WTH are Time Warner and Brighthouse doing?

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01rangerxl

01rangerxl

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Apr 8, 2006
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I'm watching TV today and there is a scrolling message across the screen that says that Time Warner and Brighthouse cable customers are going to lose 18 channels tonight, including Comedy Central. Why is this?

The scrolling message provided phone numbers to call. The Time Warner one was busy when I called. Hopefully they get bombarded with so many calls that they won't go through with whatever it is that they are doing.

I'm going to be [censored] if I lose Comedy Central, Nat Geo, History, or AMC.
 
Every so often the TV content providers negotiate with the TV content delivery channels about the per-subscriber fees the providers charge the cable/satellite companies. Looks like the cable company and the TV channels could not agree on the fees so at the end of the contract these channels will be dropped.
 
What's interesting is I saw this message only on the networks that were part of the deal.

So, MTV Viacom (MTV, Nickelodeon, etc..) want to raise their prices with the cable company.

The cable company does not want to raise its fees for the customers.

So, Viacom airs the message on its stations, telling TW and BH customers to call their cable company to demand that the stations stay on.

Seems like the cable company is in a tight situation now.

What exactly warrants a price increase for Viacom? The last time I checked most of their airtime was filled with commercials anyway.

Sheesh.

If it weren't for the 3 or 4 shows that I enjoy watching, I'd cancel my cable subscription.
 
Originally Posted By: greenaccord02
...should have used satellite...

I'd have dumped TWC long ago if I could. They are the service provider for my whole apartment complex though, so in the meantime I'm stuck with them. Their customer service sucks, and they are a pain to deal with. It took 4-5 days to get my cable back when br'er rabbit decided to eat the cable line.

I guess in this situation Viacom is the company I should be mad at though. Most of their channels I couldn't care less about, but not Comedy Central and VH1 Classic!
 
Originally Posted By: Reddy45


If it weren't for the 3 or 4 shows that I enjoy watching, I'd cancel my cable subscription.


I can't figure out why I'm paying to watch programs with commercials in them anyway. I too only watch about 3 programs with regularity. I don't think I've watch major network broadcast in years ..and L&O reruns are getting old.

You know when some strange food show is something that you look forward to ..things are pretty bad in the boredom killing box business.
 
All I get is broadcast TV myself, and TBQH I can't remember the last time I watched it. I watch movies and catch the latest Dexter, The Office and Breaking Bad episodes downloaded via torrent. I can't see paying for commericals either. My news comes from the internet. My communications are done over the internet for the most part... It's alot of money that can be put to better use IMO.

But if I was going to buy it, I'd get satellite for sure. Signal quality FTW.
 
No cable for us. Why pay to watch advertisements? A real rip, and we didnt want to deal with the games.
 
I remember when cable TV first came out. I was around 10 I think and the big selling point (other than the movies) was the commercial free aspect. That didn't last long.

And guess what, XM radio did the same thing! There's more commericials now on some channels that it seems like FM radio to me! (I know some channels are just syndicated FM shows, but that still stinks)
 
Need to find a way to convince the advertisers to provide you with free cable or satellite if you agree to watch x number of advertisements. Much like the free car idea - just ahve to put up with the radical paint job.
thumbsup2.gif
 
Originally Posted By: GMBoy
I remember when cable TV first came out. I was around 10 I think and the big selling point (other than the movies) was the commercial free aspect. That didn't last long.

And guess what, XM radio did the same thing! There's more commericials now on some channels that it seems like FM radio to me! (I know some channels are just syndicated FM shows, but that still stinks)


XM was forced to as ClearChannel had an agreement with them in the late 90's that they get to program some channels. XM fought it, but lost. Thus 100% of the clear channel programmed channels have commercials on them. The rest of the music channels thankfully are commercial free.
 
I want a la carte, until I can get it, no cable for me!

If I could see the western sky I'd have c-band satellite, can pick and choose at about $1.35/channel. Then I wouldn't get loaded up with all the junk I never watch.

So as it sits, no pay-tv for me.
 
Wall Street Journal had a good article on this fight today. Viacom is pulling no punches in trying to win over the public. They are putting up billboards and flyers with pictures of Dora and SpongeBob crying. The caption states "Why is Dora/Sponge Bob crying?" It then goes on to explain the programming is about to be yanked.

This stuff goes on all the time and not just with cable. Satellite providers do it, too. One of our local stations was off Dish Network for a while b/c they wanted to be paid the same rate as the other local stations. Being a local, independently owned network affiliate, Dish refused to pay them what they paid the other stations, which are all part of large, multi-market media companies. The local folks won in the end.
 
Originally Posted By: BrianWC
Wall Street Journal had a good article on this fight today. Viacom is pulling no punches in trying to win over the public. They are putting up billboards and flyers with pictures of Dora and SpongeBob crying. The caption states "Why is Dora/Sponge Bob crying?" It then goes on to explain the programming is about to be yanked.


That's disgusting. Trying to appeal to children so they'll beg their parents to call TW or BH.

I don't know the real gritty of the cable tv industry, but it APPEARS that the cable companies are at least fighting for something for the customer.

I'd like to see Viacom's justification for raising their price. It's the same programming year after year, just different people and more commercials.

Remember when MTV used to have MUSIC or SHOWS? I think now each 30 minute block is 22 minutes of commercials.

I think kids nowadays should watch more Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, etc.. That Spongebob is just weird sometimes.
 
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