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Time Warner Cable threatens Viacom with the ghosts of Christmas past
Time Warner Cable CEO & President Glenn Britt says don't blame him, blame sliding advertising and falling ratings for Viacom's lost revenue and subsequent Scrooge-style "extortion" of TWC customers to keep MTV Networks on after the ball drops tonight. Beyond the outrageous claim that viewers might be tuning away from My Super Sweet 16 marathons, Britt claims that "penny per subscriber per day" adds up to an unreasonable $39 million, while TWC nobly attempts to keep negotiations going on behalf of its customers. Oddly we find it hard to view either side as thinking of the customer first in this slapfight, but if we miss a single episode of Bromance before things are resolved, there will be hell to pay. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]
Viacom stations to go dark on Time Warner Cable
Bad news, Time Warner Cable subscribers. The cable carrier notorious for resisting HD expansion until a competitor rolls into town is getting ready to pull all 19 MTV Networks channels (MTV, Nickelodeon, VH1 and Comedy Central just to name a few, presumably including the HD versions). Viacom has just unleashed a scathing announcement that calls the carrier's refusal to pony up "outrageous," and publicly pleads for its bigwigs to reconsider and open up the checkbook. In essence, Viacom is asking for a fee increase of just under $0.25 per month, per subscriber -- which, admittedly, sounds rather high given the lack of MTV-related content that's a) watchable and b) in high-definition -- but TWC is straight-up refusing. Now, we've no qualms with a provider balking at price increases, but while it's planning to let content vanish from lineups, it's also raising monthly rates by $3 in Raleigh, Orange County, Los Angeles and New York City. Ahem, TWC -- could you bother justifying these hikes by allowing us to keep our content? And don't even come at us with the "we just added more HD!" comment -- after all, you blast us everyday with ads proclaiming that your HD "is free." [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]
Portland, Oregon's KATU booted from DISH Network
Oh, geez. Yet another cat fight akin to something you'd see on a third-grade playground between a greedy broadcast station and a greedy carrier. Portland, Oregon's KATU -- which can be received for free over-the-air -- has been dropped from DISH Network. A message on the station's website informs citizens that it had "been in negotiations with DISH in an attempt to reach a new agreement," but sadly, "those negotiations have not yet been successful." You now the story by now -- said station asserts that the carrier charges users a fee for access, and so rightfully, some of that fee should trickle back to the channel. The carrier, on the other hand, reckons that carriage should be free since it can easily be obtained by locals via an OTA antenna. We'll keep you posted on any developments, but until then, it's OTA or bust (or DirecTV / cable, to be honest) for resident DISH customers.[Thanks, Lance and Jonny]
The Sportsman Channel coming to DirecTV, HD not far behind?
In case the likes of RFD HD and World Fishing Network HD weren't enough to keep you planted in your overalls, The Sportsman Channel is gearing up to give DirecTV viewers some of that tasty outdoor goodness. The network has just recently inked a distribution deal that will see it added to the satcaster's CHOICE XTRA package in January 2009. Best of all, we're also hearing that TSC will be developing content in HD and will transition to a high-def channel in due time -- of course, there's no telling when that will happen, but if DirecTV is serious about maintain its clout in the HD quantity department, it'll be reeling it in just as soon as it's available.[Thanks, Vanbrothers]
LIN TV and Time Warner Cable strike a retransmission deal
This is one of those rare cases where the headline tells all: TWC and LIN TV have finally agreed to put their differences aside and strike a retransmission deal. In other words, those 17 LIN TV-owned local stations that have been dark for the past few weeks should be back online at any moment. LIN TV's President and Chief Executive Officer Vincent L. Sadusky was quoted as saying that it was "pleased to have reached a fair market agreement with Time Warner Cable," and he continued by calling the deal "a mutually acceptable economic agreement." While we can't imagine he said that with a straight face, we're just glad you folks won't have to rely on any more EPG trickery to watch the (possible) final game of the World Series tonight. Or tomorrow. Or whenever Philadelphia decides to stop acting like Siberia.[Image courtesy of Britannica, thanks Dayton Guy and Brian]
LIN TV-owned stations go dark across many TWC systems
