This independent atricle speaks for itself! Please read on to see how personal greed knows no limits!
- The Honcho
[Personal comments in RED]
Comments link: http://www.topix.net/forum/source/orlando-sentinel/T1KHR5AKMKEFE2GEQ
OrlandoSentinel.com
Magic's act of greed takes games off TV
Mike Thomas - COMMENTARY
November 8, 2007
The ink had barely dried on a new arena deal for the Orlando Magic whenthe team expressed its gratitude to fans by yanking its games off broadcast television.
Gee, do you think the timing here was a coincidence?
Rich DeVos and Co. really elevated their game on this one.
Taxpayers are paying for most of an arena that not only will net the Magic millions more each year, but also will increase the value of the team significantly.
But that wasn't enough.
The team then had to stick it to those fans least able to afford it [Can anyone feel their pain? I know I can!].
It used to be that you could watch 30 or so Magic games a year with adecent antenna on WRBW-Channel 65. If the reception was bad, you could get the most basic cable package for about $20.
This arrangement apparently wasn't putting enough money into the DeVos bank account.
So the team cut a deal with Fox Sports Network/Florida to take those games off WRBW, which by the way Fox also owns, and move them to FSN. The Magic won't say how much the team is making on the deal. Our sportspage had it pegged at more than $1 million a year.
Of course, Fox has to recoup this money. Enter Bright House [a local cable TV provider].
Fox has been trying to sell Bright House its FSN channel since taking itover 21/2 years ago. But Bright House has balked, saying there isn't much interest here in the Tampa Bay and South Florida teams broadcast byFSN.
This greed has backfired [does that sound familiar?], setting off a cable TV war that is blacking out games to all Bright House Networks customers.
That the Magic are trying to put the blame for this on Bright House is beyond galling. [It seems like shifting blame is part of Alticor's standard Modus Operandi!] This was an orchestrated ploy to make millions in profits for the Magic and Fox at the expense of customers. A little from everybody amounts to millions for a few. [Another part of Alticor's M.O.]
Even in your living room, you can't escape the long arm of the DeVos Greed Machine.
If the Magic really cared about their fans [If Alticor really cared about their IBO's], here is what Martins would have done:
* Ensured some games still would be broadcast over free television.
* Made its deal with Fox contingent on Fox cutting a deal with Bright House.
[* Provide a real opportunity with fair and competitive pricing & compensation packages for the people working hard to create a better future for themselves!]
If Bright House raises my rates one nickel because of this, I'm going back to rabbit ears and Netflix.
[If Quixtar changes it's name to Amway, I'm going . . . . TOO LATE!! The decision has already been made by the geniouses running Alticore & I've already left their diseased "business opportunity!!"]
Copyright © 2007, Orlando Sentinel
Chris De WittDe Witt Communications
P.O. Box 4952
East Lansing, MI 48826
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3 comments:
WOW! I cannot comprehend how this family sleeps at night!
It's not the money that is evil, it's what you do with the money that is evil. hummmmmmm
Hi. This is Wendy Branson from the Team Office. Can you please contact me as soon as possible at wendy.branson@the-team.net? Thank you!
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