It seems DirecTV didn't have any trouble

[Chris Blount]

DISH/Viacom Talks Continue, DirecTV Inks Deal

Viacom and EchoStar agreed to continue discussions through next week concerning carriage of Viacom-owned programming - such as MTV Networks, Showtime and CBS.

There was a deadline for negotiations set for Wednesday. Specifics were not available concerning the carriage extension.

The move to continue discussions for carriage of the programming will keep Viacom networks on DISH Network through next week.

Meanwhile, Viacom and DirecTV announced an agreement that secures continued carriage of BET and MTV Networks' programming on the satellite TV service.

The DirecTV deal also provides for CBS analog broadcasts as well as CBS's high-def Super Bowl coverage and its HDTV lineup in owned-and-operated markets. DirecTV also will continue to carry UPN analog broadcasts.

http://www.skyreport.com (Used with permission)

[JohnH]

Well, as to the trouble part, it should be noted that DirecTV did have to have an extension to get a deal. The original date was 12/31/03.

[James Long]

Perhaps DirecTV just bent over and took the spanking?

E* wants to carry both Viacom Locals and Viacom's cable channels, they just don't want the two linked. D* may have thought outside the box and realized that bundled or unbundled it was a good deal.

Who knows. "Contract terms undisclosed."

JL

[Chris Freeland]

I suspect that by next week E* will end up doing a similar deal to what D* just did with Viacom. For those of you asking for new channels, my crystal ball sees NickToons being added to AT180 in the near future :D .

[BobMurdoch]

Perhaps DirecTV just bent over and took the spanking?

E* wants to carry both Viacom Locals and Viacom's cable channels, they just don't want the two linked. D* may have thought outside the box and realized that bundled or unbundled it was a good deal.

Who knows. "Contract terms undisclosed."

JL

D* usually just takes the costs and passes it on. Charlie has the rep of fighting any increases tooth and nail. The benefits of this approach are that the prices may be kept lower than they would be otherwise. The downside is that we are collateral damage when they decide to play hardball with each other.

[Tom21bb]

Actually, the last time DirecTV added a few channels, they rearranged their structure and my bill went DOWN a few dollars. I pay about $2 less for comparable (not identical) programming from DirecTV than I did with Dish. I always heard stuff about how the cost of NFLST was passed on to the subs, how the cost of TRIO was passed on to the subs, how the cost of the free monthly concerts are passed on to the subs, etc. etc. etc. If that's the case, then DirecTV must be WAY cheaper to begin with . . .

[Anthony]

I don't pretend to know what is happening in negotiations between Dish and Viacom but if Viacom is asking Dish to pay $$$ for Nicktoons, a channel showing all Nick cartoons ever made, their nuts. This strategy of taking old programming and reselling it as something new and a "must have" is just plain crazy (didn't want to use the word nuts again). Program providers are using this marketing ploy to better leverage their negotiating positions with cable and satellite. Good business, maybe. A reason to tell Viacom (and others) to take a walk, definitely.

[Jerry 42]

From online HD Mag -

Directv will carry/add CBS HD feeds and will be adding TNT HD channel which I guess is starting up. I have no confirmation from a 2nd source or other details.