Message from Bright House Networks regarding FOX Sports Network
and the Orlando Magic games 

As many of our customers are aware, some of the Orlando Magic games, which have aired on Bright House Networks every season since 1989, are no longer available because the Magic removed them from Fox-owned WRBW to FOX Sports Net (FSN) just before their season began October 31, 2007. We understand the frustration some of our customers are feeling; we are frustrated as well. We would very much like to find a resolution with FSN. Here are the issues.

• FSN could air these games on their sister station Sun Sports if they wanted to while all parties involved continue conversations.
  
  
• FSN seeks to have their programming placed on the Standard Cable TV tier, which will require all of our customers to pay for it, whether they are sports fans or not.
  
  
• We are working hard to control cable rates, which are directly affected by the significantly higher costs of sports programming. FSN’s rigid insistence for placement on Standard Cable TV tier and the exorbitant asking financial demand from Fox would require us to pass on the cost of FSN to all our customers, both sports and non-sports fans.
  
  
• Most customers already pay for Sun Sports, which like FSN is owned by Florida Sports Net. WRBW, the over-the-air broadcast channel where the Magic games have aired in the past, is also a FOX company. We have always carried many of the international owned Fox networks.
  
  
• Placing the Orlando Magic on multiple sports channels such as FOX Sun Sports and FSN and then asking customers to pay twice sets a dangerous precedent that will further contribute to already spiraling sports programming costs. What is to prevent FOX from asking for more channels and splitting the game coverage to three channels or four channels and making customers pay a third time and a fourth time? Only Fox sports has control over which programming they determine to place on which if the networks that they own.
  
  
• We have taken a strong stand on this issue in order to hold the line on costs, while trying to balance sports programming with the interest and expectations of all our customers both fans and non-fans.
  
  
• Nearly 60 percent of the Orlando Magic games can be seen on Bright House Networks on Sun Sports, ESPN and NBATV. These games will be among the more than 270 live NBA regular-season games, the NBA playoffs and finals in addition to countless hours of NBA-related programming on Bright House networks. Additionally, we are offering more than 40 out-of-market games each week on the NBA League Pass Digital sports package.
  

This issue is complicated but we want you to know that we are working to find a solution that is appropriate for everyone.

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