RandallA - how do you know they don't have a contract? You are making an assumption based on the fact that FSNBA in HD isn't available on Dish Network. This doesn't mean they don't have a contract. This channel has been up on the satellite since late August/early September of 2006 on channel number 369 but simply hasn't been turned on yet.
I suspect the real reason is satellite capacity rather than a contract impasse. Take a look at the overall picture for RSN's. Dish Network currently carries twenty-nine (not counting BTN) RSN's in SD which means they carry all of the ones I know about except the YES Network and CSN Philadelphia (there maybe one or two others I don't know about). Of these twenty-nine they have twenty-six of them up on the satellite in HD. I don't beleive the three missing ones have an HD version yet but I could be mistaken here. Of the twenty-six available RSN's in HD they have turned on twenty-two of them now. The four which haven't been turned on are from some of the biggest markets in the country meaning they carry a lot of games since they cover a lot of teams. Here in the Bay Area four teams (Giants, A's, Warriors and Sharks) have games on FSNBA HD. The three other HD RSN's not turned on are from New York (2) and from Boston. These networks have lots of teams and lots of games. I suspect this is why these particular channels haven't been turned on yet. More games per channel means more capacity needed. I'm sure they will be turned on in the coming months and here's hoping it's sooner rather than later for FSNBA in HD.
Bob
