Spurs fans could miss 34 games on Fox

[Spurs Brazil]

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/s...es_on_Fox.html

By René A. Guzman - Express-News The battle between Time Warner Cable Inc. and Fox television over programming costs could leave some Spurs fans with one less channel for games in 2010.

Time Warner ran a full-page ad in Wednesday's Express-News warning that Fox “has threatened to pull the plug on Time Warner Cable customers” at midnight New Year's Eve. A list of cable channels at risk in the area includes Fox Sports Southwest.

According to the Spurs schedule at the team's official Web site, Fox Sports Southwest will carry 34 Spurs games in 2010 through the remainder of the regular season.

If a deal is not reached before the end of New Year's Eve, Time Warner customers will lose access to some Fox programming. The first 2010 Spurs game on Fox Sports Southwest is Saturday against the Washington Wizards.

“We are still negotiating but we're not optimistic we will reach a deal by January 1,” said Fox spokesman Chris Bellitti. “Spurs fans who are Time Warner customers should begin making alternative plans to see the games.”

In a Dec. 19 Express-News report, Time Warner spokesman Jon Gary Herrera said the dispute affects mostly Fox-owned and -operated stations. Herrera noted that San Antonio Fox affiliate KABB, which is owned by the Sinclair Broadcast Group, has an agreement with Time Warner that extends through next year.

Time Warner CEO Glenn Britt said in a letter to Sen. John Kerry (D-Massachusetts), that the company would accept binding arbitration to resolve the dispute. Kerry wrote to Time Warner Dec. 22 encouraging the companies to strike a deal. He suggested they consider going to arbitration rather than letting consumers lose access to programming.

If Fox doesn't submit to arbitration, Time Warner would like to enter into an interim agreement which would allow it to continue carrying Fox programs, including football games on New Year's Day and beyond, Britt wrote.

KMYS, KSAT and KENS, as well as ESPN, TNT and NBA TV, also broadcast Spurs games and are not affected by the Time Warner/Fox dispute.

Bloomberg contributed to this report.

[Dex]

O_O

I'm not sure why I didn't really think about Fox Sports with all this Fox/TW hub-bub, but hotdamn. That will be a real pain in the ass if any of the FSN lineup is missed. That's like a half the games.

Time Warner and Fox need to stop being big babies and figure it out. Fox wants $1 per subscriber, TW wants $0.50. They need to draw the line at seventy-five cents and be done with the whole damn deal. Putting the customers in the middle of this little pissing feud is pathetic.

Then again, look at Verizon and AT&T. It seems to be the going trend.

[Blackjack]

Dish, FTW.

[crc21209]

Hopefully they come to a deal by midnight or at least the 1st. I remember Viacom and Time Warner were at odds last year around this time also and we were close to losing Nick, VH1, MTV, etc. but they eventually came to a deal by midnight...hopefully the same happens here..

[Solid D]

What service is better in SA...AT&T U-verse or Dish?

The only way to keep TWC from their pattern of doing this with the various Broadcast companies...and it is a pattern.....is for customers to cancel.

[Spursmania]

Time Warner is a rip. I changed to dish network this year and it's a of a lot better (more HD channels), and I'm paying half of what I was paying with TW.

[murpjf88]

Didn't this same happen a couple of years ago. I don't think it will happen. If Fox ever pulled the plug on time Warner, they would lose a tons of subscribers nationwide. Fox is the most watched network.

[ElNono]

Dish, FTW.

Dish has it's own shenanigans... Here in NJ they're the only tv provider that does not carry YES, because they say it's too expensive. But YES contracts with the other providers automatically goes void if they sell the rights for any cheaper than what they currently sell them for. This has been going on for years (almost a decade IIRC). So whenever the Spurs play in NJ, unless it's on TNT or ESPN, there's no way to see the game (NBA League pass blacks out the game, and YES is not available).

