View source for Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia

{{Infobox TV channel
| name              = Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia
| logofile          = CSNPhiladelphia.png
| logosize          = 200px
| logocaption       = 
| logo2             = 
| launch            = October 1, 1997
| closed date       = 
| picture format    = [[1080i]] ([[High-definition television|HDTV]])<br/>[[480i]] ([[Standard-definition television|SDTV]]) 
| network           = [[NBC Sports Group]]
| owner             = [[NBCUniversal]]<br/>[[Philadelphia Phillies]]
| slogan            = ''We Live Philly Sports''
| country           = [[United States]]
| language          = [[English language|English]]
| broadcast area    = [[Philadelphia]] metropolitan area<br/>Eastern [[Pennsylvania]]<br/>[[South Jersey]]<br/>[[Delaware]]
| headquarters      = [[Wells Fargo Center (Philadelphia)|Wells Fargo Center]], [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]]
| former names      = 
| replaced names    = [[PRISM (TV channel)|PRISM]] (1976–1997)<br/>[[SportsChannel Philadelphia]] (1990–1997)
| replaced by names = 
| sister names      = [[NBC Sports]]<br/>[[WCAU]]<br/>[[WWSI]]<br/>[[The Comcast Network]]
| timeshift names   = 
| web               = {{URL|http://www.csnphilly.com}}
| cable serv 1      = Available on most cable systems
| cable chan 1      = [http://www.csnphilly.com/info/contact-us/ Check local listings for channels]
| cable serv 2       = [[Verizon FiOS]]
| cable chan 2       =576 (HD)<br/>76 (SD)
| cable serv 3       = [[Comcast Xfinity]]
| cable chan 3       =  847 (HD)
| cable serv 4      = [[Service Electric]]
| cable chan 4      = 528 (HD)<br/>28 (SD)
| cable serv 5      = [[RCN Corporation|RCN]]
| cable chan 5      =179 (HD)<br/>29 (SD)
| sat serv 1  = 
| sat chan 1  = 
| sat serv 2 = 
| sat chan 2 = 
| adsl serv 1     = 
| adsl chan 1     = 
}}

'''Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia''' ('''CSN Philadelphia''') is an [[United States|American]] [[regional sports network]] that operates as an affiliate of [[Comcast SportsNet]] which primarily serves the [[Philadelphia]] metro area, but its reach extends to cover [[Southeastern Pennsylvania]], all of [[South Jersey]], and most of [[Delaware]]. It is owned by the [[NBC Sports#NBC Sports Group|NBC Sports Group]] unit of [[NBCUniversal]], which in turn is owned by locally-based [[cable television]] provider [[Comcast]]. CSN Philadelphia's studios and offices are located inside the [[Wells Fargo Center (Philadelphia)|Wells Fargo Center]] in Philadelphia. CSN Philadelphia also has a small studio inside [[Citizens Bank Park]], which is used sporadically during the baseball season.

==Overview==
CSN Philadelphia debuted on October 1, 1997, and was the first Comcast SportsNet channel to launch; it replaced the [[pay television|premium]] movie and sports channel [[PRISM (TV network)|PRISM]] and regional sports network [[SportsChannel Philadelphia]].

It is the cable home of the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]]'s [[Philadelphia 76ers]], [[National Hockey League|NHL]]'s [[Philadelphia Flyers]], [[Major League Baseball|MLB]]'s [[Philadelphia Phillies]], and [[Major League Soccer|MLS]]'s [[Philadelphia Union]]. The network also covers local college sports games, including the [[Philadelphia Big 5]], the [[Atlantic 10]], and the [[Colonial Athletic Association]].  

In addition, Comcast owns [[The Comcast Network]] (TCN), which acts as an overflow network for CSN Philadelphia when two sports teams are playing simultaneously.  Sister network [[WCAU]] (NBC10) carries some Phillies games.

With Comcast's acquisition of [[NBCUniversal]] in 2011, Comcast SportsNet was also integrated into the new [[NBC Sports]] Group, culminating with the addition of the [[NBC logos|peacock logo]] and an updated graphics package to mirror that of its parent network.

== Anchors ==
=== Current ===
*[[Michael Barkann]] (August 1997&ndash;present)
*[[Ron Burke (sportscaster)|Ron Burke]] (August 1997&ndash;1999, January 2002&ndash;present)
*[[Marshall Harris]] (March 2008&ndash;present)
*[[Neil Hartman]] (August 1997&ndash;present)

=== Former ===
*[[Scott Hanson]] (2000&ndash;2002, now an anchor/reporter for the [[NFL Network]])
*[[Gregg Murphy]] (December 2008&ndash;February 2012, still works for CSN as sideline reporter on Philadelphia Phillies telecasts)<ref>[http://www.lauranachman.net/?p=2558 Murphy Made Fulltime at Comcast SportsNet]</ref>
*[[Matt Yallof]] (2000&ndash;2006, now with [[MLB Network]])

