When I first moved to VT a few years back, DirecTV had Comcast SportsNet. Originally, CSN was Fox Sports *insert region of the country here*. Before that, I think it was the SportsChannel. So a channel like CSN should be available everywhere. Like with NECN in New England, its a "Comcast news network" but available on any cable system. Too bad its moving to digital - thanks Comcast - one of 4 channels I watch daily.
Even if Verizon didn't bail out of us in Northern New England, FIOS wasn't available. Fairpoint's got a package deal with internet/tv/phone using DirecTV. If Comcast hits the delete button on standard cable one more time... I may be ditching them and getting a phone line for the first time in quite a while.