Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia
| Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia | |
|---|---|
| Launched | October 1, 1997 |
| Network | NBC Sports Group |
| Owned by | NBCUniversal Philadelphia Phillies |
| Picture format | 1080i (HDTV) 480i (SDTV) |
| Slogan | We Live Philly Sports |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Broadcast area | Philadelphia Metro Area Eastern Pennsylvania South Jersey Delaware |
| Headquarters | CSN Philadelphia Wells Fargo Center Studios |
| Replaced | PRISM Network (1976-1997) SportsChannel Philadelphia (1990-1997) |
| Sister channel(s) | NBC Sports WCAU Comcast Network |
| Website | CSN Philadelphia |
| Availability | |
| Satellite | |
| DirecTV | Unavailable |
| DISH | Unavailable |
| Cable | |
| Available on most cable systems | Check local listings for channels |
| Verizon Fios | 576 (HD) 76 (SD) |
| Comcast Xfinity | 847 (HD) |
| Service Electric | 528 (HD) 28 (SD) |
| RCN | 179 (HD) 29 (SD) |
Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia (CSN Philadelphia) is a regional sports network operated by the locally-owned Comcast cable television provider, part of the NBC Sports Group. It primarily serves the Philadelphia metro area, but its reach extends to cover Southeastern Pennsylvania, all of South Jersey, and most of Delaware. CSN Philadelphia debuted on October 1, 1997; replacing PRISM and SportsChannel Philadelphia.
CSN Philadelphia was the first Comcast SportsNet channel. It is the cable home of the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers, NHL's Philadelphia Flyers, MLB's Philadelphia Phillies, and MLS's Philadelphia Union. The network also covers local college sports games, including the Philadelphia Big 5, the Atlantic 10, and the Colonial Athletic Association.
CSN Philadelphia's studios and offices are located inside the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. CSN Philadelphia also has a small studio inside Citizens Bank Park, which is used sporadically during the baseball season.
In addition, Comcast owns the Comcast Network, which on occasion will air Phillies games in the Philadelphia metro area when a Flyers or 76ers game airs on CSN Philadelphia. Some Flyers and 76ers games are also aired by Comcast Network, while WPHL-TV carries some Phillies games.
With Comcast's acquisition of NBC in 2011, Comcast SportsNet was also integrated into the new NBC Sports Group, culminating with the addition of the peacock logo and an updated graphics package to mirror that of its parent network.
Contents |
Anchors [edit]
Current [edit]
- Michael Barkann (August 1997)
- John Boruk (July 2006)
- Ron Burke (August 1997 – 1999, January 2002)
- Amy Fadool (January 2009)
- Derrick Gunn (August 1997)
- Marshall Harris (March 2008)
- Neil Hartman (August 1997)
- Lisa Hillary (September 2010)
- Sharla McBride (March 2012, freelance)
- Danny Pommells (June 2012)
Former [edit]
- Phil Andrews (August 2005 - March 2008)
- Pat Boyle (1997-2000, currently works for Comcast SportsNet Chicago)
- Pete Christy (August 1997 - September 2002)
- Lance Crawford (2000–2008)
- Leslie Gudel (August 1997-March 2010, still works for CSN as Philadelphia Phillies insider)
- Scott Hanson (2000–2002)
- Dei Lynam (August 1997 – 2009, still works for CSN as Philadelphia 76ers insider)
- Al Meltzer (August 1997 - 2001)
- Gregg Murphy (December 2008-February 2012, still works for CSN as sideline reporter on Philadelphia Phillies telecasts)[1]
- Christine Nubla (2005–06)
- Mike Rodgers (2002–2004)
- Erick Weber (2006)
- Matt Yallof (2000–2006)
Programming [edit]
News [edit]
Football [edit]
- Eagles Pre Game Live
- Eagles Post Game Live
Basketball [edit]
- Sixers Pre Game Live
- Sixers Post Game Live
- Sixers City
Baseball [edit]
- Phillies Pre Game Live
- Phillies Post Game Live
- Phillies Clubhouse
Ice Hockey [edit]
- Flyers Pre Game Live
- Flyers Post Game Live
- The Orange Line
Soccer [edit]
- Union Pre Game Live
- Union Post Game Live
- State of the Union
Golf [edit]
Availability [edit]
Satellite carriage controversy [edit]
Unlike most other cable networks, CSN Philadelphia is distributed only via microwave and fiber optics. The infrastructure Comcast uses for this was left over from the now defunct PRISM Network. Since CSN Philadelphia does not uplink its signal to any satellite, Comcast was able to avoid an FCC regulation that requires most television channels to be offered to direct broadcast satellite (DBS) companies (known as the "terrestrial loophole"). As a result of its limited availability, DBS providers DirecTV and Dish Network realized far slower penetration into the Philadelphia market. Craig Moffett, a senior analyst with Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. L.L.C., estimated the number of potential customers lost due to the loophole at 450,000.[2]
