Comcast to Move NESN, NBC Sports Boston to More Expensive Plan
By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man – Follow me on X.
Comcast’s Xfinity TV service will move NESN and NBC Sports Boston from the Popular TV plan to the more expensive Ultimate TV package on January 14, the Boston Globe reports.
The move, which was made in agreement with the two regional sports networks (RSNs), means that Xfinity subscribers in the Boston market will have to pay $20 more a month to watch the Boston Red Sox and Bruins on NESN and the Boston Celtics on NBC Sports Boston.
The cable operator has previously negotiated deals with several other RSNs to move their channels to more expensive plans, including MASN in the Washington, D.C.-Baltimore market and Root Sports in the Seattle market and SportsNet Pittsburgh.
Comcast wants to move RSNs to higher tiers so it won’t have to pay 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.
However, the cable op’s savings are offset somewhat by a reduction or elimination in the regional sports fee in the lower tier.
“We’re pleased to have reached agreements with NBC Sports Boston and NESN and appreciate them working with us to continue offering their networks in a way that reflects the changing video marketplace for local sports and provides our customers with a choice,” a Comcast spokesperson told the Globe in a statement.
Xfinity told the newspaper that it will offer a promotional plan for subscribers who want to switch from the Popular TV package to Ultimate TV. The plan will be published at Xfinity.com/upgradeTV.
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The TV Answer Man is veteran journalist Phillip Swann who has covered television 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 TV. See the bio for Phillip Swann here.
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Now I know why there are so many empty seats at Fenway Park. People losing interest in the Red Sox because they don’t have that much access to the games anymore! What a shame. Money rules again.