Viacom to Pull Networks from Time Warner Cable - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 12-31-2008, 12:08 AM

Link

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Viacom Inc on Tuesday said it will pull its cable television networks, including Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and MTV, off Time Warner Cable if the companies do not reach a deal on carriage fees by January 1.

In a statement, Viacom said it is seeking a fee increase of less than 25 cents per month per subscriber from the second-largest U.S. cable operator.

Time Warner Cable says it has 13.3 million video subscribers. Its top markets include New York, Los Angeles, Dallas and Cleveland.

"Time Warner Cable has dismissed our efforts at a fair compromise," Viacom said in a statement. "As a result, we are sorry to say that for Time Warner Cable customers our networks will go dark as of 12:01 on January 1st."

Some of television's most popular shows appear on Viacom's 19 cable TV networks, including "Dora the Explorer," "SpongeBob SquarePants," "The Colbert Report," "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" and "The Hills."

Time Warner Cable spokesman Alex Dudley said Viacom was asking for steep fee increases despite the fact that "ratings are sagging" at most of its networks.

"It just smacks of desperation from a company that is trying to make up for a failing business model on our subscribers' backs, and we're not going to take it," Dudley said.

New York-based Time Warner Cable, which is expected to split from its parent Time Warner Inc next year, faces cost pressure from programmers demanding cash for retransmission fees. Retransmission fees are paid by cable and satellite companies to owners of broadcast signals on cable systems.

As advertising has taken a hit, more broadcasters are demanding cash from cable companies. At the same time, however, cable subscriber growth is slowing as consumers cut back on spending.

Brieannas21 · 12-31-2008, 04:39 AM

I just saw this roll across my screen, I'm sitting here watching Three's Company and I thought it was some kind of joke. Man, I feel bad for Time Warner customers.

Zoneboy · 12-31-2008, 04:44 AM

Greed and money are no joke where Viacommunists are concerned.

ekkostar · 12-31-2008, 07:08 AM

Warner Bros pulled Night Court from TV Land last week because the contract was up. I have no use for Viacom's networks (Don't give me that crap about South Park, Stewart or Colbert because I don't watch that crap).
I cannot believe it's the age of the internet and people are still complaining about this stuff. YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO.

TJL · 12-31-2008, 09:44 AM

Can't say i'll miss any of the networks they're planning to pull from my channel lineup; okay, I would like Comedy Central back.

robyrob · 12-31-2008, 10:45 AM

Comedy Central is their only channel that pulls in any viewers anyways - I am actually a little upset to discover that their fees are ALREADY 2.5% of my cable bill, when they are clearly responsible for less than a tenth of that in viewing or original programming (all of their channels repeat their programming so much they could almost combine them all into a single channel)

THIS IS A BUNCH OF CRAP - and they should just put all of the Viacom channels onto their own tier and let anyone that wants them pay the $30 ransom for Comedy Central.

USATVFAN · 12-31-2008, 11:18 AM

I have Bresman Cable. So I am good

ryan423 · 12-31-2008, 12:09 PM

Ok, this is far from logical. If I see this actualy happen, It'll be starting my new year wrong!

USATVFAN · 12-31-2008, 12:12 PM

But I do fell bad fo the people with Time Warner and Bright House Cabel. They will miss out on alot.

ryan423 · 12-31-2008, 12:15 PM

If this happens, I'm sure my household will be switching to Comcast or Dirct TV.

Scoobiedoo30 · 12-31-2008, 12:35 PM

I know I was watching M*A*S*H Last Night on TV Land and they had a thing bottom of the screen saying Alert Time Warner and Bright House.

ryan423 · 12-31-2008, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scoobiedoo30

I know I was watching M*A*S*H Last Night on TV Land and they had a thing bottom of the screen saying Alert Time Warner and Bright House.

Yep. That strip is being used on all Viacom stations for TWC and BH subscribers. From what I hear, if negoiations dont pull through, Viacom will start airing commericals as early as tomorrow encouraging TWC and BH to reconsider with popular nicktoons such as Spongebob and personalities such as Stephen Colbert. Tell all your friends to call TWC!

Scoobiedoo30 · 12-31-2008, 02:00 PM

I wonder what what will happen with they do not agree with a new contract by 11:00 pm CT Time I don;t understand why we have to pay for channel's when my cable company could not agree on a new contract for WDSU HD they filled channel 706 withy A & E HD until WDSU HD could agree on a new contractr with took a year.

ThomasE · 12-31-2008, 02:43 PM

I saw it as I as watching a George Lopez rerun this morning on Nick @ 1am. I am not amused. I watch Nick, The N, TV Land, definitely VH1.

I just attempted to call a third time and am getting a busy signal. My aunt in florida says that her bright house service (formerly named Time Warner) is getting the same warning that the rest of us are.

People keep calling!

