DirecTV Drops Versus, Blames Comcast
by Anton Tabuena on Sep 1, 2009 2:47 AM EDT
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PrintLuke Thomas wrote about the problems between DirecTV and Versus, stating that both parties needed to reach an agreement before August 31st. The deadline has passed and it seems like nothing was settled, meaning Versus and in turn, the WEC, gets dropped.
DirecTV confirms this on twitter, but blames it all on Comcast:
To confirm: Comcast has pulled Versus, a channel we have long supported. Tell Comcast its time their pattern of unreasonable demands ends.
Many asked about terms. DIRECTV already pays Versus more than any independent distributor and yet Comcast seeks a 20%+ hike on that rate
We offered to carry Versus through Sept while talks continued -- Comcast declined.
DirecTV has more on this on their official site:
Comcast, the largest cable company in the U.S., owns Versus. They regularly try to charge us amounts well in excess of what is fair and reasonable to carry the programming they own. Their reason is obvious: they want to stifle competition from DIRECTV. Comcast's unfair terms undermines DIRECTV's ability to offer our customers the best possible value. If we simply accept these terms, we would have to absorb the unreasonable costs Comcast wants to charge us, and in turn we will be forced to increase the rates our customers pay. We do not want this to happen. In fact, Comcast has forced us to remove Versus because we would not accept the terms they demanded.
Our contract with Comcast expired August 31 and we were unable to reach agreement on a renewal. Comcast was not only demanding renewal terms that did not reflect market value for the channel but also demanding carriage terms that were discriminatory. Comcast forced us to drop Versus unless we agreed to their unreasonable terms.
Now this is all from DirecTV, and we haven't heard from side of Comcast, so I suggest taking it with a grain of salt. For MMA fans though, what's more important than pointing fingers or blaming the networks, is finding out what happens to the WEC.
Do they stay with Versus and hope DirecTV and Comcast settle their issues? Do they get a new TV deal? Or is now the time to fold them over to the UFC?
HT: tvbythenumbers
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Bad news all around. Seems like it is pretty difficult to have HDNet and Versus at the same time now.
Now tell your guys to get the WEC! haha. :)
…This makes me really want a merger with the UFC.. the WEC has most of the top BW and FWs in the world and it would be a shame if they won’t get the exposure they deserve..
by Anton Tabuena on Sep 1, 2009 3:07 AM EDT up reply actions
WEC wants to be kept as its own entity, whether they focus on the lighter weights or they become the development league for the UFC in all weight classes. The WEC had plans for them to hold events in Mexico and the PI, a couple of PPV’s next year, etc. It would be a huge loss for them if they just merged with the UFC. This is what they are trying to figure out right now.
and PI?
where are you getting this? Don’t you get my hopes up! hahaha.
by Anton Tabuena on Sep 1, 2009 3:24 AM EDT up reply actions
LA Times
According to Versus, it is now seen in 75 million homes. Besides college football and the NHL, Versus is the home of the Tour de France, IRL auto racing and cage fighting.
Robert Mercer, director of public relations for DirecTV, said: "Versus’ overall ratings are poor and have not increased nearly enough to justify what we’re paying them, let alone the significant increase they’re asking for.
“It is a significant rate hike and the deal is discriminatory because Versus is not offering the same package options as other distributors.”
Versus is owned by Comcast, a cable carrier that competes with DirecTV. Versus responded in a statement released Friday that said it has added “many marquee properties” and has become “the fastest-growing sports cable network in the country.”
According to Nielsen ratings numbers, Versus is averaging 3,000 more viewers at any given time since rebranding itself from the Outdoor Life Network to Versus in 2006-2007. On DirecTV, Versus ranks 61st among 74 English-advertising supported cable networks.
Duane Lindberg, who handles the Pac-10 television contracts, said he had been unaware of the DirecTV-Versus dispute. “It’s in our best interests to have Versus be as widely distributed as possible,” he said.
YES!
I’m getting Verizon FiOS installed on Thursday and I dropped DirecTV in favor of FiOS. Whooo!
http://twitter.com/FlyByKnite
None are available where I am. Fios is inching closer, but I can have comcast or nothing. I hate my life. Also, comcast is going to drop analog signal so TV that are not on a cable box will stop working in nov/dec time frame. I have a box and a digital TV, but all the surplus TVs I have in my house will be garbage. Not worth having them to watch as I fold laundry or preform other tasks. Plus my TV Tuner card will be fairly worthless. Thats four TVs to the scrap heap thanks to Comcast, who advertised before the over the air conversion that they were continuing the analog signal and not 6 months later are dropping it. BS.
Also you may be confused as to why dish would not be available. I live in a condo and my balcony doesn’t face the right direction for directv or dish, so I am screwed by comcast because they can. Who likes comcast, no one.
At least you have Comcast
Some of us are stuck with satellite as our ONLY choice, and then only 2 companies to choose from. Comcast signed a 15-year exclusivity deal with my county, and they refuse to wire almost 40% of it. Comcast sucks so bad…and now they’re STILL managing to screw me over without me even being their customer. First, they won’t my money, now they’re taking away my access to Jose Aldo and Mike Brown. I hate that company.
Jim Palmer: "I said to Nolan, 'Why do you run every ball out like that?' and he said, 'Why wouldn’t you?' "
Just fold into the UFC already and get the fighters some better pay!
by SouthAlaBamaRampage on Sep 1, 2009 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions
ONE OF THE FEW WINNERS IN THIS MESS= ME!!!
DISH is offering up Versus free for the next 3 months. No more going to a buddy’s house for WEC! Well, until December, unless they bump the channel up from the 250 to 100 package…..
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