Author Topic: Charlie vs Viacom (Read 222 times)

rpm · « **on:** March 10, 2004, 05:46:15 AM »

Quote

Dish Network dropped CBS in 15 markets, including Dallas-Fort Worth, and unplugged other Viacom channels from all 9-million-plus Dish Network customers Tuesday.

Mark Rosenthal, chief operating officer of the MTV Network, said during a conference call with reporters Tuesday that Viacom is seeking an increase of "less than 6 cents per month per subscriber" from Dish Network.

Martin Franks, executive vice president of CBS, said during the same call that Dish Network's audience "is not that large a part of our overall audience." He suggested that those viewers can switch to cable or DirecTV, a Dish Network competitor.

But Charles Ergen, chairman of EchoStar, Dish Network's parent, said during another conference call that if the difference were just 6 cents, "we would sign that contract tomorrow."

However, he said, Viacom is also insisting that if Dish Network wants to carry the 15 Viacom-owned CBS affiliates, including KTVT/Channel 11 in Dallas-Fort Worth, it must buy 13 other Viacom channels at higher rates.

Viacom is on a roll. First they turn the Super Bowl into a fiasco, now this. I hope Charlie stands his ground and Dish Network customers stick with him.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #1 on:** March 10, 2004, 07:20:27 AM »

I have DiSH and applaud the move. The whole thing stinks. Viacom is wanting DiSH to pay more than any other service pays, for the same channels.
The whole thing sounds fishy to me. I hope DiSH can weather this, as I have had DirectTV and do not want to go back.

That's not to say DirectTV is a bad service. DiSH has just been better. Much faster menu system and PVR service is free, regardless of the package you chose.

By the way, that $0.06 is nonsense. Viacom reported that the figure was just over $2.00/channel and it required DiSH to pick up several channels that are pretty much worthless to most people. I mean,..how many MTV channels does the world really need?

gofaster · « **Reply #2 on:** March 10, 2004, 08:58:49 AM »

The stand-off will work until NFL starts in August. Let's face it, other than "CSI", is there anything on CBS worth watching right now?

Drifter1234 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 10, 2004, 09:15:06 AM »

CBS is betting that Dish will give in once NCAA BBall /March Madness starts. Also have the Masters in few weeks.

Sport fans will be the most upset.

Best thing about CBS is that my wife loves the survivor show. I know I get to fly AH on thursday nights at 7:00.

Mickey1992 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 10, 2004, 09:19:09 AM »

Yay DiSH. Screw Viacom.

My local CBS station (that is owned by the only local newspaper) started ONN - Ohio News Network about 6 years ago. The CBS station was going to pull their signal from the local cable company unless they agreed to add ONN to their line-up. The cable company said "screw you".