Time Warner is at it again!

[RStar]

Looks like they will cut off Viacom channels including MTV, VH1, CMT, Nicelodeon, and Comedy Central. Once again they are going to make their customers suffer because they can't work out their differences with their suppliers again. I hate big corperate business.....

The story (http://www.newsobserver.com/2166/story/1350273.html)

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Interesting. The article seemed a bit skewed towards Viacom so I checked out a few other articles on this. There's a lot of he said she said going on.

It's Viacom who will be pulling the channels, not Time Warner. Of course V says that it's TW's fault, but it will be V making the decision to go dark.

V claims that it would be only a 25 cent increase per month per customer, and that they were not getting their fair share of revenue for to the popularity of their channels. TW claims that they asked for a much higher increase, and that this will cause other channels to ask for more money.

From the various reports I guess I'd fall on the side of Viacom.

Comedy Central is one of the few channels we actually watch, so let's hope they work this crap out.

[Alex]

I tend to fall on the side of the cable companies. The carriage fees some of the distributors request are really outrageous.

Though what should really be done is make some regulatory movement towards a la carte and then the various carriage fees can be transparently passed on to those who want to subscribe to that channel (and ESPN14 will find out just how many people really want that channel when Disney isn't able to force cable companies to carry it if they want ESPN).

[BarTopDancer]

I'm watching VH1 and they have a ticker going across about the loss of the stations. They are going to pull Nickelodeon, Noggin, VH1, MTV, Spike, Comedy Central and TV Land tonight from TW and Brighthouse Networks.

[Ghoulish Delight]

.

Comedy Central is one of the few channels we actually watch, so let's hope they work this crap out.
We've stopped watching Colbert, only occasionally watch the Daily Show (much of which we can watch online if need be), and South Park's been mediocre. I'd still likely miss South Park, but I won't be devastated if the station disappeared for a bit.

Now if Cartoon Network (i.e., Adult Swim) were in jeopardy, then I'd start a riot.

[Alex]

And aren't The Daily Show and South Park available legally on the Web?

Oddly, Spike is probably the channel on BTD's list that we watch the most but only because Lani puts on CSI reruns as background noise. It isn't like there aren't a billion other channels on which you can watch CSI.

(Though the issue is moot for me since we're Comcast up here.)

[BDBopper]

Why can't we do Ala cart Cable? I'd like to pay for the channels I want and not pay for the channels I don't. It would force the hands of these channels to actually get some good quality programming on there. Competition is a great thing.

Ever since The Disney Channel went to basic they have gone down the crapper. The reason it was so good was that they had to please the subscribers withj quality entertainment or lose money.

[JWBear]

We have Verizon. :)

[cirquelover]

We have Dish up here and have lost our ABC affiliate. With Lost coming up fast the husband is mad as heck because he'd just upgraded to HD.

I was just sad not to see the Disney parade on Christmas and to miss the Rose parade tomorrow. We have a really bad antenna set up right now so Gary doesn't miss the bowl games.

The cable company says to write to your Senator so they can change the reulations but as fast as they work it could be 2020 before they figure it out1

[Ghoulish Delight]

We have Dish up here and have lost our ABC affiliate. With Lost coming up fast the husband is mad as heck because he'd just upgraded to HD.

You can get a relatively inexpensive indoor antenna (like this one (http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=indoor+antenna&sourceid=navclient-ff&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1B3GGGL_enUS256US256&um=1&cid=10312921345373044459&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&resnum=1&ct=result#ps-sellers) and get the broadcast HD version of ABC. Unless of course the signal in your area sucks.

[cirquelover]

Which of course, the signal in our area sucks! We have tried 4 different antennas. Gary is now debating paying a guy to come 30 miles to hook up a big house one. It will cost 500+ and I'm just not sure if it's worth the expense but it is Lost after all. He keeps trying to use Desperate Housewives against me but I have'nt been all that thrilled this season anyway.

