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.