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Dora the Explorer Cries Over Viacom, Time Warner Spat

Written on: Dec 31, 2008
Author: Edward Barrera |
: Share; Dora the Explorer Cries Over Viacom, Time Warner Spat

ADOTAS — Would people really drop their cable provider if they can’t get Dora the Explorer or Comedy Central?

Viacom wants to slightly up its fee for every subscriber that Time Warner Cable has. TWC reports more than 13 million. A three-year deal is expiring, and Viacom said it will pull its content at midnight if a deal is not struck.

“Their content is no more valuable on the first of January than it is today, especially because they are putting most of their top-rated content on the Web for free.” Alex Dudley, TWC spokesman, told the WSJ. “Their business model is failing, so they’re trying to prop it up on our customers’ backs.”

Either hilariously, or pathetically, Viacom has launched an ad campaign about the fees, with one showing a teary-eyed Dora with the words, “Why is Dora crying?” The ads urge subscribers to complain as well as suggesting to drop the provider and go to competitors.

With most of the interesting Viacom product, such as Comedy Central, online for free and kiddie cartoon dvds cheap, I have a hard time believing that many will drop TWC because they can’t watch SpongeBob on TV for the upteenth time. Then again, I don’t have kids.

– Express your opinion, comment below.

Reader Comments.

My question is whether or not TWC is going to drop their rates now that they may be offering less channels? If not, this sounds to me like either way we, as customers, lose. Either we pay more to keep the channels we already have, or pay the same for less channels.

Posted by k-dub | 12:26 pm on December 31, 2008.

the cable value prop for some families is about to collapse, for me as i stream more…do i really need to pay $99/month..the only way im stayin on is if the content remains..they start taking more content away…dora will be exclusively streamed and my cable box is going to be on a lot less.

Posted by getkids | 12:39 pm on December 31, 2008.

I think Viacom used an underhanded,but effective,ad using a popluar kid icon to get to Time Warner Cable customers to agree to pay more.It is working at my house,both my kids are like “Mom,it’s only .23 cents more..can we keep ‘em..puhleeezzee???”So of course I will fork over an extra .23 cents,I’ll just have to look for another way to save some money.It is just one of those things,hate it,love it,indiffrent to it,it’s gonna stink either way.At least Time Warner isn’t using our kids to get to us.

Posted by momof2 | 1:39 pm on December 31, 2008.

You’d be surprised. My house is in an uproar as the kids are freaking out about their IV source being canned, and the teens are getting angry about no more VH1/MTV. I personally am pissed about Comedy Central- no more Colbert on TV after a long day’s work? Unthinkable.

We’re all in agreement- TWC has enough problems & crap channels that I don’t mind switching to satellite or any other cable provider that offers them. Lucky you having a childless home- here I have Nickelodeon blaring every other hour with a scrolling “ALERT!ALERT!ALERT!” at the bottom of the screen. Nothing like impending doom messages to rile my kids up…

Posted by lp | 1:58 pm on December 31, 2008.

I HAVE A 2 YR OLD AND WE WATCH BACKYARDIGANS EVERY NIGHT BEFORE BED. IF AN AGREEMENT IS NOT MADE AND WITH THE INCREASINGLY CRAPPY YET MORE COSTLY SERVICES I’M GETTING FROM TWC, I AM SURELY GOING TO DROP ALL TV SERVICES AND GO WITH THE FREE CHANNELS THAT WILL BE BROADCAST OF THE DIGITAL AIR-WAIVES COME FEBRUARY. THIS WHOLE THING IS ALL ABOUT MONEY AND GREED. THAT IS THE WHOLE PROBLEM WITH OUR ECONOMY TODAY IT IS BASED ON GREED ON THE CORPORATE LEVEL. THE LION’S SHARE OF OUR MONEY NEVER REACHES THE CONSUMER LEVEL. IF THIS KEEPS UP I’LL GET RID OF ALL TV’S IN MY HOUSE AND WE’LL GATHER AROUND THE RADIO LIKE THEY DID IN THE THIRTIES.

Posted by A CONCERNED NC PARENT | 3:10 pm on December 31, 2008.

I think we all need to turn off the TV’s and just play with our kids. I only let my son watch one DVD a day and then maybe some Curious George in the morning. Then we play games or color, read books or play outside. Drop your cable and show big business that we do not need them for entertainment. My house we only pay for the most basic cable and that is enough channels. Why do I need 100 plus channels of re-runs and ads?

Posted by WatchLessTVandPlayWIthYourKids | 3:29 pm on December 31, 2008.

Viacom needs to think of the consumers first – Please don’t pull these channels from Time Warner Cable or Brighthouse Networks!
http://www.floodthelines.com/viacomdontpullchannels/

Posted by FLMom | 6:41 pm on December 31, 2008.

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