YES Network and Comcast are still "offering little hope" that their carriage dispute "will be settled soon," according to Luther Turmelle of the NEW HAVEN REGISTER. Nearly 900,000 of Comcast’s subscribers in Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania "had access" to the RSN. Comcast officials "aren’t saying what percent that is of its overall subscriber base in those three areas." But Comcast Northeast Division Senior VP/Communications Beth Bacha said that well over 90% of its customers in those areas "didn’t watch the equivalent of even one-quarter of Yankees games during the season." Turmelle noted the cost of airing YES on Comcast "amounts to $5.36 per month per subscriber." As Comcast and YES Net "engage in their very public spat and Yankees fans weigh their options, Comcast’s cable rivals in Connecticut see the dispute as a way to lure new subscribers." Connecticut-based Frontier Communications is "offering a special promotion to lure Yankees fans currently with Comcast." Meanwhile, U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) "issued a joint letter to executives of the two companies, urging them to resolve the dispute immediately or come up with some sort of interim solution" (NEW HAVEN REGISTER, 4/2). In Hartford, Stephen Singer wrote the pressure from lawmakers "isn't working, at least for now." The two sides are not negotiating, "instead trying to drum up public support." Claygate Advisors Principal David Sternberg said that he "doesn't believe the blackout will end soon" (HARTFORD COURANT, 4/3).
GAUGING THE IMPACT: Comcast Exec VP/Consumer Services Marcien Jenckes on Friday said that the Yankees blackout among 900,000 Xfinity subscribers in New York state "has had a 'minimal impact'" on business. Jenckes added that the Comcast has "been surprised at how low the defections have been." In Philadelphia, Bob Fernandez noted the Yankees "will play 23 games in April and 20 of them will air exclusively" on the YES Network. The YES Network is "spending millions of dollars in advertising" in the N.Y. TV market to "sling mud and tell consumers they should drop Comcast for a pay-TV competitor to retain access to the Yankees." Jenckes said that Comcast is "prepared for increased volumes of calls from consumers over the Yankees blackout but so far 'we really haven't seen them'" (PHILLY.com, 4/1). In Newark, Ryan Hatch wrote both Comcast and YES Network are "in the business of making money, so it stands to reason they'll find some middle ground." But that "felt easier to write when it was January and February." Now it is April and "nothing has transpired" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 4/3).
TRUTH OR DARE? In Connecticut, Brett Poirier noted Comcast’s multiyear contract with YES Net "didn’t end last November, but on Feb. 1, 2015, months before the last baseball season started." Comcast said that when the contract ran out, YES "increased its asking fee" by 33%. Instead of signing another long-term deal, Comcast "paid the new asking price starting on Feb. 1." Bacha said that negotiations "continued between the sides" after that. She said that "very short extensions -- usually about a week -- were given through the baseball season." Bacha said that the RSN was "dropped when it was apparent progress wasn’t being made in the negotiations in November" (Norwich BULLETIN, 4/3). In N.Y., Phil Mushnick wrote given that cable operators "are in the habit of lying," Comcast has "excused itself with two, shall we say, untruths." First, it "claims its subscribers don’t much care for Yankees telecasts, which is both logically and demonstrably absurd." Second, Comcast told subscribers that they would "be able to watch the Yanks' opener on ESPN." But as Comcast "knew -- or should've known -- YES owns exclusive regional rights to the game" (N.Y. POST, 4/3).
VIN NUMBER: In L.A., Michael Hiltzik wrote the "most shameless development" in Time Warner Cable execs' rhetoric throughout its carriage dispute with other pay-TV providers over SportsNet LA is their "invoking the sainted name of Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully, 88, who will retire after this season." MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has also referred to Scully's final season in comments. Hiltzik: "Spare us, Commissioner. You want the team's massive fan base to see the games? Spend some of MLB's money to put the Dodger Channel on DirecTV. If you're not willing to step up to the plate, keep your mouth shut" (L.A. TIMES, 4/2).