[RStar]

Well, late last night Time Warner and Viacom came to an agreement, and those channels didn't go dark. I wonder if Viacom hadn't mounted their camaign if Time Warner would have agreed with out getting as much heat from their customers as they did. I know this stuff happends behind the scene all the time, and I'm a little ticked that we had to get dragged into it.

[Mousey Girl]

I agree. I called BH to find out why I was going to be losing channels I paid for. I was given a very scripted reply. I asked if that meant I would be forced to go to satalite. The rep didn't seem to care that they wouldlose customers.

[alphabassettgrrl]

The individual reps *don't* really care about losing customers. That's somebody else's problem, and they only care if they get yelled at for it.

[Mousey Girl]

I know, but when I was a CSR for Satan's Biggest Corporation, I cared about my customers. I knew that logically, I depended on them for my job. If enough customers got upset/angry and left that company the company would no longer require the CSR.

[Drince88]

I asked if that meant I would be forced to go to satalite.
Be careful if you do that - read Cirque Lover's post. My parents are in the 'lost their ABC' boat, but at least they're in an area where the reception is ok via rabbit ears. My sister, in Tehachapi (sp?) has the CBS affiliate out and was very bummed (before the game) that she couldn't watch the Oregon State Sun Bowl game.

That's been going on since before Christmas (Fisher Broadcasting vs Dish Network) - and was really hard on my parents during the 'all weather all the time' when I was there, since they like KATU (ABC) better for local coverage.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Still getting Viacom channels here.

[Stan4dSteph]

A settlement was reached (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/02/business/media/02cable.html?ref=business).

[RStar]

A settlement was reached (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/02/business/media/02cable.html?ref=business).
Thanks for the link, Steph! :snap:
Still getting Viacom channels here.

I thought that's what I said. ;)

[alphabassettgrrl]

I know, but when I was a CSR for Satan's Biggest Corporation, I cared about my customers. I knew that logically, I depended on them for my job. If enough customers got upset/angry and left that company the company would no longer require the CSR.

Which is a good attitude to have. Sometimes I think people don't understand it, though.

[RStar]

Which is a good attitude to have. Sometimes I think people don't understand it, though.
I think that's a good point. In the past a worker figured that the company they worked for was an extention of their self, and that they represented what the company stood for. The age of "It's all about me" has some how severed the umbilical cord that connected our job with who we are. Now it's just a place to make a living and if we clock in and get paid it no longer matters how well we do our job. Turnover is at an all time high.

I blame the lack of benifits, good pay, and retirement packages. People just don't care to build senority if they don't have a good retirement package to bank.

[alphabassettgrrl]

Another factor is that companies don't seem to care about retaining employees; why should I be loyal and put myself out for a company, that when things get rough, will toss me in a heartbeat? Companies do a lot of dirty things and there seems to be little point in trying. Like they say in "Office Space"- you only work hard enough to avoid being fired. Sad, really.

I'm lucky that I work for a boss who does value us. He keeps as many of us employed as often as possible.

[Kevy Baby]

For my own personal ethics, I have to do my best at whatever I do. My Dad oft told me that no matter what I do, do my best at it. It is a sentiment I carry with me. Even when I worked at a gas station (as a "Petroleum Transfer Engineer"), I hustled to do my best.

It is something I just can't help.

[alphabassettgrrl]

A rare thing these days, Kevy. Some people still do try, and that's heartening but it seems to be uncommon.

[RStar]

For my own personal ethics, I have to do my best at whatever I do. My Dad oft told me that no matter what I do, do my best at it. It is a sentiment I carry with me. Even when I worked at a gas station (as a "Petroleum Transfer Engineer"), I hustled to do my best.

It is something I just can't help.

Yes, kudos kevy!

The company I work for is a small (50-60 emloyees) manufacturer with a family feel. We are all considered family, and as such we try our best for the most part (some people are the exceptions). The founder (who passed away) left it to her daughter and her ex-husband. Their son works there off and on. I have worked there 27 years, my mom and my son works there, and my wife use to work there. And there are other employees there with all sorts of family members. It tends to make you want to be more of a host to the customers than just a snide voice on the phone....