DirecTV Drops Viacom Networks Over Dispute

July 12, 2012

A dispute continues between DirecTV and Viacom, leaving DirecTV customers without 17 channels including Nickelodeon, TV Land, VH1, MTV and Comedy Central.

Both companies blame each other for the blackout, which started about 11:00 North Escambia time Tuesday night over a dispute regarding how much DirecTV pays Viacom for programming.

“We have been very willing to get a deal done, but Viacom is pushing DIRECTV customers to pay more than a 30 percent increase, which equates to an extra $1 billion, despite the fact that the ratings for many of their main networks have plummeted and much of Viacom’s programming can be seen for free online,” said Derek Chang, a DirecTV vice president.

Meanwhile, Viacom tosses the blame back at DirecTV.

“We proposed a fair deal that amounted to an increase of only a couple pennies per day, per subscriber, and we remained willing to negotiate that deal right up to this evening’s deadline,” according to a Viacom statement.  “However, DirecTV refused to engage in meaningful conversation. We are hopeful that DirecTV will work with us toward a resolution and stop denying its subscribers access to the networks they watch most.”

About 20 million households — one-fifth of all cable or satellite subscribers in the country — are affected by the squabble.

Pictured top: This screen replaced Viacom programming on DirecTV Tuesday night.

Comments

13 Responses to “DirecTV Drops Viacom Networks Over Dispute”

  1. Missysmom on July 14th, 2012 6:47 pm

    Don’t need to record any shows, but would like to see my bill adjusted accordingly. Much better than mediacom.

  2. David Huie Green on July 14th, 2012 10:15 am

    CONSIDERING:
    “I asked them to bill me only for the channels that I AM getting on my statement. ”

    I noticed they turned Encore on for me. I guess that’s so I can go back to watching Gunsmoke or Bonanza without TVLand.

    Just thinking, if they dropped seventeen channels, that’s still a small part of the programming. I can watch most channels from 200 up to near 400 and a mess of music channels in the 800 range, add the Encore and already had 559 (although a person would have to be off to watch it very much) and you’ve decreased your total availability by a fairly small percentage. I still have more than I can watch and most of it I can’t stand to watch, just miss Kikki and Zoey. Cleo, Rikki, Emma.

    Oh well, back to BET.

    David in a world where entertainment comes from 22,300 miles away

  3. MIKE O. on July 13th, 2012 1:24 pm

    PLUS, NOW I HAVE TO HEAR MY WIFE COMPLAIN ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO WATCH AWKWARD ON MTV. THANKS ALOT DIRECT TV. BOOOO!!!

  4. MIKE O. on July 13th, 2012 1:22 pm

    I LIVE IN AN APARTMENT COMPLEX WHERE YOU ONLY HAVE A CHOICE BETWEEN DIRECT TV OR BENCHMARK COMMUNICATIONS. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF BENCHMARK, BUT I HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT THE TWO COMPANIES WERE THE SAME DUE TO THE FACT THAT I HAVE BENCHMARK, BUT EVERY CHANNEL HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH DIRECT TV. THAT, AND EVERY WEEK IT SEEMS LIKE DIRECT TV BLACKS OUT DIFFERENT CHANNELS FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I THOUGHT THAT WAS THERE WAY OF MAKING ME MAD ENOUGH TO DROP BENCHMARK AND GET DIRECT TV. YOU KNOW, THEY ARE DOUBLE DIPPING. EVERYONE KNOWS DIRECT TV IS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN CABLE. BUT CABLE DOESNT GO OUT WHEN IT RAINS. I WISH COX WAS A CHOICE…..

  5. 429SCJ on July 13th, 2012 9:48 am

    Im a big Walking Dead fan myself, Breaking Bad too! I have to say as mediocre as Brighthouse is they have not cut the AMC channel as Direct has went and done.

    Brighthouse, is that a family name?

  6. Fuzzy on July 13th, 2012 8:57 am

    I just emailed Direct TV and requested an ONGOING adjustment to my bill starting with past Tuesday when 17 channels were not available to me. I asked them to bill me only for the channels that I AM getting on my statement. We’ll see what they say…. I encourage you all to do the same. That way, maybe they will just automatically adjust everyone’s bill when the call/email volume spikes with the same exact request.

  7. Florida native on July 12th, 2012 11:24 am

    I have had dish and now have direct, I prefer direct over dish. I get better channels for a cheaper price then what I was paying at dish. Most of Viacoms channels are nick and mtv type channels, so I am not missing much. Only spike and comedy central do I miss.
    Nice how million dollar companies argue over money but we all pay no matter what. BRING BACK JUST THE BIG 3 CHANNELS. lol

  8. Just some information on July 12th, 2012 10:52 am

    “Forgive me for this Directv, but Dish has got the hopper that will record 6 shows at a time. That deal beets the heck out of your DVR.”

    I’m not defending Directv but they actually do have a DVR that will record 6 shows at once as well as let you watch these shows in any room in your house. I believe it’s called the whole home package. We switched from Brighthouse to Directv just for the ability to record multiple shows at once.

  9. mother of 3 on July 12th, 2012 8:26 am

    I called Direct TV yesterday and was given only a $5 discount. And was told that it should be handled within 2 days. I have already been looking into switching due to the high cost of their service.

  10. Hmm... on July 12th, 2012 7:41 am

    I’m with c.w. on this. My contract covers these channels and the bill is much higher than what I signed up for. DirecTV should have to eat the added cost or let all contracted customers out of their contracts for free, plain and simple. They sure don’t have a problem disrupting our service and billing us hundreds of extra dollars if we don’t fulfill our end of the bargain! Maybe Dish Networks sales will soar in the upcoming months! As far as the customer service goes, much more could be said about the lack thereof…

  11. David Huie Green on July 12th, 2012 7:22 am

    this is cutting into my Alien Surf Girls viewing but at least I still have NorthEscambia.com

  12. c.w. on July 12th, 2012 6:01 am

    I have a contract with DTV to provide certain channels that they are not doing now. Will DTV adjust my bill or pocket the money from me and 20 million customers.

    DTV should provide the channels and if the price get to be more than I wish to pay, they can get their junk from China out of my home. Very poor customer service.

  13. Hhhh on July 12th, 2012 2:55 am

    Get us our channels back, or risk looseing valued customers. Besides U are already helping to drain your customers pocket book. Get a grip Directv or else. Bad enough that U say this is what your bill will be. But when U open up the bill it is much higher. Forgive me for this Directv, but Dish has got the hopper that will record 6 shows at a time. That deal beets the heck out of your DVR. :(

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News