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DirecTV Users Lose Access to Viacom Channels
As Obnoxious Retransmission Feuds Continue
Yet another in a long and annoying line of retransmission disputes between broadcasters and cable TV operators has resulted in DirecTV customers losing access to all Viacom channels since last night. The story is becoming an all-too-familiar one, with the two sides being unable to come to an agreement before the expiration of an existing contract. Impacted customers have lost access to Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central and 14 other channels. "We have been very willing to get a deal done, but Viacom is pushing DirecTV customers to pay more than a 30 percent increase, which equates to an extra $1 billion, despite the fact that the ratings for many of their main networks have plummeted," DirecTV said in a statement. Regulators are expected to begin examining regulations prohibiting paying customers from losing access to content while new contracts are negotiated.
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baineschile
2600 ways to live
Premium Member
join:2008-05-10
Sterling Heights, MI

baineschile

Premium Member

I wonder

Why the distributors dont gather forces (DirectTV, Dish, TimeWarner, Comcast) and just say to Viacom "hey, this is the price we are going to give you, if you dont take it then you cant broadcast on any of us".

I feel like that might halt the yearly TV price increases, since so many comes from these channel distributors.
me1212
join:2008-11-20
Lees Summit, MO

me1212

Member

Re: I wonder

Because is direct doesnt have them but its competitors do they may be able to snag a few customers.

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

FFH5 to baineschile

Premium Member

to baineschile
said by baineschile:

Why the distributors dont gather forces (DirectTV, Dish, TimeWarner, Comcast) and just say to Viacom "hey, this is the price we are going to give you, if you dont take it then you cant broadcast on any of us".

Because if they got together as a group to decide that, they would be breaking the law.

cypherstream
MVM
join:2004-12-02
Reading, PA

cypherstream

MVM

Re: I wonder

Oh yeah what law is that?

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

FFH5

Premium Member

Re: I wonder

said by cypherstream:

Oh yeah what law is that?

A series of laws under category of anti-trust:
»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Un ··· rust_law
»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pr ··· e_fixing

SimbaSeven
I Void Warranties
join:2003-03-24
Billings, MT

SimbaSeven

Member

Re: I wonder

Ha.. and what the content companies are doing is called "extortion"
fiberguy2
My views are my own.
Premium Member
join:2005-05-20

fiberguy2

Premium Member

Re: I wonder

said by SimbaSeven:

Ha.. and what the content companies are doing is called "extortion"

You're absolutely correct!

There are a few simple things I believe they should put into a law/regulation and call it a day.

1) Those customers who have subscribed prior to the retrans deal should remain able to view the network so long as they signed a contract at the current rate until the time their commitment is lost. The providers are benefit to the very contract the carrier gets because the customer is in a contract. New customers should not receive the programming AND if the negotiations have not been resolved, the carrier should discontinue access as their initial contracts expire.

2) (and this is my BIGGEST peeve) The networks should be FORBIDDEN from running scrolls on their tv feeds during a contract negotiation, PERIOD! They should NOT be allowed to involve the consumer by means of motivation to bail on (say) Dish for DirecTV or Cable. This is leverage that should NOT be on the table. It's pure extortion and is meant to damage the carrier in the process of negotiation. Furthermore, as a cable subscriber WHY do *I* need to know about a dispute between a network and a carrier I don't subscribe?

3) If a subscriber is to lose a channel, the carrier MUST reduce the cable bill of all subscribers affected by the actual retail value which would be determined by a magistrate.

4) In case of a dispute, both parties should have to justify their rates to a court or magistrate. Hollywood has FAR too long had the ability to arbitrarily set their rates. There have been many times in history where the carriers have had to justify rate increases based on costs. Hollywood has a VERY broad spreadsheet and, in my opinion, raises rates just because.

For many years, people have turned their sights to carriers for unjust rate increases.. they've been blamed for simply being greedy on TV increases when their rates are largely affected by retrans agreements. Because of the abuse, providers have been regulated in the past. Perhaps it's time to regulate Hollywood on video services for the very thing carriers have been accused of.

I think the consumer is getting tired of getting caught up in these petty arguments. They need to do this outside of the public arena - it's a dishonest tactic.

cdru
Go Colts
MVM
join:2003-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN

cdru to FFH5

MVM

to FFH5
said by FFH5:

A series of laws under category of anti-trust:
»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pr ··· e_fixing

Would price fixing apply here? I don't think I've ever heard of a group being charged with fixing prices for what they PAY for a service.

