DirectTV Customers Could Suffer in Viacom Battle over Popular Channels

Because of a contractual dispute, DirecTV customers could lose some programming or have to pay more in fees if Viacom gets their way. Some of the channels affected in the dispute are MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, TV Land and Spike according to DirecTV.

On their web site, the largest provider of satellite television, DirecTV, announced that, “Viacom has spent the day trying to convince the public that DIRECTV is willingly removing channels like MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, TV Land and Spike from our customers’ homes tonight at midnight. That couldn’t be farther from the truth.”

For those tuning into some of these popular channels this morning, they were greeted with a video from DirecTV’s CEO explaining the reason that their channels were not available today and explaining their side of the story.

“DIRECTV is not willingly removing MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, Spike, or any other channels even though Viacom began telling viewers exactly that at approximately 11:24 p.m. EST last night. The truth is, only 5 minutes later, Viacom sent an express letter via courier to DIRECTV threatening legal action if DIRECTV did not comply with Viacom’s demand to turn off the channels. Viacom is forcing us to take down the channels, while publicly claiming they are against it.”

From DirecTV’s perspective, Viacom is seeking an estimated $1 billion in additional revenue from the company for them to continue to carry the lineup which includes shows like, “SpongeBob SquarePants,” “Dora the Explorer,” “The Daily Show,” “The Colbert Report,” “South Park,” and “Jersey Shore.”

On their web site at directv.com/promise, the company wrote, “Times are difficult. Families are struggling, and television is one of the great (and still affordable) ways to remain informed and entertained. When network and local station owners come to our customers wanting twice as much, three times as much, and in Viacom’s case, more than $1 billion more for the exact same channels you already get, they shouldn’t be surprised when their feelings of entitlement are met with a dose of hard-working reality. We’d all love a huge raise (especially if you’re struggling) but threatening to interrupt your family’s best way to relax and enjoy time together isn’t the way to accomplish it. So we’re providing anyone affected by this dispute with as many alternatives as possible to either continue following their favorite Viacom shows or switch to others just like them. Maybe together we can put these sorts of unnecessary blackouts behind us for good.”

Additional information for DirecTV customers will be posted on the web site as the situation continues to develop.