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Are Time Warner Cable subscribers about to be out-FOX'd?
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Are Time Warner Cable users going to lose all FOX-owned and -operated stations as they ring in 2010? Maybe.Hopes are fading that Fox's retransmission consent agreement with Time Warner Cable, the second-largest cable operator in the U.S., reports Variety.
The negotiations have stalled and if a deal isn't reached by Thursday, Dec 31, FOX stations in key markets (including New York, Los Angeles and Dallas) will go dark on Time Warner Cable systems at 12:01 am Friday.
This disruption would also include FX, Speed, Fuel TV and many regional FOX sports stations that serve 11 major markets. A FOX spokesman told Variety they are not optimistic an agreement can be reached by Dec. 31.
FOX has been encouraging Time Warner Cable customers to seek alternatives in Direct TV and Dish Network, while Time Warner has been telling its customers they are standing firm on the increase in the retransmission consent fee FOX is demanding because they'll only have to pass that cost on to their subscribers.
In the meantime, Time Warner subscribers can say goodbye to the bowl games FOX is broadcasting next week and the premiere of "American Idol" on Jan. 12 if this is not resolved by then.
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Stay tough Time Warner!!! It will hurt not to see some Fox programming, but it is WELL worth it to teach them, and all the other networks watching intently, a BIG lesson. Fox thought they'd be hurt by losing their dollar-per-subscriber demand? Wait until they lose MILLIONS of viewers.... No ratings, and not ad revenue.
Fox can go pound sand. On-Air TV is free and should remain that way. Maybe Fox and the other networks should PAY cable companies instead. Without cable, they'd have a fraction of the viewership they currently enjoy.
Greedy Greedy Greedy. I sincerely hope it bites Fox in the rear.
Now I won't get to fast forward through their commercials on my DVR provided by TW who have been lowering prices since I've started with them. Eat My shorts FOX. I will watch online. Hulu Gonna start charging in 2010.
I will miss 24 very much.
You two single brain cell amoebas don't actually think Time Warner gives a flying fart about you, do you?
Oh yeah, Time Warner is really looking out for the little guy. If anything, this will only help Fox, because Fox's parent company also owns DirecTV, which will be a direct beneficiary of Fox's battle with Time Warner (and Dish Network).
The only company that will come out like a loser is Time Warner - and they're a loser anyway - since they will be without Fox and its valuable (and popular) cable channels and left holding their **** in their hands.
Spare me this drivel that Time Warner is looking out for mentally challenged viewers and saving them from the big bad Fox. People with more than two brain cells and IQs in the double digits aren't buying Time Warner's ****!!!
I'm with JoJo on this one. Well said.
I would pay to have Fox News station removed from my cable package.
To me this is just a power struggle between two powerful companies, neither of them are hurting and I doubt that they will hurt after 01-01-10.
If negotiations fail Fox network might take some customers away from Time Warner but with today's economy it is likely that those with no good credit can't and won't be able to switch to the alternates of satellite dish even if they want too (let's face the news tell us a big number of people right now have horrible credit and that's what takes to have dish tv)
At the end it will be costumer who suffers the most.
So for me it will be good bye good morning LA 4ever!
Meantime I have something to gossip about.
TW will hold like a house of cards after people start leaving. FOX is the number one network according to NOV sweeps.
Subscribers will not be without the NFL, bowl games, 24, House and the crappy American Idol
I totally agree: Fox and Time Warner are two huge companies and they are just jockeying for position. Neither is on the verge of bankruptcy and the squabble with Fox will likely not hurt either company.
However, I do believe that Time Warner has more to lose than Fox does. As pointed out, Fox owns DirecTV and customers may opt to blame Time Warner for having to go without Fox instead of blaming Fox.
Thankfully I have a satellite subscription so my Fox and its cable channels aren't going anywhere, at least not yet.
Charging for something that is free is bad. Time Warner, although I hate their guts, should not cave in. Fox will take it harder than Time Warner does.