Viacom Blackout

So, media giant Viacom and DirecTV are having a huge pissing contest because DirecTV seems insistent on changing Viacom's practice of "all or nothing" with regard to their channels.

Viacom, and other media giants for that matter, want cable companies to have all their channels bundled together rather than the companies choosing which they want. The cable companies are bitching that they are already paying millions as it is and would rather divvy it up by what they would prefer to carry.

The end-state of this pissing match is that last night, 10 July 2012 at midnight, DirecTV blackout all Viacom channels. 26 in total.

This is crap as I, the consumer, get boned (big Spike TV and CC fan), and the kiddies get screwed out of Nick (big Dora and Power Rangers fans).

The 26 channels include the MTV Network (7 channels), Nickelodeon (5 channels), CMT (3 channels), VH1 (3 channels), BET (4 channels), and also TV Land, Spike TV, Logo, TMF, VIVA, Palladia, and the biggest sin of them all, Comedy Central.

I personally see them dropping channels as a breach of the service contract and will be changing cable companies. Who out there on DirecTV agrees?

I could give a ***about the rest, but no more comedy central... I'll be demanding a refund for this month.

Absolutely. You paid for X, Y, and Z, but now you're only getting X and Y. Unless they reduce your rate, I'd absolutely take off. Even if they have a clause somewhere saying something like, "available channels are subject to change," the bottom line is that you're not getting what you were paying for.

But at the same time, assuming whatever you switch to does carry those channels, it's likely that they've already submitted to Viacom's wishes.

So I guess if the alternative offers what you want at a price you're okay with, you can punish DirecTV for not being competitive. But if you're on the same side as DirecTV, you're not doing them any favors by leaving... inasmuch as one subscriber makes any kind of difference anyway.

I completely agree it's just a big pissing contest, on both sides, but what it comes down to (I think anyways, given all that I've read on the situation) is the greedy being greedy. Both sides just want to squeeze out every last cent they can. Despite each side's claim that they're willing to bend, I don't think either side really is.

I don't see it as a breach of service though.. I'm not a DirecTV customer, but I don't need to be to have an opinion on it. All those dropped channels are just part of the 'basic cable' package or whatever they're calling it these days.. It's not like it's a premium channel like HBO or Cinemax or something. I feel you're well within your rights to drop them as your provider though.

Also, pretty sure just last year or something Viacom went through this with Comcast.. I'm pretty sure we came very close to losing AMC and ***, which would have made me rage hard because it was in the middle of the first season of Walking Dead. I think it's safe to jump to Comcast if you want though, they worked out whatever.

Viacom is being greedy. They wanted to increase their prices by 30% lol which is why DirectTV gave them the *** you. Would have raised everyone's prices

Meh, I'm with Directtv. Only channel I'd probably have been sad about would have been Nickelodeon but thankfully Legend of Korra already had its season finale...thats the only tv show on that station worth watching anyway.

I don't watch any of the others.

Viacom run by teenage HS mean girls. News at 11 -- if you're provider allows! MWAHAHAHAH!

Could they have just done the world a huge favor and only Blacked Out MTV?

I can't really agree that Viacom is being greedy. From what I've read, it was coming time to renew a contract that was signed 7 years ago (unheard of in that industry apparently).

I truthfully find it odd that DirecTV thought they were going to get the same price for something that they did 7 years ago. Pretty much nothing costs the same as it did 7 years ago. Its called inflation.

Now, I'm no industry insider, but 30% does, at least to me, sound a tad high. However, I also think that DirecTV is completely deluded to think they can continue to get a service at a price that was likely valid 7 years ago.

I know some people who have Dish Network are in an uproar about AMC and IFC being ousted. I'd be pissed, but UVerse, ladies and gentlemen! UVerse!

lol I like the kind of snooty message on my nick station.

I am very pissed ; ;

@Daus.. watch MLP!! GO GO

Thing I noticed about that picture,is the use of the word "unfair".I'm sure whichever tv provider will deem the extra $5 or $10 a month for that one channel a "fair" increase

Edit: Just occured to me that the "unfair increase" might also include it being unfair to increase your bill by ANY amount for the channels you were already recieving!After all its unfair to up the price for w/e you're already getting......here's looking at you Sky TV in Ireland =\

Word going around is that the "unfair increase" in billing would have amounted to about 5 cents extra per month per customer...

As a parent that currently has to deal with two kids that are riding on the Brat-illac, I would certainly pay that to get Dora and Power Rangers back right now. >.>

All of my Nick stuff is still on Netflix, so I'm no worse for wear.

Oh yeah, $7.99/mo. Free mo trial.

I half remember the "unfair increase" part of either Comcast or someone else in a similar situation a few years ago. And then it came out that, yeah, it was a really insignificant amount and they had been just dumping bad PR out there for everyone when they could have easily just eaten the cost with fewer negative effects.

As long as cartoon network and G4 are unharmed so I can watch bleach and Sara Underwood IDC :]

Mmm Sara Underwood.. not as good as Oliva Munn but still mmm

Mmmm eye candy

I liked her Playboy spread.. >.> ANYWAY /done being off topic

This isn't as much a problem for me, as I seldom watch TV, as there is never anything decent on 99% of the time.
But regardless, corporate piss fests always seem to alienate the consumer and ultimately become counter productive to their business.

alienate the consumer... most likely... counter productive to business? not really... in some cases sure but most of the time no... these aren't really pissing matches anyways... they're business decisions...

I always enjoy these lovers spats. It's kind of funny to watch each side paint the other as the biggest douche in the universe, then as soon as they have a new deal they're back to being the best of buddies.

People still shell out money for cable?

just went to addictinggames.com and had a direct tv ad about the blackout >_>

Seriously cut the cord people lol

I dunno, DirecTV did refuse to inflict G4 on helpless consumers a few years back. Clearly they have some sort of humane standards.

Cut the cord people never consider us sports fanatics :/

Sporting events are part of the reason why I never got into the whole streaming thing.

Sports are the reason why I even have cable & can never get rid of it under any circumstance