SimbaSeven
I Void Warranties
join:2003-03-24
Billings, MT

SimbaSeven

Member

Re: I wonder

It'd be like the consumers telling the oil companies what they'll pay for oil.

cdru
Go Colts
MVM
join:2003-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN

cdru

MVM

Re: I wonder

said by SimbaSeven:

It'd be like the consumers telling the oil companies what they'll pay for oil.

I know what it would be like. But is that illegal?

Buying groups abound that bring together buyers of products or services to get more favorable pricing or to have clout where they had little individually. There are also buying cartels, but I think one of the main distinctions is what does the effect of the group/cartel have on both upstream, downstream, and competitors.

If DirecTV, Dish, TimeWarner, Comcast when to Viacom and said you will only allow us to carry your channels and other operators cannot have your service, then there are issues. Nor are those cable companies telling Viacom what they can or can't sell to other cable dealers or other distribution means.
JPL
Premium Member
join:2007-04-04
Downingtown, PA

JPL to SimbaSeven

Premium Member

to SimbaSeven
said by SimbaSeven:

It'd be like the consumers telling the oil companies what they'll pay for oil.

No, it wouldn't be like that at all. Look, consumers have the power of the purse over business. You tell these companies, every day, what you're willing to pay for something. You do it through your purchasing actions.
iknow
Premium Member
join:2012-03-25

iknow to FFH5

Premium Member

to FFH5
said by FFH5:

said by cypherstream:

Oh yeah what law is that?

A series of laws under category of anti-trust:
»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Un ··· rust_law
»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pr ··· e_fixing

NO, those laws are aimed at sellers, NOT buyers!!. I've NEVER found a law that says you can't dispute a price a seller charges!. BUT, these laws were passed to protect buyers of products that could have been priced unconscionably high by collusive pricing by the sellers read the "sense of congress" on each law.

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

FFH5

Premium Member

Re: I wonder

said by iknow:

said by FFH5:

said by cypherstream:

Oh yeah what law is that?

A series of laws under category of anti-trust:
»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Un ··· rust_law
»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pr ··· e_fixing

NO, those laws are aimed at sellers, NOT buyers!!. I've NEVER found a law that says you can't dispute a price a seller charges!. BUT, these laws were passed to protect buyers of products that could have been priced unconscionably high by collusive pricing by the sellers read the "sense of congress" on each law.

Please re-read
»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pr ··· e_fixing

Price fixing is an agreement between participants on the same side in a market to buy or sell a product,

Price fixing requires a conspiracy between sellers or buyers.

iknow
Premium Member
join:2012-03-25

iknow

Premium Member

Re: I wonder

"Price fixing is an agreement between participants on the same side in a market to buy or sell a product, service, or commodity only at a fixed price, or maintain the market conditions such that the price is maintained at a given level by controlling supply and demand.

The intent of price fixing may be to push the price of a product as high as possible, leading to profits for all sellers but may also have the goal to fix, peg, discount, or stabilize prices. The defining characteristic of price fixing is any agreement regarding price, whether expressed or implied."
They are NOT on the same side in a market!. NOTICE also, that Profits of the SELLERS are the case in point!. in any case, the intent of the law is to lower prices in favor of consumers, NOT to increase prices in favor of sellers!. this is what FAIR competition is about!. no one can be forced by law to pay for anything they feel is too costly.(taxes are an exception).
Big Dawg 23
join:2002-03-27
Northfield, MN

Big Dawg 23 to cypherstream

Member

to cypherstream
its price collusion. IT would be like the Airlines, which they believe did set prices at a level to rape the consumer.

Yes Ideally it would be nice for all providers to tell these large companies to shove on the channel costs. Its bad enough the garbage channels you have to carrier to get the few you want.
JPL
Premium Member
join:2007-04-04
Downingtown, PA

JPL to cypherstream

Premium Member

to cypherstream
said by cypherstream:

Oh yeah what law is that?

