Monday, March 22, 2004
Twins: Still No Deal for Cable, Satellite Service in Twin Cities
You'd think that an owner who believes a $350 million public subsidy for his new ballpark isn't generous enough might at least try not to antagonize members of that public with more naked greed. The Minnesota Twins haven't learned that lesson.
Last year most Twins games were carried on Fox Sports Net North. FSN charged cable operators $1.70/month per subscriber for programming that included the local NBA, NHL and college hockey teams along with the Twins. FSN paid the Twins about $6 million last year, and had offered a multiyear deal worth $12 million/season. That wasn't enough for Jim Pohlad, son of owner Carl ("Contract Me!") Pohlad, who moved ahead with plans to create his own Victory Sports Network.
But there are two problems: Pohlad wants to charge $2.20/month per subscriber for the Twins alone, and he demands that Victory Sports appear on the same "expanded basic" network as FSN and ESPN. None of the major cable systems will meet his terms. As a result, 105 Twins games could be unavailable to most of the state at the same time Pohlad is begging state and local legislators to build the Twins a new ballpark.
Nice timing, guys...
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You'd think that an owner who believes a $350 million public subsidy for his new ballpark isn't generous enough might at least try not to antagonize members of that public with more naked greed. The Minnesota Twins haven't learned that lesson.
Last year most Twins games were carried on Fox Sports Net North. FSN charged cable operators $1.70/month per subscriber for programming that included the local NBA, NHL and college hockey teams along with the Twins. FSN paid the Twins about $6 million last year, and had offered a multiyear deal worth $12 million/season. That wasn't enough for Jim Pohlad, son of owner Carl ("Contract Me!") Pohlad, who moved ahead with plans to create his own Victory Sports Network.
But there are two problems: Pohlad wants to charge $2.20/month per subscriber for the Twins alone, and he demands that Victory Sports appear on the same "expanded basic" network as FSN and ESPN. None of the major cable systems will meet his terms. As a result, 105 Twins games could be unavailable to most of the state at the same time Pohlad is begging state and local legislators to build the Twins a new ballpark.
Nice timing, guys...
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