AMC isn't extorting anyone. They've really kicked it up a notch with their original programming, and they have a far broader audience now than they did the last time they negotiated these terms. In all likelihood, with the ratings they get for the Walking Dead and Breaking Bad, they probably fully deserve these increases.

The cable tv model is broken. Consumers should be able to pick and choose exactly which channels they want to pay for, straight from the content provider. It'll probably take us 15-20 years to get there with the cable providers kicking and screaming the entire time, but we'll get there in our lifetime.

I am inclined to agree with Kampfers on this one. AMC has improved their lineup quite a bit.

As far as the other point goes, it will be a long, long time before the a la carte option comes to pass if it ever does. All providers seem to love to sell those tiers. We buy another 30 or 40 channels to get 3 or 4 that we really want.

I think I have 120 channels now. I could cut that back to 20 or 25 easily, perhaps even less, and still have a hard time finding something worth watching some nights. Others in the family? They watch a lot more than I do.

One of my brothers just said to heck with it and switched to Netflix. $10 bucks per month with tax.

I submit that we just might be hooked in more ways than one. (Just an opinion!)

Harry...

I doubt a la carte will ever come around. The companies such as Disney (ABC, ABC Family, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN the Ocho, etc...) require that all their channels be subscribed to. The ESPN family alone is around $5-$10 a month for subscribers. Too much money involved for a la carte to happen.

ha - people with suddenlink make me laugh....

DirectTV

Did anyone but me see the post from Alex at KBTX doing a story on Suddenlink?

This is very frightning! KBTX is not good at investigative journalism and can't seem to get all the facts.

As for AMC and Suddenlink, we will probably find out that AMC charges $1.00 per month and wants to go up to $1.50 and the $2.00 a month. Suddenlink is just using percentages to make it sound horrible but I'll bet if we knew the amounts it would be a different story. I would love to find out this info!

I remember AMCs first original show - Remember WENN.

the timing of this is awful.

if i miss the season finale of Walking Dead this week i'm gonna be pissed. after that they've got 6 months to resolve it before Walking Dead comes back.

quote:

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As for AMC and Suddenlink, we will probably find out that AMC charges $1.00 per month and wants to go up to $1.50 and the $2.00 a month. Suddenlink is just using percentages to make it sound horrible but I'll bet if we knew the amounts it would be a different story. I would love to find out this info!

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Thats what I was trying to say earlier. When my bill goes up $5 a month, I know AMC isn't asking for more than that. Suddenlink has no problem asking us for more money, but rather than using it to actually pay cable companies, they would rather line their pockets.

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As for AMC and Suddenlink, we will probably find out that AMC charges $1.00 per month and wants to go up to $1.50 and the $2.00 a month. Suddenlink is just using percentages to make it sound horrible but I'll bet if we knew the amounts it would be a different story. I would love to find out this info!

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This may be true. Just for grins, I went to wikipedia and saw that suddenlink has 1.4 million subscribers. If a million of these have AMC, then that will cost suddenlink $500,000 per month at the start up to $1,000,000 per month after the cost increase is phased in.

If anyone expects a company to just absorb that, then they're kidding themselves. They can either try and minimize the cost increase or pass it along to those of us who are okay with cable.

Also, they have these same negotiations with a lot of program providers. If they all tried to go up by just 50 cents a month, then costs would get out of control.

Just saying....

I can help.

Brent Harriman
DirectHome Service
(281) 358-0592
(877) 638-3388
brent@dtvhomeservice.com

No provider is immune to contract disputes. It happens in rotation.

Fox-Directv was just last year.

And here's the update from Suddenlink:


As indicated Friday night, the owners of the AMC Network want a nearly 50% increase over what they were paid last year, and a greater than 100% increase in annual payments by the end of their new proposed contract. Those demands are outrageous and unfair to you – but unfortunately, AMC is drawing a hard line in the sand. In fact, they have refused two recent requests we made, both of which would have kept the affected cable channels available to our customers.

First, AMC rejected our request to extend this Wednesday night’s contract deadline by 30 days. That extension would have given both our companies additional time to establish a new contract with more reasonable terms and conditions — and importantly, it would have allowed “Walking Dead” fans to see that series’ season finale. Because AMC originally suggested Wednesday’s deadline and now refuses to extend it, we can only conclude that they are trying to be as disruptive as possible to Suddenlink customers and thereby create leverage for their unjustified demands.

Second, AMC Networks refused our request to negotiate separate contracts; one for just the AMC cable channel; and one for other channels they own. We asked for separate contracts so that both companies could focus on the AMC programming in which our customers are most interested.

