AT&T and DirecTV were "granted a clear path Thursday to launch Root Sports Houston," and to "begin televising Rockets games as early as this month," according to David Barron of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. Based on an "agreement between Comcast lawyers and attorneys for AT&T, DirecTV, the Astros and Rockets, U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes dissolved the last court-imposed delay against closing the new network deal." However, it "remains unclear" when CSN Houston, the teams’ current home, "will fade to black and Root Sports Houston, which will have carriage on DirecTV and AT&T U-verse in addition to Comcast cable, will take its place." Attorneys reached an agreement that "allows Comcast to continue its appeal on financial aspects of the year-long CSN Houston bankruptcy case and for the teams to close on the transactions that will accompany the network sale and the transfer of their broadcast rights to Root Sports Houston." Comcast attorneys on Wednesday said that their "primary motive on appeal will be to recoup" a $100M loan granted to CSN Houston for start-up costs in '12 and that they would "not stand in the way of launching the new network." Attorneys for the teams "agreed the new network’s launch would not be viewed as nullifying Comcast’s rights on appeal." Hughes "denied the motion to stay" U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Marvin Isgur’s order for the reorganization and also "terminated the automatic stay granted by the bankruptcy court." Under the reorganization plan approved by Isgur, the teams and Comcast will "lose their network equity, and the teams agreed to forego immediate payment" of more than $100M in unpaid rights fees. Comcast is now scheduled to receive only $26M, but will "continue to contest Isgur’s determination that Comcast is not due full repayment" of its $100M secured loan" (CHRON.com, 11/6).
SIGH OF RELIEF: Rockets Owner Les Alexander said of the resolution with Comcast, "I'm thrilled that it's over. I'm thrilled that everybody in Houston who has DirectTV and AT&T, as well as Comcast, will be able to see the games. Especially, it's very important for the franchise ... for the kids in town to be able to watch the games. That's who your next fan base is going to be. When kids watch when they're 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 years old, they become your next diehard Rockets fans for life, even if they don't live in the city." He added of the team's venture into CSN Houston, "I don't regret the endeavor. I regret the problems that we had. I like the idea. I still like it. Now we'll have the games on for everybody" (CHRON.com, 11/5).
