Fox Could Be Blacked Out In Dispute
Dec 30th, 2009 | 15 responses
Two of the nation’s greediest media giants are at loggerheads over fee transmissions and no matter who wins the public will pay dearly. Unless a deal is struck with News Corp.by midnight New Year’s Eve, Time Warner Cable could drop all Fox programming.
At the moment, the dispute affects only Time Warner subscribers. Waiting in the wings how this plays out is NBC, ABC and CBS.
I’m a TWC subscriber and pay $82.67/mo for cable and high-speed internet service. That’s 7% of my net income and eats up most of my budget for fun and games.
Los Angeles Times reporter Joe Flint writes industry insiders believe Fox is asking TWC to pay a fee of $1 per subscriber to transmit its station affiliates. The cable company has more than 1 million customers in its Southern California region. The highest fee is $4 charged by ESPN. The Times:
Fox says on a website set up to argue its side of the dispute that the fee it’s seeking is reasonable. “Fox attracts more viewers than the five most expensive cable networks combined (ESPN, TNT, USA, ESPN2 and NFL Net),” the site proclaims.
Congress created the conflict by passing a law in 1992 giving broadcasters the right to seek payment from cable operators to retransmit station signals.
The cable industry contends that because TV stations broadcast over the air for free, it shouldn’t pay to retransmit their signals over cable lines. Broadcasters counter that most consumers wouldn’t even subscribe to cable if local channels weren’t in the package.
What really pisses me off as a consumer is Rupert Murdoch’s henchmen telling me to drop Time Warner and switch to satellite broadcasters DirecTV and Dish Network or phone company Verizon’s Fios so I don’t miss their programming.. That’s a choice with a gun pointed at my head. This ain’t my fight, guys. It’s yours.
“This isn’t good public relations for either company,” warned Andy Donchin, director of media investments for advertising firm Carat, whose clients include Radio Shack and Papa John’s International Inc. “Ultimately, whatever agreement they come to, the consumer will pay for it.”
Fact is, Fox is probably fourth in my TV selection choices. During the NFL season, I regularly view the games and would be crushed not to continue watching. Same goes for its package of regional college football games and the upcoming Fiesta Bowl. I would miss Fox Cable News if for nothing else wouldn’t have anything to shout at. I could care less not watching “American Idol” and can always find “24″ through Netflix.
(Author’s Note: I could be wrong but I believe the dispute involves all Fox stations carried by Time Warner and not just those in Southern California.)
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15 Responses to “Fox Could Be Blacked Out In Dispute”
If Fox channels are no longer on my Bright House, does that mean my cable bill goes down? AND I don't have to worry about Fox Not-News anymore? BONUS!
It's not like I watch FX much, and I've given up on FOX since the X-Files closed shop. Woo-hoo! I'm all for it!
It's not just in Southern Cal. We're getting the adverts asking us to 'call our cable provider' here in the Tampa market as well.
You mean, people still watch TV?
You should pay TWC to get Fox of your Cable System…
Isn't it time we got “Cable a la Carte”?
You mean Fox may go away?
ProfElwood……there is a God!
Agreed! It's passed time we can just pick the stations we want.
The risk here is in confusing Fox News Network with the rest of Fox. If you happen to lean left, you may despise Fox News, but that's a different entity than their basic broadcast network, which carries football games and prime time show which have little or nothing to do with politics and are enjoyed by many people. I hope they resolve this.
“If Fox channels are no longer on my Bright House, does that mean my cable bill goes down? AND I don't have to worry about Fox Not-News anymore?”
Wasn't aware that your “Bright House” didn't come with an option that allowed you to SWITCH CHANNELS! And there you were watching Fox this whole time, and didn't even know what that “CHANNEL” button was for on your remote.
I've found that most MSNBC watchers are similarly challenged in the “I can't find the channel button” arena.
You're right, Jazz.
Liberals hate FOX, until they find out American Idol is included in that blackout.
“What really pisses me off as a consumer is Rupert Murdoch’s henchmen telling me to drop Time Warner and switch to satellite broadcasters DirecTV and Dish Network or phone company Verizon’s Fios so I don’t miss their programming.. That’s a choice with a gun pointed at my head.”
Ain't it a pisser, Jer, when you wake up each morning and realize the world doesn't owe you accomodation? Maybe you could write to Obama and have him add National Subsidized Subscription TV to the liberal wishlist?
And I thought televangelism would never work.
@JeffersonDavis, Jazz, and casualobserver: why should I have to pay extra for a channel I don't watch and can get for free via antenna? Fox says I should; TWC says I shouldn't. I'm siding with TWC on this one.
(Side note: regarding American Idol, most liberals I know cannot stand the show)
American Idol? Gave that up years ago. What's an MSNBC?
Of course, I watch only about 2 hours of TV a week anymore, & it's usually with the kids so …
The only decent show on Fox at the present time is Fringe, it should be canceled any minute now, it's what Fox does to any show that I like and has potential…
That is kind of funny Fox is arguing about this. I mean come on, it really won't make any money then LMAO!!!!!!! You would think they would consider keeping advertisers happy but if they go I will still sleep well. BYE FOX
Until WE ALL AMERICAINS shut their TV off for 2 weeks, nothing will be resolve…Hurt them all in their pockets . But we dont have the B…s to do taht…so SUFFER !!!!!