PEAK Internet

FCC decision in Blazers favor marks positive movement for DirecTV

Where have the Portland Trail Blazers gone on TV?

Unless you currently subscribe to Comcast for television service, it is unlikely that you have been able to watch many Portland Trail Blazers games this year.  So why can’t you watch the games on Fox or ESPN? This is due to an exclusive programming contract Comcast SportsNet Northwest holds with the Blazers that lasts for 10-years, starting in 2007.  The result of this contract has been a relative blackout from other television providers, unless they are willing to pay the exorbitant fees Comcast is requiring (which a few have opted to do).

It is clear that the Blazers would like a, “do-over” with regards to this contract.  They have made repeated demands to rework the contract and recently requested that Comcast share the Blazers programming via internet streaming offers.  However, we have seen no progress – until now.

In a sign that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is noticing some of the anti-competitive tactics that Cable and Satellite television providers are using to gain market share, the FCC voted January 20th to close a “loophole” that allowed cable operators to withhold local sports programming from competitors.  This action apparently doesn’t affect the current state of affairs in Portland (and is largely unrelated), but will free up other markets where other television providers have employed similar tactics with local sports teams.  This action shows some increased scrutiny by the FCC in the dealings of television providers around the country. We hope it means more access to Trail Blazers games in the near future.

As a DirecTV dealer and supporter of our Oregon sports teams, we are very interested in seeing negotiations between Comcast and the Trail Blazers occur with a fan-friendly outcome in mind.  At PEAK we feel very strongly about providing quality services (like the Internet service we provide), thus we strive to ensure DirecTV is providing the best service available and this includes access to your local sports team programming.  DirecTV has been very responsive to our frequent inquiries about Trail Blazers programming, but unable to offer many comments other than that the pricing for Comcast SportsNet Northwest is prohibitive within the current DirecTV customer pricing (in other words, they would need to raise their prices).

So if you are a Trail Blazers fan and are frustrated by the lack of access to their games over the past two seasons, please understand it is a high priority item for PEAK as well.  In all the lobbying influence we have at our disposal with DirecTV we are asking for Trail Blazers.

In an effort for disclosure – as it stands today, satellite providers Dish Network and DirecTV can offer Comcast SportsNet Northwest to customers.  Unfortunately, Comcast SportsNet Northwest has been priced so that the satellite providers have not elected to purchase the programming.  Comcast in no way has denied access to any interested provider, but has chosen to restrict access to only subscribing providers.  The Trail Blazers are negotiating within the means of the their contract to explore ways to more effectively offer the Trail Blazers content.