From what I understand, originally, Viacom was only being pulled from the DirecTV Streaming service, not the sat service. Maybe I misunderstood that.[/QUOTE]
Well, thats what I also thought till I read more here.
Viacom Channel BlackOut
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From what I understand, originally, Viacom was only being pulled from the DirecTV Streaming service, not the sat service. Maybe I misunderstood that.[/QUOTE]
Well, thats what I also thought till I read more here.
This article is from today (6pm ET) and is a pretty good assessment of where the two sides are at:
Viacom and AT&T Are Fighting Over a Deal. Here’s How It Could Play Out.
Independent analysts forecast that a new deal would likely be around a 10% reduction from the current fees paid by AT&T. Keep in mind Viacom has had significant losses in viewership, so AT&T is in a strong position to push for larger reductions.
Viacom and AT&T Are Fighting Over a Deal. Here’s How It Could Play Out.
Independent analysts forecast that a new deal would likely be around a 10% reduction from the current fees paid by AT&T. Keep in mind Viacom has had significant losses in viewership, so AT&T is in a strong position to push for larger reductions.
i decided to google up past disputes and contract deals between AT&T and Viacom, and i discovered that AT&T Uverse's last deal for retransmission was reached in 2015, which means the current agreement that is set to expire was a 4 year deal, meanwhile, DirecTV's current deal that also expires Friday was reached in 2012, after the 2012 dispute that resulted in a 9 day blackout of Viacom Channels.
so basally, the deals are this:
Directv: 7 year deal, started July 2012, ending March 21, 2019 at Midnight ET
AT&T Uverse: 4 year deal, started October 2015, ending March 21, 2019 at Midnight ET
the story of the last agreement AT&T reached with Viacom in 2015:
AT&T renews Viacom pact, gets 'best deal in the industry' | FierceVideo
so basally, the deals are this:
Directv: 7 year deal, started July 2012, ending March 21, 2019 at Midnight ET
AT&T Uverse: 4 year deal, started October 2015, ending March 21, 2019 at Midnight ET
the story of the last agreement AT&T reached with Viacom in 2015:
AT&T renews Viacom pact, gets 'best deal in the industry' | FierceVideo
Just out of curiosity, what does AT&T (DirecTV), Dish, or whoever....pay for channels like Viacom and others that are at the heart of these contract disputes every so many years?
Kinda funny watching. Viacom runs a scroll directv then blacks it out. Then I’ve seen Viacom flash a full screen insert. Directv then blacks out the whole screen. Never seen this before.
how many people are they paying to just sit there ready to hit the button.
Directv should something fun like the zombie channel they had for like 1-2 days when AMC at risk.
Viacom is very expensive. We are in the process of launching IPTV service for our WISP customers. We chose not to offer Viacom due to the expense.
I’m not sure but they need to figure something out . These providers used to be affordable at one time but those days are long gone unfortunately. AT&T has ruined Directv.
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Why are you blaming AT&T for companies like Viacom and Disney raising their prices? Looks like AT&T is prepared to fight here, and Viacom will go dark in an effort to minimize the price increase. But I guess you'll complain if the channels are dropped too. What exactly do you expect them to do, wave a magic wand and put their content cost back to where they were 15 years ago, so they can put their package pricing back to 2005 levels?
Dish Network ended up doing a deal with Viacom makes me wonder what kind of deal they got. If satellite companies start limiting the content then will they be able to be better able to compete by dropping expensive content that is in less demand? Perhaps replace it with other filler content that is cheap and possibly unique to the provider?
If they drop too many services then that may prevent them from being as competitive if they don’t offer enough content that people want. They may be limited to how much content is dropped and still be considered a viable service to most.
Discovery channel would be a huge loss.
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If they drop too many services then that may prevent them from being as competitive if they don’t offer enough content that people want. They may be limited to how much content is dropped and still be considered a viable service to most.
Discovery channel would be a huge loss.
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correct me if I'm wrong but I believe the only reason Suddenlink re-added them was because they were purchased by Altice.
Sure, but they don't control the cost or demands of Viacom. The out of control cost increases and blackouts for content is WHY AT&T wanted to become a content owner. Or maybe even felt they HAD to become.
It's kind of funny watching the battle, Viacom moves the message block around and seeing how long it take the person at DIRECTV to react and get it blacked out.
By imposing unreasonable demands on channels like HBO they are the problem rather than a soloution
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The channels that are in DTV Now's Plus & Max packages that are not owned by WarnerMedia are ones that AT&T has recently renewed their agreements with like the former Fox networks and the NBCUniversal networks. AT&T also re-negotiated their Disney/ESPN agreement to include the ACC Network at launch.
