A federal appeals court has sent back a five-year-old bankruptcy case involving the Comcast Sports Network Houston regional sports network for re-evaluation, noting in a ruling March 29 that the former partners in the channel may owe Comcast more than $54 million.

CSN Houston was formed in 2012 by Major League Baseball’s Houston Astros, the National Basketball Association’s Houston Rockets and Comcast to air contests from the two teams to customers in the Houston region. But the channel, which reportedly was seeking carriage fees of $3.40 per customer per month – had been unable to secure distribution from other providers outside of Comcast and a few small cable operators. It filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2013. 

News of the ruling was first reported by the Houston Chronicle. The network was sold to AT&T-DirecTV in 2014 and now operates under the AT&T SportsNet Southwest banner. AT&T and DirecTV are not part of the bankruptcy and the most recent ruling has no impact on the network, which continues to carry Astros and Rockets games.

The win, in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, means that the case will be sent back to U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Marvin Isgur, who will hold another hearing to determine whether Comcast is owed the balance of its loan or if the teams can successfully persuade the court that the cable operator is owed nothing. No date has been set for the hearing as yet.

Since the bankruptcy in 2013, the Astros have gone on to win the World Series in 2017. Leslie Alexander, who owned the Rockets at the time, sold the basketball team in 2017 to billionaire restaurant, hotel and casino owner Tilman Fertitta for $2.2 billion. Alexander remains a party to the bankruptcy case.

Comcast did not respond to a request for comment, but the Astros, in a statement to the Houston Chronicle, said they were disappointed with the appellate court ruling.

“We will address this valuation issue with the Court at the appropriate time and we will continue to pursue all of our claims against Comcast," the Astros told the Chronicle.

The Astros filed a separate suit against Comcast claiming the cable operator breached its contract for the network by making false statements that resulted in the bankruptcy and the loss of the teams’ rights fees. 

The bankruptcy of CSN Houston was big news in 2013 because it was one of the few documented failures of a large cable regional sports network, which up until that time had been perennial cash cows for operators and teams alike. Comcast, which had put up a $100 million secured loan to help launch the network in 2012, had tried to get most of that investment back.

The Astros owned the biggest chunk of the network (46.5%), followed by the Rockets (31.5%) and Comcast (22%). The teams lost their equity when the network filed for bankruptcy, and Comcast received what was then determined to be the value of the channel’s tangible assets, about $26.2 million.

Isgur had valued the Comcast agreement at $54.3 million and then subtracted from that the value of the unpaid rights fees, which was determined to be about $107 million and also used as collateral for the $100 million loan. That rendered the value of the deal at less than zero.

That’s where the appellate court ruled Isgur went wrong.

“…we remand for a re-valuation of the Agreement because the bankruptcy court failed to value the collateral in light of its proposed use when it deducted all unpaid media fees from the value of the Agreement,” Circuit Judge Priscilla Owen wrote in the March 29 ruling. “The bankruptcy court erred in deducting the Teams’ unpaid, waived media fees from the value of Comcast’s collateral.”

Root Sports Southwest is live and available to more than 4 million homes in the Houston area.

The regional sports network, owned by AT&T U-verse and DirecTV, which is being operated by the DBS leader, tipped off at 6 a.m. (CT) with a poker show and will present its first Houston Rockets NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies at 7 p.m. (CT).

Root Sports Southwest is the successor to Comcast Sports Houston, which AT&T and DirecTV bought out of bankruptcy. The RSN, the fourth under DirecTV Sports Networks portfolio -- Rocky Mountain, Pittsburgh and Northwest -- will also televise games and related programming from MLB’s Houston Rockets.

Root Sports Southwest, which is being carried by AT&T and DirecTV, which are awaiting federal approval of their proposed, as well as Comcast, is available to more than 4 million homes in and around Houston. DirecTV said that’s up from under 1 million for CSN Houston, which was only carried by Comcast and a handful of smaller providers.

Root Sports Southwest is positioned on U-verse channels 758 in standard-definition and 1758 in the high-definition format, while DirecTV subs can find it on channel 674. Local Comcast cable customers will see Root Sports Southwest in place of CSN Houston on channels 39 in SD and 639 in HD.  The new network’s programming schedule is available on www.rootsports.com.