== Programming ==
{{refimprove section|date=October 2014}}
=== News ===
* ''[[SportsNet Central]]''
* ''[[Philly Sports Talk (Comcast SportsNet)|Philly Sports Talk]]''
* ''[['net IMPACT]]''

=== Football ===
* ''[[Eagles Pre Game Live]]''
* ''[[Eagles Post Game Live]]''

=== Basketball ===
* ''[[Sixers Pre Game Live]]''
* ''[[Sixers Post Game Live]]''
* ''[[Sixers City]]''

=== Baseball ===
* ''[[Phillies Pre Game Live]]''
* ''[[Phillies Post Game Live]]''
* ''[[Phillies Clubhouse]]''

=== Ice Hockey ===
* ''[[Flyers Pre Game Live]]''
* ''[[Flyers Post Game Live]]''
* ''[[The Orange Line]]''

=== Soccer ===
* ''[[Union Pre Game Live]]''
* ''[[Union Post Game Live]]''
* ''[[State of the Union]]''

=== Golf ===
* ''[[Inside Golf]]''
* ''[[Golf Shots]]''

== Availability ==
===Satellite carriage controversy===
Unlike most other cable networks, CSN Philadelphia is distributed only via [[microwave]] and [[fiber optics]]. The infrastructure Comcast uses for this was left over from the now-defunct PRISM network. Since CSN Philadelphia did not uplink its signal to any satellite, Comcast was able to avoid an [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]] regulation that requires most television channels to be offered to [[direct broadcast satellite]] (DBS) companies (known as the "terrestrial loophole"). As a result of its limited availability, DBS providers [[DirecTV]] and [[Dish Network]] realized far slower penetration into the Philadelphia market. Craig Moffett, a senior analyst with Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. L.L.C., estimated the number of potential customers lost due to the loophole at 450,000.<ref name="philly2010">[http://philly.com/philly/business/82230427.html FCC: Comcast must share Phila. sports coverage]</ref>

On January 20, 2010, the FCC voted 4-1 to close the terrestrial loophole.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.multichannel.com/article/445064-FCC_Votes_To_Close_Terrestrial_RSN_Exemption.php |title=FCC Votes To Close Terrestrial RSN Exemption – Count Is 4–1; McDowell Expects To See Court Challenge |publisher=Multichannel.com |date= |accessdate=2010-03-15| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20100212201809/http://www.multichannel.com/article/445064-FCC_Votes_To_Close_Terrestrial_RSN_Exemption.php| archivedate= 12 February 2010 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> Lawyers for DirecTV and Dish Network had attempted to show that Comcast Corporation, who owns both CSN Philadelphia along with most of the cable systems in the Philadelphia market, acted in restraint of trade because it did not uplink CSN Philadelphia to satellite. Comcast does not plan to appeal the decision, so DirecTV and Dish can negotiate immediately to add the channel to their lineups. Both providers formally asked for access to the channel on June 25, 2010.<ref>[http://www.multichannel.com/article/454198-DirecTV_Dish_Formally_Ask_For_Access_To_Comcast_SportsNet_Philadelphia.php DirecTV, Dish Formally Ask For Access To Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia - Top DBS Provider Would Not Say Whether It Will File Complaint With FCC] ''Multichannel News'' June 25, 2010</ref> On July 28, 2010, it was reported that Comcast is in talks with DirecTV and Dish Network for carriage of CSN Philadelphia.<ref>[http://www.multichannel.com/article/455342-Comcast_Discussing_Philly_RSN_Carriage_With_Dish_DirecTV_Sources.php Comcast Discussing Philly RSN Carriage With Dish, DirecTV: Sources] ''Multichannel News'' July 28, 2010</ref> Two days later, after accusing Comcast of refusing to negotiate in good faith, Dish Network said it will file a complaint with the FCC.<ref>[http://www.multichannel.com/article/455437-Dish_Threatens_FCC_Complaint_Against_Comcast_Over_Philly_RSN.php Dish Threatens FCC Complaint Against Comcast Over Philly RSN - DBS Provider Says Cable Company Refused To Negotiate 'In Good Faith'] ''Multichannel News'' July 30, 2010</ref><ref>[http://www.theamericandishtv.com/blog/dish-network-and-comcast-to-battle-over-sportsnet-philadelphia/ DISH Network and Comcast to Battle Over SportsNet Philadelphia] ''American DISH Blog'' Aug 2, 2010</ref> The [[United States Court of Appeals]] for the District of Columbia upheld the FCC's original ruling on June 10, 2011.<ref>[http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=13813799#.TsBG_TCF-ck?x=0&.v=5 FCC move to close program access loophole upheld] ''Yahoo News'' (Associated Press) June 10, 2011</ref> Despite this ruling, Comcast has yet to offer CSN Philadelphia on competing satellite providers.

