DISH TV Viacom feud question

[BurtWorm]

I am only vaguely aware that there is some dispute going on between DISH TV and Viacom and that this is leading the former--or is the latter?--to block the latter's channels from the former's service.

My question is this: would this have been possible--this punishing the public (if blocking TV channels can be viewed as punishment ;) for a dispute between private companies )--before deregulation?

[elfwitch]

1. it is punishment...

They took Jon Stewart away from me.

[BurtWorm]

2. My daughter would consider it punishment if Josh and Drake and Amanda

from Nickelodeon were taken away from her. (It's one of our little parenting tricks...myeh heh heh heh heh!)

[elfwitch]

10. Nick is gone too...

My son was going through major detox this morning because he couldn't watch Blues Clues and Dora.

His whole day has been thrown off.

[DenverDem]

3. Negative. On many levels.

Regulation would insure that no media company gains the kind of market control that Viacom or the other big five media companies enjoy.

I called the FCC today to lodge a complaint and the poor lady who had to answer my call was forced to admit that the FCC no longer takes any control over any of this. This is "free" trade in broadcasting.

Neither Viacom nor Echostar are blameless in this idiotic game, but I am inclined to take Echostar's side as the "small" company being bullied by the obscenely giant behemoth.

They are both screwing me and 12 million other paying customers, however, and I am not going to give Rupert Murdoch any more money than I already have to by moving to Direct TV. At least Echostar is an American company. Small solace.

On edit: Damn right it's punishment of the consumer. No Daily Show, South Park, VH1 Classic, David Letterman, NCAA Basketball Tournament et al ad nauseum.

[BurtWorm]

6. Thanks!

I'm inclined to agree with you based on the little I know of the details that this is free market TV in action, and of course the public is suffering the most.

[shanti]

4. the question is:

is viacon also strongarming direct tv with these proposals?

[zbird]

9. DirecTV already came to terms with Viacom.

From what I read, it seems to be the same type of package detail, although $$$ details were not disclosed.

[madfloridian]

5. Dish channel 101 is answering the question.

Of course it is only their version. I have not paid attention, just saw it listed.

[celestia671]

7. This only demonstrates...

corporate greed at its finest. Dish and Viacom don't care about little kids who can't see their favorite programs or adults who can't watch the Daily Show(I miss it too!) Dish is too cheap to pay the extra money Viacom wants, while Viacom just wants more money it doesn't need.
When I talked to a Dish rep this morning, she told me that the problem could be resolved later today or within a week.

[elfwitch]

11. It better be resolved before I switch...

I figure I'll be up and running with DirectTv by the middle of next week. The have until then.

[rustydad]

8. Well.......

....I suggest just watching two of the 500 channels on Dish. Link TV and Free Speach TV (FSTV), both on the high end of the dial. Throw in on occasion CSPAN for variety. Most of the rest will kill your brain over time. bob

[elfwitch]

12. my brain to kill....

And.. The Daily Show is great. Jon Stewart is one of the only ones out there keeping the truth alive. Blues Clues and Dora the Explorer are wonderful children's programming. My son has learned many things from both shows.