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DirecTV Drops Viacom Channels

Posted by Soulskill on from the can't-we-all-just-get-along dept.

An anonymous reader writes "DirecTV has dropped all of Viacom's channels. This includes channels such as MTV, Comedy Central, and Nickelodeon. The drop is reported to be over a carrier fee dispute. It appears programming content can magically disappear from satellite, too, and not just from streaming services. Viacom said it was 'because contract talks with DirecTV had “reached an impasse.” DirecTV, in turn, said in a statement that it had offered Viacom “increased fees for their networks going forward; we just can’t afford the extreme increases they are asking for.”' I guess pirating and physical media is the only way to make sure the content we pay for doesn't disappear."

8 of 378 comments (clear)

  1. I don't see much to miss by sanosuke001 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Aside from a few Comedy Central programs, I don't seem much here that I'd miss. MTV is full of BS "reality" TV and Nick is full of kids shows that are usually no Netfix if you need them and, being kids shows, they probably won't care if they're watching reruns (or notice). So, really, what does Viacom have that is worth paying increased fees anyway? It's not like South Park costs that much to produce (maybe FCC fees?).

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    -SaNo
    1. Re:I don't see much to miss by alen · · Score: 5, Insightful

      my wife are cancelling cable next month after we realized that we're paying $165 a month for triple play and the cable part is mostly the same few kids cartoons that we DVR and watch multiple times and we can buy them on amazon for $10 PER SEASON and watch unlimited times

      dont underestimate the power of stupidity

  2. they are all evil by alen · · Score: 4, Insightful

    we go through this every year or so

    Content owner wants more money and demands rate increase
    TV service operator says no
    content owner pulls channels
    viewers scream bloody murder and rape and demand tv operator pony up a few $$$ of their limitless magical bank account
    tv operator blinks first then raises rates
    viewers complain but don't do anything
    repeat in a few years

    the content owners know people are dumb and live by the monthly payment and will blame their cable or satellite company. they sell their channels in bundles and raise the rates every few years. people continue to pay the higher rates because they are too stupid to do anything else other than look at rectangle with moving pictures

    1. Re:they are all evil by alen · · Score: 4, Insightful

      we're probably close to the peak if we haven't passed it yet

      i've noticed a lot more people i know don't watch TV much anymore and like to read, go outside and do other things that were considered geeky and dumb when i was a kid.

  3. Re:Breaking News by Russ1642 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Stories aren't broken on Slashdot. We wait for one or preferably several news articles are written, people have a chance to actually read them (I know, not exactly reality), and then we can discuss them intelligently.

  4. I use Roku by na1led · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Canceled my Cable Subscription, which I was paying over $100 a month for. With Roku, I have Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Prime, all of which cost less than $25 a month, plus my roof antenna for local channels. Internet TV is going to be the future.

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    -- By all means let's be open-minded, but not so open-minded that our brains drop out.
  5. Net neutrality by betterunixthanunix · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Net neutrality: ensuring that the Internet does not become like this.

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    Palm trees and 8
  6. Give up the addiction by sl4shd0rk · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Cancel your cable. Go outside and enjoy it while it's still free.

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    Join the Slashcott! Feb 10 thru Feb 17!