Reports have been flooding in from across Ohio, Indiana and Texas to confirm the cold, hard truth: LIN TV has begun removing its stations from Time Warner Cable systems. Last month, we found that the two were still in disagreement over carriage terms, with LIN TV wanting TWC to pony up to carry stations that could otherwise be fetched OTA for free. Amazingly, they let the October 2nd deadline come and go without even a stopgap deal, meaning that some locals in Dayton, Columbus, Toledo, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, Austin, Green Bay, Buffalo and a handful of other cities have now vanished from TWC's EPG. In a posting made on the carrier's site, it bluntly states that LIN TV is "trying to make up for lower ratings and advertising revenue by adding fees that will fall, ultimately, on the backs of our cable customers." Granted, that's only one half of the story, but here's the bottom line: you two need to come to terms, and fast.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Hong Kong's All Sports Network nabs NHL distribution rights in much of Asia
The NHL may not have the viewership in America as, say, the NFL, but that doesn't mean it can't find fans elsewhere. In a rather unexpected move, Hong Kong-based All Sports Network (ASN) has signed a multi-year deal to posses rights for broadcasting NHL matchups throughout much of Asia (India, South Korea and China included). Over 130 upcoming regular-season games will be televised on ASN's Yes TV along with the All-Star game, playoffs and the Stanley Cup Final. The good news? The broadcast rights include "all forms of television, including HDTV." The bad? Japan, Australia and New Zealand have been excluded from the agreement.[Image courtesy of The Globe & Mail]
Time Warner Cable, LIN TV bicker over retransmission fees
While we singled out TWC's spat with Dayton's own WDTN, the issue spreads much, much further. As of now, 15 LIN TV-owned stations are at risk of falling off of Time Warner Cable if the two can't reach an agreement before October 2nd. Since July of this year, LIN TV has attempted to extract a presumably large amount of cash from the carrier in order to seal the deal on a long-term agreement for both analog and high-def signals. As of now, local stations in Austin, Buffalo, Columbus, Dayton, Ft. Wayne, Green Bay, Indianapolis, Mobile, Springfield (MA), Terre Haute and Toledo are at risk, but we have a pretty good feeling that the two will eventually work it out. 'Course, TWC won't enjoy paying through the nose in order to do so, but hey, that's life. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family][Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Big Ten Networks lands on Bright House Michigan
Comcast, Charter and Time Warner Cable already wrapped up deals in at least some locales to get Big Ten Network out to its subscribers. Now, we've got Bright House Networks in Michigan doing the same. You all know the details by now -- more Big 10 in high-def -- but we're wondering if any other BHN markets got gifted as well. Chime in either way, will you?[Thanks, Dean]
Cox Communications to carry Hallmark Movie Channel HD
Another month, another carrier picking up Hallmark Movie Channel HD. This time, we see Cox Communications landing an agreement with Crown Media Holdings in order to distribute the high-definition feed of Hallmark Movie Channel. The operator currently beams out the SD flavor along with Hallmark Channel, but this newly inked multi-year agreement ensures that fans of the network will soon be seeing an HD version. Exactly how soon, unfortunately, remains unanswered.
MountainWest Sports Network comes to DirecTV on August 27th
We already knew the MountainWest Sports Network was destined to land on DirecTV eventually, and while we had heard that September was looking like a good candidate for a launch month, fans of the conference will be delighted to know that it'll be going live on the satcaster this August. Beginning on Wednesday, August 27th -- just in time for the BYU opener against Northern Iowa on August 30th -- The Mtn. will go live on channel 616. Notably, it'll be available on DirecTV CHOICE (and higher packages) for Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming and Dallas / Fort Worth / San Diego, though customers outside of these regions will be required to subscribe to DirecTV's Sportspack. For more on what to expect from the network this football season, head southwest to the read link.
World Fishing Network HD officially on DISH Network
For those with DISH Network, chances are you've already realized that World Fishing Network HD joined the lineup this past Monday. Nevertheless, the channel -- along with Insight Sports -- is eager for the world to know that WFN HD has indeed landed a carriage agreement on the aforementioned satcaster. In case you couldn't guess from the channel's name, it promises to deliver 24 / 7 fishing action, including shows like Dave Mercer's Facts of Fishing, The New Fly Fisher, Fishing the Flats, Fins N' Skins Classic Adventures and George Poveromo's Saltwater Fishing. Never mind buying a rod and reel -- just kick back and watch the real anglers do it.
