Comcast "intends to refund the programming fees its subscribers paid for regional sports networks in the second quarter," though the rebates are "likely to show up as credits on future bills, not dollars in someone’s wallet," according to Brian Steinberg of VARIETY. The amount of money involved will "likely hinge on a subscriber’s individual market, and how many regional sports outlets are included in their plan." Comcast’s maneuver "may place pressure on some of its rivals to reciprocate." Comcast was "already offering some relief overseas." It allowed subscribers to its Sky Sports -- sold separately from other programming options -- to "take a pause in the billing cycle, in the belief that doing so would prevent wholesale cancellations and allow the company to keep subscribers on board." The decision "could open the cable and satellite sector up to new scrutiny," for if individual teams are "sidelined, does that mean viewers in their home markets shouldn’t have to pay a portion of their sports programming fees?" As more leagues and teams try to resume play, Comcast’s giveback plan "could keep media and sports executives on their toes" (VARIETY.com, 7/30).