“We know these past two years have been tough for many Rockets and Astros fans who couldn’t cheer on their teams while sitting in front of their TVs at home,” said Patrick Crumb, president of DirecTV Sports Networks. “So we welcome this opportunity to work with the teams and the talented, passionate Houston-based network staff to deliver a high quality, innovative sports network that millions more families can enjoy.”

“This is a great day for Houston sports fans,” said Aaron Slator, president, content development, AT&T. “Together with DIRECTV Sports Networks, we're excited to be able to offer Root Sports Southwest and bring the Rockets and Astros back into the homes of our U-verse customers.”

The launch of Root Sports Southwest follows 14 months of chapter 11 wrangling. Under the reorganization plan, the Astros (46%), Rockets (31%) and Comcast (23%) lost their network equity positons, and the teams agreed to forego payment of more than $100 million in unpaid rights fees. DirecTV and AT&T bought the RSN for $5,000.

For its part, Comcast, through a financial appeal, is still trying to recoup more of the $100 million secured loan that was earmarked for CSN Houston's start-up costs, including a studio build-out and the teams' rights fees. The bankruptcy court ruled it could only receive $26 million of that total.

With a reported $4 per month per subscriber ask within its central area, and 70 cents elsewhere, CSN never collected enough affiliate revenue to pay the clubs their rights fees and meet its other obligations. Among those sitting on the sideline were AT&T, DirecTV, Suddenlink, Charter, Time Warner Cable and Verizon FiOS. The RSN’s TV territory extends throughout Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and eastern New Mexico.

The new RSN started Monday at 6 a.m. (CT), with Heartland Poker Tour: Season 10. Its schedule then follows with four hours of paid programming.  The Rich Eisen Show and The Dan Patrick Show, both staples of DirecTV’s Audience Network and other outlets, will run for three hours apiece, before more poker fare bridges the gap until the Rockets pregame show at 6:30 p.m., the team’s contest against the Memphis Grizzlies at 7 p.m. and the post-game show at 9:30 p.m. 

Given NBA TV territorial restrictions, the RSN evidently will present an alternate feed of encore of the college football game between Texas Southern and Jackson State from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., with Poker Night in America subbing for the post-game show in restricted areas.

According to the website's listing of teams, Root Sports Southwest will be home to 70 Rockets games, plus the pre- and post-game shows, and auxiliary fare.  On the diamond, 160 Astros games and related programming also are on tap.

From the college ranks, the listing outlines Big Sky and Southern Conference football, plus Mountain West and Conference USA pigskin and hoops action. Rice basketball appears to be in the mix, flanked by a coaching show, as well as a University of Houston coach’s basketball program.

Although 96 of the 141 CSN Houston employees have lost their gigs in the change, the talent subheading under the "about us" tab on the site indicates that Bill Worrell, Matt Bullard and Clyde Drexler will still call Rockets games, with Calvin Murphy remaining a part of the club’s studio shows. Bill Brown, Alan Ashby, Geoff Blum and Art Howe (studio) will call the 2015 Astros season.

Following 14 months of chapter 11 wrangling, CSN Houston is set to fade to black on Sunday, Nov. 16 after coverage of the NBA game between the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City.

In its place is a new regional sports network owned by AT&T and DirecTV, which will operate the service under its Root Sports banner. Expected to bear the sub moniker of Houston, the service evidently will sport the Southwest name, according to a website,http://rssouthwest.itmwpb.com/, first pointed out by the Houston Chronicle’s David Barron on his twitter feed.

DirecTV, citing legal constraints, has declined to comment about programming and further distribution plans for the service throughout the bankruptcy court proceedings.

The RSN, which will also televise Houston Astros MLB contests, has carriage with the telco and DBS providers, which are awaiting federal approval on their merger, and Comcast, a combo that will give it 80% coverage in the Houston DMA. That’s far greater penetration than CSN Houston, which only managed to gain carriage deals with Comcast and a handful of small providers in the Houston DMA, ever managed. That wasn’t nearly enough to sustain the service, which tipped in October 2012 and whose territory extends in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and parts of New Mexico. With a reported $4 per month per subscriber ask within its central area, and 70 cents elsewhere, CSN never collected enough affiliate revenue to pay the clubs their rights fees and meet its other obligations.

