Time Warner/TM4 carriage dispute

[PONIES]

The affiliates are always to blame.

They want to have their cake and eat it too.

They make more money from advertising than any cable channel because their networks have the largest audiences which is a result of them having the widest distribution because they are also available over-the-air.

The affiliates want their expanded advertising revenue and high carriage fees that cable-only networks get to boot. Cable networks have to have carriage fees because their audiences are not as large as the 'free' networks. They cannot make a sufficient income from advertising alone.

It's greed, plain and simple.

Plus, I completely despise the affiliate model anyway. They are leeches, nothing more. Their only purpose is to distract and annoy by constantly inserting themselves in-between me and NBC, CBS, etc. national programming.

I do not give two ****s about local "breaking news," "it's really cold today! Here's an annoying temperature gauge we're going to spam over NBC's programming for you! Because apparently cell phones aren't A Thing™ and you don't always have a mobile thermometer in your pocket at all times!" or "hey, check out our cool local channel bug! Let's just plaster that right next to the ABC logo on all ABC programming for you. Isn't that nice? Aren't you glad we're your source for ABC's programs instead of just getting it from ABC themselves?," or "well, there's obviously been a bad storm last night. Let's assume you're too stupid to have a quick look on the Internet to check if where you're wanting to go today is open. Instead we'll just annoy you with a squished picture and an endless scrolling list of places you don't care about that have closed today! Wheee!"

I want to watch network programming and I do not want to be spammed by this trash from a useless middleman.

[techguy1975]

You raise some valid points...  I think you're a little overly harsh on affiliates because of those things you mentioned bother you so much.   I don't let those little things bother me personally.  But, those are just personal preferences.  Delving too much further into the whole network/affiliate model will dive us into off-topic posts, so I'll stop here.  As I'm out of state (born and raised in WI though) I have no stake in this, other than seeing what is happening in my home town

[Jack 1000]

The affiliates are always to blame.

They want to have their cake and eat it too.

They make more money from advertising than any cable channel because their networks have the largest audiences which is a result of them having the widest distribution because they are also available over-the-air.

The affiliates want their expanded advertising revenue and high carriage fees that cable-only networks get to boot. Cable networks have to have carriage fees because their audiences are not as large as the 'free' networks. They cannot make a sufficient income from advertising alone.

It's greed, plain and simple.

Plus, I completely despise the affiliate model anyway. They are leeches, nothing more. Their only purpose is to distract and annoy by constantly inserting themselves in-between me and NBC, CBS, etc. national programming.

I do not give two ****s about local "breaking news," "it's really cold today! Here's an annoying temperature gauge we're going to spam over NBC's programming for you! Because apparently cell phones aren't A Thing™ and you don't always have a mobile thermometer in your pocket at all times!" or "hey, check out our cool local channel bug! Let's just plaster that right next to the ABC logo on all ABC programming for you. Isn't that nice? Aren't you glad we're your source for ABC's programs instead of just getting it from ABC themselves?," or "well, there's obviously been a bad storm last night. Let's assume you're too stupid to have a quick look on the Internet to check if where you're wanting to go today is open. Instead we'll just annoy you with a squished picture and an endless scrolling list of places you don't care about that have closed today! Wheee!"

I want to watch network programming and I do not want to be spammed by this trash from a useless middleman.

I agree Ponies!

There weather this and weather that is such overkill!  They do school and business closings, keeping their crawlers up twenty four hours after the fact.  Do we really care that the "We Care  Tiny Tot Day Care" Center is closed and get that announcement for the next twelve hours on the crawler?  With weather graphics, and bugs that over-ride the once in a blue moon decent programing on WTMJ?

The other problem is that so many of the stories are so vain and shallow, and some of the reporters are so vain and shallow.  I think both are negatives.  However, even Walter Cronkite could not create the mastery of news professionalism for the local stories today.  "Today Mrs. Jones' third grade class celebrated Groundhog Day by drawing their own groundhogs!"  They learned about the history of groundhog day and had a lot of fun." Camera cut to some smiling or giggling newscaster who says, "Those pictures are really cute aren't they?"  Than the typical main anchor comment.  "Well, we hope you have a happy and safe groundhog day, wherever you may be."  This is the kind of content that warrants according to the Journal a 200% rate increase?

If this was the NBC of the 60's, 70's and 80's with game shows, movies, series specials that once defined the great era of TV, I think Journal would have more ammunition to support a rate hike.  Not 200%.  I will never forget NBC's classic slogans like "Proud as a Peacock" or "Our Pride is Showing."  The made for TV series at that time were stunning and amazing.

Now the peaock is crying and hiding it head in shame.  Pride is no longer a part of the network.  When the economy tanked about 5-10 years ago, some say the peacock not only cried, it died.  The overstaturation of news and weather with infomercials is estimated to make up I would say 75% of the network.  NBC occasionally does marginal with the other 25% with the Tonight Show, even though I heard Jay Leno is going to be leaving.  They will show golf and NasCar on the weekends.  However, they have no variety in their weekday line-up to justify the rates they are seeking.  WYMJ should  be bought out by another network with more variety.  Are the other NBC affiliates the same way with their programing?

Jack

[Jack 1000]

Update:

Journal Broadcast asks State Legislatures to issue credits to customers affected by the blackout.

Meanwhile. TWC plans to substitute the blacked out Journal Broadcast station channel 4 with Game Show Network (GSN) and Starz Kids and Family a premium movie station on it's digital sub channels. (994) and (999)  Note that customers without Showtime are currently getting all of the Starz Package minus On Demand.  (Showtime is owned by CBS.)

Other TWC markets, having the same dispute with the national blackout of CBS are getting Starz Kids and Family, until this dispute is resolved.  (Our CBS being locally owned is not effected.)

