Time Warner and CBS Kiss and Make Up

by Catherine Giordano

It was a bad breakup, but everyone knew they would eventually kiss and makeup.  The dispute is over. Showtime is back on Time Warner / Brighthouse TV. Our long wait is over.  (I told you they would get back together in time for football season.)

CBS-owned programming including Showtime, TMC, Flix and Smithsonian are back on TV screens of Time Warner cable customers. Bright House Networks Chief Executive Officer Steve Miron said in a statement: "We certainly apologize to our customers for any inconvenience they experienced as a result of this dispute. The goal was to hold down rising costs as best as we can and retain our ability to deliver a great experience and value for our customers. We thank our customers for remaining with us as well as their feedback, support and patience."

CBS boss Leslie Moonves said in a statement: "This was a far more protracted dispute than anyone at CBS anticipated, but in spite of the pain it caused to all of us, and most importantly the inconvenience to our viewers who were affected, it was an important one, and one worth pursuing to a satisfactory conclusion. That has been achieved.” 

At long last, the dispute is over. I don't know how much they love each other, but I do know that they both love money.  Losing revenues from the football season was too much for either of them.

Service was restored at 3 pm on Monday September 2nd.

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The cute picture of the two dogs kissing is from http://0.tqn.com/d/webclipart/1/0/u/9/6/Kiss-and-Make-Up-Day.jpg

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Mexican Standoff: Time Warner/Brighthouse and CBS/Showtime

It's a Mexican standoff between TWC and CBS

It's a Mexican Standoff between Time Warner Cable (Brighthouse) and CBS which owns Showtime.  And the third party in this standoff is the viewers.

The latest update to the news on the negotiations is that Time Warner and CBS are talking again.  The remaining issue to be settled is digital rights. It is possible that the Federal Communications Commission could get involved.  However, the FCC can only enter the fray if one side files a complaint that the other side is not negotiating in good faith.  It has been 12 days since the blackout began on August 2 and neither party has filed a complaint.

The predictions that I am reading is that this won't be settled until the start of football season.  Football season starts September 5th.

I'm not standing for it any longer.  I'm a Time Warner customer (TV, internet, and phone) and yesterday I made the call and switched. It's inconvenient to switch, but I will save about $35 a month, probably  because new subscribers get offered a promotional rates. I also got whole house DVR for no extra cost.  (Brighthouse wanted an extra $25 or $35 for this service.)  My price quote is locked in for two years.

Now, I just have to hope that my new cable provider doesn't get involved in a dispute next year.

If you decide to switch, you have plenty of choices, Century Link Prism, Xfinity, AT&T, Comcast, DirecTV, and probably others. Look into it.  You might see a big reduction in your monthly costs like I did.

 Once upon a time cable TV and telephone service was a monopoly. How nice that we now have a choice and can switch if we are not getting good service. 

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Learn how to contact CBS Showtime on my August 9 post.

Update: The dispute is over and Showtime and CBS are back on Time Warner Cable as of Monday September 2nd at 3 pm.

No Deal is a Big Deal

by Catherine Giordano

CBS/Showtime and Time Warner/Brighthouse are no closer to resolving their dispute than they were a week ago. So let's email the execs.

When I try to watch Showtime, all I see is a blank screen

While searching the internet for news about this dispute, all I could learn is that it might go on for weeks. Showtime has not responded to my emails for info. Brighthouse did respond and you can see that response on my August 3 post on this blog.  

Here are the email addresses  and phone numbers for Showtime execs. Let them know that you don't like watching a blank screen.

David Nevins, President, Entertainment

Phone 310-234-5200 ex 5365

Email   david.nevins@showtime.net

Matthew C. Blank, Chairman/CEO

Phone: 212-708-1600 ex 5324

Email   matthew.blank@showtime.net

Gary Levine, Exec. VP, Original Programming

Phone 310-234-5200 ex 5266

Email   gary.levine@showtime.net

Jackie Ioachim

VP, Consumer Public Relations

212.708.1220

Email   jackie.ioachim@showtime.net

CBS OWNS SHOWTIME!

Mr. Leslie Moonves, President & CEO

CBS Entertainment

51 West 52nd Street

New York, New York 10019

212-975-4321

E-mail: audsvcs@cbs.com

(I tried one of the Showtime email addresses and it has not bounced back. Now I'll look for contact info for Time Warner.)

Update on Time Warner and CBS or Brighthouse and Showtime

by Catherine Giordano

You ain't nothing but a hound dog

It looks like negotiations between Time Warner (Brighthouse) and CBS (which also owns Showtime) are going nowhere. They appear to be in the name-calling stage right now.  (I know you are, but what am I?)

