Bschneider
04-16-2006, 10:28 PM
Bright House missing out
By SHARON GINN, Times Staff Writer
Published April 15, 2006
http://www.sptimes.com/2006/04/15/Sports/Bright_House_missing_.shtml
Wondering why you can't get Devil Rays games in high definition this season? Unsure whether you'll be able to see that third Thanksgiving Day NFL game on - and it may take you a second to remember what it's called, since you probably have never seen it - the NFL Network?
If you're a cable subscriber to Bright House Networks, you're not alone.
While the sports programming landscape is larger and more diversified than ever, it's not always easy to tell what is available if you are the average local cable customer. Bright House claims more than 1-million subscribers in the Tampa Bay area. Cable companies Adelphia and Verizon (which soon will be entering Hillsborough County) and satellite services Direct TV and Dish Network account for a much smaller portion of the market.
Even more of a heavyweight than Bright House is its parent and chief negotiator, Time Warner, which oversees all the discussions regarding new programming from its national headquarters. As a result, new networks and even small-scale regional programming changes can take a long time to reach even a logical audience.
The most immediate example is the package of 30 Devil Rays games being produced this season in high definition by FSN Florida. The games are available in many other areas in Florida but cannot yet be seen by Bright House customers in the Devil Rays' home market. Those customers also aren't seeing the 55 extra Marlins games (in standard definition) recently added to the lineup by FSN Florida.
In this case, the two parties - FSN Florida and Bright House/Time Warner - seem to be close to an agreement.
"The good news is we're in very active conversations with Bright House," said Cathy Weeden, vice president and general manager for FSN Florida and Sun Sports. "Bright House has indicated they are very interested."
The next Rays game in HD is scheduled for April 27 at the New York Yankees, and Weeden said it's possible FSN Florida will have a deal with Bright House for the HD Rays package and those Marlins games before then. (Agreements with Adelphia and Verizon were in place before the season started.)
Bright House also remains in talks with the NFL Network, Spanish-language sports network ESPN Deportes and college sports network ESPNU, said Dan
Ballister, vice president of communications for the company's Tampa-area division. Ballister declined to say how close the sides are to an agreement.
Ballister said Bright House works with Time Warner on all negotiations. In
some cases, that could mean Bright House would not carry new networks locally until Time Warner decided to carry them nationally.
"We're continuing to have discussions," Ballister said. "It's important to emphasize we don't have agreements at this time. ... We consider what our customers are interested in when making new additions."
The 3-year-old NFL Network, which relied heavily on NFL Films archives for its programming, is upgrading its schedule this fall to include eight live games, including a third Thanksgiving Day game in addition to those aired by Fox and CBS. The network also will have the option to air taped coverage of the week's most compelling regionally televised games, so more fans will be able to see them.
Seth Palansky, director of media services for the NFL Network, said the network has negotiated with Time Warner nationally and Bright House locally in an effort to get the programming into the Tampa area.
"It's frustrating to be on our end," he said. "Two hundred million people in this country watched NFL games last year. That is certainly not a niche audience."
Palansky pointed out that because deals with Adelphia and Verizon are all in place, interested Bright House customers have the option to call to request the programming or make a change. "Bright House can pick us up in the coming months, or we have the phone and satellite companies willing to partner with us," he said.
ESPN is trying to get newer channels, such as ESPN Deportes and ESPNU (which has aired USF games), signed on with Time Warner, and by extension, Bright House. Cost, the availability of technology and legal terminology all factor into the lengthy discussions.
"We're in broad-based discussions with (Time Warner)," said David Preschlack, senior vice president of affiliate sales and marketing for Disney/ESPN. "They just take time. They are complicated ... It would be hard for me to put my finger on how far apart we are in timing."
Subscribers, of course, can do at least one thing besides wait. Interested in any of this programming? Call Bright House.
[Last modified April 15, 2006, 01:21:10]
By SHARON GINN, Times Staff Writer
Published April 15, 2006
http://www.sptimes.com/2006/04/15/Sports/Bright_House_missing_.shtml
Wondering why you can't get Devil Rays games in high definition this season? Unsure whether you'll be able to see that third Thanksgiving Day NFL game on - and it may take you a second to remember what it's called, since you probably have never seen it - the NFL Network?
If you're a cable subscriber to Bright House Networks, you're not alone.
While the sports programming landscape is larger and more diversified than ever, it's not always easy to tell what is available if you are the average local cable customer. Bright House claims more than 1-million subscribers in the Tampa Bay area. Cable companies Adelphia and Verizon (which soon will be entering Hillsborough County) and satellite services Direct TV and Dish Network account for a much smaller portion of the market.
Even more of a heavyweight than Bright House is its parent and chief negotiator, Time Warner, which oversees all the discussions regarding new programming from its national headquarters. As a result, new networks and even small-scale regional programming changes can take a long time to reach even a logical audience.
The most immediate example is the package of 30 Devil Rays games being produced this season in high definition by FSN Florida. The games are available in many other areas in Florida but cannot yet be seen by Bright House customers in the Devil Rays' home market. Those customers also aren't seeing the 55 extra Marlins games (in standard definition) recently added to the lineup by FSN Florida.
In this case, the two parties - FSN Florida and Bright House/Time Warner - seem to be close to an agreement.
"The good news is we're in very active conversations with Bright House," said Cathy Weeden, vice president and general manager for FSN Florida and Sun Sports. "Bright House has indicated they are very interested."
The next Rays game in HD is scheduled for April 27 at the New York Yankees, and Weeden said it's possible FSN Florida will have a deal with Bright House for the HD Rays package and those Marlins games before then. (Agreements with Adelphia and Verizon were in place before the season started.)
Bright House also remains in talks with the NFL Network, Spanish-language sports network ESPN Deportes and college sports network ESPNU, said Dan
Ballister, vice president of communications for the company's Tampa-area division. Ballister declined to say how close the sides are to an agreement.
Ballister said Bright House works with Time Warner on all negotiations. In
some cases, that could mean Bright House would not carry new networks locally until Time Warner decided to carry them nationally.
"We're continuing to have discussions," Ballister said. "It's important to emphasize we don't have agreements at this time. ... We consider what our customers are interested in when making new additions."
The 3-year-old NFL Network, which relied heavily on NFL Films archives for its programming, is upgrading its schedule this fall to include eight live games, including a third Thanksgiving Day game in addition to those aired by Fox and CBS. The network also will have the option to air taped coverage of the week's most compelling regionally televised games, so more fans will be able to see them.
Seth Palansky, director of media services for the NFL Network, said the network has negotiated with Time Warner nationally and Bright House locally in an effort to get the programming into the Tampa area.
"It's frustrating to be on our end," he said. "Two hundred million people in this country watched NFL games last year. That is certainly not a niche audience."
Palansky pointed out that because deals with Adelphia and Verizon are all in place, interested Bright House customers have the option to call to request the programming or make a change. "Bright House can pick us up in the coming months, or we have the phone and satellite companies willing to partner with us," he said.
ESPN is trying to get newer channels, such as ESPN Deportes and ESPNU (which has aired USF games), signed on with Time Warner, and by extension, Bright House. Cost, the availability of technology and legal terminology all factor into the lengthy discussions.
"We're in broad-based discussions with (Time Warner)," said David Preschlack, senior vice president of affiliate sales and marketing for Disney/ESPN. "They just take time. They are complicated ... It would be hard for me to put my finger on how far apart we are in timing."
Subscribers, of course, can do at least one thing besides wait. Interested in any of this programming? Call Bright House.
[Last modified April 15, 2006, 01:21:10]