Jim Williams: At long last, Nats have D.C. cable arrival date
Jim Williams, The Examiner
Aug 28, 2006 5:00 AM (8 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 3 of 5,991 articles

WASHINGTON - Here is the news Nationals fans have waited almost two years to hear: On Sept. 8, Comcast will broadcast the Nationals against the Colorado Rockies live from Coors Field.

Finally, we will see the first-ever MASN broadcast on Comcast in Washington.

In the week that follows, Comcast will phase in MASN on the vast majority of its systems in the Washington, Baltimore and Salisbury markets.

Much has been said about Comcast during its long dispute with Baltimore-based MASN. But the cable company should be commended for rapidly integrating MASN once the two sides agreed to a deal on Aug. 4.

Getting MASN on Comcast systems that reach nearly 1.6 million subscribers meant moving existing channels as well dealing with complex technical issues. But the cable giant did it in a little over a month. Additionally, Comcast had to provide 30-day notification in areas where channel moves were required.

So now and for years to come Comcast subscribers can watch Nationals and Orioles games on MASN. A Comcast spokesperson told me they are already working on the “overflow issues” so when the teams’ schedule conflicts, beginning in 2007, can be navigated.

The news is critical to marketing plans of the Nationals, whose games now will be seen on a majority of the region’s cable systems. It also pacifies Orioles fans who want to follow the team in 2007.

“Comcast is pleased to have finally negotiated an agreement with MASN to air Washington Nationals games starting in September, along with other sports programming throughout the year,” said Comcast Executive Vice President, David L. Cohen. “Comcast has always supported the return of baseball to the Washington area and we have been unwavering in our desire to carry the games once an agreement could be met that would be fair for customers, the Nationals and fans.

“MASN’s programming is very expensive to distribute — it will cost literally hundreds of millions of dollars over the next decade to provide MASN to our 2.2 million cable customers. As we have stated publicly and in official testimony for more than a year, these are costs that ultimately will have to be borne by cable customers. Comcast does not intend to profit from the carriage of this new network, but its significant cost makes it necessary to pass along a price increase to our customers.”

So the multi-million dollar question is: Will Comcast really pay hundreds of millions of dollars in the next decade to MASN?

The answer is “yes” and we will explain later this week. For now, mark your calendar and enjoy the game on a Comcast system near you.

I will watch in D.C.


MASN Channel Locations & Launch Dates




Baltimore/Salisbury DMAs





Launch date





Channel








Annapolis





9/12/06





45









Anne Arundel/Gambrills





9/12/06





52









Baltimore City





9/08/06





62









Baltimore County





9/08/06





64









Calvert County





9/12/06





63









Cambridge, MD (Dorchester Cty.)





9/08/06





33









Carroll County





9/08/06





76









Charles County/Waldorf





9/12/06





41









Elkton (Cecil County)





9/08/06





57









Harford County





9/08/06





61









Howard County





9/08/06





44









Ocean City, MD (Worcester Cty.)





9/08/06





65









Rehoboth, DE (Sussex Cty.)





9/08/06





33









Salisbury, MD (Wicomico Cty.)





9/08/06





33































Washington Metro DMA











































Alexandria, VA





9/15/06





62









Arlington, VA





9/11/06





62









City of Manassas, VA





9/11/06





36









Culpepper, VA





9/15/06





52









Fauquier County, VA





9/15/06





34









Frederick/Mt. Airy, MD





9/09/06





66









Hancock, MD





9/15/06





28









Jefferson County/Martinsburg, WV





9/15/06





66









Loudoun County, VA





9/15/06





34









Montgomery County, MD





9/08/06





41









Prince George’s

County, MD





9/08/06





62









Quantico/Eastern

Prince William





9/11/15





46









Reston, VA





9/15/06





72































Sharpsburg/Washington County/Keedysville, MD





9/09/06





66









Spotsylvania/Stafford, VA





9/11/06





34









Washington, DC





9/08/06





42









Western

Prince William County, VA





9/11/06





36










Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer.

Examiner