Astros Owner Jim Crane hopes that Comcast SportsNet Houston’s bankruptcy proceedings could "move fast enough for a resolution to be reached in a month’s time," according to Evan Drellich of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. Officials with the Rockets, Comcast and Astros have "participated in mediation sessions" with U.S. District Court Judge Lynn Hughes, "but those discussions haven’t led to an agreement." Crane said, "That may be over for right now. We may have one more meeting. Then it goes back to bankruptcy court, and that guy (Bankruptcy Judge Marvin Isgur) can move at light speed if he wants to." Crane added, "I would like to see something resolved within 30 days, one way or another. He could make that happen -- it could linger longer than (that), but it’s certainly not good for us, and it’s not good for the Rockets. I don’t think it’s having any big term effect on Comcast.” Crane said that the Astros "did offer to make concessions in those meetings." Crane: “It’s a 20-year deal and some of the offers have been less than that. We’re weighing those" (CHRON.com, 4/21).
L.A. STORY: In L.A., Bill Shaikin carriage issues related to Time Warner Cable SportsNet LA "is an embarrassment to the Dodgers, and to the city." This is an "outrage to the fans who just want to see their team, and who have less than zero interest in the public finger-pointing between TWC and DirecTV." Dodgers President & CEO Stan Kasten said, "It's an issue that consumes us every day. We are doing all that we can behind the scenes to help Time Warner and get this into as many homes as possible. I have to be honest: there are not a lot of things we can do." Shaikin wrote if DirecTV is "using the Dodgers to draw its line in the sand against the proliferation of high-cost sports channels, this could be a long-term blackout" (L.A. TIMES, 4/20).