Commissioner insists that NFL Network will be "a success"
It's no secret: the NFL Network isn't in nearly as many homes as the league had hoped when it launched in 2003. As it stands, the channel has only wiggled into 10 million abodes, whereas the NFL was estimating 32 million. At the network's third annual "upfront" presentation, commissioner Roger Goodell looked media buyers and advertisers in the eye and stated that it would "make the NFL Network a success." Not surprisingly, the biggest obstacle here is distribution, but it seems the league is adamant to find ways to broaden the channel's audience. We suppose the battles will live on, eh?
Fox News Channel launches HD simulcast this week
Thanks to a little TWC slippage, we already knew good and well that Fox News HD was on the way, but now it seems that the channel will be launching in more places than just Brooklyn and Queens. Starting on May 1st, Time Warner Cable subscribers in "select areas" will be graced with the station, and not surprisingly, the metro New York systems will be the first to pick it up. We're also told that agreements are in place to bring Fox News HD to San Antonio, but it seems that other cities (and those on other carriers) will be forced to wait for an indefinite amount of time. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]
Hallmark Movie Channel HD could hit Cablevision
Since launching in Q1 2008, Hallmark Movie Channel HD has found its way onto Time Warner Cable and DirecTV, and now it has discovered yet another home: Cablevision. A recently announced agreement between the carrier and Crown Media Holdings will give it the "right to distribute both the standard-definition and high-definition versions of Hallmark Movie Channel," though it's not specifically stated if it will choose to carry the HD variant. Sure, it's not the most thrilling possibility, but one additional high-def option is better than none, we suppose.
QVC HD gives couch-based shoppers a closer look at overpriced wares
Because there's not one single SD-only channel still out there that needs to make the leap to high-def, we're seeing QVC take its home shopping extravaganzas to the next level. Right on cue, the famed home shopping network has announced an HD simulcast of its domestic broadcast, though no operators have been announced just yet. According to QVC's Senior Vice President of Affiliate Sales and Marketing Al Ulozas, the company is "presently in negotiations with [its] affiliates for carriage," and you can bet your bottom dollar that this steaming pile of waste will hit the EPG long before ESPNews HD (or any other mildly relevant channel) ever shows up en masse.
ESPN content coming to SKY Italia
Open wide, Italian sports fans -- you're about to get a huge helping of ESPN content via SKY Italia. Announced today, ESPN's North American Sports Network (NASN) will soon be launching on the SKY Italia platform, and better still, the agreement marks ESPN's "largest-ever international high-definition programming syndication deal, with more than 800 hours" of annual HD material to be syndicated across SKY's platform. For those interested, it'll begin beaming out tomorrow (April 8th) and will be hosted on the SKY Italia sports tier.
Poland's Cyfra+ to pick up Eurosport HD
We already knew that Eurosport HD would be making the rounds in various parts of Europe, but now we've got confirmation that the forthcoming high-def version will also be carried in Poland. Cyfra+ (a Polish digital satellite platform) will begin offering the channel as soon as it goes live on May 25th. The network will join Canal+ Film HD, Canal+ Sport HD and National Geographic HD as the only HD stations available on said carrier, though Eurosport HD will purportedly cost around €1.44 ($2.24) per month to enjoy.[Via Broadband TV News]
FSN Detroit looks to air more games overall, in HD
While Ohio residents are certainly getting their fill of local sports in HD, it seems as if Motor City dwellers could be experiencing the same in the not-too-distant future. Reportedly, FSN Detroit has locked up deals with the Tigers, Pistons and Red Wings to "televise nearly all their games -- exhibition, regular season and playoff -- for at least the next decade." Apparently, the revised deals will enable FSN to pick up the rights to all telecasts not claimed by a national network, and we're already told that it'll air 152 Tigers games this season, with 103 being in high-definition. According to FSN senior vice president and general manager Greg Hammaren, the firm is "stepping up its investments and is clearly committed to HD." That's what we like to hear, Mr. Hammaren.[Image courtesy of mlive]
Topeka, Kansas CBS affiliate and Cox finally come to terms
It sure seems like we've been watching this war between Topeka, Kansas' CBS affiliate (WIBW-TV) and Cox Communication wage for an awful lot longer than half a month, but just over a fortnight after this tiff came to a head, everything is seemingly back to normal. As of last night, the station and the carrier have reached an agreement that will enable CBS to remain on Cox's lineup, and just as expected, the terms of the deal are being kept under wraps. Now, if only Topeka could just get those six HD channels that are already available in many other parts of Kansas, all really would be well.[Thanks, Kevin O.]
