Cablevision subscribers this morning turned on their television sets to discover that they may lose their channel 7, or the ABC network.
Unlike Cablevision’s negotiations with the Food Network, the cable company has decided to be proactive, setting cable boxes to turn on to channel 1999, which shows a message – that plays over and over again – explaining to their customers what is going on in the negotiations – and bashing the ABC execs for asking for what they call an extra $40 million “TV Tax,” in addition to the $200 million Cablevision says they already pay the network.
They bash ABC for asking for the increase even though they have a free license from the government to broadcast their programs over the air and they already show their programs for free online. ABC channels include ESPN, ESPN 2, Disney Channel and ABC Family.
In their message, Cablevision says ABC is threatening to take channel 7 off the air if they don’t get the “$40 million raise.”
“We would never choose to take ABC off the air,” the Cablevision announcer says.
In the message, they say the fee increases could cost Americans up to $1 billion a year. Cablevision also claims ABC is probably asking for the “raise” because their theme parks are struggling, their advertising revenue is down and “need millions to pay executive salaries and bonuses,” among other things.
“Don’t be misled by a slick ABC advertising campaign. We apologize for their actions,” the announcer says.
At the end of the message, the announcer urges Cablevision subscribers to call or e-mail ABC to fight the “TV Tax.”
UPDATE: Here is a link to a story that may answer some of your questions about the issue.
One thing that has not been clarified is whether or not this is a fight specific with WABC or with the whole ABC network (it seems to say both!) WABC is a channel/station, not the whole network, so what I’m sure many people who also receive WTNH channel 8 want to know is, can they still tune in to that channel come Sunday, or will it too be gone off of our cable line-up? If someone knows the answer, please clarify! Thanks!
Comment by TJ Murphy — March 2nd, 2010 @ 12:01 pm
Ok ummm…considering what we went thru with Cablevision and the Food Network just recently, I’m not really on Cablevision’s side this time. They seem to be the common denominator in the arguments and it’s getting old. If I have to pay my cable bill, then I expect to have all of my cable channels. I watch A LOT of ABC shows and I would be devastated if they took it off the air. Ridiculous almost…..
Comment by Amy P. — March 2nd, 2010 @ 1:58 pm
ABC (not sure if it is WABC or the network) is requesting that Cablevision pay them $40 million to carry their station. If you agree with this be prepared for your bill to go up. Explain to me why shows that are broadcast over the air and on the internet for free should be paid for by Cablevision and it’s customers. If ABC wants Cablevision to pay for free broadcasts they should remove adverstising from their shows.
ABC claims that their request for the $40 million is justified because Cablevision is charging basic customers for service. Well guess what ABC… Cablevision invested a lot of money to bring cable service to my house so that I had good dependable service so I could recieve your advertiser paid for programs. You did not pay for that infrastructure. Get your money grubbing hands off of Cablevison’s return on investment.
For all you Cablevison cutomers that are tired of this bull**** I suggest you support Cablevision. If you don’t your rates will go up. Check out the options… Satelite TV charges extra for local service. Phone company TV… good luck with that.
Comment by Warren Harding — March 2nd, 2010 @ 11:12 pm
How could anyone take Cablevision’s side. The Dolans are the biggest crooks in the world and the rates we pay for hours upon hours of Home Shopping Network are the highest in the country. They are already a monopoly and the state should get involved here and maybe look at their cable rights. For $160 a month I don’t feel like paying for Cablevisions complaints (Ads?).
It’s dish time!
Comment by Warren Harding II — March 3rd, 2010 @ 11:49 pm
Is Time Warner having the same issue? Cox? Comcast?…All i ever hear is Cablevision having a problem….
