US TV
Another carriage battle starts up in the US
Published Friday, Dec 19 2003, 15:48 GMT | By James Welsh
Cox versus ESPN, Time Warner versus AMC, and now, Time Warner versus Cablevision.
Another battle between a cable operator and a programme provider has started up - this time, localised to the New York area, where Time Warner Cable is threatening to drop two cable channels covering action by the New York Rangers hockey team and the New York Knicks basketball team.
Both the channels and the teams are owned by Cablevision, which itself has cable operations in New York, Connecticut, and Long Island. In this case, however, it is Cablevision's role as a programme provider which comes into play. At the centre of the problem is carriage fees, with Time Warner claiming Cablevision is asking too much to renew carriage rights for the two cable channels, leading to unacceptable increases in subscription fees to Time Warner Cable customers.
The Reuters news agency now reports that the battle has gone public, with Time Warner taking out ads in New York newspapers informing readers that Cablevision is "threatening to take away the Knicks and Rangers from you in January."
For its part, Cablevision says Time Warner is being "reckless and cynical," and Reuters, citing "Cablevision sources", says thatCablevision is offering terms that would allow Time Warner to charge more for those sports channels specifically - meaning that Time Warner would effectively be able to put the channels into a premium tier, and not have to pass the increased costs along to all subscribers.
More news on this as it develops.
Another battle between a cable operator and a programme provider has started up - this time, localised to the New York area, where Time Warner Cable is threatening to drop two cable channels covering action by the New York Rangers hockey team and the New York Knicks basketball team.
Both the channels and the teams are owned by Cablevision, which itself has cable operations in New York, Connecticut, and Long Island. In this case, however, it is Cablevision's role as a programme provider which comes into play. At the centre of the problem is carriage fees, with Time Warner claiming Cablevision is asking too much to renew carriage rights for the two cable channels, leading to unacceptable increases in subscription fees to Time Warner Cable customers.
The Reuters news agency now reports that the battle has gone public, with Time Warner taking out ads in New York newspapers informing readers that Cablevision is "threatening to take away the Knicks and Rangers from you in January."
For its part, Cablevision says Time Warner is being "reckless and cynical," and Reuters, citing "Cablevision sources", says thatCablevision is offering terms that would allow Time Warner to charge more for those sports channels specifically - meaning that Time Warner would effectively be able to put the channels into a premium tier, and not have to pass the increased costs along to all subscribers.
More news on this as it develops.
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