A look at Root Sports Southwest’s programming grid on the website shows a couple of early-morning entries --  Planet X Square and My Life John Lucas – on Sunday, Nov. 16.

Its first full day apparently comes Monday, Nov. 17 at 6 a.m. (CT), beginning with Heartland Poker Tour: Season 10, followed by four hours of paid programming.  The Rich Eisen Show and The Dan Patrick Show, both staples of DirecTV’s Audience Network and other outlets, will run for three hours apiece, before more poker fare bridges the gap until the Rockets pregame show at 6:30 p.m., the team’s contest against the Memphis Grizzlies at 7 p.m. and the post-game show at 9:30 p.m. 

Given NBA TV territorial restrictions, the RSN evidently will present an alternate feed of encore of the college football game between Texas Southern and Jackson State from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., with Poker Night in America subbing for the post-game show in restricted areas.

According to the website’s listing of teams, Root Sports Southwest will be home to “at least 67 Rockets games, excluding the 2014-15 season,” plus the pre- and post-game shows, and auxiliary fare.  At least 135 Astros games and related programming also are on tap.

From the college ranks, the listing outlines Big Sky and Southern Conference football, plus Mountain West and Conference USA pigskin and hoops action. Rice basketball appears to be in the mix, flanked by a coaching show, as well as a University of Houston coach’s basketball program.

Eisen and Patrick’s programs are also included on the lineup.

Although 96 of the 141 CSN Houston employees will lose their gigs in the change, the talent subheading under the "about us" tab on the site indicates that Bill Worrell, Matt Bullard and Clyde Drexler will still call Rockets games, with Calvin Murphy remaining a part of the club’s studio shows. Bill Brown, Alan Ashby, Geoff Blum and Art Howe (studio) evidently will call the 2015 Astros season.

Under the reorganization plan, the Astros (46%), Rockets (31%) and Comcast (23%) have lost their network equity positons, and the teams agreed to forego immediate payment of more than $100 million in unpaid rights fees. DirecTV and AT&T are picking up the RSN for $5,000.

For its part, Comcast, through a financial appeal, is still trying to recoup more of the $100 million secured loan that was earmarked for CSN Houston's start-up costs, including a studio build-out and the teams' rights fees. The bankruptcy court ruled it could only receive $26 million of that total. 

Other legal action continues as the Astros have filed suit against former team owner Drayton McLane and Comcast and the Houston Chronicle reports that the Rockets may also sue Comcast.

The air space is open, but the question remains when will there be lift-off for coverage of Houston Rockets games on the new regional sports network operated by DirecTV.

Attorneys for Comcast on the one side and DirecTV, AT&T, the NBA Rockets and MLB’s Houston Astros on the other reached an agreement on Nov. 6 allowing for CSN Houston, the team’s regional sports network home, to morph into Root Sports Houston.

After bankruptcy judge Marvin Isgur on Oct. 30 okayed a reorganization plan sanctioning the sale of the Comcast-Astros-Rockets-owned CSN Houston, which went into chapter 11 protection in September 2013, Comcast on Nov. 5. sought a stay with U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes while it appealed the decision.

Barristers on both sides of the bench agreed that Comcast could continue its appeal on the financial aspects of Isgur's call as it tries to recoup more of a $100 million secured loan that was used for start-up costs in 2012 by the embattled CSN Houston, and that the MSO, whose NBC Sports Group operated the RSN, would not contest the launch of the new network. Hence, Hughes on Nov. 6 denied Comcast’s appeal of Isgur’s order while terminating the automatic 14-day stay acceded as part of the bankruptcy judge’s decision, opening the door to the sale of the network and transfer of the teams’ media rights to Root Sports Houston.

At this juncture, the time line for meting out a resolution for the money stemming from the secured loan – Isgur’s reorganization calls for Comcast to receive $26 million of the $100 million – could be ahead of the new RSN starting. Although the Houston Chronicle has reported the network could tip off on Nov. 14 with the Rockets' game against Philadelphia, DirecTV, which will operate the new service, declined to comment.

When it does launch, Root Sports Houston will be carried by the DBS company and the telco, which are awaiting federal approval of their merger, as well as Comcast.

CSN Houston never gained distribution traction—it only had carriage from Comcast and a handful of smaller provider in the Houston DMA, and not in the rest of its TV territory in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and parts of New Mexico. As such, it never collected enough license fees  -- $4 per month per subscriber within its central area, and 70 cents elsewhere --  to pay the clubs their rights fees and meet its other obligations.

