Tag Archives: cbs

CBS and Time Warner Cable end blackout, programming to resume at 6PM ET today

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Well folks, it looks like Time Warner Cable customers will soon get CBS stations back in their living rooms. The two sides have reached an agreement after dropping channels back in July and programming is set to resume at 6PM ET this evening. TWC says that all customers should have channels back in 24 hours at the latest. In a press release announcing the deal, specific terms were not disclosed but they do include retransmission consent alongside Showtime Anytime for VOD and CBS stations in New York, Los Angeles and Dallas. Of course, this means CBS will be up and running on TWC when the NFL regular season kicks off in less than a week's time. For a look at the full statement, venture on past the break.

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Source: CBS

Time Warner Cable handing out free TV antennas and store credit during CBS blackout

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Time Warner Cable handing out TV antennas, store credit during CBS blackout

Time Warner Cable may not be in a rush to end the CBS blackout, but it's not leaving subscribers out in the cold. The TV provider is now giving away a "limited quantity" of basic TV antennas in the Dallas, Green Bay, Los Angeles, Milwaukee and New York City regions. For those who don't snag a free antenna, the company is also offering $20 in credit toward buying a unit at certain Best Buy stores in those same cities. These sorts of stopgap measures aren't new, but they may provide some comfort to TWC viewers who aren't likely to watch CBS channels through cable anytime soon.

[Image credit: Adrian Clark, Flickr]

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Via: Variety, The Verge

Source: TWC Conversations

CBS strikes a deal with Verizon, continues war of words with TWC

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CBS strikes a deal with Verizon, continues war of words with TWC

Normally, content providers and pay-TV platforms striking deals to deliver channels to subscribers is sort of non-news. But not every signed contract comes against the backdrop of an almost month-long blackout affecting millions of customers. While Time Warner Cable is still CBS-less, Verizon has locked up the broadcaster's channels for another three years, including CBS Sports Network, which has been missing in many of FiOS's larger markets.

If you read between the lines of the press release (embedded after the break), you'll see this message isn't aimed at customers or even the news media, it's directed squarely at Time Warner. New York, Los Angeles and Dallas -- the three cities that are currently mired in the blackout -- are called out specifically as areas where CBS stations are available through FiOS TV. As part of the statement released, president of television networks distribution Ray Hopkins said, "This deal was reached in a short period of time, and CBS has once again achieved fair value for our over-the-air rights." And, just to rub some salt in the wound, the press release ends with a reminder that CBS also owns the highly desirable Showtime. With the war of words clearly continuing between the two feuding media giants, we wouldn't hold our breath for a resolution anytime soon.

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Via: RCR Wireless

WSJ: Sony looking to launch online cable competitor, in talks with Viacom, Disney

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Sony's reportedly made some headway on a solution that may well convince a number of subscribers to cut their cable cords once and for all. According to The Wall Street Journal's usual gang of anonymous sources, the electronics giant is in talks with several high profile media organizations to help populate an internet-based service that will stream channels and offer up on-demand content. The offering, which Sony is apparently looking to launch by the end of the year, would be the realization of some long time aspirations. Viacom is apparently at top of the list of potential partners, as the home of channels like MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon. That deal is said to be in the preliminary agreement stage, news that comes a few weeks after Viacom inked a deal with Twitter. According to the WSJ, Sony's also been holding meetings with a number of other content providers like Disney, Time Warner and CBS. All parties involved have, naturally, refused to comment.

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Source: The Wall Street Journal

Daily Roundup: Moto X review, Laptop buyer’s guide, Samsung’s Galaxy event, and more!

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DNP The Daily RoundUp

You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.

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Time Warner Cable CEO vows to end CBS blackout, proposes a-la-carte pricing (update: CBS calls proposal a ‘sham’)

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Time Warner Cable CEO vows to end CBS blackout, proposes alacarte pricing

Time Warner Cable CEO Glenn Britt today sent an open letter to CBS CEO Leslie Moonves today, expressing a desire to resume negotiations and end the current programming blackout. In the document, which was reportedly received by CBS executives at the same time it was sent to reporters, Britt proposes that TWC make the network's stations available to consumers with an a-la-carte pricing model -- the cable company will hand over the entire tariff to CBS. While the terms are being discussed, Britt expects CBS to give permission to resume broadcasts immediately, and to re-enable CBS.com access for TWC internet subscribers as well. The bizarre "open" nature of this letter makes it possible to conclude that today's action was simply a public-relations ploy, giving the impressions that Time Warner is being generous by bringing this peace offering to the table. We imagine the situation is significantly more complex than this single-page letter would make it seem, however.