As of April 2, 2014, last update on Galaxy 17 at 91.0°W at 3920 H -transponder 11 CSN Philly can be received across the United States via a Cisco PowerVu receiver with authorization.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lyngsat.com/Galaxy-17.html|website=lyngsat.com}}</ref>

===Cable===
Cable companies other than Comcast within the designated CSN Philadelphia market do have access to the channel. In December 2006, Comcast even made a deal to place CSN Philadelphia on [[Verizon]]'s competing [[Verizon FiOS|FiOS]] systems.<ref>[http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6397097.html?display=Breaking+News Verizon Nets Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia Agreement - 12/4/2006 8:16:00 PM - Multichannel News<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> 

In 1998, Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia almost became available to New York City area Comcast subscribers in southern [[Middlesex County, New Jersey|Middlesex County]] in the municipalities of [[Plainsboro, New Jersey|Plainsboro]], [[South Brunswick, New Jersey|South Brunswick]], [[Monroe Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey|Monroe]], [[Cranbury, New Jersey|Cranbury]], [[Jamesburg, New Jersey|Jamesburg]], [[Helmetta, New Jersey|Helmetta]], [[Spotswood, New Jersey|Spotswood]] and [[East Brunswick, New Jersey|East Brunswick]], who previously had access to PRISM. But days before it was set to be added, the NBA stepped in with a cease and desist order to block the distribution of 76ers games in Middlesex County in spite of the fact that the NBA allowed [[New York Knicks]] and [[New Jersey Nets]] games to be aired on both Comcast and TKR (now Cablevision) in a part of the Philadelphia market in [[Mercer County, New Jersey|Mercer County]] on [[MSG Network]] and [[MSG Plus|Fox Sports New York]]. Unwilling to distribute the channel with 76ers games blacked out, Comcast backed down. Despite this, CSN Philadelphia is available to New York market [[Comcast Xfinity]] and [[Verizon FiOS]] subscribers in [[Ocean County, New Jersey|Ocean County]], to [[Cablevision]] customers in nearby [[Allentown, New Jersey|Allentown]] in [[Monmouth County, New Jersey|Monmouth County]], Comcast's [[Lambertville, New Jersey|Lambertville]] area system in [[Hunterdon County, New Jersey|Hunterdon County]] and [[Service Electric]]'s [[Phillipsburg, New Jersey|Phillipsburg]] area system in [[Warren County, New Jersey|Warren County]].

===MLB Extra Innings===
Phillies games used to be unavailable on the satellite version of [[MLB Extra Innings]]. Beginning in 2007, both the cable and satellite version of MLB Extra Innings began to use the CSN Philadelphia feed for some games and in 2008, when MLB Extra Innings began showing both feeds of most games, all Phillies games shown on CSN Philadelphia became available to all subscribers. In 2010, Phillies games on [[WPHL-TV]] (which are produced by CSN Philadelphia) were also shown on Extra Innings. Residents in the Philadelphia area cannot view these games due to [[blackout (broadcasting)|blackout restrictions]].

===Highlight packages===
Because of the network's distribution exclusively in the Delaware Valley, for any highlights for teams which air on CSN Philadelphia, [[ESPN]] must contract with co-owned local [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] [[owned-and-operated station]] [[WPVI-TV]] (channel 6, owned by ESPN's majority owner [[The Walt Disney Company]]) to provide them recordings of CSN Philadelphia telecasts for ''[[Sportscenter]]'', ''[[NBA Fastbreak]]'' and ''[[Baseball Tonight]]'' highlight packages, which until 2012 were only provided in [[480i]] SD video, when they began to send them in [[720p]]. As a consequence, national sports broadcasts have typically chosen to broadcast clips from the HD "away" feed and avoid the CSN "home" Philadelphia broadcast feed. However [[MLB Network]] and [[NBA TV]] have full access to the HD feed of CSN Philadelphia since the network must, as the rights holder, provide full-quality video to the properties of each league for their internet and cable operations, while Comcast provides full HD access to CSN Philadelphia to sister operations [[NBC Sports Network]] and [[NHL Network (United States)|NHL Network]], which both carry NHL games nationally.

== High definition ==
'''Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia HD''' is a [[1080i]] [[High-definition television|high definition]] simulcast feed of Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia. Programming broadcast in HD includes live sports and series. CSN Philadelphia shows all<ref>[http://philadelphia.comcastsportsnet.com/tv-listings-HD.asp Welcome to Comcast SportsNet<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Philadelphia Phillies, Philadelphia Flyers, Philadelphia Union and Philadelphia 76ers games in HD. Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia also broadcasts their live studio shows in high definition, such as ''Philly Sports Talk'', ''SportsNet Central'', and Post Game Live shows.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|http://www.csnphilly.com/}}
*[http://www.nbcsports.com www.nbcsports.com]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Comcast Sportsnet Philadelphia}}
[[Category:NBC Sports]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1997]]
[[Category:Television stations in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Sports in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Philadelphia Flyers broadcasters]]
[[Category:Philadelphia 76ers broadcasters]]
[[Category:Philadelphia Phillies broadcasters]]
[[Category:Comcast SportsNet|Philadelphia]]
[[Category:1997 establishments in Pennsylvania]]