Comcast Set To Make Long-Rumored Portland RSN A Reality

By John Ourand, Staff Writer

Manougian To Oversee Launch Of Comcast SportsNet Northwest

Comcast’s long-rumored move to launch an RSN in Portland is expected to become official later today, with a launch date set for October. Comcast picked Dave Manougian to oversee the launch of the network, which will be called Comcast SportsNet Northwest. Manougian has been CEO of Golf Channel since ’05, a title he will keep. But he handed over day-to-day control of that network to Page Thompson, who was hired as Golf Channel President last month. Comcast is the dominant cable operator in the market, and plans to carry the channel on its expanded basic package. Sources said it will be seeking about $2 per subscriber from cable and satellite operators. Late last month, FSN Northwest decided not to renew its Trail Blazers deal, saying the team’s asking price was too high, and ratings — which have dropped 56% in five years — were too low. Sources said the team was seeking $12-13M per year. FSN Northwest is one of the three RSNs that Fox is in the process of selling to Liberty Media.

SIMILAR PLANS: Manougian, who also serves as Comcast Exec VP/Sports Programming, will hire a management team for the Portland RSN, which will follow the same blueprint as other Comcast RSNs. That means it will rely on daily news, HDTV and local games. The RSN will carry up to 55 Blazers games, with another 26 airing on local broadcast. Comcast SportsNet will make 28 home games available in HD. In addition to a daily news show, the RSN will feature pre- and postgame shows around the Blazers games. CSN Northwest will have studio facilities at the Rose Garden.