RSN Sues Comcast Following Blackout
Comcast's trying to put the Altitude Sports and Entertainment regional sports network out of business so it has more control of sports programming in the Denver designated market area, the RSN said in an antitrust complaint filed Monday in U.S.…
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District Court in Denver. Altitude holds telecast rights for the NBA Denver Nuggets and NHL Colorado Avalanche, among others. It said Comcast, by far the largest MVPD in the Denver area, last year began offering rates far less than what it traditionally paid Altitude and moved it to smaller tier. Comcast's own affiliated RSNs "would not survive were they forced to accept such terms," it said, saying it has remained blacked out since Sept. 1 to Comcast subscribers after their existing contract expired. “This is a meritless lawsuit in an intensely competitive market where Comcast has no competitive regional sports network and Altitude has multiple distribution alternatives," Comcast said. "Instead of pursuing baseless litigation, Altitude should engage in responsible commercial negotiations that would allow Comcast to distribute its programming to those customers who want it without driving up costs for customers who do not. Since at this point Altitude has rejected all reasonable offers, we have provided our customers with a credit until we reach an agreement. We will vigorously defend ourselves against Altitude’s claims.”