The fact that Viacom, AMC Networks, A&E Networks and Discovery were not included in DTV Now's new packages doesn't surprise me since AT&T has to renegotiate with them. If you look at U-verse Programming Changes in April 2018 U-Verse's agreement with A&E Networks ends and it seems U-Verse and DTV seems to be going hand in hand except for a few exceptions.
DTV Now technically didn't drop any of the Viacom, AMC Networks, A&E Networks and Discovery channels like the media reported as they are still included in the grandfathered packages and in the streaming versions of Entertainment, Choice, Xtra, Ultimate & Optimo Mas. They are just not included in the cheap budget friendly packages. In my own personal opinion, it wouldn't surprise me if this wasn't the big issue that Viacom and AT&T are arguing over.
Yeah it was part of Altice's deal when they renegotiated Viacom's deal for their Optimum cable system in 2017. However Suddenlink doesn't carry the full suite of Viacom channels like most cable providers and they were not given their old channel placements back. MTV 2 and CMT were also put on a higher digital tier instead of being placed back on Expanded Basic.
My mother lives in a Suddenlink market and they put Viacom's six flagship networks: Nickelodeon, Nick Jr. Comedy Central, Paramount Network, BET and MTV on channels 92, 93, 95-98 in Expanded Basic. They also put 2 re-enforcing brands: TV Land and VH-1 in Expanded Basic on channels 94 and 99 respectively. All the Expanded Basic channels they added are in HD however they just stuck them at the end of the expanded basic lineup after Outdoor Channel.
The other re-enforcing brands they added were MTV 2, CMT, BET Her and MTV Classic on channels 391-394 in a digital add-on tier. Only CMT was added in HD. In total they added 12 Viacom channels back.
The 11 channels they did not add back were BET Jams (formally MTV Jams), BET Soul (formally VH1 Soul), MTV Classic (formally VH1 Classic), MTV Live, MTV U, MTV Tres, Logo TV, CMT Music, Nicktoons, TeenNick and NickMusic (formally MTV Hits).
The fact that Viacom, AMC Networks, A&E Networks and Discovery were not included in DTV Now's new packages doesn't surprise me since AT&T has to renegotiate with them. If you look at U-verse Programming Changes in April 2018 U-Verse's agreement with A&E Networks ends and it seems U-Verse and DTV seems to be going hand in hand except for a few exceptions.
DTV Now technically didn't drop any of the Viacom, AMC Networks, A&E Networks and Discovery channels like the media reported as they are still included in the grandfathered packages and in the streaming versions of Entertainment, Choice, Xtra, Ultimate & Optimo Mas. They are just not included in the cheap budget friendly packages. In my own personal opinion, it wouldn't surprise me if this wasn't the big issue that Viacom and AT&T are arguing over.
Yeah it was part of Altice's deal when they renegotiated Viacom's deal for their Optimum cable system in 2017. However Suddenlink doesn't carry the full suite of Viacom channels like most cable providers and they were not given their old channel placements back. MTV 2 and CMT were also put on a higher digital tier instead of being placed back on Expanded Basic.
My mother lives in a Suddenlink market and they put Viacom's six flagship networks: Nickelodeon, Nick Jr. Comedy Central, Paramount Network, BET and MTV on channels 92, 93, 95-98 in Expanded Basic. They also put 2 re-enforcing brands: TV Land and VH-1 in Expanded Basic on channels 94 and 99 respectively. All the Expanded Basic channels they added are in HD however they just stuck them at the end of the expanded basic lineup after Outdoor Channel.
The other re-enforcing brands they added were MTV 2, CMT, BET Her and MTV Classic on channels 391-394 in a digital add-on tier. Only CMT was added in HD. In total they added 12 Viacom channels back.
The 11 channels they did not add back were BET Jams (formally MTV Jams), BET Soul (formally VH1 Soul), MTV Classic (formally VH1 Classic), MTV Live, MTV U, MTV Tres, Logo TV, CMT Music, Nicktoons, TeenNick and NickMusic (formally MTV Hits).
Get the facts on why AT&T-DIRECTV is dropping Viacom | KeepViacom
Viacom’s offers enable AT&T-DirecTV to lower their subscribers’ bills while keeping the same channels.
Viacom is offering AT&T-DirecTV the ability to pay less tomorrow for Viacom channels than they pay today, enabling them to pass these savings on to subscribers and lower their bills. Instead, AT&T-DirecTV’s plan is to drop Viacom’s networks from subscribers’ lineups and pocket the profits, not lower their bills.
