Are you missing ABC?

by: Jason Springer

Sun Mar 07, 2010 at 02:53:59 PM EST

Update II: From the SaveABC7.com website:
ABC7 and Cablevision have made significant progress and have reached an agreement in principle that recognizes the fair value of ABC7, with deal points that we expect to finalize with Cablevision. Given this movement, we're pleased to announce that ABC7 will return to Cablevision households while we work to complete our negotiations.

Updated by Jason: If you're a cablevision customer, Hoboken411 has the AP embed of the Oscar Broadcast.

I'm in South Jersey and on Comcast, but for customers of Cablevision their channel lineup is short today:

Channel 7 went dark in parts of New Jersey this morning as Disney and Cablevision remained mired in a distribution stalemate.
The midnight blackout occurred just hours before ABC's telecast of the Academy Awards - slated for 8 tonight - leaving millions of viewers in doubt as to whether a deal will be reached in time for them to watch the star-studded annual awards show.

The move came after the two sides failed to reach an agreement on how much Cablevision should pay to carry the ABC channel. Some 3 million Cablevision subscribers in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut will feel the pain of this public fight over money. Senator Lautenberg put out a letter today voicing his displeasure with the move:

"New Jersey families should not be used as pawns in this battle between two large corporations," stated Lautenberg, a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. "Disney should not cut off access to the Oscars and critical news programming for so many New Jersey families. Both sides need to get back to the negotiating table and work this out immediately."

I'll put the Senators full letter below the fold. ABC7 has just posted this statement on their website:

"We have sent Cablevision a new proposal, and are awaiting their response. If Cablevision is serious about doing right by their customers and returning ABC7 and its programming to them, then they need to act now. The ball is in their court."

It's amazing when this much money is on the line, that the two sides can't come to some kind of agreement before they piss off all their customers in the process. If they don't come to an understanding in a few hours, many will be calling their neighbor to see who their signal provider is.

Jason Springer :: Are you missing ABC?

March 7, 2010

Dear Mr. Iger and Mr. Dolan:

I am exceedingly disappointed and troubled that your companies have failed to resolve your dispute over the retransmission of WABC-TV. On behalf of every New Jersey resident who woke up today without their local ABC station, I ask that you redouble your efforts to get this issue resolved. In the meantime, WABC-TV should restore its signal for Cablevision customers immediately.

Your inability to reach an agreement has now harmed consumers and families in New Jersey who cannot receive television programming they have come to rely on for news, education, and entertainment. Your businesses depend on these hard-working consumers, and they do not deserve to be held hostage in your contract dispute.

I urge both parties to get back to the negotiating table now and put the interests of New Jersey consumers at the forefront of your agenda. Please keep me informed of your progress, and recognize that a failure to resolve this matter soon and without further harm to the public will result in additional action from Congress.

Sincerely,

Frank R. Lautenberg

Tags: ABC, cablevision, oscars, (All Tags)

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Are you missing ABC? | 3 comments

great dueling radio ads on WFAN 660AM (0.00 / 0)

I've been hearing ABC's ads for days saying they just want to be paid like other cable stations are.

Yesterday I heard the response ad: ABC wants you to pay $10's of millions more to get shows provided free over the air and on the internet. And it's all to prop up their failing theme park business!

Personally, I am happy as can be being cheap and staying in the old free broadcast would I grew up in. (It's like giving yourself a raise of a thousand dollars.)

Frank LoBiondo Record and Jon Runyan Watch

by: Hopeful @ Sun Mar 07, 2010 at 20:02:38 PM UTC

ABC is a broadcast network (0.00 / 0)

Broadcast over licensed, publicly owned airwaves. They have no right to charge people to see ABC 7 as their broadcast license is contingent upon them serving the public interest.

by: Jon Niola @ Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 01:29:56 AM UTC

apparently it is back on now (0.00 / 0)

not that I could really care because I can't remember the last time I watched network TV.

My friends were all making a big deal about this. I hate Cablevision just like the rest of them, but I have no other option to get online (no landline phone).

http://outspokenliberal.blogsp...

by: tabbycat31 @ Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 02:33:54 AM UTC