A new television service provider launched in Denver this week offering Avalanche, Nuggets and Rapids game broadcasts amid the ongoing Altitude-Comcast TV blackout.
Evoca TV utilizes the internet, 5G and traditional broadcast signals to give paid subscribers access to 60-plus channels on its base package — including Altitude TV. The Kroenke-owned regional sports network has not been carried by Comcast or DISH Network since September 2019. Evoca’s growth into the Denver market is a direct response to the absence of locally broadcast games on the state’s largest cable provider.
“We looked at lots of pockets of Colorado where there isn’t great competitive TV service. Then you have this other layer on top with Altitude Sports, all the great teams they cover, and 85 percent of homes on the Front Range can’t watch their hometown teams,” said Evoca CEO Todd Achilles. “It’s basically 5G meets the old rabbit ears. It allows you to do a whole bunch of cool new stuff.”
The service costs $25/month in Denver, with a two-year price guarantee and no contract, plus the monthly rental or purchase of an Evoca TV receiver.
Evoca started in 2020 with TV programming in Boise, Idaho. It has since grown to large markets in Arizona and Colorado with nationwide expansion goals. The service, called NextGenTV, requires a reliable internet connection and HDTV antenna with a signal. Evoca first became available in the state with an October launch in Colorado Springs.
“We’re excited for Altitude Sports to be a part of Evoca launching their service in Denver,” said Matt Hutchings, COO of Kroenke Sports, in a news release. “We’ve seen first-hand how well received Evoca was in Colorado Springs. …. Their groundbreaking service will provide a new opportunity for Nuggets, Avs, Rapids and Mammoth fans to once again access their teams.”
Evoca joins DirecTV as one of the few television providers in Colorado to carry Altitude. However, it is possible the cable TV blackout is almost over.
Legal teams from the embattled RSN and Comcast are scheduled to meet for a settlement conference on Feb. 23, according to online court records. The conference, mediated by U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael E. Hegarty, will seek to achieve resolution for an antitrust lawsuit between Altitude and the cable giant.
It’s unclear whether Evoca has the staying power to compete with Comcast once the TV blackout finally ends. The new service carries Colorado State volleyball and basketball games not picked up by national networks. It also plans to add AT&T SportsNet for Rockies coverage before the next MLB season.
“It’s definitely hard to be a startup in this industry that is really consolidated with a few big players,” Achilles said. “But there is a ton of need and consumers are frustrated with the lack of choice and options in paid TV. With this new broadcast technology, it was an opportunity for us to deliver better service at less cost and reach more homes.”
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