Sports networks are driving up AT&T-DirecTV customers’ bills – not Viacom.
The carriage of sports networks continues to drive up customer bills. AT&T-DirecTV pays more to carry ONE regional sport network than it does to carry all 23 Viacom networks. This cost is passed on directly to its subscribers.
Viacom’s offers enable AT&T-DirecTV to lower their subscribers’ bills while keeping the same channels.
Viacom is offering AT&T-DirecTV the ability to pay less tomorrow for Viacom channels than they pay today, enabling them to pass these savings on to subscribers and lower their bills. Instead, AT&T-DirecTV’s plan is to drop Viacom’s networks from subscribers’ lineups and pocket the profits, not lower their bills.
Sports networks are driving up AT&T-DirecTV customers’ bills – not Viacom.
The carriage of sports networks continues to drive up customer bills. AT&T-DirecTV pays more to carry ONE regional sport network than it does to carry all 23 Viacom networks. This cost is passed on directly to its subscribers.
I usually don't like to defend AT&T here in fact I love when John Oliver makes fun of his new Business Daddy 
however this is mostly a rehash of their script from their dispute with Spectrum from 2 years ago. The following excerpts is why I have a hard time believing both companies tbh. To the time machine!
Stop Spectrum Now! Call (888) 250-5557.
VIACOM’S OFFERS ENABLE SPECTRUM TO LOWER THEIR SUBSCRIBERS’ BILLS WHILE KEEPING THE SAME CHANNELS. (Spectrum's bills still went up not down)
Viacom is NOT asking for more money from Spectrum. Viacom is offering Spectrum the ability to pay less tomorrow for Viacom channels than they are paying today, enabling them to pass these savings on to Spectrum subscribers and lower their bills. Instead, Spectrum's plan is to significantly limit the availability of Viacom's networks for subscribers, not lower their bills and enjoy the resulting cost benefits.
SPECTRUM IS ABUSING ITS NEW MARKET DOMINANCE BY STIFLING INNOVATION AND LIMITING CHOICES FOR CONSUMERS. (Viacom is using this against AT&T as well)
Consumers want and deserve more options at lower price points. Viacom and our industry are moving towards increasing customer choice and flexibility and we expect to be a key participant in this evolution. In order to protect its bottom line, Spectrum is fighting this future of television.
SPORTS ARE DRIVING UP SPECTRUM CUSTOMERS’ BILLS.
The carriage of sports networks continues to drive up customer bills. Spectrum pays more to carry one regional sport network than it does to carry all 23 Viacom’s networks. This cost is passed on directly to its subscribers. Viacom, on the other hand, provides 15-20% of cable viewing and 8% of TV providers' programming expense. Spectrum pays even less for Viacom programming, resulting in a great value to both Spectrum and its subscribers.
however this is mostly a rehash of their script from their dispute with Spectrum from 2 years ago. The following excerpts is why I have a hard time believing both companies tbh. To the time machine!Stop Spectrum Now! Call (888) 250-5557.
VIACOM’S OFFERS ENABLE SPECTRUM TO LOWER THEIR SUBSCRIBERS’ BILLS WHILE KEEPING THE SAME CHANNELS. (Spectrum's bills still went up not down)
Viacom is NOT asking for more money from Spectrum. Viacom is offering Spectrum the ability to pay less tomorrow for Viacom channels than they are paying today, enabling them to pass these savings on to Spectrum subscribers and lower their bills. Instead, Spectrum's plan is to significantly limit the availability of Viacom's networks for subscribers, not lower their bills and enjoy the resulting cost benefits.
SPECTRUM IS ABUSING ITS NEW MARKET DOMINANCE BY STIFLING INNOVATION AND LIMITING CHOICES FOR CONSUMERS. (Viacom is using this against AT&T as well)
Consumers want and deserve more options at lower price points. Viacom and our industry are moving towards increasing customer choice and flexibility and we expect to be a key participant in this evolution. In order to protect its bottom line, Spectrum is fighting this future of television.
SPORTS ARE DRIVING UP SPECTRUM CUSTOMERS’ BILLS.
The carriage of sports networks continues to drive up customer bills. Spectrum pays more to carry one regional sport network than it does to carry all 23 Viacom’s networks. This cost is passed on directly to its subscribers. Viacom, on the other hand, provides 15-20% of cable viewing and 8% of TV providers' programming expense. Spectrum pays even less for Viacom programming, resulting in a great value to both Spectrum and its subscribers.
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