Media Notes

Media Notes

Published June 9, 2010

In San Antonio, Richard Oliver noted local TV rights for the Astros and Rockets "are currently being hammered out, with the very real possibility that the teams will partner with Comcast cable company to form their own regional sports network." But the issue for fans in San Antonio is that a new Comcast SportsNet Houston, "which would begin televising the games in 2013, would have to work out distribution deals with Time Warner, AT&T U-verse, Grand Communications and Dish Network" in the market, "and more importantly, on a tier that will be affordable." Oliver noted FS Southwest, "which carries the Astros on its primary feed into San Antonio, is currently available on all major cable and satellite companies throughout the state" (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 6/6). 

MOVING DAY: In Miami, Barry Jackson cites sources as saying that the NHL Panthers tomorrow will announce that they are "moving their games" from WAXY-AM to WQAM-AM. Panthers games had been on WQAM from the team's inception in '93 until '07. The team's three-year contract with WAXY "expired after this past season." Randy Moller "will remain the team's radio announcer" (MIAMI HERALD, 6/9).

BACK TO WORK: Mike Wilner, who covers the Blue Jays for Toronto's The Fan 590-AM, was scheduled to return to his job last night "after being told to take last weekend off following a tense exchange with team manager Cito Gaston." Station Program Dir Don Kollins "confirmed his return in a brief email Monday, but declined to comment on a letter by the Toronto chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America backing Wilner." The "exact reason for Wilner's absence ... was never explained publicly" (CP, 6/7).

LEGAL MATTERS: CABLEFAX DAILY reported MLB has asked the New York Supreme Court to issue a subpoena requiring Charter Communications' "aid in identifying people who have allegedly posted porn and other indecent content on MLB.com message boards, as the league determined that certain offenders are Charter Internet subs." The MSO said that it has "received and is reviewing MLB's request, but will 'disclose subscriber information only as required by law, making certain that we comply with applicable law while respecting the privacy of our customers'" (CABLEFAX DAILY, 6/8).