CABLE ONE, VIACOM NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE
March 28, 2014 – Phoenix,AZ — Cable ONE President and CEO Tom Might issued the following statement to Cable ONE customers regarding current contract negotiations with Viacom.
“As you may know, we’re currently in negotiations with Viacom to continue carrying their 15 networks (BET, Centric, CMT, Comedy Central, MTV, MTV2, MTV Hits, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Nick Teen, Nick Toons, Spike, TV LAND, VH-1, and VH-1 Classic) after our contract expires on March 31.
With just a few days to go until our contract expires, I would like to give you an update. Viacom has finally given Cable ONE a proposal for continued carriage of their networks. They are asking for a rate increase greater than 100%, even though viewing is down on 12 of their 15 networks since 2010 – some by more than 30%.
We are asking Viacom to either reduce their rates, since you are watching their networks a lot less, or allow us to drop some of their less popular networks to reduce the total cost. So far, they have refused both reasonable requests. In any other business, when there is less demand, the price goes down, not up.
If Viacom is unwilling to negotiate a fair agreement, we will let these networks go in favor of bringing you some of the top-rated networks you’ve been requesting and expanding several other highly-requested networks to our most popular level of service.
Thank you for your continued feedback during these negotiations. We have received hundreds of comments from you on our StopProgrammingHikes.com site and we want you to know that we are listening.
If you haven’t already, please visit StopProgrammingHikes.com to let us know your thoughts and for continuing updates on these negotiations.”
About Cable ONE
Serving 730,000 customers in 19 states with high speed Internet, cable television, and telephone service, Cable ONE provides consumers a wide range of the latest products and services, including wireless Internet service, High-Definition programming, and phone service with free, unlimited long distance calling in the continental U.S.
CONTACT:
Trish Niemann
Cable ONE Public Relations Manager
602.364.6372
patricia.niemann@cableone.biz