It’s almost the year 2015.
We can deposit checks on our phones, have face-to-face meetings wherever there is signal and even order cars to come pick us up, all with the opening of an application. But, there are still some things that we can’t do, even in this incredible age of technological advancement.
As of December 1, Dish Network customers will not be able to watch the Golden State Warriors play on their televisions due to a contract dispute. Yes, we can scan boarding passes from our smart phones, but we can’t watch the Warriors from the comfort of our own homes.
Comcast SportsNet Bay Area is the exclusive network of the Golden State Warriors and the home of the San Francisco 49ers and San Francisco Giants. Comcast SportsNet California is the exclusive home to the Sacramento Kings, San Jose Sharks and Oakland Athletics.
With Dish Network and NBC Universal at an impasse, Bay Area subscribers would be losing more than 600 live sporting events and over 1,500 live studio shows over the course of one year.
Comcast SportsNet Bay Area’s statement:
“With the upcoming expiration of our agreement, we are growing increasingly concerned that DISH is not willing to work toward mutually acceptable terms for continuing carriage of Comcast SportsNet Bay Area. This unwillingness to recognize the value of our live game coverage of the Warriors, the World Champion San Francisco Giants, Earthquakes, SaberCats and CIF high school sports, as well as exclusive 49ers programming, is disappointing. Comcast SportsNet Bay Area is simply asking DISH to meet fair market value and the terms that have already been established with our other distribution partners. We feel that the time is right to inform the passionate viewers of Comcast SportsNet Bay Area that they may soon be unable to watch their favorite Bay Area teams via DISH’s service. As we continue to negotiate with DISH, fans can stay up to date and make their voice heard by visiting www.IWANTCSNBA.com.”
Last Friday, Dish Network struck a deal with Turner Broadcasting, which was down since October. The deal restored channels such as CNN, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim as well as others.
In a statement made by Dish Network, the potential shutting down of the Comcast SportsNet channels is due to NBC’s insistence on a fee increase of more than 40 percent for about 90 percent of Dish Network customers. If you ask Comcast, they’re simply looking for fair market value.
I am not clear how if I am not a dish customer this impacts me? I happened to drop dish a month and half ago since I got a deal from Comcast that was too good to pass up. After having dish for 8 years it would be horrible not being able to see Warriors games, especially this team but I am not sure what connection the author is trying to make that non-dish subscribers should be concerned??