That would be called collusion. Companies can't do it. Besides, why would they do that? If I'm DirecTV's competitors I'd be advertizing that 'we have Comedy Central... DirecTV doesn't.'
Chubbysumo
join:2009-12-01
Duluth, MN
Ubee E31U2V1
(Software) pfSense
Netgear WNR3500L

Chubbysumo to FFH5

Member

to FFH5
said by FFH5:

said by baineschile:

Why the distributors dont gather forces (DirectTV, Dish, TimeWarner, Comcast) and just say to Viacom "hey, this is the price we are going to give you, if you dont take it then you cant broadcast on any of us".

Because if they got together as a group to decide that, they would be breaking the law.

Isnt Viacom breaking the law by using their powers of a monopoly and content owner to cut access to DTVs customers? Isnt that showing that they are a monopoly and are abusing their powers as a monopoly(to a point where they are now showing they need more regulation)

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

FFH5

Premium Member

Re: I wonder

said by Chubbysumo:

said by FFH5:

said by baineschile:

Why the distributors dont gather forces (DirectTV, Dish, TimeWarner, Comcast) and just say to Viacom "hey, this is the price we are going to give you, if you dont take it then you cant broadcast on any of us".

Because if they got together as a group to decide that, they would be breaking the law.

Isnt Viacom breaking the law by using their powers of a monopoly and content owner to cut access to DTVs customers? Isnt that showing that they are a monopoly and are abusing their powers as a monopoly(to a point where they are now showing they need more regulation)

Someone could certainly try and prove that claim;including DOJ, state attorneys general; etc. But as there are 5 or 6 major content groups and scores of smaller ones, a monopoly would be hard to prove.

The fact that only Viacom sells a particular popular show or group of shows doesn't make for a monopolist.
ViRGE
join:2002-10-25

1 recommendation

ViRGE

Member

Re: I wonder

said by FFH5:

The fact that only Viacom sells a particular popular show or group of shows doesn't make for a monopolist.

And that's the crux of the issue. Being the only company producing a hot show is not the same thing as the only company producing TV shows at all. The high courts have never accepted such an argument.
armed
join:2000-10-20

armed to Chubbysumo

Member

to Chubbysumo
No
JPL
Premium Member
join:2007-04-04
Downingtown, PA

1 recommendation

JPL to Chubbysumo

Premium Member

to Chubbysumo
said by Chubbysumo:

said by FFH5:

said by baineschile:

Why the distributors dont gather forces (DirectTV, Dish, TimeWarner, Comcast) and just say to Viacom "hey, this is the price we are going to give you, if you dont take it then you cant broadcast on any of us".

Because if they got together as a group to decide that, they would be breaking the law.

Isnt Viacom breaking the law by using their powers of a monopoly and content owner to cut access to DTVs customers? Isnt that showing that they are a monopoly and are abusing their powers as a monopoly(to a point where they are now showing they need more regulation)

No, it's not the same thing. Viacom may have exclusive control over, say, Comedy Central, but that's no different than, say, Apple having total control over, say, the iPhone. It's their product. Other companies can, and do, come in with competing offerings. Fox News started because Murdoch though CNN was too liberally biased.

The argument could then be made that there are no other alternatives - what's the alternative to say Comedy Central? That's an invalid argument. Companies aren't obligated to exist to provide you with a specific product or service. Meaning, a competing offering to Comedy Central doesn't HAVE to exist. If it does... great. If it doesn't, then the question is - why? If it turns out that Viacom is engaging in unfair practices to keep another such channel, a competing channel, from seeing the light of day... that would be illegal. But just because one doesn't exist, doesn't mean that Viacom is doing anything illegal here. In other words - Viacom doesn't have a monopoly. There are other content providers out there. Any one of them are free to offer up content that directly competes with what Viacom offers.
NeoandGeo
join:2003-05-10
Harrison, TN

NeoandGeo to baineschile

Member

to baineschile
said by baineschile:

Why the distributors dont gather forces (DirectTV, Dish, TimeWarner, Comcast) and just say to Viacom "hey, this is the price we are going to give you, if you dont take it then you cant broadcast on any of us".

Because it would be against the law......That's not to say that it would be great for consumers. Most laws and corporations are anti-consumer in the first place and made to protect the fabricated idea that money is something "real".
armed
join:2000-10-20

armed to baineschile

Member

to baineschile
Because that would be against the law. Anti competition and all that. Companies cannot conspire together to control costs.

