Bright House cable customers won’t be able to watch the Colts game because it’s squabbling with WISH-TV (channel 8). But, hey, they’ll be able to listen to the radio broadcast over their television.
The CBS affiliate’s blackout on Bright House occurred early Friday and affects about 125,000 Hoosier households, including parts of Indianapolis and nearby communities.
Upon thoughtful consideration, I realized I can live a happy and fulfilled life without watching WISH-TV ever again…
What’s most annoying is that the president of Bright House Indiana is on every channel saying it’s not their fault and pleading for customers to call WISH-TV and complain that they’ve “cut off” Bright House. I just want to through a shoe at him — dipshit. It’s *your* fault. Sadly, there’s almost a 4 week wait with AT&T UVerse, I’d have to change out my cable modem, and this thing could be resolved. On the other hand, when this happened in N. Carlifornia, Marin County didn’t have NBC for 2 years.
It’s absolutely ridiculous with the inflated prices BrightHouse customers already pay. They know it’s unlikely they can pass this cost along to customers — at a $25 per month increase. Meanwhile, they’re idiots and we get punished. All of CBS’ programming is *not* on the web. And, if they’re off the air for month will I get a credit on my current bill for services they’re not providing? Of course not! So, so, so lame.
Other cable companies manage it – so, yeah, it looks like it’s more likely Bright House’s fault.
I tend to be sympathetic to WISH-LIN in this dispute; I don’t think it’s reasonable for BH to insist that WISH provide it with its programming for free.
I have a friend working customer service at Bright House and he’s really getting the brunt of it, unfortunately. Their position is that no cable companies anywhere in the nation pay for the free feed from broadcast channels. If they start paying a fee for what is broadcast free over the air, it sets a national precedent and all cable companies will be required to pay for the free signal. I’m not defending that statement; just repeating what’s been told to me.
That seems odd. I’m pretty sure I’ve read that’s not the case, but I’ll look for a cite. Either way, when a company uses it’s customers as leverage in the fight as BH is doing, it’s clear it doesn’t care very much about them — let alone care about it’s customer service people on the front lines. Worse, the crawlers running over the free Starz programming on channel 3 (WISH’s old channel) explaining their previewing it for free and giving you the number to order if you want STARZ. Upselling me for free content replacing what they’re failing to give me? Classy.
Ahh, here’s the info. Looks like Cable companies have “compensated” broadcasters in the past by airing additional channels, giving them perks, etc. Now broadcasters are asking for money — and a Fed gov’t law allows them to do this. Considering how much cable companies pay for some networks, this penny a day is a bargain. BH is pleading poverty and says rates will definitely go up.
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080930/LOCAL/80930004
On the other hand…
Don’t networks make the majority of their money from their advertisers? Advertisers just want to get their message out to as many people as possible. I would be a very unhappy advertiser right about now.
And don’t advertisers pay according to the size of the audience?
Wouldn’t rebroadcasting make the ad rates go up, to the original broadcasters advantage?
Exactly.
Two ways of looking at it:
1) Networks should charge Cable companies for reselling their product
2) Cable Companies should charge Networks for bringing their advertisers’ messages to more customers.
Or… it a symbiotic relationship and do it for free for the betterment of all.
oh hey… if Bright house starts paying for the content does that mean they can strip out the ads??? Wow, what would we do with the extra 18 minutes in every hour?
This is not just annoying, unfair, & too many words to begin > however, if I didn’t have cable, I could get it because CBS is “free” – Right? But because I get it throuogh BrightHouse, CBS wants more money. What about the advertisers? what about the poor customer that is caught between two big guys locking horns with no one fight for their rights? I think this is unconstitutional. I have the right to get the WISH channel 8 station because it is one of the free stations. Cable doesn’t care about its customers, and neither does CBS.. I am getting use to no channel 8 shows – SO, how about a boycott indefinitely… As to cable, if I go to all the trouble of trying to connect with another place to get channel 8 > when this is resolved, I won’t switch back. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH…..Our economy is already in dire straits and the American people need to have hope for a better day. First gas went up, food prices went up, utilities went up; and now when we can’t afford the gas or money to go out for entertainment, We can’t even get our favorite tv channels… THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES FOR ALL ACTIONS, MAYBE THE STATION AND THE CABLE CO. SHOULD THINK ABOUT IT.