Insight cable viewers are being subjected to commercials from Matt Jones several times hourly promoting his show about University of Kentucky sports on CN2. “We all know Kentucky is going to win the whole thing,” he says, obviously relishing the opportunity to haze University of Louisville fans while promoting his own agenda.
Insight, which was recently acquired by Time Warner, also uses images of UK fans in a rural setting to promote its own cable service. Never any recognition that UofL exists in its own market. How much trouble would it be for a cable company to do a spot that includes Louisville fans? In the Louisville market?
Seeking some clarity, the observer sent the following to Chip Cosby at Insight Cable:
Chip, I’ve noticed that Insight appears to have many commericals and promotional spots promoting Kentucky basketball but rarely do we see any for the University of Louisville. This seems a little odd to me since there are thousands of Insight customers who are UofL fans. A policy of a company that irritates many of its customers is hard to fathom, especially when there are so many other viewing options.
On top of this, you use a spokesperson in Matt Jones for your spots whose hate for the University of Louisville goes beyond acceptability. Small wonder he no longer writes for CBS Sports he is so vindictive. He is obviously taking advantage of a lack of foresight at Insight management to promote UK sports and his web site.
Cosby’s response:
I’ll do my best to explain the situation to you. Of course, at CN|2 we have three shows: Kentucky Sports Television (KSTV), CN|2 Sports (the show I host), and Pure Politics.
KSTV, hosted by Matt Jones, is a 30-minute show that covers Kentucky sports from a fan’s perspective. Any promos and commercials you may see for KSTV are promoting Matt’s show, which focuses heavily on UK basketball.
My show, CN|2 Sports, is a 30-minute show that covers all the sports teams in our area, from UofL, UK, Western, Bellarmine, high schools, etc.. If you notice in the promos for CN|2 Sports, all the schools are represented. I think the thing you have to realize is that while Matt and I work for the same company, our shows are entirely different.
Matt does not appear in any of the promos for CN|2 Sports, and he is rarely a part of the show. Our mission at CN|2 Sports is to provide an unbiased look at ALL the teams in our area, kind of like a 30-minute ‘SportsCenter’ for Kentuckiana. I think we felt it would be better to do things this way than to have another ‘fan’ show…
While I realize that UofL fans aren’t enamored with some of the content of Matt’s show, two things to remember: 1) His show is targeted for UK fans, and there is certainly an audience for that; and 2) my show is targeted for ‘sports’ fans, and keep in mind that we focus a lot of our time to UofL since KSTV is a UK show. I’m leaving this afternoon to go to New York to cover the Cards in the Big East.
My response:
My basic complaint is that I see UK in commercials for Insight as if we’re all Kentucky fans here. Far from it. Louisville is never included in the commercials. Several times a day I see Matt Jones promoting his show, but no one promoting a U of L show. I know because I grimace every time he comes on. I don’t see any mention of a U of L show as UK has in the Louisville market. Certainly there’s enough talent here to make a similar show possible.
Cosby’s response:
I agree.. And that’s one of the things we will explore as we continue to expand with the Time Warner takeover. We will definitely be adding more programming in the coming months. You just have to plan things properly. Matt’s formula for his show has been a huge success with UK fans, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you can take the same formula and have it work with UofL fans. There is a huge market for UofL fans, agreed. We just have to find the best presentation, and again that’s something we’ll be exploring in the coming months.
We appreciate Chip’s straight forward answers and his recognition that there are issues. Hopefully Time Warner will provide him with the resources to better serve the local community. What they’re doing now with the over-emphasis on UK in a Louisville market doesn’t make sense from a business standpoint.
I am not a rabid fan but I resent paying for services from a company that has little regard for its customers. I am happy to switch to ATT. Go Catds!
Hey CA – let’s hope that there are no Cardinal fans out there “like Matt Jones”. He is a jock sniffing toot hole. The show is so lame it could only be on that particular Insight channel. If you are watching that show you need to get a life, a hobby or find a book to read.
Yes Matt is a cat supporter but this is the channel i get when I first turn tv on in am. I have successfully boycotted WHAS and can now try to mess a little with insight. Oh. And i have friends.
The C-J isn’t much better. It seems that if UofL has an off day and its game day or the day after for UK, its all UK, and noda with UofL. When the situation is reversed, all the UofL articles are surrounded by UK articles. Just kinda nags at me. At least it will all be over in a month.
Don’t Know much about Insight, got DirecTv.
Folks, it is a UK show – not a UL show – Matt rarely does any legal work now. Also, if UL fans want a UL show, maybe they need to find someone like Matt to host it. I have Direct TV and really miss his show – for UK fans, it is a great show. I really hate to break the news to you but there are a lot, I mean a lot of UK fans in the Louisville area – maybe as much as 50%.
I switched from cable to Direct TV last fall. I am so happy that I did. I get so much more value for the money. I urge all UL fans to make the switch.
It just burns me up to see Matt Jones when I turn on my TV/Cable. Before I can even change the channel I get nauseated by this guy. Insight please change this so I dont have to see him first. I am sure he can still have his hate show but put him where I at least have a choice. There are other options.
Another good reason to dump Insight. There are so many other options available today. Really dumb and irresponsible on their part.
Finally someone have the initiative to call Insight’s hand on this issue. I can’t believe there’s someone in the media who doesn’t recognize that Louisville fans would be offended by all the UK emphasis on a Louisville station. It really makes Insight look weak and brain dead.
The biggest problem with Insight’s response is their lack of recognition that Louisville as a market watches more basketball than any other market in the country. Hands down. We beat every other market. And there are a LOT of UofL fans they’re not paying any attention to.
Good point, Leslie. This has obviously not been thought though from a management standpoint. Matt Jones saw an opportunity and took advantage of the weakness. Makes one wonder how he finds time for his legal clients.