Unbundled
But When ? ?
Premium Member
join:2010-09-13
Irving, TX
Technicolor E31T2V1

Unbundled to baineschile

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to baineschile
What I would like to see, and there's no law against this, as far as I know, is for consumers to get together, and tell all of the cable/ satellite/wire companies, and the Media Conglomerates that bundle to them, that we, the customers are going to ONLY pay for the networks that we watch, and that we are no longer going to pay for netwroks that we --do not-- watch. Period.
ke4pym
Premium Member
join:2004-07-24
Charlotte, NC

ke4pym

Premium Member

Dispute resolved

Per Facebook post from DirecTV this is resolved. Channels are back.

Flibbetigibb
@lmco.com

Flibbetigibb

Anon

Re: Dispute resolved

Hah... glad I called DTV to beyotch earlier today. Snagged a nice billing credit for the next few months...
SunnyD
join:2009-03-20
Madison, AL

SunnyD to ke4pym

Member

to ke4pym
said by ke4pym:

Per Facebook post from DirecTV this is resolved. Channels are back.

As of this moment, the channels are not broadcasting on my boxes at home.
SunnyD

SunnyD to ke4pym

Member

to ke4pym
In fact, looking at DirecTV's facebook site, there is nothing saying that the dispute has been resolved. The only thing I see is that they are giving people free access to Encore movie networks until July 31st in the meantime.
hclarkjr
join:2002-08-09
Hostetter, PA

hclarkjr to ke4pym

Member

to ke4pym
channels are not back, i just checked

kaminar
@bellsouth.net

kaminar to ke4pym

Anon

to ke4pym
no they did not..need to read it again. Viacom negotiations are still in progress. In the interim, go to »www.directvpromise.com for more info. DTV will open up all the Encore channels for customers through July 31.
19579823 (banned)
An Awesome Dude
join:2003-08-04

19579823 (banned) to ke4pym

Member

to ke4pym
THESE BROADCASTERS HAVE ALOT OF NERVE RAISING THIER FUCKA PRICES WHEN THE QUALITY OF PROGRAMMING CONTINUES TO GO DOWNHILL!!!!!

I dont blame DTV for putting up a fuss and not automatically raising customer rates to compensate... EVEN THEY CAN SEE THAT TRASH IS BEING SEEN ON THESE NETWORKS NOW!!
19579823

19579823 (banned) to ke4pym

Member

to ke4pym
THE CHANNELS ARE NOT BACK AND THEY SHOULD NOT COME BACK!!!!!

VIACOM HAS ALOT OF NERVE ASKING FOR MORE $$$$$ WITHOUT MAKING THE QUALITY ANY BETTER!!

The crap on MTV is totally insane!!!!!!

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium Member
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK

KrK to ke4pym

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to ke4pym
Yes, it is resolved. Your bill will be going up.

StreetSpirit
This spot reserved for Xenu.
Premium Member
join:2002-08-13
Roslyn, NY

StreetSpirit to ke4pym

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to ke4pym
I just called my pal, a die hard DirecTV user.

Comedy Central, MTV, VH1 & Nick are still off for him. I don't know what was posted on the Facebook page, but until they crank up the channels, some of his favorite programming (CC, MTV, VH1) is up in the air.

If this lasts longer than a month, he's switching to cable, something I've been hinting at all the time
19579823 (banned)
An Awesome Dude
join:2003-08-04

19579823 (banned) to ke4pym

Member

to ke4pym
When i looked @ the program guide,they are ALL SCHEDULED to come back @ 3am PT Friday morning..... (Who knows wheather they will stick to the guide however)

Da Geek Kid
join:2003-10-11
::1

1 recommendation

Da Geek Kid

Member

Viacom Won't be missed....

With all the junk they show on TV... Good riddance to Viacom Channels and hello to more high quality HDTV channels.

yourright870
@qwest.net

yourright870

Anon

Re: Viacom Won't be missed....

I am also very happy DTV dropped Viacom and it's crap content. Viacom is the definition of greed and tosses it's weight around the entertainment industry, and it's good to see DTV stand up and tell them to "take a hike".

Go DTV...I support your actions!

PapaMidnight
join:2009-01-13
Baltimore, MD

PapaMidnight

Member

In the end, the customer loses

No matter which way this goes, the Customer will be the one who loses.

