A federal bankruptcy judge granted the Rockets permission yesterday to continue negotiating on behalf of Comcast SportsNet Houston and set Feb. 4 to hear arguments on the Houston Astros’ motion to dismiss an involuntary chapter 11 bankruptcy petition filed against the network last September, the Houston Chronicle reported yesterday. Bankruptcy Judge Marvin Isgur also provided a clearly worded signal indicating that if the Astros-Rockets-Comcast partnership enters bankruptcy, he favors eliminating a controversial clause that requires all three partners to agree on significant decisions. Judge Isgur agreed to extend until next month the Rockets’ power to seek new business for CSNH but also lifted a stay on two undecided motions in the case, the more significant of which is the Astros’ motion to dismiss the involuntary bankruptcy proceeding.