Under the reorganization plan, the Astros (46%), Rockets (31%) and Comcast (23%) will lose their network equity positons, and the teams agreed to forego immediate payment of more than $100 million in unpaid rights fees. DirecTV and AT&T are picking up the RSN for $5,000.

The transfer will result in 96 of 141 CSN Houston employees losing their jobs, as the new service won’t retain the service’s news and studio fare.

Comcast attorneys will meet with a U.S. District Court judge on Wednesday seeking an emergency stay as it looks to reverse a bankruptcy court decision allowing the sale of its regional sports network in Houston to DirecTV and AT&T.

The cable company, whose NBC Sports Group has operated Comcast Sports Net Houston, is slated for a  hearing with judge Lynne Hughes on Nov. 5. Comcast, if the stay is not granted, is also expected to make an immediate appeal with the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn the CSN Houston reorganization plan, which calls for DirecTV and AT&T to purchase the embattled service with the former operating it under its Root Sports umbrella.

On Oct. 30, bankruptcy court judge Marvin Isgur approved a plan supported by MLB’s Houston Astros and the NBA’s Houston Rockets. Isgur reorganization would result in the teams and Comcast losing their equity positions in the RSN, which has been under Chapter 11 protection since September 2013.

The plan calls for AT&T, DirecTV and Comcast to carry the rebranded service, with an eye toward Roots Sports Houston tipping off on Nov 14.

Comcast deems Isgurs ruling “unlawful in several ways,” notably in that the MSO is not allowed to receive full payment of a $100 million secured loan that was used by the RSN for start-up costs, a studio build-out and early right fees payments to the clubs.

Launched in October 2012, CSN Houston never gained distribution traction beyond Comcast and a handful of smaller providers in the Houston DMA, and, as such, was unable to pay rights fees and meet other expense obligations.

After a federal bankruptcy judge approved a chapter 11 reorganization plan, AT&T and DirecTV have moved closer to purchasing Comcast SportsNet Houston and launching their own version of the service next month.

Root Sports Houston may take root in mid-November following Judge Marvin Isgur’s Oct. 30 decision allowing the DBS operator and the telco to buy the embattled CSN Houston and relaunch it under DirecTV’s regional sports network brand. CSN Houston is owned by MLB’s Houston Astros (46%), the NBA’s Houston Rockets (31%) and Comcast’s NBC Sports Group (23%). Under the restructuring, DirecTV and AT&T will acquire the service for $5,000 and invest some $50 million.

In addition to the new owners, Root Sports Houston will be carried by Comcast in the Houston DMA. Together, the three distributors should give the service around 80% penetration in the nation’s 10th largest DMA.

Comcast, which along with the teams will lose their equity position, said it was disappointed by the judge’s decision and would proceed with the appeal process.

During a Halloween hearing, Isgur denied Comcast’s move to stay the decision pending an appeal, according to the Houston Chronicle.  With that door shut, the appeal will move before U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes.

Comcast alleges that Isgur erred on six grounds in making his decision, most notably in confirming the reorganization plan; that it did not allow Comcast’s secured claim to be accepted for payment over time; and that while the plan exculpates or provides liability protection for the Astros, Rockets, DirecTV, AT&T, CSN members, but not against Comcast.

Comcast is still seeking some level of compensation for a $100 million loan that was used for start-up costs, the building of the RSN's studio and some initial rights payments, as well as remuneration for an affiliation agreement valued at some $400 million over its term. Isgur, though, deemed that the MSO's distribution accord had no value once the bankruptcy filing occurred in September 2013.

Although DirecTV and AT&T didn’t return phone calls seeking answers about when Roots Sports might launch, David Barron, the Houston Chronicle correspondent who has been covering the chapter 11 proceedings, said the service could bow in the middle of November after the Rockets return from a Nov. 12 game in Mexico City against Minnesota. The Rockets then play Philadelphia and Oklahoma City on Nov. 14 and 16, respectively.

CSN Houston has sent out programming guide information with Rockets games through November 9.