GSN is traditionally a part of TWC's Digital Variety Package:

http://onmilwaukee.com/movies/articles/journaltimewarner.html?34842

Jack

[techguy1975]

The problem is...  neither side is willing to give an inch.    Now they are just bad mouthing each other in the press/social media and pointing fingers.  No matter who's right and who's wrong.  Get your asses back to the table and work out a deal

[mrschimpf]

The problem is...  neither side is willing to give an inch.    Now they are just bad mouthing each other in the press/social media and pointing fingers.  No matter who's right and who's wrong.  Get your asses back to the table and work out a deal

At least with the WISN dispute everyone was collegial and worked out their issues with pretty neutral statements. Now you have Steve Wexler sending Twitter blasts to every message the poor social media person behind the @TWC_Wisconsin handle  puts out. His terrible comedy act regarding the GSN replacement tonight seems like something that you'd never see out of any other GM in any city. Seriously...these were two of his messages tonight;

@wextmj TWC replacing @TODAYSTMJ4 with game shows?  Why would they put their customers in "Jeopardy"?

@wextmj TWC replacing @TODAYSTMJ4 with game shows?  They're acting like a "Monopoly".

:bang: Is it too late for WMTV in Madison to launch a 100-mile wide translator station so we don't have to deal with Journal anymore?

[RLJSlick]

Now it appear that TWC have completely removed the channel 4 and 1004 channel. Channel 04 is now GSN or something like that. This can't be good.

[duncantuna]

The more time that slips by, the worse WTMJ's position is.  More and more people start forgetting they ever watched Channel 4 in the first place.

Another month goes by .. WTMJ is critically wounded, with half+ of their audience gone, and almost no one calling TWC every day to complain, so TWC has no need for the channel, no need to negotiate.

.. One wonders, there have been dozens of stand-offs like this .. what's the longest?  And who "won" the stand-off by getting the better deal?

[mrschimpf]

The more time that slips by, the worse WTMJ's position is.  More and more people start forgetting they ever watched Channel 4 in the first place.

Another month goes by .. WTMJ is critically wounded, with half+ of their audience gone, and almost no one calling TWC every day to complain, so TWC has no need for the channel, no need to negotiate.

.. One wonders, there have been dozens of stand-offs like this .. what's the longest?  And who "won" the stand-off by getting the better deal?

KRIS-TV, the NBC affiliate in Corpus Christi, Texas went to the mat for five months with Time Warner from December 2011 to May 2012, taking them out during February and May sweeps, along with the Super Bowl. It seems like the deal was finally made out of desperation to get back on cable, and KRIS was the #1 station in their market before the dispute. However I can't find current ratings thanks to Kris Jenner's talk show screwing up the search for me.

[RLJSlick]

Making the Best of the Journal Broadcast Group Blackout | Time Warner Cable

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJpc83dqlLg

[gparris]

Making the Best of the Journal Broadcast Group Blackout | Time Warner Cable

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJpc83dqlLg

Really, TWC? Antennas when I pay for you to do your job?
I don't think so, ever, getting an antenna, but taking my channel 5 Chicago feed will never be forgiven by either The Journal Broadcast Group or TWC's lack of persuasion and poor negotiating, either.

TWC: Where is my refund for my channel 4 and 5, 1004 and the sub channels?
TWC: While we're at it, where is my refund for Showtime, The Movie Channel and The Smithsonian Channel (from the HD package)?
Huh? Where is it? I don't see it on my bill or any notation to the effect?:bang:

Keep your **** antenna!

[Jack 1000]

Really, TWC? Antennas when I pay for you to do your job?
I don't think so, ever, getting an antenna, but taking my channel 5 Chicago feed will never be forgiven by either The Journal Broadcast Group or TWC's lack of persuasion and poor negotiating, either.

TWC: Where is my refund for my channel 4 and 5, 1004 and the sub channels?
TWC: While we're at it, where is my refund for Showtime, The Movie Channel and The Smithsonian Channel (from the HD package)?
Huh? Where is it? I don't see it on my bill or any notation to the effect?:bang:

Keep your **** antenna!

I agree GP,

Why are millions of customers in nationally owned CBS Markets, all TWC markets with Showtime/TMC forced into this "Time Out" take away the channels BS just because two multi-billionare companies can't work out a deal?

I also think that TWC replacing WTMJ-4 with GSN was underhanded.  I like GSN, but not leaving TMJ-4 available in the middle of negotiations is not a good business strategy.  I don't miss Channel 4, but I sympathize with friends who do not have the station because of the disputes.

I found out if a deal is reached with WTMJ, that it is likely the station will be assigned to a NEW channel number.  Credits WILL be issued nationwide for Showtime/TMC from the first day of the blackout, after a deal is made.  TWC says they can't assign credits to just CBS or Journal Broadcast markets (for the loss of Channel 4,), because channels such as those are not sold individually.  You would have to have ALL of a channel tier blocked out to get a credit, or a channel rented optionally, (Like Showtime/TWC) to get credit.

I predict a CBS deal will be struck before September 9th.  The start of the NFL season.  There is too much revenue that would be lost on both sides if a deal is not made by that time.  Journal Broadcasting's future with TWC is much less optimistic.

Jack

[grenier]

I also think that TWC replacing WTMJ-4 with GSN was underhanded.  

I'm not getting GSN where WTMJ-4 used to be, it's just a black screen.

[Jack 1000]

I'm not getting GSN where WTMJ-4 used to be, it's just a black screen.

Maybe something's happening.  What does it say on your guide for channel 4?  Not HD 1004, which is gone from the guide, just SD channel 4?

Jack

[grenier]

Maybe something's happening.  What does it say on your guide for channel 4?  Not HD 1004, which is gone from the guide, just SD channel 4?

There's nothing on the guide.