The Trail Blazers are "ready to pull the plug" on its
BlazerVision PPV system, but "still won't say where the
telecasts might turn up next season," according to John Hunt
of the Portland OREGONIAN. The team could "retain
BlazerVision but reduce prices further, work out a deal with
an existing cable company such as Fox Sports Net Northwest
(FSNNW), or start its own cable network." Hunt wrote that
the Blazers "would be wise" to drop BlazerVision because the
service "has gained a stigma among many fans who resent
having to pay to watch their own team." The option of
striking a deal with FSNNW is "still on ice." Meanwhile,
Hunt called the task of starting its own cable net an
"ambitious" choice, as the team would "have a hard time
matching the distribution" of FSNNW, which reaches 98% of
cable homes in the Northwest (OREGONIAN, 5/7).
BARGAIN VIEWING? In Houston, David Barron wrote that
the Rockets "continue to be one of just three NBA teams,"
along with the Blazers and the Spurs, which offer local
playoff games on PPV, but the Rockets' $19.95 cost is the
lowest of the three (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 5/9).
