Disney's deadline for Cablevision approaches; 3.1 million New Yorkers may lose ABC [Updated]
More than three million New Yorkers stand to lose ABC at midnight tonight (Sat. March 6) if Disney's deadline for a retransmission agreement with Cablevision doesn't come through, reports AP.
Both companies have waged a PR war over the past week as they've tried to place the other as the villain in their ongoing battle over Cablevision's transmission of the ABC signal.
ABC has trotted out some of its biggest daytime personalities to talk about the battle on their talk shows, including Barbara Walters, Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa. Some have viewed their opinions as swinging toward their corporate bosses.
Cablevision has been running on-air promos, created a website with their views and called out Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger as the person who's really holding the puppet strings in these negotiations.
According to Cablevision, Disney wants an extra $40 million a year in new fees. The cable provider claims they currently pay more than $200 million a year to Disney.
Disney says Cablevision already charges its subscribers $18 a month for basic broadcast signals and they haven't received a cut of that fee. D.C. lawmakers have suggested that the FCC get involved in the squabble.
What's at stake for the 3.1 New York Cablevision subscribers?
Immediately, they won't be able to view Sunday's Oscars (unless they have an antenna and digital converter box). In the long run, Cablevision says that the new retransmission rates for ABC would be passed on to its subscribers in their monthly cable bills.
How do you feel about Disney wanting to be paid for the ABC network?
[Updated Sun. March 7 12:08 AM Disney made good on their threat and pulled WABC from Cablevision subscribers in New York areas a minute after Midnight on Sun. morning. We'll update as details emerge on the negotiations.]
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Photo credit: ABC; Cablevision
I'm a Cablevision subscriber, and I couldn't say that I'd miss ABC much at all. The only show I watch on ABC is "V", and I can watch that on Hulu. Well, there's also Jeopardy, but another local station shows that too.
Who will suffer from this us the costumers and that's what bothers me since I'm a cable vision costumer. We shouldn't be paying for a channel that is free to everyone else. There is no excuse now since a clear signal can be see using a converter box. So might be shopping for a converter box soon :-D
I think Cablevision is greed personified. If this goes down I switch providers.
Disney wants $40 million a year. Cablevision has about 3.1 million customers. Just increase everyone's monthy bill by a $1.10 and be done with it. Anyone who has been a long-time cable customer is well aware that rate hikes are par for the course.
Who's going to suffer?? We are that's who! Why not let the loyal viewer watch the Oscars and then turn it off?? Because ABC like Cablevision doesn't give a rat's behind about the customer. What options do some of us have that ABC keeps spouting about? I can only get a dish where I live and do you know how long it takes to get an appointment and what am I supposed to do about the phone/internet service that cable provides??? Wait do I spend $50 for an antenna that will get thrown away when this is resolved or pay a bill??
The little guy always gets screwed and in this instance nothing will change and I believe that my station will go dark tonight.
Let Disney take their channels. They drop 3.1 million viewers, what will that do to their bottom line? Less viewers, less revenue from the advertisers. If every cable company stood up to them, then ABC and Disney would be begging for the cable companies to carry their channels.
Just another example of corporate greed at its finest. It revolts me that the corporation run by multi-millionaires are taking it out on the blue-collar guy because they want $240 million instead of $200 million. And as far as Cablevision goes, a room full of apes could do a better job.
Honestly, they need to stop flinging mud at each other like a couple of neanderthals and come to an agreement, so no one looks bad and the customers win.
get satellite and stop complaining
If you can get FiOS.
Cablevision and the Dolans are the evil empire. They don't allow FiOS to carry MSNBC for the longest time and MSG HD..