kepdawg
08-23-2004, 11:46 PM
Block around the clock: Cowboys may get their own channel
Agreement near with Comcast for 24-hour station, sources say
09:36 PM CDT on Monday, August 23, 2004
By JEAN-JACQUES TAYLOR / The Dallas Morning News
IRVING – The Dallas Cowboys are close to an agreement with Comcast Corp. to create a cable TV channel that would air around-the-clock Cowboys programming, sources familiar with the team's negotiations said Monday.
The Cowboys hope to launch the channel – available only to subscribers of Comcast, the primary cable provider for Dallas and its suburbs – this season, according to the sources.
An announcement is scheduled for Thursday, sources said, adding that a letter of intent has yet to be signed.
Cowboys vice president Jerry Jones Jr. declined to comment. Comcast executive director of communications Angel Biasatti would neither confirm nor deny the talks.
Comcast and the Cowboys already have a sponsorship agreement for signs at Texas Stadium.
Comcast serves more than 21 million customers nationwide – including 22 of the nation's top 25 TV markets, according to its 2003 shareholder report. The cable company has more than 500,000 subscribers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
The Cowboys, who would join the Atlanta Falcons as the only NFL teams with their own channels, would produce original content as well as airing shows featuring owner Jerry Jones and coach Bill Parcells after they have appeared on KTVT-TV (Channel 11), the Cowboys' official station.
The Cowboys could also televise Mr. Parcells' daily news conference, as well as preseason games.
Although the Cowboys can't televise their preseason games in another NFL market, such as Houston, they could air the rest of their programming.
Because there is no NFL team in Los Angeles, the Cowboys could take advantage of marketing opportunities in Southern California by having the channel available to Comcast subscribers there.
The Cowboys completed their training camp in Oxnard, Calif., on Aug. 20 and have agreed to return in 2005. Oxnard is about an hour north of Los Angeles.
Comcast announced last week that it will place the 24-hour, league-produced NFL Network on its "Digital Plus" subscriber service, which costs $5 more per month than "Digital Classic," its basic digital package. The Cowboys channel would be available to basic tier subscribers, sources said.
The Cowboys have contacted Babe Laufenberg of KTVT and local broadcaster Bill Jones about roles on the network, several sources said.
The Cowboys, who have in-house production and a video studio, studied Atlanta's concept before deciding to launch their own channel, sources said.
Atlanta began Falconsvision, which repeats a four-hour loop of original programming, last year.
"We're still developing content," said Jim Smith, Atlanta's director of marketing. "For us, it's about an extension of the brand, and it gives Falcons fans an opportunity to see programming they can't get access to anywhere else.
The Cowboys would also use a four-hour loop of original programming, sources said.
Mr. Jones' show and Cowboys Huddle, which features Mr. Parcells, are produced on site. The team could add shows such as a Cowboys version of ESPN's SportsCenter or round tables with local print, radio and television reporters or their own Web site staff.
The Cowboys like the idea of their own network because it gives them brand exposure, the ability to create and support their own image and an opportunity to enhance fan development, the sources said.
Staff writer Barry Horn contributed to this report.
E-mail jjtaylor@dallasnews.com
Agreement near with Comcast for 24-hour station, sources say
09:36 PM CDT on Monday, August 23, 2004
By JEAN-JACQUES TAYLOR / The Dallas Morning News
IRVING – The Dallas Cowboys are close to an agreement with Comcast Corp. to create a cable TV channel that would air around-the-clock Cowboys programming, sources familiar with the team's negotiations said Monday.
The Cowboys hope to launch the channel – available only to subscribers of Comcast, the primary cable provider for Dallas and its suburbs – this season, according to the sources.
An announcement is scheduled for Thursday, sources said, adding that a letter of intent has yet to be signed.
Cowboys vice president Jerry Jones Jr. declined to comment. Comcast executive director of communications Angel Biasatti would neither confirm nor deny the talks.
Comcast and the Cowboys already have a sponsorship agreement for signs at Texas Stadium.
Comcast serves more than 21 million customers nationwide – including 22 of the nation's top 25 TV markets, according to its 2003 shareholder report. The cable company has more than 500,000 subscribers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
The Cowboys, who would join the Atlanta Falcons as the only NFL teams with their own channels, would produce original content as well as airing shows featuring owner Jerry Jones and coach Bill Parcells after they have appeared on KTVT-TV (Channel 11), the Cowboys' official station.
The Cowboys could also televise Mr. Parcells' daily news conference, as well as preseason games.
Although the Cowboys can't televise their preseason games in another NFL market, such as Houston, they could air the rest of their programming.
Because there is no NFL team in Los Angeles, the Cowboys could take advantage of marketing opportunities in Southern California by having the channel available to Comcast subscribers there.
The Cowboys completed their training camp in Oxnard, Calif., on Aug. 20 and have agreed to return in 2005. Oxnard is about an hour north of Los Angeles.
Comcast announced last week that it will place the 24-hour, league-produced NFL Network on its "Digital Plus" subscriber service, which costs $5 more per month than "Digital Classic," its basic digital package. The Cowboys channel would be available to basic tier subscribers, sources said.
The Cowboys have contacted Babe Laufenberg of KTVT and local broadcaster Bill Jones about roles on the network, several sources said.
The Cowboys, who have in-house production and a video studio, studied Atlanta's concept before deciding to launch their own channel, sources said.
Atlanta began Falconsvision, which repeats a four-hour loop of original programming, last year.
"We're still developing content," said Jim Smith, Atlanta's director of marketing. "For us, it's about an extension of the brand, and it gives Falcons fans an opportunity to see programming they can't get access to anywhere else.
The Cowboys would also use a four-hour loop of original programming, sources said.
Mr. Jones' show and Cowboys Huddle, which features Mr. Parcells, are produced on site. The team could add shows such as a Cowboys version of ESPN's SportsCenter or round tables with local print, radio and television reporters or their own Web site staff.
The Cowboys like the idea of their own network because it gives them brand exposure, the ability to create and support their own image and an opportunity to enhance fan development, the sources said.
Staff writer Barry Horn contributed to this report.
E-mail jjtaylor@dallasnews.com