Negotiations between Time Warner Cable and the Charlotte Bobcats for next season's TV package may put the NBA franchise's games on the cable company's News 14 channel, sources close to the talks say.
A decision is anticipated by month end. The Bobcats begin regular-season play Nov. 5. The search for a new TV plan follows the team's decision two months ago to shut down its short-lived regional sports network, known as C-SET. Industry experts estimate C-SET lost $15 million between startup costs and lack of advertising.
Now Time Warner Cable and the Bobcats are searching for a way to put as many as 60 games on a Time Warner-controlled channel. The goal: getting away from the digital tier, which reaches 40% of subscribers, and finding a home on a wider-reaching analog cable location.
"Talks are ongoing, and it does look like we will have much wider distribution" than C-SET did, says Ed Tapscott, Bobcats president. "We're working with Time Warner to find the best fit."
Sue Breckenridge, a Time Warner Cable spokeswoman, declines comment on the Bobcats negotiations.
Based on the parameters outlined -- finding a channel with much broader reach -- Time Warner and the Bobcats have a narrow set of options. Just two channels, News 14 and another used for church broadcasts and other programming, could be used to air Bobcats games on the basic-cable tier. Both channels are seen in all 392,000 homes Time Warner reaches across the region. The Charlotte TV market encompasses 1 million TV households, but not all are cable subscribers and some are served by providers other than Time Warner, such as Adelphia in the Lake Norman area.
The other five Time Warner-controlled channels on the analog band are off-limits because they are dedicated to public-access and educational programming, which doesn't allow advertising.
The Bobcats plan to produce the games and sell ad inventory with revenue split between the franchise and the cable operator.
For the Bobcats, News 14 seems to be the most appealing option because it has at least some viewer familiarity through its 24-hour local-news coverage. Going on the other available analog channel, which televises a hodgepodge of programming, would create a stiffer marketing challenge since fewer viewers are aware of it.
The franchise plans an extensive advertising and promotional campaign aimed at making fans aware of where to watch the Bobcats, says Chris Weiller, Bobcats executive vice president.
The Bobcats plan to keep over-the-air, free TV games on WJZY-TV. Last season, WJZY carried 15 games. Tapscott says the station will have a similar number this season.
A decision is anticipated by month end. The Bobcats begin regular-season play Nov. 5. The search for a new TV plan follows the team's decision two months ago to shut down its short-lived regional sports network, known as C-SET. Industry experts estimate C-SET lost $15 million between startup costs and lack of advertising.
Now Time Warner Cable and the Bobcats are searching for a way to put as many as 60 games on a Time Warner-controlled channel. The goal: getting away from the digital tier, which reaches 40% of subscribers, and finding a home on a wider-reaching analog cable location.
"Talks are ongoing, and it does look like we will have much wider distribution" than C-SET did, says Ed Tapscott, Bobcats president. "We're working with Time Warner to find the best fit."
Sue Breckenridge, a Time Warner Cable spokeswoman, declines comment on the Bobcats negotiations.
Based on the parameters outlined -- finding a channel with much broader reach -- Time Warner and the Bobcats have a narrow set of options. Just two channels, News 14 and another used for church broadcasts and other programming, could be used to air Bobcats games on the basic-cable tier. Both channels are seen in all 392,000 homes Time Warner reaches across the region. The Charlotte TV market encompasses 1 million TV households, but not all are cable subscribers and some are served by providers other than Time Warner, such as Adelphia in the Lake Norman area.
The other five Time Warner-controlled channels on the analog band are off-limits because they are dedicated to public-access and educational programming, which doesn't allow advertising.
The Bobcats plan to produce the games and sell ad inventory with revenue split between the franchise and the cable operator.
For the Bobcats, News 14 seems to be the most appealing option because it has at least some viewer familiarity through its 24-hour local-news coverage. Going on the other available analog channel, which televises a hodgepodge of programming, would create a stiffer marketing challenge since fewer viewers are aware of it.
The franchise plans an extensive advertising and promotional campaign aimed at making fans aware of where to watch the Bobcats, says Chris Weiller, Bobcats executive vice president.
The Bobcats plan to keep over-the-air, free TV games on WJZY-TV. Last season, WJZY carried 15 games. Tapscott says the station will have a similar number this season.