By refusing these requests, New York-based AMC has made it clear that their viewers are not their first priority. In fact, they have told us they are seeking these outrageous increases to meet Wall Street expectations.

Please know that it is AMC — not Suddenlink — that is threatening to take this programming away from you. We remain willing to carry AMC programming during our negotiations, but we cannot legally do so without their permission after this Wednesday night, March 14.

We hope you will encourage AMC Networks to stop the games and keep their programming available to Suddenlink customers at a reasonable price. We’ve set up this email contact form for your convenience.

For more information, visit suddenlinkfyi.com.

Thank you for your support and patience.

Let me get this straight.

Suddenlink likes to **** with everyone else, but when it happens to them we are suppose to sympathize with them?

Nice try.

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First, AMC rejected our request to extend this Wednesday night’s contract deadline by 30 days. That extension would have given both our companies additional time to establish a new contract with more reasonable terms and conditions — and importantly, it would have allowed “Walking Dead” fans to see that series’ season finale. Because AMC originally suggested Wednesday’s deadline and now refuses to extend it, we can only conclude that they are trying to be as disruptive as possible to Suddenlink customers and thereby create leverage for their unjustified demands.

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Of course they are using this to gain leverage. It's one of their most popular shows, and it's a ****ing brilliant business decision. Suddenlink needs to quit playing the victim here.

Walking Dead fans, you can get your fix here until the issue is resolved (or you switch providers). As they posted this past Sunday's episode, I'm guessing they will post the finale. Enjoy.

http://www.ch131.so/

The way Suddenlink is handling this really irritates me. They act like AMC wanting to please wall street is an offensive thing, when really, if I were someone who had invested in AMC I would definitely want to see gains now that their programming is so award-winning and popular. Also, their shows are pretty expensive so they need more money to make the shows. The fact that they need more money just makes sense to me.

If "wall street" doesn't matter, how about if Suddenlink takes the hit? Then they can be folk heroes.

Just to clarify..

Directv did not lose any channels in the fox negotiations.

DISH lost them for months.

Directv has huge pull in these negotiations. Directv almost never loses channels. I can't remember one in the last 3-4 years.

We have awesome mgmt.

Call or email me and I would love to get you set up with DIRECTV.

Brent Harriman
DirectvHome Service
877-638-3388
Brent@dtvhomeservice.com

No worries for me, I stream, and if we reall want to see the current season we hook up the laptop to the TV.

The ch131 site I posted previously appears to be a fraud so do not use it. Back to the option of switching providers.

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DISH lost them for months.

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I don't remember it being "months". More like "days".

Hmmmm!
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/cable_tv/directv.htm

In every town, no matter what the company name, people hate their utility suppliers.

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DISH lost them for months.

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I don't remember it being "months". More like "days".

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It was actually one month. Definitely not "months". But what's a little hyperbole when you get a chance to bad talk the competition.

Suddenlink should reduce the monthly price of all customers by the amount they were previously paying to AMC.

^
haha ya good luck with getting them to do that.

if anything, the result out of all of this is going to be higher prices for suddenlink peeps.

Just got an email from Suddenlink re reaching an agreement but couldn't open. Anyone else get this? Sounds like good news...

Confirmed, agreement reached, no service disruption.

An agreement before the contract ended and both sides lost viewers/Advertising money....color me shocked.

/sarcasm

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AgResearch
9:00p, 03/09/12

AMC will stay on and the price of cable will go up at some point to compensate for the new terms.

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[This message has been edited by AgResearch (edited 3/14/2012 3:12p).]

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/481850-AMC_Network_Suddenlink_Reach_Carriage_Accord_Avert_License_Fee_Disconnect.php

Why no long, distraught thread about Dish threatening to drop AMC? Anyone care to comment?

I type this as I watch AMC on SuddenLink.

From Page 1:

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AggiePhil
11:41a, 03/10/12
Two words... Dish Network. You won't look back.

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LOL.

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AgResearch

1:31p, 03/13/12
No provider is immune to contract disputes. It happens in rotation.

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Myself from page 2. Looks like Directv will be up next after Dish.

[This message has been edited by AgResearch (edited 6/17/2012 6:52p).]

Yep Dish cut it in time for me and the wife to miss the Mad Men finale, looks like we are going to be pirating the showsw to watch the next day.

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Why no long, distraught thread about Dish threatening to drop AMC? Anyone care to comment?

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No one in their right mind pays for Dish.

Check channel 9610 on Dish. That's AMC for me.

Dish has not dropped it yet. They moved it to the 9000s as a threat to AMC. The current deal is up July 1. This will get resolved just like it always does.