Philadelphia's 24-hour Comcast SportsNet has
"blossomed" since its October '97 debut, as it has become
the area's TV "sports king with strong, local-based sports
news and talk shows" and a cable reach of 2.6 million
households, according to Kevin Mulligan of the PHILADELPHIA
DAILY NEWS, who profiles the "overcrowded Philly sports
scene." In addition, the 2 1/2 year-old NJ-based CN8, also
owned by Comcast and specializing in college and high school
sports, has become the area's "other budding TV player" with
a reach of 581,000 households in the Philadelphia area. CN8
is "about to embark on an aggressive marketing campaign
aimed at greater penetration in the city and suburbs."
These two channels face competition with WPSG-UPN, which
recently acquired exclusive over-the-air rights to Flyers,
Phillies and 76ers games. Comcast SportsNet President/CEO
Jack Williams: "I don't think other markets have anything
close to the demand we have here in Philadelphia. We do
more than anyone else is doing in the country, and it's not
enough." Mulligan writes that the crowded market has
already "stirred hushed talk of the possibility of a Philly
version of The Deuce, or CSN2." Williams: "I wouldn't say
soon, but obviously, it's a definite possibility." Mulligan
notes that a programming "dilemma" could arise if both the
76ers and Flyers make the playoffs, as both teams could play
on the same night with one game being broadcast on CSN and
the other on WPSG-UPN. Williams said that any conflicting
Phillies games would be bumped off CSN. Williams:
"Conflicts are a part of this business." Phillies
President/CEO David Montgomery: "We understand the
[conflict] possibilities ... any games we lose now, we'll
get back later this year" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 3/25).
