Alex, you could not have said any better. Take it from somebody that has worked at FSN-NW., this is 110% accurate.

FSN’s biggest problem is they’ve been absolutely complacent when it comes to bettering themselves because they’ve had no competition. Outside of ESPN, of course, but is that really a contest? FSN entered the market knowing that ESPN would always be above them and they were fine with that. But now with Comcast and ESPN’s seemingly endless expansion, FSN is becoming obsolete.

FSN used to have a niche in the local, small market broadcasts, but even that is disappearing. With local stations assuming some of the workload (KONG, for instance, broadcasts Sounders games in Seattle) and entire athletic conferences forging their own networks (Big 10, for example), FSN no longer has that mom-and-pop uniqueness that they could call their own.

Former Pac-10 commissioner Tom Hansen (sadly, a UW grad) used to argue that the conference maintained a relationship with FSN because they would broadcast Olympic sports (gymnastics, track, etc). That’s one of the lamest arguments ever, and Hansen had to know that. He was simply too lazy to pursue other options, and FSN was convenient since they were located down the block from the Pac-10 offices. If more fans knew that the Pac and FSN were in cahoots because of sports that no one cares about (Don’t get all high and mighty about this, Olympic sports fans. It’s a generalization that is mostly true.), they would have revolted against Fox long ago.

Interesting point on FSN being screwed should the Pac-10 leave. They’d have to rely on Big Sky and maybe Idaho and Boise State games, which would suck. They’d show more Blazers games, and maybe pick up Canucks hockey. They’d have options, but it won’t be nearly as good.