[Nathan Explosion]

My brothers have Dish Network and it seems to be working out for them. My apartment complex pays for my cable, so I can't complain, but it is Time Warner, so hopefully this gets worked out soon.

[DPG21920]

This would be complete b.s.

If this happens I wonder if I could call Time Warner and get a refund for my league pass purchase.

[Blackjack]

Dish has it's own shenanigans... Here in NJ they're the only tv provider that does not carry YES, because they say it's too expensive. But YES contracts with the other providers automatically goes void if they sell the rights for any cheaper than what they currently sell them for. This has been going on for years (almost a decade IIRC). So whenever the Spurs play in NJ, unless it's on TNT or ESPN, there's no way to see the game (NBA League pass blacks out the game, and YES is not available).

Maybe I should clarify: Dish, if you're in the SA-viewing area, FTW.

I've never missed a Spurs game with Dish and, for whatever reason this year, I'm getting NBA TV and the Rockets games played on FSN for free; good times..

[Ditty]

yah i work at time warner cable i havent got any calls regarding this issue surprisingly but from what i heard its getting resloved

[Nathan Explosion]

Maybe I should clarify: Dish, if you're in the SA-viewing area, FTW.

I've never missed a Spurs game with Dish and, for whatever reason this year, I'm getting NBA TV and the Rockets games played on FSN for free; good times..

The only problem with Dish is that not all the FSN games are in HD and the games on 35 are not in HD period.

[SequSpur]

Direct TV. If you don't have it, you are wasting your money....

[DPG21920]

yah i work at time warner cable i havent got any calls regarding this issue surprisingly but from what i heard its getting resloved

If this actually happens, could people get refunded for League Pass if I bought it to watch the Spurs?


I like Time Warner overall, but this is dumb.

[Blackjack]

The only problem with Dish is that not all the FSN games are in HD and the games on 35 are not in HD period.

I've rectified that problem..

I've kept from springing the cash on HD; no HD, no problem.

[DPG21920]

U-verse is the best, but they don't have League Pass. As soon as they get it, I am changing.

[Ditty]

If this actually happens, could people get refunded for League Pass if I bought it to watch the Spurs?


I like Time Warner overall, but this is dumb.

hmm not sure about it yet but im pretty sure if this does go down im pretty sure time warner will refund people back the league pass because it dosent want to lose customers but ill ask my sup tommorow about this but more than likely it will get resloved by tommorow

[DPG21920]

hmm not sure about it yet but im pretty sure if this does go down im pretty sure time warner will refund people back the league pass because it dosent want to lose customers but ill ask my sup tommorow about this but more than likely it will get resloved by tommorow

Cool, thanks.

[ElNono]

I've rectified that problem..

I've kept from springing the cash on HD; no HD, no problem.

You're missing out. Most of the games Ive seen this season have been in gorgeous HD. It's the reason I'm sticking with Dish even though they don't carry YES. I go watch the Spurs live when they're in town anyways. I used to have Comcast Cable and not only they didn't have an HD feed, some of the games were so compressed they looked worse than a pirate Internet stream. I couldn't be happier with Dish overrall.

[Spursmania]

maybe i should clarify: Dish, if you're in the sa-viewing area, ftw.

i've never missed a spurs game with dish and, for whatever reason this year, i'm getting nba tv and the rockets games played on fsn for free; good times..

[Spursmania]

Agree with El Nono, HD is awesome and now I hate to watch any channel that's not in HD. It's makes a huge difference.

[easy7]

direct tv. If you don't have it, you are wasting your money....

+1

[Libri]

Time Warner is a rip. I changed to dish network this year and it's a of a lot better (more HD channels), and I'm paying half of what I was paying with TW.

I also have Dish Network and I get to watch all the Spurs games.

[sa_kid20]

I had TW for a long time but switched to Direc TV a few months ago and I love it! Way more HD channels plus they threw in NFL Sunday Ticket for free