http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/13812067p-14653103c.html
Network is in its infancy, but it's growing quickly
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Friday, November 4, 2005
Larry Eldridge has three teenagers at home.
His biggest concern, however, isn't deciding who gets the car keys tonight. It's the infant he nurtures every day.
Eldridge is the general manager of Comcast SportsNet West, the fledgling 24-hour sports network that has a Sacramento home base, 2.3 million customers and a signal that stretches to the Oregon border, down through Fresno and east to Reno. Comcast turned 1 this week, with the Kings still its centerpiece. Other than that, Eldridge explained that Comcast is very much in the embryonic stages.
"We've come a long way in a year, but we'll look a lot different down the road," Eldridge said. "The key for us is to get more programming, to get our footprint out there."
Comcast secured its Kings deal just before the 2004-05 season. It carried all eight preseason games this season (with strong 6.5 regional ratings), and it will provide 56 regular-season contests with Grant Napear and Jerry Reynolds providing the call. There's a pregame show called "House Party Live" with Jim Kozimor and Kara Lawson, and the postgame wrapup with the same hosts. Other than that, the ratings tend to flatline because viewers forget about Comcast after Kings hours.
"We're a 24/7 sports network with the Kings and a lot of hours to fill," Eldridge said. "We meet every day to go over ideas."
There are plenty of ideas, but just saying, We want to grab the USC-Cal game, isn't that easy. Comcast can't snag Warriors games because of NBA territorial rights. And it, in effect, gets the leftovers of Bay Area college games. National TV and regional programming get first dibs. Comcast, for now, can broadcast college soccer and regional college games such as UC Davis and Sacramento State.
Comcast in August signed a five-year deal with Cal to broadcast any number of sports, provided those aren't already secured by ESPN or Fox Sports Net in the Bay Area.
"We're so new, we are not first on the list of networks," Eldridge said. "We have to cherry pick."
Comcast carried three UCD and two Sac State football games. There are ongoing talks with the Big West and the Western Athletic Conference and local college officials to carry basketball games. Comcast carries six Cal men's basketball games.
What's more, Eldridge said it took months to wade through the legal paperwork and broadcast rights to secure the right to air Raiders and 49ers news conferences and programming. But come spring?
"Once the Kings season ends, we have no other (major) pro products to offer," he said. "The Giants, A's and Sharks belong to Fox Sports Bay Area. That's our challenge."
Comcast carried five Monarchs games this past season.
Eldridge said there are plans to have all the studio work done in-house. As it stands, all programs are taped at different locations. He wants local in-house sports programming, from round-table discussions to updates to magazine shows.
Eldridge does have broadcasters with name recognition, from Napear on the Kings games to Kozimor on any number of events. Kozimor has done Comcast broadcasts for college football, soccer and World TeamTennis, with Eldridge joking that he's tempted to throw him into a water polo match.
"Koz is tremendous," Eldridge said. "I'm totally impressed with him. To have people like Ted Robinson and Greg Papa do some college basketball for us will also help. People know those names."
About the writer: The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at (916) 321-1280 or jdavidson@sacbee.com.
Network is in its infancy, but it's growing quickly
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Friday, November 4, 2005
Larry Eldridge has three teenagers at home.
His biggest concern, however, isn't deciding who gets the car keys tonight. It's the infant he nurtures every day.
Eldridge is the general manager of Comcast SportsNet West, the fledgling 24-hour sports network that has a Sacramento home base, 2.3 million customers and a signal that stretches to the Oregon border, down through Fresno and east to Reno. Comcast turned 1 this week, with the Kings still its centerpiece. Other than that, Eldridge explained that Comcast is very much in the embryonic stages.
"We've come a long way in a year, but we'll look a lot different down the road," Eldridge said. "The key for us is to get more programming, to get our footprint out there."
Comcast secured its Kings deal just before the 2004-05 season. It carried all eight preseason games this season (with strong 6.5 regional ratings), and it will provide 56 regular-season contests with Grant Napear and Jerry Reynolds providing the call. There's a pregame show called "House Party Live" with Jim Kozimor and Kara Lawson, and the postgame wrapup with the same hosts. Other than that, the ratings tend to flatline because viewers forget about Comcast after Kings hours.
"We're a 24/7 sports network with the Kings and a lot of hours to fill," Eldridge said. "We meet every day to go over ideas."
There are plenty of ideas, but just saying, We want to grab the USC-Cal game, isn't that easy. Comcast can't snag Warriors games because of NBA territorial rights. And it, in effect, gets the leftovers of Bay Area college games. National TV and regional programming get first dibs. Comcast, for now, can broadcast college soccer and regional college games such as UC Davis and Sacramento State.
Comcast in August signed a five-year deal with Cal to broadcast any number of sports, provided those aren't already secured by ESPN or Fox Sports Net in the Bay Area.
"We're so new, we are not first on the list of networks," Eldridge said. "We have to cherry pick."
Comcast carried three UCD and two Sac State football games. There are ongoing talks with the Big West and the Western Athletic Conference and local college officials to carry basketball games. Comcast carries six Cal men's basketball games.
What's more, Eldridge said it took months to wade through the legal paperwork and broadcast rights to secure the right to air Raiders and 49ers news conferences and programming. But come spring?
"Once the Kings season ends, we have no other (major) pro products to offer," he said. "The Giants, A's and Sharks belong to Fox Sports Bay Area. That's our challenge."
Comcast carried five Monarchs games this past season.
Eldridge said there are plans to have all the studio work done in-house. As it stands, all programs are taped at different locations. He wants local in-house sports programming, from round-table discussions to updates to magazine shows.
Eldridge does have broadcasters with name recognition, from Napear on the Kings games to Kozimor on any number of events. Kozimor has done Comcast broadcasts for college football, soccer and World TeamTennis, with Eldridge joking that he's tempted to throw him into a water polo match.
"Koz is tremendous," Eldridge said. "I'm totally impressed with him. To have people like Ted Robinson and Greg Papa do some college basketball for us will also help. People know those names."
About the writer: The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at (916) 321-1280 or jdavidson@sacbee.com.
