C-SET (Regional Sports Network in the Carolinas) to Cease Operations

[karaokelegend]

http://charlotte.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2005/06/27/daily11.html

Effective Thursday.

What in the world was Bob Johnson thinking, putting most of his Bobcats games exclusively on digital cable? I'm not surprised. The surprising thing is that Fox Sports South is not an option for a cable home...I expect most of the games will be syndicated in the Carolinas now. 16 games were syndicated last year...in Charlotte on WJZY.


RIP CSET *sarcasm* (we hardly knew ya). The only time I saw C-SET was to watch the Charlotte 49ers at the local sports bar.
<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by karaokelegend on 06/29/05 06:41 AM.</FONT></P>

 

[rugrats1]

> RIP CSET *sarcasm* (we hardly knew ya).

And until I saw this post, I didn't even know CSET existed.

 

[6tothebronx]

Me neither. I never heard of it. Did DirecTV carry it?

> > RIP CSET *sarcasm* (we hardly knew ya).
>
> And until I saw this post, I didn't even know CSET existed.
>

 

[Whammy1978]

> Me neither. I never heard of it. Did DirecTV carry it?



C-Set was basically a Time Warner Cable exclusive, but they did sell the rights to air the channel to a couple of other cable companies in the Carolinas. I knew it was going to bomb from the beginning.<P ID="signature">______________

Moderator of Charlotte Board</P>

 

[Mediafrog]

> C-Set was basically a Time Warner Cable exclusive

It lasted, what, eight months? That's ridiculous. Looks like overly restrictive distribution policies sank this effort.

A cautionary tale for anyone thinking about launching similar efforts.

 

[Nate Wesley]

Wrong franchise & market to launch, IMO

> > C-Set was basically a Time Warner Cable exclusive
>
> It lasted, what, eight months? That's ridiculous. Looks
> like overly restrictive distribution policies sank this
> effort.
>
> A cautionary tale for anyone thinking about launching
> similar efforts.
>

It's a surprise that any expansion franchise would try and start its own regional cable channel, though I assume they figured revenues from cable subscribers would be too good to pass up.

The Bobcats' organization shouldn't have even considered such a venture without several seasons of sellout crowds and championship-contender play under their belts,IMO. They aren't an 'established' team like the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, etc., nor is Charlotte a big enough market to support such a channel in addition to a regional sports channel a-la Fox Sports/Comcast/Cox, etc.

That doesn't mean they can't/shouldn't do some first class work as far as local promotions and broadcasts go. Partner with a netlet affiliate (UPN/WB/Pax-i) with a fair signal and a good staff, and it might work out great once the team gets going.



<P ID="signature">______________
There's nothing to see here.</P>

 

[karaokelegend]

Re: Wrong franchise & market to launch, IMO

If it had been a success, you probably would have heard about it, but the thing was, they never even considered putting it on DirecTV. C-SET never had a prayer.