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SUMMIT COUNTY — The pending sale of Resorts Sports Network to a group of four private investors could mean enhanced programming on the national network's two local channels, RSN 13 and RSNX 16.
RSN, which broadcasts in more than 100 resort destinations across the country, announced the sale earlier this month.
The purchase price will not be disclosed until the FCC approves the transfer of RSN's broadcast licenses, hopefully by the end of next month, said RSN vice president of marketing Richard Bilodeau.
John Cooney, a Breckenridge resident who leads the investment group, said if the deal goes through, the new owners will aim to improve the quality of the local channels' production and step up its coverage of community and special events and weather reporting.
"The long-term is to appeal to all demographics, whether it be families on vacation or second homeowners and visitors, especially visitors," Cooney said.
That could mean increasing live programming if opportunities present themselves, Cooney said. Currently RSN 13's only live content is its 2-hour morning show called "Summit Sunrise," although the channel airs taped local and national segments for the remaining 22 hours a day. RSNX 16 broadcasts taped action sports programming round-the-clock.
Cooney said another focus will be on increasing the quality and real-time accuracy of RSN's weather forecasts.
"We want to have the most accurate weather out there, and I think we owe that to our viewers," Cooney said.
Local RSN station manager Roger Mecca said he's excited about the potential change in ownership, and appreciates the new owners' receptive attitudes thus far to new ideas from the local level.
"Simply put, I cannot imagine a better group of people to take over the operations of RSN Television," Mecca said.
Part-time RSN host Jeffrey Bergeron, aka Biff America, agrees that any local changes as a result of the sale should be positive.
"I think there could be changes in programming, albeit nothing's going to happen quickly, but I can guarantee there will be an improvement in quality both in national and local programming, just because these guys have funds and great experience," said Bergeron, who's worked for the local RSN station for 10 years, and freelanced for the national network for about 10 years before that.
The sale could also result in wider coverage in Colorado. RSN currently broadcasts in Summit County, Vail, Aspen, Crested Butte and Steamboat Springs, and Bilodeau said the corporate offices are eyeing an expansion.
"There are two markets in Colorado that are very interesting to us," Bilodeau said, although he declined to elaborate.
Cooney's partners are Mark A. Burchill, a cofounder of internet advertising company 24/7 Media; John Cumming, CEO of Powdr Corp., which owns Park City Resort, Alpine Meadows, Mt. Bachelor, Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort, and founding partner of Mountain Hardware; and Len Conway, a former equity partner in Telluride Ski and Golf Corp.
Cooney is an owner of EUE Screen Gems, Ltd., one of the largest film companies in the U.S.
This sale would be the group's first venture together, however Cooney said they've been friends for many years and had been looking at opportunities for some time. They decided the purchase of RSN would be appropriate because of their respective backgrounds and because they all live in resort towns.
Cooney first visited Breckenridge on a 1979 high school ski trip and purchased his first home in Breckenridge in 1988. He and his wife Wendy moved to Breckenridge full-time about a decade ago, and their kids attend school in the Summit School District.
In April 2005, the Cooneys purchased the Masonic Lodge on Main Street in Breckenridge, which is now known as Abby Hall. In October, they bought the old ghost mining town of Dry Gulch near the Golden Horseshoe area outside Breckenridge.
"We're pretty heavily invested in the community here and that's what we want to be," Cooney said. "I really see RSN as becoming part of the community."
Nicole Formosa can be reached at (970) 668-4629, or at nformosa@summitdaily.com.
RSN, which broadcasts in more than 100 resort destinations across the country, announced the sale earlier this month.
The purchase price will not be disclosed until the FCC approves the transfer of RSN's broadcast licenses, hopefully by the end of next month, said RSN vice president of marketing Richard Bilodeau.
John Cooney, a Breckenridge resident who leads the investment group, said if the deal goes through, the new owners will aim to improve the quality of the local channels' production and step up its coverage of community and special events and weather reporting.
"The long-term is to appeal to all demographics, whether it be families on vacation or second homeowners and visitors, especially visitors," Cooney said.
That could mean increasing live programming if opportunities present themselves, Cooney said. Currently RSN 13's only live content is its 2-hour morning show called "Summit Sunrise," although the channel airs taped local and national segments for the remaining 22 hours a day. RSNX 16 broadcasts taped action sports programming round-the-clock.
Cooney said another focus will be on increasing the quality and real-time accuracy of RSN's weather forecasts.
"We want to have the most accurate weather out there, and I think we owe that to our viewers," Cooney said.
Local RSN station manager Roger Mecca said he's excited about the potential change in ownership, and appreciates the new owners' receptive attitudes thus far to new ideas from the local level.
"Simply put, I cannot imagine a better group of people to take over the operations of RSN Television," Mecca said.
Part-time RSN host Jeffrey Bergeron, aka Biff America, agrees that any local changes as a result of the sale should be positive.
"I think there could be changes in programming, albeit nothing's going to happen quickly, but I can guarantee there will be an improvement in quality both in national and local programming, just because these guys have funds and great experience," said Bergeron, who's worked for the local RSN station for 10 years, and freelanced for the national network for about 10 years before that.
The sale could also result in wider coverage in Colorado. RSN currently broadcasts in Summit County, Vail, Aspen, Crested Butte and Steamboat Springs, and Bilodeau said the corporate offices are eyeing an expansion.
"There are two markets in Colorado that are very interesting to us," Bilodeau said, although he declined to elaborate.
Cooney's partners are Mark A. Burchill, a cofounder of internet advertising company 24/7 Media; John Cumming, CEO of Powdr Corp., which owns Park City Resort, Alpine Meadows, Mt. Bachelor, Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort, and founding partner of Mountain Hardware; and Len Conway, a former equity partner in Telluride Ski and Golf Corp.
Cooney is an owner of EUE Screen Gems, Ltd., one of the largest film companies in the U.S.
This sale would be the group's first venture together, however Cooney said they've been friends for many years and had been looking at opportunities for some time. They decided the purchase of RSN would be appropriate because of their respective backgrounds and because they all live in resort towns.
Cooney first visited Breckenridge on a 1979 high school ski trip and purchased his first home in Breckenridge in 1988. He and his wife Wendy moved to Breckenridge full-time about a decade ago, and their kids attend school in the Summit School District.
In April 2005, the Cooneys purchased the Masonic Lodge on Main Street in Breckenridge, which is now known as Abby Hall. In October, they bought the old ghost mining town of Dry Gulch near the Golden Horseshoe area outside Breckenridge.
"We're pretty heavily invested in the community here and that's what we want to be," Cooney said. "I really see RSN as becoming part of the community."
Nicole Formosa can be reached at (970) 668-4629, or at nformosa@summitdaily.com.
