By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man –Follow on X.
Former editor of 4 TV magazines. Author of TV Dot Com.
TV Answer Man, can you explain to me why Comcast would WANT MASN in a more expensive programming plan? What sense does that make? Fewer subscribers could see it which means they might cancel their subs, right? Can you clarify this for the average folk? — Jeremy, Prince Frederick, Maryland.
Jeremy, that’s a great question. Your TV Answer Man first reported on February 1 that Comcast’s agreement to carry MASN expires at the end of this month. (There have been follow-up articles since from the Baltimore Banner and Baltimore Sun, but we were first.) MASN is the regional TV home of the Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles.
Update: Comcast Signs New Deal With MASN
At the time, we wrote it was possible that Comcast would seek to move the regional sports channel from the $60 a month Popular TV package to the $80 a month Ultimate TV plan. The scenario has prompted several e-mails from DC/Baltimore area baseball fans asking why Comcast would want fewer people to see MASN. We say fewer because the number of Ultimate TV subscribers is less than the number of Popular TV subs; price being the obvious reason why.
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Some readers have speculated that Comcast will make more money by including MASN in the $80 Ultimate TV plan. But that’s not necessarily the case. If Comcast is able to move MASN to Ultimate (or to another plan that would be more costly), it would reduce the regional sports fee in the Popular TV plan because those subscribers would no longer have the channel. (They would still have the Monumental Sports Network, the home of the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals.) So the revenue gain, if any, would be relatively small.
The way Comcast would make money from the shift is that it would not have to pay MASN as much in carriage fees because fewer subscribers would have access to it. That’s how carriage fees are determined. It’s not how many people watch, or a set fee. It’s based on the number of subscribers who have access to the channel. And by moving MASN to Ultimate, fewer subs would have access. Ergo, Comcast pays fewer fees.
This is why Comcast recently moved Root Sports and SportsNet Pittsburgh to more expensive programming packages. Like other pay TV services, the cable op is trying to reduce its program acquisition costs and this is one way to do it.
Jeremy, hope that helps. Happy viewing and stay safe!
Have a question about new TV technologies? Send it to The TV Answer Man at swann@tvanswerman.com Please include your first name and hometown in your message.
The TV Answer Man is veteran journalist Phillip Swann who has covered the TV technology scene for more than three decades. He will report on the latest news and answer your questions regarding new devices and services that are changing the way you watch television. See the bio for Phillip Swann here.
