Dish Network To Carry CST

Regional sports network Cox Sports Television receives a boost today as Dish Network picks up the network and begins broadcasting on channel 421.

CST is the home of the New Orleans Hornets, the NFL Saints, and the LSU Tigers. It televises over 350 regional sports events each year. The agreement with Dish Network will distribute the network to areas within 75 miles of New Orleans and Baton Rouge to those who subscribe to the America’s Top 100 Plus package or higher.

CST has a market penetration of about 2 million households, and is carried on cable networks in Louisiana, Texas, Georgia, Florida, and Virginia. However, a large hole in the Cox cable footprint exists on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain, where Charter Communications is the dominant cable provider. Charter and CST have yet to reach a carriage agreement, leaving many Hornets fans in the dark. The basketball team has struggled with attendance in their first season back in New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina.

CST is scheduled to carry 65 total Hornets games this season. Nineteen more regular season games will be televised on CST.

“We are very excited about the new partnership with Dish Network and this will enable so many more fans to tune into Hornets games and become more involved in this special season,” said Hornets Owner George Shinn.

CST is not carried by the other dominant satellite TV player, DIRECTV at this time.