From the Orlando Sentinel online today (Tuesday 08/06/13) posted around 10 am:  “Even though both sides urged each other to return to the negotiating table, talks seemed to have broken down, with no resolution in sight to the blackout affecting more than 3 million Time Warner Cable customers.”

In some parts of the country, like in Central Florida where I live, we can still get CBS. (It appears that this is related to who owns the CBS stations in a market. The people in New York, Los Angeles, and Boston have CBS blacked out too.)

The only new news that I have been able to find as of Tuesday August 27, 2013 is that both sides are stubbornly refusing to compromise.  However, the start of football season on September 5th, may force a solution because the pressure to resolve the dispute will be intense.  America loves its sports.

But Showtime is gone.  I’d cancel Brighthouse (cable, phone internet), but I expect there would be a wait to get the new service installed. So by the time the change was effected, the dispute would probably be resolved.  Also things never work right the first time so it would be probably at a couple of weeks of service disruption before everything got working.

Remember that Elvis Presley song—“You can do anything that you wanna do, but don’t step on my blue suede shoes.  Don’t mess with my TV.  Another Elvis song also seems appropriate.  “You ain’t nothing but a hound dog!”  I mean you CBS and Time Warner.  And that is putting it mildly. Also ”Don’t be cruel.”  Who knew Elvis had so much to say about cable TV?.

P.S. I found a friend with Comcast, so I’m going to her house tomorrow.  Then, I’ll be able to review Dexter and Web Therapy. 

P. P. S. Are you feeling lonsome tonight? Or nostalgic for Elvis Presely? Try this link.

See my post from Saturday 8/3/2013 for more information.

See my latest post on August 13 for the most recent developements.

Learn how to contact CBS Showtime o my August 9 post

Update: The dispute is over and Showtime and CBS are back on Time Warner Cable as of Monday September 2nd at 3 pm.

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Time Warner/Brighthouse Drops Showtime

Showtime Cast Members

Every couple of years, cable TV providers (like Time Warner/Brighthouse) and cable TV content providers play a game of chicken.  But it is we the viewers who get knocked to the side of the road.

They have have gone too far. Time Warner/Brighthouse has removed Showtime. Or is it vice-versa? Each blames the other.

Is it time for me to switch cable providers or should I cut the cable and get a Netflix subscription?

Time Warner you have until Sunday 9pm to get Showtime back up or you are history in my house.

Time Warner drops Showtime and Showtime loses millions a day in fees. This puts the pressure on Showtime.  (So no, Showtime is not the good guy it wants you to think it is by offering to not pull its shows.) Showtime gets its licks in by telling viewers to call Time Warner to complain and to switch cable channels.

And we are caught in the middle. Switch cable providers only to have the same thing happen next year with the new provider? Or do we just tough it out and hope it is over in a day or two?

I complained via email to Time Warner and got this in reply.

As of 5 p.m. ET on August 2, 2013 our agreement with CBS Corporation has expired. Channels affected include Showtime, The Movie Channel, Flix, Smithsonian and CBS content on Primetime on Demand. It is important for our customers to know that we carry hundreds of channels and agreements are being negotiated and renewed all the time. Normally, these situations eventually get resolved, so we believe this is a temporary situation.

 

If you had not seen information regarding the negotiations prior to the signal no longer being available to you, below you will find an overview of the situation and helpful viewing options regarding CBS Corporation's programming.

 

As a valued Bright House Networks customer, it is important for you to know the following:

 

- This happens to other providers too. In fact, in 2012 alone, there were nearly 100 blackouts of local TV stations across cable, satellite and telephone company distributors, according to the American Television Viewer Alliance.

 

- Customers who currently pay to subscribe to Showtime or The Movie Channel will have credits applied to their account automatically, based on how many days the programming is unavailable. Depending on your billing cycle, you may see credits on both your August and September statements.

 

- We believe broadcaster blackouts are wrong. Despite CBS Corporation's blackout, we expect negotiations to continue and anticipate that the channels will be returned to the lineup shortly.

 - Get the latest updates about the blackout and what channels are affected in your immediate area at http://onyourside.brighthouse.com.

I also learned that CBS is affected and you may not be able to get CBS programming online.  I checked Hulu, Nefliix, iTunes and amazon.  So far as I can tell recent episodes are not available.  Does anyone have information? I guess the best bet is to find a friend who has a different cable provider.

• Hulu
• iTunes
• Netflix

Read the latst info on my August 13 post.

Learn how to contact CBS Showtime on my August 9 post.

Update: The dispute is over and Showtime and CBS are back on Time Warner Cable as of Monday September 2nd at 3 pm.