Whether a direct-to-consumer product by NBC is "rolled out" in Philadelphia or the seven other NBC Sports RSNs will "depend on the results" of the recently announced "Blazers Pass" in Portland, according to Rob Tornoe of the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. "Blazers Pass" on NBC Sports Northwest allows Trail Blazers fans within the team’s blackout area to "stream a bundle of 15 games on NBC Sports Gold, the network’s paid subscription streaming platform, for $34.99" across various platforms. NBC Sports President of Regional Networks, Group Platform & Content Strategy David Preschlack "didn’t reveal any specific numbers, but said 'Blazers Pass' sign-ups were going 'pretty well.'" He also said that teams in Philadelphia and elsewhere "have expressed interest in the outcome." Preschlack said, "Fifteen games in Philadelphia is not something we can do from a rights perspective right now." But he added that if the “Blazers Pass” exceeds expectations, it "opens up the opportunity to go back to teams like the Sixers and potentially renegotiate TV deals to offer games to fans who don’t have cable subscriptions." Monday's 113-91 loss to the Cavaliers was the Sixers' "most-streamed game ever" for the RSN, logging in "more than 1 million minutes streamed." Through 19 games, the Sixers are averaging a 2.83 rating on NBC Sports Philadelphia, up 62% from this point last year and up 86% among viewers 25-54. It is the "best start the Sixers have had on the network in 10 years." The net’s streaming numbers "are also up dramatically." NBC Sports Philadelphia said that Sixers games "are up" 381% in terms of minutes per game and 401% in "unique viewers compared to the same time last year" (PHILLY.com, 11/30).
