Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Viacom warns customers channels may go dark on DirecTV
Source: Reuters
BUSINESS NEWS MARCH 19, 2019 / 5:07 PM / UPDATED AN HOUR AGO
Viacom warns customers channels may go dark on DirecTV
Helen Coster
1 MIN READ
(Reuters) - Viacom Inc said on Tuesday it has begun warning viewers that its channels could go dark on AT&T Inc-owned DirecTV if it fails to reach a new contract by midnight March 22.
Viacom, the owner of MTV, Nickelodeon, BET, and Comedy Central, accused AT&T of abusing its powers after buying Time Warner Inc, which owns the Warner Bros Hollywood studios and HBO premium cable network.
“Having recently acquired Time Warner, AT&T appears intent on using its new market power to prioritize its own content at the expense of consumers, who are growing increasingly dissatisfied with paying more for less,” Bob Bakish, chief executive officer of Viacom, said in an internal memo seen by Reuters.
AT&T could not immediately be reached for comment.
Viacom said it has reached new distribution deals with Altice USA Inc, Charter Communications Inc and Comcast Corp.
Reporting by Helen Coster; Editing by Kenneth Li and Leslie Adler
Viacom warns customers channels may go dark on DirecTV
Helen Coster
1 MIN READ
(Reuters) - Viacom Inc said on Tuesday it has begun warning viewers that its channels could go dark on AT&T Inc-owned DirecTV if it fails to reach a new contract by midnight March 22.
Viacom, the owner of MTV, Nickelodeon, BET, and Comedy Central, accused AT&T of abusing its powers after buying Time Warner Inc, which owns the Warner Bros Hollywood studios and HBO premium cable network.
“Having recently acquired Time Warner, AT&T appears intent on using its new market power to prioritize its own content at the expense of consumers, who are growing increasingly dissatisfied with paying more for less,” Bob Bakish, chief executive officer of Viacom, said in an internal memo seen by Reuters.
AT&T could not immediately be reached for comment.
Viacom said it has reached new distribution deals with Altice USA Inc, Charter Communications Inc and Comcast Corp.
Reporting by Helen Coster; Editing by Kenneth Li and Leslie Adler
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-att-viacom/viacom-warns-customers-channels-may-go-dark-on-directv-idUSKCN1R02N4