WSJ article on Cablevision suing Viacom over bundling

[mike123abc]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323884304578328261904851932.html

Cablevision, a pay-TV distributor with a high profile in the New York area, alleged Viacom forced it to carry and pay for more than a dozen "lesser-watched" channels such as "Palladia, MTV Hits and VH1 Classic" for the right to carry its popular networks such as Nickelodeon, MTV and Comedy Central.

The suit pits two of the television industry's best-known moguls against each other. Cablevision is controlled by 86-year-old Charles Dolan and his family, while Viacom is controlled by 89-year-old Sumner Redstone, whose empire also includes CBS Corp. CBS +2.30%
In the suit, filed under seal in federal court in Manhattan, Cablevision asks the court to void a carriage agreement negotiated with Viacom at the end of last year. Cablevision alleged that Viacom had "coerced" it "by threatening to impose massive financial penalties unless Cablevision complied with Viacom's demands."

Very interesting chart on that page showing how much Viacom makes of the average VH1 classic viewer in 2011... They show $3000, essentially no one watches the channel and yet they get a fee from almost every household in the US for the channel.

Although it is a paid article, it appears they are currently letting google search results through

http://www.google.com/search?q=Long...e7&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-Address&ie=&oe=

selecting the wsj (should be top link) via the google search appears to let you see the article if you do not subscribe.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

Actually VH-1 Classic is probably the ONLY SD channel I watch regularly.

 

[mike123abc]

Actually VH-1 Classic is probably the ONLY SD channel I watch regularly.

So, thousands of others are supporting you!

 

[eurosport]

I liked MTV Hits when I had it on C-band...it plays (are ya' sitting down?) MUSIC VIDEOS! ...the regular MTV is what sux!
VH-1 Classic & Palladia are good ones too.