Super Bowl Shuffle: MSOs, Retailers Make Last-Minute HD Push
The Super Bowl is the kind of HD-driving event that multichannel video providers, CE makers and sports fanatics dream about. MSOs are doing their part, with Time Warner Cable working furiously to get CBS HD carriage deals in all its markets. As of Mon, it had shored up carriage in all but 7 of 31, with a deal last Fri for SW TX and another for an undisclosed market being wrapped yesterday. Comcast [CMCSA] got CBS HD signals on the air last week in Philly and Dallas. Both arrangements were tied to its Dec programming agreement with Viacom [VIA]. Negotiations are ongoing, but Comcast is on track to have CBS HD available in about 38 of its HD markets (78%). Charter [CHTR] says its CBS HD offerings are "hit and miss," with the MSO unable to reach HD deals with Viacom’s O&O stations but still talking to affiliates. As for Cablevision [CVC], it has been carrying WCBS-TV in HD since Sept. Cox [COX] says it hasn’t been working on any last-minute CBS deals. Its Omaha system lost CBS HD in Jan after Cox refused to pay station owner Emmis for the HD signal. Retailers are also getting into the Super Bowl frenzy: Circuit City [CC] is offering $50-$300 off sets $399 and up, while Best Buy [BBY] knocks $150-$500 off sets $999 and higher.
