Cable TV Briefs: Big Sports Blackout Coming?; Comcast Looks to Simplify TV; Why Some Cable TV Viewers Don’t Cancel

By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man – Follow me on X.

Comcast’s Deal to Carry Yes Network Ends Soon
Front Office Sports reports that Comcast could lose the Yes Network, the regional TV home of the New York Yankees and Brooklyn Nets, at month’s end. The current short-term agreement is set to expire and it’s unclear if the two sides are close to signing a new deal.

Comcast Aims to Simplify Viewing Experience
Well, The TV Answer Man isn’t the only one saying television has become too complicated. Comcast Product Officer Fraser Stirling says his company is focusing on simplifying the viewing experience, according to the Philadelphia Business Journal. By example, Stirling points to the company’s new Multiview feature which enables viewers to watch up to four sporting events on one screen. The Multiview feature is a central focus of a new Comcast ad campaign starring Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson.

Study Says Cable TV Subscribers Don’t Cancel Despite Dissatisfaction
A J.D. Power study says cable subscribers are less satisfied with their service than streaming customers but don’t cancel out of convenience. Despite my long held skepticism of consumer surveys, I think there’s much truth here. Cable operators have successfully tied many cable TV subscribers with bundles that also include Internet. People are then less likely to cancel because they are reluctant to invest time and money looking for suitable replacements.

Fox & ESPN Hope New Apps Don’t Hurt Cable TV
Wonder why ESPN’s new app doesn’t have 4K, or why the new Fox One app streams live games in lowly 720p HD? Well, one reason is that the two companies are trying not to upstage their affiliates and/or cable/satellite companies which pay them huge carriage fees. Variety explains here why Fox and ESPN hope that their new apps are successful, but not too successful.

Shrinking Cable TV Subscriber Numbers Could Hurt Public Access Programs
With cable TV operators losing subscribers to cord-cutting, they have less money for things like public access shows. And if this trend continues, the cable public access channels, which enable local residents to promote community events and other activities, could disappear. (Sorry, Wayne’s World.) See this article for more details.

Charter CEO Lobbies FCC For Cox Merger
Charter CEO Chris Winfrey recently met with FCC officials to lobby for his company’s proposed merger with Cox Cable, reports BroadbandBreakfast.com. The deal is expected to close, if approved, within the next 12 months.

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