic parties would shut the hell up already.

Upon reflection, I think I'll go with the latter. Just showed the damned games, jerks.

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Question

My understanding is that next year MASN will have the rights to both Orioles and Nationals games. If so, does anyone know if Nats games will be blacked out in favor of Orioles', since most games will overlap? Or will MASN sell Nats games to another DC station? And if so is a contract worked out? because if not, we could end up right back where we were this year (actually worse off), with no live coverage of Nats games.

by ignoreland on Aug 11, 2006 11:22 PM EDT reply actions

Not to worry, MASN says

Ignoreland,

MASN has announced that a second channel will be made available for overfill days. I'm not certain that's part of the Comcast deal, though.

Washington Nationals 2006: Now Without Vinny Castilla! And Brian Lawrence!

by Basil on Aug 14, 2006 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Speak of the devil

From DCRTV.com:

Get Ready For MASN 2 Battle - 8/14 - If you enjoyed the battle to get MASN, the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, carried on area cable and satellite systems in 2005 and 2006, just wait until next year when those same systems will get pitched to make room for MASN 2 or MASN Plus. How else is MASN going to be able to handle the schedule overlap of both the Washington Nationals and the Baltimore Orioles games next year? Might area cable giant Comcast jump into bed with MASN and convert its Comcast SportsNet to a second MASN channel? Not soon. We're told: "Too much bad blood between MASN and Comcast".....

It could get ugly again . . .

Washington Nationals 2006: Now Without Vinny Castilla! And Brian Lawrence!

by Basil on Aug 14, 2006 3:06 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree - they are both greedy jerks!

Love your post!

"... I'd wish both of those wretched, horrible, corrupt, sniveling, craptastic parties would shut the hell up already." - Basil; www.federalball.com

by kmcsql on Aug 14, 2006 11:39 AM EDT reply actions

Wow!

Quoted in a .sig file! I've never had that distinction before! ;-)

Washington Nationals 2006: Now Without Vinny Castilla! And Brian Lawrence!

by Basil on Aug 14, 2006 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks, Statastic!

Interesting stuff. I do wonder what Comcast paid the O's to broadcast the games through this season. (I've probably seen the figure but just forgotten it . . . )

Washington Nationals 2006: Now Without Vinny Castilla! And Brian Lawrence!

by Basil on Aug 14, 2006 1:50 PM EDT reply actions