ablevision.com/abc
ablevision.com/abc : It seems that many of the Oscar party in the New York area have been destroyed tonight. ABC pulled cable programming in the early Sunday morning after the two companies failed to reach an agreement on licensing fees.
“We regret to inform you that the parent company, ABC decided to withdraw the WBC – 7 off the cable, even though we pay them more than $ 200 million annually for a group of networks,” Cable said in an e-mail clients.
“Cable once again betrayed by the loss of customers ABC7, the most popular station in the Triangle area state,” the network said in a Web site dedicated to the conflict, SaveABC7.com. “This comes after two years of negotiations, during which we worked hard and until the last minute, to reach an agreement.”
Earlier this month, the Foundation announced the company’s parent company Disney that it would remove its programming from the cable on March 7, if not cable to increase the amount you pay for the network in licensing fees.
ABC argued that the cable charges customers for access to any BBC content, but does not give the ABC any of that money. Cable claims that Disney has already paid more than $ 200 million annually, and now wants to Disney an additional $ 40 million for the same content.
The two sides could not reach an agreement by the deadline, the BBC and went dark only for cable customers shortly after midnight.
“Cable stole nearly $ 8 billion last year, and now customers do not get what they pay for – again. It’s time for [Cable CEO] Jim Dolan and the Dolan family lineage to finally step up, be just, and do what is right to our viewers, “Rebecca Campbell, President and Director-General of the CIA – 7, said in a statement.
“In light of these economic times, we do not see that it is appropriate to hold ABC to viewers hostage in the quest for undeserved millions,” said Cable.
Cable customers urged to e-mail ABC about the situation in cablevision.com / ABC. The company said it is “working diligently to get the WBC – 7 back on the air,” but recommended that customers buy digital antennas or watch ABC on ABC.com and Hulu in the meantime.
ABC was in the mood less tolerant. “Cable customers betrays again!” Reads the company’s Web site. “We have options. Is now closed.”
ABC and included links to Verizon Optical Direct TV, AT & T U-verse as alternatives to cable. Many of the cable’s 3.3 million customers, however, lives in New York and its environs. While AT & T U-verse is available in the state of Connecticut, and 21 other countries, it is not yet available in New York or in New Jersey. Verizon, meanwhile, continue to buildout of an optical in all parts of the country, but the availability of optical boroughts all five New York City, for example, is not expected until 2014. DirecTV is a satellite provider.
This is not the first time that cable channels have gone dark on cable. Scripps Networks Interactive withdrawn from HGTV and Food Network Cable in the New Year holiday of a similar dispute over the license. Channel lost viewers for three weeks until the two sides reached an undisclosed agreement.
Time Warner Cable customers almost lost in the Fox New Year’s Eve, too, but at the last moment, and for the extension of twenty-four hours of negotiations resulted in the New Year’s Day deal. Scripps also continues to negotiate with Time Warner Inc. on charges, but the content remains on the provision of a variety.
ABC and cable have not been able to reach an agreement that would allow ABC to stay in the air while negotiations are still ongoing.
Angry customers took to Twitter to vent their frustration. In the New York area, and conditions of cable, ABC, and light was already moving at 8:30 am, most of them upset about the possibility of missing Sunday night’s Academy Awards telecast.
“I’d camp out in the electronics section of Wal-Mart to see the Oscars,” one person [tweeted].
“Why treat # content providers such as cable on the scapegoat? We need a good t. sharks planes street fight to settle this,” commented another.
Washington got involved as well. Said Sen. John Kerry, a Democrat from Massachusetts and chairman of the subcommittee of the Senate trade and communication, and technology, the Internet, said in a statement it has no place to choose sides, but he does not care that “Consumers in the collateral damage the fight between the two companies.”
“I strongly urge the two companies to sit down and find a way to signal to be restored today, and negotiate in good faith,” said Kerry. “If the real quandary is reached, then I urge the parties to seek assistance from the Federal Communications Commission to resolve them or to enter into arbitration.”
“This is the latest example of consumers falling in the middle of a high-risk because the incentives created in these negotiations do not work for clients who average only expect programs to be there when you want it,” Kerry concluded.
American Cable Association, which represents small cable providers, said the case highlights the need to reform the approval of transmission – a policy that permits TV stations to negotiate with cable providers on fees.
“Anti-Corruption Commission and urges the Federal Communications Commission to heed the calls from members of Congress and take all action now to restore the ABC signal, while the parties continue to enter into negotiations in good faith, and then focus on addressing the fundamental problems with broadcast traffic rules and regulations in order to avoid this problems from occurring in the future, “the group said in a statement.
