Fox Sports 1 having trouble w/ Cable and Satellite companies

[FlyByNight101]

Simply put the NFL contracts specifically designate what channel the game can be showed on, what it can be pre-empted for and what happens during a preemption... call it the Heidi clause.

My mom apparently had money on the 'Heidi' game, she is still sure it was a conspiracy...funny that it is a MAJOR concern in all TV contracts still.

[JohnT]

Just two weeks til FS1 goes live. Any updates on whether or not we'll actually be able to watch it?

[BEwannabe]

the clock is ticking on a huge deadline this afternoon, 5pm ET, in the dispute between CBS & TWC over what price each find acceptable for content. I believe each of these negotiations is different, in the CBS case, I think TWC feels they have the better hand in the negotiations. With FS1 and cable companies there is a school of thought believing the cable companies would like an alternative to ESPN and their $5.75 per subscriber rate and FS1 might get a good deal. Not sure about this line of thinking because the space is very confused right now, seemingly a wide moat industry a few short years ago now full of options and a frustrated customer base tired of $200 cable bills.

[BEwannabe]

apparently CBS is dark for TWC customers in NYC,LA,Dallas and a few other cities as the 2 parties couldn't reach an agreement. It will interesting to both see how the CBS deal shakes out and if FS1 gets a deal they find acceptable. I didn't believe CBS would go dark even though I felt TWC had the upper hand. Both have a lot to lose in these major markets with a lot of interesting alternatives. In today's world, if your absent for very long an ambitious technology savvy entrpreneur is more than ready to replace you.

[dmac80]

I just don't see how the providers have much leverage when it comes to certain channels, for example CBS. If the customers of TWC are without CBS for long, most of them that have the option will simply drop TWC for another provider, no? With football right around the corner? I know you can pull CBS OTA with an antenna, and in HD quality, but the vast majority of mainstream viewers won't want the hassle of switching and having rabbit ears next to their flat panel. I see them just saying whatever to TWC and picking another provider (if they have that option). Hopefully Fox Sports1 works out their issues as they don't have the pull CBS does, especially seeing as it doesn't even exist yet, but if TWC is willing to stonewall CBS, that should be an eye opener to Fox execs.

[BEwannabe]

there has been a lot written and in recent days spoken on the subject as well as I've kind of been throwing out here what I think is going on.

I think TWC and FS1 will come to an agreement, I'm not sure it's going to be what FS1 wants but I think it's going to be something they can live with.

Did you know CBS is truly the most watched network? Much larger audience than ESPN yet ESPN commands $5+ to CBS1+, that is CBS's gripe and TWC wants the content to be licensed for all media, cable, mobile, online etc. The fellow (analyst) I listened to on Bloomberg today spoke to the fact cable companies know they are destined for broadband only, that their days bringing content to peoples eyes are numbered.

There are just way too many low cost options on the horizon. Here is 1, they continue to win in case after case up and down the east coast. https://aereo.com/

Google has a very interesting new device that plugs into your HDMI port on your flat panel, really interesting. Content is king, so those with content viewers want will find a way in tomorrow's world for them to get it.

Relating to the NBE, the analyst when speaking about ESPN mentioned FS1 and NBC Sports, and he interestingly noted (I didn't think it was all that well thought out). FS1 and NBC Sports while competitors to ESPN really aren't a threat but then in his next thought mentions except they'll drive up costs of rights to broadcast.

And why I say his comments aren't that well thought out is because is FS1 and NBC Sports win rights then viewers will watch. Myabe he knows more than I, I'm sure he does about how these contracts are won and options to renew. At this point in the conversation I expected to hear NBE named but he didn't mention the FS1 - NBE contract.