But an NBC Sports Group spokesman said its Rockets’ game schedule has yet to be determined.  The network ceased its news and studio programming on Oct. 23, as 96 of the RSN’s 141 workers are losing their gigs in the reorganization. CSN has been mostly showing “filler” and infomercials since that date. The next telecast is slated for Nov. 1: the Rockets’ home opener versus the Boston Celtics.

Barron said CSN Houston encountered “a perfect storm" that led to the unraveling of the RSN, which launched in October 2012 but only counted Comcast and a handful of smaller distributors.

Among those factors: the other providers drew a line in the sand against a high subscriber fees, some $4 in the Houston DMA and central zone and around 70 cents throughout the rest of a sprawling TV territory stretching through Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas and parts of New Mexico. He said interest in the Astros, the major content component of the service, has diminished because the club has been “historically bad on the field” in recent seasons, with fandom also waning as the team was shifted into the American League and away from its longstanding rivals in the Naitonal League. Barron also noted that former, longtime Astros owner Drayton McClane constructed the deal, which didn’t fit well with the fiscal needs of Jim Crane, the club's new top man who needed more immediate returns from the RSN to service debt load.

Crane still has litigation pending against Comcast, NBC Universal and McClane.

Still disconnected from Dish Network in a carriage dispute and with the Boston Celtics set to open their 2014-15 NBA season on Wednesday night, Comcast SportsNet New England has launched a radio campaign aimed at turning up fan heat on the DBS provider.

CSN New England, the regional sports network home to the Celtics, said it has secured radio schedules within the Boston DMA and throughout its six-state TV territory that urge listeners that reach out to Dish and demand that the provider restore the service, or switch to providers that carry the channel. Boston opens its season at home against Brooklyn on Oct. 29.

The RSN has been dark to Dish Network subscribers since Aug. 6. The carriage contract between the RSN and the No. 2 DBS provider expired on June 30, but there were a series of subsequent extensions.

The RSN counts some 4 million subs throughout New England, mainly via Comcast and DirecTV, which are battling in bankruptcy court over the fate of another sports network, CSN Houston.

Noting that all other providers are carrying the RSN, CSN New England officials said negotiations with Dish continue, and it hopes that the No. 2 satellite provider will agree to terms. Dish is also out of contract with a number of Turner Broadcasting System-owned services.

“We are disappointed that Dish has dropped Comcast SportsNet New England and continue negotiations in hopes that they will provide the region’s passionate fans with access to Comcast SportsNet's exclusive Patriots coverage and live Celtics games in advance of the NBA's regular season,” said the RSN in a statement. “We encourage Dish customers to contact Dish directly by calling 1-800-823-4929, or switch to another provider.”  

On Tuesday, Dish officials offered no additional comment, but reissued the statement it released in August: "Comcast Sportsnet New England wants to put a double-digit rate increase on the backs of consumers for a channel that has seen viewership drop over 40 percent since 2011. Dish is committed to providing high-quality sports programming at an appropriate value. We urge Comcast Sportsnet New England to work with Dish to strike that balance."

The radio spot, which is airing on Boston’s WEEI, WZLX and The Sports Hub, and in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire, shoots with hoops parlance in an attempt to press Dish.

The copy, pointing out that team is back on the RSN, says in part that “if you’re a Dish subscriber, they’ve boxed you out. That means no [point guard Rajon] Rondo, no Celtics. Dish has dropped CSN New England. To get it back, call 1-800-823-4929 and demand Dish restore your Celtics coverage.”

The message then moves toward a switch assist, noting that DirecTV, Charter, Cox, Verizon FiOS, Comcast, Time Warner Cable and other local provider all carry Comcast SportsNet.

Those betting the under on whether CSN Houston’s final live telecast was the Oct. 24 preseason game between the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks have collected their money.

The ongoing chapter 11 bankruptcy saga will extend until at least Thursday, Oct. 30, when final arguments in the case are now scheduled for 3 p.m. (CT), instead of Oct. 28.

Under the plan, DirecTV and AT&T U-verse would gain ownership of the network, which would trade under the Roots Sports banner, from the prior owners, the NBA Rockets, MLB’s Houston Astros and Comcast/NBC Sports.