I also hope no DirecTV customers actually think their bills are going to go down now because of the lessened amount of available channels.

jmcgeejr
@frontiernet.net

jmcgeejr

Anon

So tired of the shite tv out there

They ask for more because people like the Kardashians need their 30 million per season for absolute junk...

tshirt
Premium Member
join:2004-07-11
Snohomish, WA

1 recommendation

tshirt

Premium Member

The only effective consumer ploy...

...would be a wide spread boycott cutoff DTV cashflow by canceling your account, spend the next couple months doing something different. If 25% or more of customer would do that they'd be begging you to come back by next week, offering huge discounts by fall.
Instead, you all act like crackheads, unable to pull yourself away from the dumbbox for even a week, let alone a couple months.
You deserve the poor treatment and constant price increases you get.

••••
kd6cae
P2p Shouldn't Be A Crime
join:2001-08-27
Bakersfield, CA

kd6cae

Member

How can distributors be allowed to just pull channels?

I'm curious about something technically. don't all national networks such as Nick, USA, TBS, and the like, originate on a C-band or KU-band satelite which all distributors be they satelite or cable then receive and rebroadcast to their customers? Assuming this is the case, why can't these providers just keep on broadcasting the channel? Can the provider itself somehow truly prevent the distributor from receiving the signal from the originating satelite? I suppose now that everything is digital this may be very possible. Finally can't consumers who may have a c-band or KU-band dish receive these channels directly from the content provider, just as the distributor would be doing? What would be the rate charged by the content provider to receive a given set of channels if say I had a dish and wanted to receive content that way? I don't know if there are very many consumers with the big dishes anymore, but I would think that would be one way of getting around all these carrier imposed messes. Just watch the content from the source signal.

••••

redxii
Mod
join:2001-02-26
Michigan
Asus RT-AC3100
Buffalo WZR-HP-G300NH2

redxii

Mod

Viacom...

Isn't that the network notorious for its really long commercial breaks? Comedy Central is the least offender, but when watching 90s Nick they squeeze as much as they can without going over the time slot. TVLand is seen extending time slots by 10 minutes for more commercials, and/or shorten a show to make room for more commercials.

What are they doing with all that advertising revenue..
tmc8080
join:2004-04-24
Brooklyn, NY

tmc8080

Member

$

consumers should stop feeding cable companies their hard hearned money! the slop they put on cable-tv these days isn't worth a rusty penny, let alone hundreds in fees, set-top rentals, taxes & surcharges, etc.

OTA and Internt can feed your video needs more cost effectively.
fiberguy2
My views are my own.
Premium Member
join:2005-05-20

fiberguy2

Premium Member

Re: $

What does this topic have to do with cable-tv again? I believe you're speaking about subscription television, right?

Further, internet feeds? .. that's still rewarding the networks. The only way to fight back as a consumer is to shun those that don't play well. And was suggested before, CUT THE CORD! There really isn't anything on cable TV that can't be gone with out for a few weeks, months or what ever.

In a perfect world, one thing I'd REALLY love to see is a national downgrade campaign. I'd LOVE to see as many people in the nation downgrade their service to the lowest form of service for a month. That's it! ONE MONTH! Cable would take tier 1, and the satellite subs would take the $19 plan or family plans or what ever. THAT would send a shock-wave through the country like never seen before. I think people could live on broadcast for a month.. and as you suggest, some FREE video content for a while too.

Something like this would be the best protest ever! THIS would be a dream come true I believe for everyone. And all it takes is a phone call,.. not even a home visit.
jeepwrang3
join:2011-02-24
North East, MD

1 recommendation

jeepwrang3

Member

Viacom stinks

I really could care less about this one other than Comedy Central, and thats primarily for Workaholics and Tosh.0 which arent exactly making me a brighter person

I'd pay to not get MTV, what a total waste of space.
cramer
Premium Member
join:2007-04-10
Raleigh, NC
Westell 6100
Cisco PIX 501

cramer

Premium Member

Re: Viacom stinks

And that's part of the problem... Viascum is demanding DTV buy *all* of their crap channels instead of the ones people actually want.

They claim "26 channels", but my lineup lost 16 channels, and there are dash-one info channels for 2 more (spanish channels I've never seen.) Like you, the ONLY ONE I regularly watch is Comedy Central. (the tivo will occasionally record something off Nick or VH1, but I usually delete it without watching.)
Joe12345678
join:2003-07-22
Des Plaines, IL

Joe12345678

Member

I think it's about Epix as well

So look out comacst.
gworkman
join:2005-10-18
Las Vegas, NV

gworkman

Member

Colbert and Daily Show not available online

So Viacom, once again, demonstrates how important the consumers are to them. Another strong and loud F U from the multi BILLION dollar company.