Update: CBS has provided a short response to the letter, calling a "sham" and an "empty gesture." For the complete war of words, check out both the letter and response in full after the break.

[Photo by Jonathan Fickies/Bloomberg via Getty Images]

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Source: Deadline, AP (Yahoo)

Feud Between CBS and Time Warner Cable

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Vendettas over economic issues are hardly new. And when negotiations fail, the concerned parties can turn to revenge as the ultimate tool. CBS and Time Warner Cable had not reached an agreement...

Time Warner Cable loses CBS channels, CBS says first time dropped from cable

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Time Warner Cable loses CBS channels, CBS says first time dropped from cable

Earlier this week negotiations between CBS and Time Warner Cable broke down and for a few minutes, channels started dropping from the cable service. An extension on the deadline brought channels back quickly, but time is up once again and subscribers are being greeted by the message above. The blackout applies to CBS in New York City, Los Angeles and Dallas, plus Showtime, The Movie Channel, Flix and Smithsonian Channel nationwide. According to CBS, this is the first time it's ever been dropped from a cable system, and it has followed up with a note from Showtime claiming TWC removed the premium channel despite authorization to keep it while negotiations continue. Time Warner Cable has its own statement, claiming CBS has "refused to have a productive discussion" since the Tuesday morning extension in talks.

With the NFL season looming we'll see how long TWC is willing to push CBS.com (which some of you have reported is being blocked by CBS), Aereo and antennas as alternative solutions in these major markets and whether CBS is willing to live without the viewership. For now, subscribers missing The Doctors can check out a video from TWC explaining exactly what happens behind the scenes when channels go dark.

Update: TechCrunch has a statement from CBS confirming it's blocked Time Warner Cable customers from streaming full episodes. This is similar to Fox blocking Cablevision subscribers on Hulu during a carriage dispute in 2010, although that turned out to be short-lived.

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Source: KeepCBS, TWC Conversations

Time Warner Cable drops CBS in NYC, LA and Dallas (update: maybe not)

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CBS channels drop from Time Warner Cable

Time Warner Cable and CBS have been negotiating over a retrans deal for quite some time, and after several extensions talks broke down tonight. TWC's static replacement page for the networks even suggests Aereo as a replacement, an interesting endorsement considering the online service's legal entanglements. According to a statement from Time Warner Cable, this means it's dropping CBS in regions including New York City, Dallas and Los Angeles. Nationally, Time Warner Cable subscribers will do without Showtime, The Movie Channel, Flix and Smithsonian Channel. As CBS' website helpfully points out, if it goes one this means subscribers will also miss college and pro football, MLB, PGA Tour and US Open events, shows like Under the Dome, CSI and more. Of course, Time Warner Cable's site points to options like the CBS.com website. We'll see who holds out, and for how long -- check after the break for a list of affected channels and areas.

Update: According to Time Warner Cable, at the request of CBS it has stopped removing the channels, so if you've been seeing a replacement screen your programs may be back very soon. Both sides indicate negotiations are ongoing, we'll let you know if there are any updates.

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Source: KeepCBS.com, TWCConversations, CNBC (Twitter)

Netflix and CBS extend streaming deal, add CSI: NY and other shows

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Netflix and CBS extend streaming deal, add CSI: NY and other shows

CBS has just let the ink dry on a contract extending its streaming deal with Netflix, and in addition to keeping existing content, the duo is adding a handful of new TV shows. While L.A. Complex and The 4400 are now slated for online viewing, only the freshly-added CSI: NY is ready to stream. Mum's the word on exactly how long this agreement will last, but if previous pacts are any indication, shows like Twin Peaks and The Twilight Zone will be streaming for at least another two years. If you're waiting for the new programs to hit the service, there's a whole mess of Star Trek to keep you busy in the meantime.

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Source: CBS