Time Warner Cable’s problem in launching the Dodgers’ regional sports network is having an effect on the rest of the pay-TV business. So, too, was Comcast’s problem in launching an RSN in Houston.
It’s clear that distributors are more emboldened to drop some sports channels than they have been in the past. For decades, distributors feared that passionate sports fans would flee if they dropped a sports channel. Now, they have realized that subscribers are addicted to the triple play (TV, phone, internet) and not even a big brand like the Dodgers in Los Angeles is enough to get subscribers to churn.
Using set-top-box data, distributors can tell exactly how many of their subscribers are watching any channel, which has helped them become smarter about what channels they can drop.
Comcast Chairman and CEO Brian Roberts hinted at this at the cable industry’s annual convention last week.
“There’s a lot of rethinking going on,” he said. “With that data, you can really tell how passionate each market is. …
“Every event is different and every opportunity is particular to the specifics of the issue. There’s a healthy conversation and tension in the marketplace that may never go away. What we’re getting is more and more data to make more intelligent decisions on all sides — as a buyer and as a cable operator and as a middleman and as a team owner. In all aspects of sports, data is driving things.”
