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View Full Version : Rainbow Media & Uverse in carriage dispute


phrelin
07-09-10, 05:18 PM
I'm never quite sure where to post TV biz items that relate to both satellite carriers and cable systems, plus TV shows. So I'm putting this here.

From an article in Variety subheadlined AT&T threatens to drop AMC, IFC, WeTV days before 'Mad Men' premiere (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118021587.html?categoryid=14&cs=1): Negotiations to renew AT&T U-Verse's agreement with Rainbow Media to carry cable networks AMC, IFC and WeTV are coming down to the wire, with AT&T threatening to drop the channels at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, 10 days before the season premiere of AMC bellwether series "Mad Men."

The contract between the two parties expires Wednesday after approximately six months of renewal negotiations, and AT&T U-Verse has begun notifying its approximately 2.3 million subscribers that the networks might disappear from its offerings.

Rainbow is countering with an on-air, online (www.iwantmytvchannels.com), phone and social media campaign that will include onscreen crawls beneath shows on U-Verse.I know quite well that Dish subscribers like me will never see AMC and IFC in HD because of the lawsuit between Dish and Rainbow over VOOM. And I also note that there is some discussion (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?p=2525779#post2525779) on Direct threads about where is AMC HD?

It's good to see a telcom battling the cost increases. I was beginning to think that in a few years we'd be seeing $250/mo packages with the extra $100+ going to the greedy media companies.

Stewart Vernon
07-09-10, 05:29 PM
Maybe this will be good news for both Dish and DirecTV.

For a long time it has seemed like Dish was alone in fighting these disputes... but DirecTV has had a few. IF cable and AT&T/Verizon will jump on board and similarly have issues, it might bode well for everyone getting better deals.

It also, specifically in the case of Rainbow, might bode well for Dish as Rainbow probably doesn't want to have other carriers drop them.

paja
07-11-10, 08:24 AM
AT&T U-verse may lose the rights to carry AMC,IFC, and WE in an ongoing diputs with Rainbow. This may take effect on 7/14.

hdtvfan0001
07-11-10, 08:29 AM
More evidence that DirecTV's delay in offering these channels may be linked to the unattractive pricing requested by Rainbow....some call it content provider greed. :D

Looking at how Dish dropped 4 channels, and now UVerse is also dropping some...there is clear proof that this is more than just a fluke situation.

It seems to underscore that we are entering an era where starting up new HD channels requires tough pricing negotiations, which is not a fat process unfortunately.