With the kids out of the house, I've come to realize the only thing I am missing through all of this is the Daily Show. It is on hiatus this week, so no big deal. If it doesn't come back next week, I could care less.

newview
Ex .. Ex .. Exactly
Premium Member
join:2001-10-01
Parsonsburg, MD

newview

Premium Member

Pack Sand Viacom

As far as I'm concerned, DirecTV can drop all Viacom channels and then lower my monthly bill.
It's way past time for cable & satellite providers to tell these greedy networks to go pack sand.

CBLMorphis
join:2001-02-25
Riverside, CA

CBLMorphis

Member

[ Do we get discount for them taking away channel ? ]

Do we get a discount for them taking away channels?
OwlSaver
OwlSaver
Premium Member
join:2005-01-30
Berwyn, PA

OwlSaver

Premium Member

This Industry Needs Some Serious Disintermediation

First a high profile creative group needs to put some top quality entertainment on You Tube or such. Then they need to start charging for it - say 10$ per season. Then others will follow and the Cable Companies will loose their hold on the industry. It does not make sense to me that this has not happened yet.

The tricky part would be sports. But it is not insurmountable.
raptor1418
Premium Member
join:2002-12-03
Denver, CO

raptor1418

Premium Member

Good Riddens

Been a Directv customer for 14yrs almost. Don't need those channels, don't watch those channels and I am sure I can find something else to watch on the other 1000 channels I have. So hoping one day "a la carte" will be a reality and not some fantasy.
Happydude32
Premium Member
join:2005-07-16

Happydude32

Premium Member

Best commercial ever!

»www.youtube.com/watch?v= ··· Ds1pL84U

djrobx
Premium Member
join:2000-05-31
Reno, NV

djrobx

Premium Member

Re: Best commercial ever!

Viacom is definitely a leader in failed negotiations advertising. They had a very similar video when they were spatting with Time Warner Cable.

The ones who are freaking out the most seem to be parents who no longer have access to Nickelodeon. This is leading to a lot of "interesting" parenting discussions on dbs websites.

-- Rob

maartena
Elmo
Premium Member
join:2002-05-10
Orange, CA

1 recommendation

maartena

Premium Member

Viacom is garbage

They now have removed a big portion of their online content. Shows you could previously watch for free online, have been removed not just for DirecTV customers (as they could have any type of internet connection), but for everyone.

Viacom is so afraid that DirecTV customers will watch their shows online, that they pulled em for all. Now customers of Dish, cable companies, FIOS and U-Verse are getting SCREWED OVER by Viacom as well, and they have nothing to do with the Viacom/DirecTV dispute.

F them. I am a DirecTV customer, and am FULLY supporting to THROW the Viacom channels from the lineup. Let Viacom decide whether they can miss the 20 million potential sets eyeballs. (and their families).

By removing the online content for all, Viacom has shown what a company of filthy thugs they are.

djrobx
Premium Member
join:2000-05-31
Reno, NV

djrobx

Premium Member

Re: Viacom is garbage

I agree with you completely.

I'm not all that surprised by Viacom's tactic though. DirecTV is citing online availability and falling viewership ratings as a reason that Viacom does not deserve the increases that they're demanding.

I'm just happy that CBS and Viacom split up. This would be much, much uglier if CBS was part of this mess.
djrobx

djrobx

Premium Member

How would regulators enforce prohibiting loss of content?

FTA: " Regulators are expected to begin examining regulations prohibiting paying customers from losing access to content while new contracts are negotiated."

How would that work? At some point content must be pulled if an agreement can't be reached.

Regulating pricing and bundling requirements would seem to be more appropriate.

nunya
LXI 483
MVM
join:2000-12-23
O Fallon, MO
·Charter

nunya

MVM

Sell it elsewhere

If these content providers were smart, they would sell it elsewhere. The traditional distribution methods are bleeding off.
If Viacom was smart, they peddle their wares at reasonable prices through other outlets.
They already have major revenue from commercials. Sell online access for cheap and add viewership numbers.
They should be approaching Roku, AppleTV, Google, Amazon, etc...

••••
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