Carolina Sports and Entertainment Television
Encyclopedia
Carolinas Sports Entertainment Television, or C-SET, was a regional sports network
in the United States
that was in operation from October 2004 until June 2005. This was the primary television vehicle of the Charlotte Bobcats
of the National Basketball Association
during that team's first season in the league.
, the executive who founded Black Entertainment Television
and used the money to become the first majority African-American owner in NBA history, and Time Warner Cable
, the cable provider for most of the Carolinas. It was supposed to cover both North Carolina
and South Carolina
. An aspect that set C-SET apart from similar team-owned channels is that Time Warner Cable did not put the channel on analog cable, instead using it as an attraction to get customers for their digital cable
services. A package of 15 Bobcats games produced by C-SET did air on WJZY
.
and Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
, outdoors programming (hunting and fishing), auto racing
, and action sports. C-SET also planned a nightly sportscast.
. The lack of analog cable carriage and the resulting poor attendance of the team was seen as a primary reason, as was the lack of other distributors carrying it. Additionally, Time Warner blocked satellite television
providers from carrying the channel.
In 2005, the Bobcats moved their local cable broadcasts to News 14 Carolina
, another complicated and limiting deal which cut out viewers in South Carolina and outside of the Charlotte area who did not have Time Warner as a cable provider. In 2006-07
, the team added over-the-air
broadcasts on WMYT
after one season on WJZY. In April 2008, Time Warner Cable allowed the Bobcats to exit the News 14 deal and sign a more broadcasting accessible agreement with SportsSouth/FSN South
in exchange for Time Warner Cable acquiring the naming rights
for the Charlotte Bobcats Arena, which is now known as Time Warner Cable Arena.
Regional sports network
In the United States of America and Canada, a regional sports network, or RSN, is a cable television station that presents sports programming to a local market. The most important programming on an RSN consists of live broadcasts of professional and college sporting events, as those games generate...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
that was in operation from October 2004 until June 2005. This was the primary television vehicle of the Charlotte Bobcats
Charlotte Bobcats
The Charlotte Bobcats is a professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association. The Bobcats were established in 2004 as an expansion team, two seasons after Charlotte's previous NBA...
of the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
during that team's first season in the league.
History
C-SET was a joint venture between Bobcats owner Robert L. JohnsonRobert L. Johnson
Robert L. Johnson is an American business magnate best known for being the founder of television network Black Entertainment Television , and is also its former chairman and chief executive officer...
, the executive who founded Black Entertainment Television
Black Entertainment Television
Black Entertainment Television is an American, Viacom-owned cable network based in Washington, D.C.. Currently viewed in more than 90 million homes worldwide, it is the most prominent television network targeting young Black-American audiences. The network was launched on January 25, 1980, by its...
and used the money to become the first majority African-American owner in NBA history, and Time Warner Cable
Time Warner Cable
Time Warner Cable is an American cable television company that operates in 28 states and has 31 operating divisions...
, the cable provider for most of the Carolinas. It was supposed to cover both North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
and South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. An aspect that set C-SET apart from similar team-owned channels is that Time Warner Cable did not put the channel on analog cable, instead using it as an attraction to get customers for their digital cable
Digital cable
Digital cable is a generic term for any type of cable television distribution using digital video compression or distribution. The technology was originally developed by Motorola.-Background:...
services. A package of 15 Bobcats games produced by C-SET did air on WJZY
WJZY
WJZY is the CW-affiliated television station for Charlotte, North Carolina licensed to Belmont. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 47 from a transmitter in Dallas along the Catawba River. The station can also be seen on Time Warner Cable channel 8 and in high definition...
.
Other programming
In addition to the Bobcats, C-SET aired college sports programs, mostly from the Big South ConferenceBig South Conference
The Big South Conference is a college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I. The conference's football teams are part of the Football Championship Subdivision...
and Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association is a college athletic conference, mostly consisting of historically black colleges and universities. Recent addition Chowan University is the first non-HBCU to play in the conference. Conference teams participate in the NCAA's Division II...
, outdoors programming (hunting and fishing), auto racing
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
, and action sports. C-SET also planned a nightly sportscast.
Closure and aftermath
C-SET lasted only one NBA season and folded on the day of the 2005 NBA Draft2005 NBA Draft
The 2005 NBA Draft took place on June 28, 2005 in the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City. In this draft, NBA teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, such as players from high schools and non-North American leagues...
. The lack of analog cable carriage and the resulting poor attendance of the team was seen as a primary reason, as was the lack of other distributors carrying it. Additionally, Time Warner blocked satellite television
Satellite television
Satellite television is television programming delivered by the means of communications satellite and received by an outdoor antenna, usually a parabolic mirror generally referred to as a satellite dish, and as far as household usage is concerned, a satellite receiver either in the form of an...
providers from carrying the channel.
In 2005, the Bobcats moved their local cable broadcasts to News 14 Carolina
News 14 Carolina
News 14 Carolina is a 24-hour cable news service offered in North Carolina, USA, by Time Warner Cable on its cable TV systems in the state. There are News 14 Carolina television channels in Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, and Wilmington each primarily with local news but some local programming...
, another complicated and limiting deal which cut out viewers in South Carolina and outside of the Charlotte area who did not have Time Warner as a cable provider. In 2006-07
2006-07 NBA season
The 2006–07 NBA season was the 61st season of the National Basketball Association. The regular season began on October 31, 2006 and ran through April 18, 2007. The league fielded 30 teams, each playing an 82 game regular season schedule. The top eight seeds from each conference reached the NBA...
, the team added over-the-air
Terrestrial television
Terrestrial television is a mode of television broadcasting which does not involve satellite transmission or cables — typically using radio waves through transmitting and receiving antennas or television antenna aerials...
broadcasts on WMYT
WMYT-TV
WMYT-TV is the MyNetworkTV-affiliate in Charlotte, North Carolina. It broadcasts on digital channel 39 and virtual channel 55. Its branding refers to its position on channel 12 on Charlotte area cable systems. It is owned by Capitol Broadcasting Company along with WJZY...
after one season on WJZY. In April 2008, Time Warner Cable allowed the Bobcats to exit the News 14 deal and sign a more broadcasting accessible agreement with SportsSouth/FSN South
FSN South
Fox Sports South is a regional sports network that airs sports programming in the Southern United States. It is part of the larger Fox Sports Net group of regional sports networks...
in exchange for Time Warner Cable acquiring the naming rights
Naming rights
In the private sector, naming rights are a financial transaction whereby a corporation or other entity purchases the right to name a facility, typically for a defined period of time. For properties like a multi-purpose arena, performing arts venue or an athletic field, the term ranges from three...
for the Charlotte Bobcats Arena, which is now known as Time Warner Cable Arena.