Some fans using major TV distributors may be in danger of missing Nuggets games on Alitude this seasonNBAE/GETTY IMAGES
Altitude Sports execs are "looking at other options to televise Nuggets, Avalanche and their other teams' games" amid an ongoing carriage dispute between the network and its big three distributors -- Comcast, DirecTV and Dish -- and "one possible solution" is a partnership with Amazon, according to Mike Singer of the DENVER POST. Kroenke Sports & Entertainment President & CEO Jim Martin said of a potential Amazon deal, "We are exploring it. How viable it is and what their level of interest is, we don't know at this point, but we are interested in looking into that. We've had no direct conversations with them." Amazon was part of the investment group that recently bought YES Network, and "forward-thinking sports network executives are already considering pairing with Amazon due to the potential for streaming capability." Altitude last week "released a statement that doused cold water on the streaming option." Singer: "But a partnership with Amazon similar to what YES just agreed to? Possibly." The "current state of negotiations between Altitude Sports and The Big Three ... isn't encouraging for fans." The two sides "remain far apart, with Altitude proposing a slight decrease in annual carriage rates and the distributors insisting on cutting their fees in half." Despite an "aggressive social media campaign to steer public opinion in favor" of KSE Founder Stan Kroenke's RSN, the distributors "haven't budged" with less than a month before the Avalanche's regular season begins (DENVER POST, 9/7).
