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Mon, 16 Dec 1996 04:26:22 -0500 |
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> It's too bad that something couldn't have been worked out to at least
allow
> for a reduced slate of games. Dropping HE altogether seems like a
drastic
> course of action.
This was my reaction, as well. It isn't as if HE is going to be hard-assed
about it. Realistically, they have zero leverage in this situation; they
have to take what they can get. I'm surprised NESN didn't try to at least
preserve *some* presence. The unhappy conclusion is that they weren't just
losing money; they were likely hemorraging it. Otherwise, certain
compromise positions suggest themselves:
Would the teams or the league be willing to help defray the production
costs? (If these are really a big deal -- I would think they mostly lose
because they could be putting another licenseto-print-money syndicated
fly-fishing program in those slots...) Would HE be willing to make any
revenue for Rights contingent on NESN seeing dollar one? Would NESN be
willing to carry a reduced slate (at a reduced loss) just for the local
area good will? Why not discuss it, at least, and *why* announce they are
abandoning HE during a season in which they're already committed to a slate
of HE games?
More suspicious minds than mine can concoct a rationale for how the timing
or manner of this announcement benefits *somebody*, but to me it seems to
have been impolitic and/or dumb.
Greg Berge
Let's Go Red!
Defending league champs and sharing first place on Christmas Day, '96.
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