Scoobiedoo30 · 12-31-2008, 03:30 PM

please keep calling

12-31-2008, 12:08 AM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,458	Viacom to Pull Networks from Time Warner Cable Link LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Viacom Inc on Tuesday said it will pull its cable television networks, including Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and MTV, off Time Warner Cable if the companies do not reach a deal on carriage fees by January 1. In a statement, Viacom said it is seeking a fee increase of less than 25 cents per month per subscriber from the second-largest U.S. cable operator. Time Warner Cable says it has 13.3 million video subscribers. Its top markets include New York, Los Angeles, Dallas and Cleveland. "Time Warner Cable has dismissed our efforts at a fair compromise," Viacom said in a statement. "As a result, we are sorry to say that for Time Warner Cable customers our networks will go dark as of 12:01 on January 1st." Some of television's most popular shows appear on Viacom's 19 cable TV networks, including "Dora the Explorer," "SpongeBob SquarePants," "The Colbert Report," "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" and "The Hills." Time Warner Cable spokesman Alex Dudley said Viacom was asking for steep fee increases despite the fact that "ratings are sagging" at most of its networks. "It just smacks of desperation from a company that is trying to make up for a failing business model on our subscribers' backs, and we're not going to take it," Dudley said. New York-based Time Warner Cable, which is expected to split from its parent Time Warner Inc next year, faces cost pressure from programmers demanding cash for retransmission fees. Retransmission fees are paid by cable and satellite companies to owners of broadcast signals on cable systems. As advertising has taken a hit, more broadcasters are demanding cash from cable companies. At the same time, however, cable subscriber growth is slowing as consumers cut back on spending.
	Last edited by Zoneboy; 12-31-2008 at 02:09 AM.

12-31-2008, 07:08 AM	#4
ekkostar Coffee, Tea & Larroquette! Senior Member Join Date: Apr 16, 2005 Posts: 1,077	Warner Bros pulled Night Court from TV Land last week because the contract was up. I have no use for Viacom's networks (Don't give me that crap about South Park, Stewart or Colbert because I don't watch that crap). I cannot believe it's the age of the internet and people are still complaining about this stuff. YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO.
	__________________ "All my sitcoms had an audience, with four or five cameras, so working this way has always been appealing to me." - John Larroquette A living legend, five Emmys and a Tony award! Your favorites could never...

12-31-2008, 09:44 AM	#5
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	Can't say i'll miss any of the networks they're planning to pull from my channel lineup; okay, I would like Comedy Central back.
	__________________ "I think I'll stroll up to the front to see how the shooting's going..." - Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce Read my blogs! http://centralparkamisguide.com/ http://dvdcriticscorner.com Visit me on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=641138880 Hey, I do the tweet thing too! http://twitter.com/TomLevier My shop of handmade items! http://www.etsy.com/shop/ColdGarageCreations

12-31-2008, 10:45 AM	#6
robyrob certified wackball#3 Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 03, 2003 Location: hiding under the third booth at Arnold's Posts: 58,206	Comedy Central is their only channel that pulls in any viewers anyways - I am actually a little upset to discover that their fees are ALREADY 2.5% of my cable bill, when they are clearly responsible for less than a tenth of that in viewing or original programming (all of their channels repeat their programming so much they could almost combine them all into a single channel) THIS IS A BUNCH OF CRAP - and they should just put all of the Viacom channels onto their own tier and let anyone that wants them pay the $30 ransom for Comedy Central.
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12-31-2008, 11:18 AM	#7
USATVFAN Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 31, 2007 Location: Kalispell, USA Posts: 1,742	I have Bresman Cable. So I am good
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12-31-2008, 04:39 AM	#2
Brieannas21 Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 05, 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 9,792	I just saw this roll across my screen, I'm sitting here watching Three's Company and I thought it was some kind of joke. Man, I feel bad for Time Warner customers.

12-31-2008, 04:44 AM	#3
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,458	Greed and money are no joke where Viacommunists are concerned.

12-31-2008, 12:09 PM	#8
ryan423 Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 15, 2007 Posts: 1,829	Ok, this is far from logical. If I see this actualy happen, It'll be starting my new year wrong!

12-31-2008, 12:12 PM	#9
USATVFAN Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 31, 2007 Location: Kalispell, USA Posts: 1,742	But I do fell bad fo the people with Time Warner and Bright House Cabel. They will miss out on alot.

12-31-2008, 12:15 PM	#10
ryan423 Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 15, 2007 Posts: 1,829	If this happens, I'm sure my household will be switching to Comcast or Dirct TV.

12-31-2008, 12:35 PM	#11
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	I know I was watching MAS*H Last Night on TV Land and they had a thing bottom of the screen saying Alert Time Warner and Bright House.
	__________________ Who Dat

12-31-2008, 02:00 PM	#13
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	I wonder what what will happen with they do not agree with a new contract by 11:00 pm CT Time I don;t understand why we have to pay for channel's when my cable company could not agree on a new contract for WDSU HD they filled channel 706 withy A & E HD until WDSU HD could agree on a new contractr with took a year.

12-31-2008, 02:43 PM	#14
ThomasE Member Moderator Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2000 Location: New York, New York, U.S.A. Posts: 10,857	I saw it as I as watching a George Lopez rerun this morning on Nick @ 1am. I am not amused. I watch Nick, The N, TV Land, definitely VH1. I just attempted to call a third time and am getting a busy signal. My aunt in florida says that her bright house service (formerly named Time Warner) is getting the same warning that the rest of us are. People keep calling!
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12-31-2008, 03:30 PM	#15
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	please keep calling