The Houston Chronicle reported that as a deadline to submit their final modifications neared, attorneys for the network asked judge Marvin Isgur for more time to submit changes regarding the sale of furniture, fixtures and equipment at CSN Houston’s downtown studios from Comcast to the network.  The DBS provider and the telco, which are waiting federal regulatory approval over their proposed merger, want to use the extant equipment at the facility for the new network but refuse to pay for it as part of their agreements with the teams.  In turn, the clubs have proposed a plan that transfers ownership of those items to the new network while compensating Comcast for the goods.

At any rate, CSN Houston will be televising the Rockets’ game against the Utah Jazz on Oct. 29 (the team’s opener against the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 28 will air nationally on TNT).

Comcast opposes the plan for a number of reasons, and is still looking to reclaim some compensation for the $100 million loan it provided to the RSN for start-up costs, the studio build-out and early rights fee allotments; fair value for NBC Sports' 22% stake in the network that was valued at $700 million in 2010 and would be sold for just $5,000 to DirecTV/AT&T; and exculpation from creditors upon the transfer of the network.

Comcast/NBC Sports could also file an appeal that would further delay matters.

At any rate, CSN Houston has issued a schedule of Rockets’ telecasts covering its first five regional telecasts.

Launched in October 2012 and seeking a monthly subscriber fee in the $3.40 neighborhood, CSN Houston failed to gain distribution traction beyond Comcast and a few smaller providers in the Houston DMA, much less with DirecTV, AT&T U-verse, Time Warner Cable, Suddenlink, Charter and Verizon, among others, in its five-state TV territory that also stretches to Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and New Mexico.

As such, the RSN never generated nearly enough affiliate revenues to pay the teams their rights fees and meet its bills.

The RSN ended live news and studio programming on Oct. 22. Under the bankruptcy plan, 96 of CSN Houston’s employees will lose their jobs.

Will CSN Houston’s Friday night coverage of the Houston Rockets-Dallas Mavericks NBA preseason game be the embattled regional sports network’s last live telecast?

Perhaps.

Closing arguments for the RSN’s year-long Chapter 11 bankruptcy case is set for Tuesday, Oct. 28, at which point Judge Marvin Isgur will be asked to approve a reorganization plan that sells CSN, which is owned by the Rockets, MLB’s Houston Astros and Comcast’s NBC Sports Group to DirecTV and AT&T U-verse. In turn, the DBS provider and the telco, which are awaiting federal approval of their proposed merger, would relaunch the service under the Roots Sports Houston banner with carriage from the owners and Comcast in the Houston DMA and beyond.

After hearing testimony from the parties on Wednesday Oct. 22 – the same day that CSN Houston personnel delivered their final live studio and news shows, as 96 of the service’s 141 employees will lose their jobs under the plan -- Isgur set next Tuesday for closing arguments.

The teams and DirecTV/AT&T hope the plan will be approved that day. That means the Rockets ‘ game against Utah on Oct. 29 would air on the new channel. (The team starts its season on Oct. 28 in Los Angeles against the Lakers with the contest airing nationally on TNT.)

However, Comcast opposes the plan for a number of reasons, and is still looking to reclaim some compensation for the $100 million loan it provided to the RSN for start-up costs, the studio build-out and early rights fee allotments; fair value for NBC Sports' 22% stake in the network that was valued at $700 million in 2010 and would be sold for just $5,000 to DirecTV/AT&T; and exculpation from creditors upon the transfer of the network.

Comcast/NBC Sports could also file an appeal that would further delay matters. If that were the case, it’s unclear whether other Rockets regional contests – their home opener versus the Boston Celtics is scheduled for Nov. 1 – would continue to air on CSN Houston. Bankruptcy protocol usually mandates that business/operations continue until case resolution. In the interim, CSN Houston is currently airing a mix of infomercials and other filler fare.

Under Isgur’s plan, the teams would not only lose their equity in the succeeding service, but abandon their claims to some $100 million in rights fees owed by CSN Houston.

Comcast/NBC Sports declined to comment.  DirecTV and AT&T declined to comment.

Launched in October 2012 and seeking a monthly subscriber fee in the $3.40 neighborhood, CSN Houston failed to gain distribution traction beyond Comcast and a few smaller providers in the Houston DMA, much less with DirecTV, AT&T U-verse, Time Warner Cable, Suddenlink, Charter and Verizon, among others, in its five-state TV territory that also stretches to Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and New Mexico.

As such, the RSN never generated nearly enough affiliate revenues to pay the teams their rights fees and meet its bills.