Happy New Year! Oh and Viacom/Time Warner ranting...

[twichie]

Hey all! I know it's been a little quiet lately here on the Twichie blog. I've actually been enjoying some off time (which, for me, must include away from the computer time since most of my work is online) with everyone in the family since hubby's off too

Comments

[ltgarrix]

Oh for the love of Pete. That is just wrong. Of course, I recall Time Warner getting into it with ESPN over not carrying ESPN HD because of the franchising fee ESPN was asking for. Same sort of crap with NFL Network (though they wanted to be on the basic tier and not one of the advanced tiers even though there really isn't squat worth watching on that network when there isn't a game.

Thankfully I don't have Time Warner right now (Cox - which is only incrementally better) and we don't do Nickelodeon. I'm trying to think if I watch anything on ABC or any other Viacom channel.

I will agree that current cable pricing is an utter load of hooey. I would much rather do a'la carte and pay for the channels I want. I don't give a rats patootie about channels like BET, MTVs and such, but would love to have BBC America without having to pay $7 a month.

[twichie]

I would love it if things like this would open the door to real a'la carte pricing on networks. I'd much prefer paying for what I DO use and NOT paying for what I don't. (On the same note, I'd love it if the NFL would wise up and offer an a'la carte system for their games as well. It's stupidity to believe that the only people interested in a Steelers game must be in Pittsburgh. I'd be willing to pay to watch MY games instead of being forced to watch the Cowboys simply because of where I live. Meh

[ltgarrix]

Exactly. Viacom is over the line. They had a big full page full color ad of Dora on the back page of one of the sections of the Charlotte Observer (we're at the inlaws) basically saying that your cable company is refusing to carry our channels over a measley 23 cents a person, less than one cent a day. *rolleyes*

Their failure to manage their finances and tell stars they need to take a pay cut because of the dip in the economy, not my problem. Every other business on the planet is having to make cutbacks to survive, so should they. It's galling they would ask folks to shoulder their bad decisions.

Katie's not old enough to really do TV, but I don't think we get Noggin on the basic tier for Cox. I think it's one of the upper tier ones where I would have to pay that extra $7 a month since I don't think I care about any of the other channels in that tier.

[ltgarrix]

That was me. LOL I didn't notice I wasn't signed in. The joys of traveling and not being on your computer.

[gingerwood]

We get satilite, which is ok, and cheaper than cable. But a while back I crunched the numers and figured that I can flat out buy (download from amazon to TiVo box) the programs that I watch and it will be cheaper. So when our contract runs out next summer, I think that will be what we will be doing.

Between Amazon, netflix and Hulu, we should doing pretty well entertainment-wise.

[lazypadawan]

Two companies I don't like! Thank God I don't live in a Slime Warner service zone.

When I lived in VA, there was a Mexican standoff between Cox and Fox (hee hee). Fox wanted Cox to start carrying FoxNews and Fox Sports, Cox didn't. Fox said, "Fine, we'll pull your license to broadcast the regular Fox network." Fox that year had broadcast rights to the Redskins games, which is like holding a gun to a baby's head for the Washington, D.C. area. People there are SERIOUS about their football. Eventually, Cox caved and not only did we get Fox back, we also got FoxNews. I'm forever grateful to Rupert Murdoch playing hardball.

[metamorphosys]

I'm not sure what is going on to be honest but it does not sound fair. People should not be manipulated like that, especially those with families :(

I hope this is resolved soon :)

[bannie]

They're cancelling Eli Stone?? Oh man!! We only got that about 2 months ago and I am really enjoying it. Why do they always have to kill off the good shows!