HBO GO was introduced to the world last year but there were folk who grumbled about the lack of titles under the service. Then something happened to wake up the crew behind HBO.
Last year when HBO lost 1.5M subscribers, Netflix had gained around 3 million and that said oodles to the ‘pay-cable pay-station’ that heralds some of the best programming I’ve ever enjoyed.
Now they’ve expanded their title collection on HBO Go from six hundred to around fourteen hundred titles. Some of those titles include hit shows such as True Blood, The Wire, Boardwalk Empire, The Sopranos, Band of Brothers, The Pacific, and Sex and the City. I’d love to check out The Wire or revisit the wonderfully done The Pacific.
As far as movies, they also have around 200 titles and if the movie is airing on the channel, it’s on the streaming service.
When I first spoke to this grudge match for monies between Fox and Time Warner, I just wasn’t sure what would happen. But my first take was that the customer wasn’t even part of the equation.
Now we know.
Late today (January 1st, 2009), with pleading from outside entities like lawmakers and regulators threatening both companies that they’ll be dealt with, the two contenders came together on a contract for rebroadcast fees.
No details were released, but experts are surmising that the contract came together with Fox charging Time Warner Cable around 50 cents a customer, per month. (Originally, Fox was asking $1 per head while Time Warner only wanted to give out 30 cents a head.)
Suspicions are that Time Warner Cable customers will end up paying for this new contract.
But for now, all is well on the cable front for viewers. Our readers who are Time Warner subscribers still have their Fox programming and FOOTBALL, Speed TV and other goodies!
source: LA Times.
The waning hours of the contract between Fox (Parent company News Corp) and Time Warner Cable (TWC) is upon us.
Fox and Time Warner are locked in a legal battle about contractual renewal fees. Fox wants more while Time Warner is trying to keep costs down for customers. At least that’s what they say.
But some TWC customers may have noticed some ads on Fox that portray Time Warner in an evil light, perse, because they aren’t settling with Fox.
But what’s at the core of this spat? Retransmission fees. Despite the fact that networks haven’t ever charged cable companies for this fee, they are now as their ad revenue has taken a hit in the economy. Fox reportedly is asking for $1 per cable customer per week, while other networks are asking 50 cents per customer. Fox is counter-offering 30 cents per.
[click to continue reading…]
It’s being reported that the Charlotte-area cable provider Time Warner might not be showing showing Speed, FX and a few other channels.
It seems this little situation is about money and if their resolution doesn’t resolve itself, these and other channels could go dark come January 1st. It’s January 1st because their contract comes to a close on December 31st.
In some markets in the region, this could possibly also extend to the main channel from Fox that airas Glee, House M.D. and American Idol. (Oh my… that could lead to American Riots if Idol is capped.)
Know Who To Be Mad At:
The dark channels will be a result of News Corp (Fox parent company) pulling the channels because they’re asking for more money while Time Warner is digging in and trying to save the consumer price rate increases.
[click to continue reading…]