Comment by spoonman — March 4th, 2010 @ 10:10 pm
We the consumer are the ones who are going to lose in this fight – ABC makes a fortune in advertising – Now we will have to pay more money because ABC is even more greedy than I can understand – they want their cake and eat it to -
Comment by BrianR — March 5th, 2010 @ 8:10 pm
CableVision is rediculous!!! CableVision overrides the channel and ask viewers to watch its complaint about ABC when you turn one your TV NO MATTER IF YOU LIKE IT OR NOT. MONOPOLY!! MONOPOLY!! I wish I could have FIOS as soon as possible. CableVision is losing my business as soon as ALL channels from ABC FAMILY are off the cable. CableVision has NO VALUE for me. I have been fed up long time ago. CableVision had used many ‘sneaky’ ways to make profits – moved your due day to the earlierst. FCC asked me to watch CableVision see if CableVision dares to move one day forward then CableVision violates the rules. Can you image how much money (interest) CableVision can make by moving due day one day ahead from so many customers? CableVision also charges hidden fees if you pay bills online by a new credit card number WITHOUT TELLING YOU. CableVision claims that the fees will be returned EVENTUALLY as soon as the payment goes through. That means if your payment fails CableVision takes the money (fees). It’s like stealing money from your pocket silently and put it back LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED. CableVision had proved it’s not doing business sincerely. Don’t mention the rates had been going higher and higher for years….WHERE DID THE MONEY GO????? CableVision only knows how to blame the other party. Anyone can see whose fault it is but only CableVision is BLIND!!!
Comment by New Jersey resident — March 5th, 2010 @ 8:17 pm
Do you know what gets me upset The American people have enough issues without being put in the middle of these multi million dollar corporations issues. As soon as you turn on your TV we need to hear about this. The poor billionaire when half the country is out of jobs and are in some case losing everything. There both at fault buying parks, newspapers then both crying over the money. When we the describers are paying the bill on both ends. How about you both get together and try helping out the consumers and the workers at cable vision, newsday , ABC and every other company you own. Instead of cutting jobs and raising prices
Comment by Donna — March 6th, 2010 @ 6:52 pm
This is most likely the beginning of the inflation wave that the economic prognosticators are predicting. I guess ABC is smart to get out in front and do it’s fleecing before we all wake up and start revolting. Guaranteed Cablevision will just pass on the increase, so I support their fight if it saves us some bucks. If you haven’t heard, American businesses are flush – their balance sheets are brimming, while the average American is struggling. Is this the right time to be hitting us when we’re already hurt…. Disney?
Comment by Corboulee — March 6th, 2010 @ 10:09 pm
cablevison covers news 12, which we love and do not want to lose, also education channels that cover our town hall meetings and local activities, which we do not want to lose. I think abc is very unfair to pull the plug!!! I can live without channel 7, but not without channel 12 etc.
Comment by marcella higgins — March 7th, 2010 @ 1:55 pm
hey folks, why is everyone so angry here? Dolan mobsters gave Al D’Amato hundreds of thousands to pass legislature to screw the consumer for 30 years. Al says all is fine.
Comment by Al D'Amato loves Cablevision — March 7th, 2010 @ 4:32 pm
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=362286228376&ref=mf Join the facebook Cablevision Customer Alliance. The Cablevision Customer Alliance has been created for organized boycotts of Cablevision content providers in order to promote the interests of Cablevision customers and battle the strongarm tactics being put in place by the networks which ultimately impact us the viewers.
Comment by Jason — March 7th, 2010 @ 7:45 pm
Every time another channel goes off the air because they want more money, Cablevision cries to its viewers and says please call these channels, and tell them to come back. Then they turn to us, and tell us these channels are thieves for wanting to raise their rates. The problem is is that Cablevisions rates are already so high, absorbing any price hikes from the channels they air,cutss int their profits and just kills them. They know they are right on the borderline, that if they charge any more , they’ll lose a large number of customers. They know they walk a fine line. If any other channel would provide local news like channel twelve, Cablevision would shudder in fear. Still they’re dirty thieves.
Comment by Rick — March 14th, 2010 @ 12:23 am
Cablevision once again is blaming ABC, Cahnnel 9,etc. That’s what they do never take responsibility for there wrong doing. They treat there call center in Reps in Newark the same way. While upper management don’t live in newark they come and run it like a slave plantation and all all white.The call center is a revolving door mainly because of poor management. So consumers don’t let them fool you they are asking for your help and as so as this issue is resolved you cable bill with be hit with a increase, There are other cable options and as consumers cablevision has screw us to long. I say hell no where were they when your cable was cut off for late payment, or you could not get a supervisior. High cost of cable boxes, slow internet, horrible phone service. Don’t be fool it is the trick of the of rich and powerful and they don’t care . Remember you can’t measure cable usage why is cablevisison price so high when all the services can not be measured like gas, electric and water. I will tell you why because the rich don’t have a clue how the economy is hurting us poor and middle calss.Fuck them let them resolve there own shit. Just like they screw us with rate increase and poor service.
Comment by I hate cablevision — October 22nd, 2010 @ 2:15 am