On January 20, 2010, the FCC voted 4-1 to close the terrestrial loophole.[3] Lawyers for DirecTV and Dish Network had attempted to show that Comcast Corporation, who owns both CSN Philadelphia along with most of the cable systems in the Philadelphia market, acted in restraint of trade because it did not uplink CSN Philadelphia to satellite. Comcast does not plan to appeal the decision, so DirecTV and Dish can negotiate immediately to add the channel to their lineups. Both providers formally asked for access to the channel on June 25, 2010.[4] On July 28, 2010, it was reported that Comcast is in talks with DirecTV and Dish Network for carriage of CSN Philadelphia.[5] Two days later, after accusing Comcast of refusing to negotiate in good faith, Dish Network said it will file a complaint with the FCC.[6][7] The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia upheld the original FCC's ruling on June 10, 2011.[8]
Cable [edit]
Cable companies other than Comcast within the designated CSN Philadelphia market do have access to the channel. In December 2006, Comcast even made a deal to place CSN Philadelphia on Verizon's competing FiOS systems.[9]
In 1998 Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia almost became available to New York DMA/ADI Comcast subscribers in southern Middlesex County in the municipalities of Plainsboro, South Brunswick, Monroe, Cranbury, Jamesburg, Helmetta, Spotswood, and East Brunswick, who previously had access to PRISM. But days before it was set to be added, the NBA stepped in with a cease and desist order to block the distribution of 76ers games in Middlesex County in spite of the fact that the NBA allowed New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets games to be aired on both Comcast and TKR (now Cablevision) in a part of the Philadelphia DMA/ADI in Mercer County on MSG Network and Fox Sports New York. Unwilling to distribute the channel with 76ers games blacked out, Comcast backed down. Despite this, CSN Philadelphia is available to New York DMA/ADI Comcast and Verizon FiOS subscribers in Ocean County,to Cablevision customers in nearby Allentown in Monmouth County, Comcast's Lambertville area system in Hunterdon County and Service Electric's Phillipsburg area system in Warren County.
Phillies games [edit]
Phillies games used to be unavailable on the satellite version of MLB Extra Innings. Beginning in 2007, both the cable and satellite version of MLB Extra Innings began to use the CSN Philadelphia feed for some games and in 2008, when MLB Extra Innings began showing both feeds of most games, all Phillies games shown on CSN Philadelphia became available to all subscribers. In 2010, Phillies games on WPHL (which are produced by CSN Philadelphia) were also shown on Extra Innings. Residents in the Philadelphia area cannot view these games due to blackout restrictions.
Highlight packages [edit]
Because of the network's distribution exclusively in the Delaware Valley, for any highlights for teams which air on CSN Philadelphia, ESPN must contract with local ABC station/sister operation WPVI-TV to provide them recordings of CSN Philadelphia for Sportscenter, NBA Fastbreak and Baseball Tonight highlight packages, which until 2012 were only provided in 480i SD video, when they began to send them in 720p. As a consequence, national sports broadcasts have typically chosen to broadcast clips from the HD "away" feed and avoid the CSN "home" Philadelphia broadcast feed. However MLB Network and NBA TV have full access to the HD feed of CSN Philadelphia since the network must as the rights holder provide full-quality video to the properties of each league for their internet and cable operations, while Comcast provides full HD access to CSN Philadelphia to sister operations NBC Sports Network and NHL Network, which both carry NHL games nationally.
High definition [edit]
Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia HD is a 1080i high definition simulcast of Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia including live sports and series. CSN Philadelphia shows all[10] Philadelphia Phillies, Philadelphia Flyers, Philadelphia Union and Philadelphia 76ers games in HD. Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia also broadcasts their live studio shows in high definition, such as Daily News Live, SportsNite, and Post Game Live shows.
References [edit]
- ^ Murphy Made Fulltime at Comcast SportsNet
- ^ FCC: Comcast must share Phila. sports coverage
- ^ "FCC Votes To Close Terrestrial RSN Exemption – Count Is 4–1; McDowell Expects To See Court Challenge". Multichannel.com. Archived from the original on 12 February 2010. Retrieved 2010-03-15.
- ^ DirecTV, Dish Formally Ask For Access To Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia - Top DBS Provider Would Not Say Whether It Will File Complaint With FCC Multichannel News June 25, 2010
- ^ Comcast Discussing Philly RSN Carriage With Dish, DirecTV: Sources Multichannel News July 28, 2010
- ^ Dish Threatens FCC Complaint Against Comcast Over Philly RSN - DBS Provider Says Cable Company Refused To Negotiate 'In Good Faith' Multichannel News July 30, 2010
- ^ DISH Network and Comcast to Battle Over SportsNet Philadelphia American DISH Blog Aug 2, 2010
- ^ FCC move to close program access loophole upheld Yahoo News (Associated Press) June 10, 2011
- ^ Verizon Nets Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia Agreement - 12/4/2006 8:16:00 PM - Multichannel News
- ^ Welcome to Comcast SportsNet
