DirecTV Could Drop Versus
Carriage Expires Sept.1 Unless New Deal Emerges
by Mike Farrell -- Multichannel News, 8/20/2009 4:06:34 PM
DirecTV has notified its customers that it will drop sports channel Versus on Sept. 1 unless the two can work out a carriage agreement.
Versus, formerly Outdoor Life Network, was rebranded in 2006 and is the home of the National Hockey League as well as collegiate sports from the Pac-10, Big 12, Mountain West and Ivy League conferences, the Tour de France bicycle race, Davis Cup Tennis, the Professional Bull Riders (PBR), World Extreme Cage fighting (WEC), the Indy Racing League and Professional Boxing.
The network is available in about 75 million homes and is wholly-owned by Comcast. It is unclear how many subscribers the network has on DirecTV, which has about 24.2 million subscribers overall.
In a statement, DirecTV said that the dispute centers on carriage fees. According to SNL Kagan, Versus was getting about 18 cents per subscriber per month in carriage fees from cable operators in 2009.
"In our contract discussions, Comcast has demanded a deal for Versus that is not comparable to other providers and is pushing for a significant rate hike that does not reflect current market terms or the value of its programming," DirecTV said in a prepared statement. "We will continue to try and negotiate a fair deal, but we intend to hold the line on our programming costs and protect our customers against these unfair demands that are both discriminatory and wholly unrealistic given current market rates. If we do not reach an agreement, the network will come down on Sept. 1 following the expiration of our contract with Versus."
The dispute comes weeks before the college football season is expected to kick-off - Versus is scheduled to air its first game (Texas vs. Wyoming) on Sept. 12. Versus also airs its first NHL contest on Oct. 1.
In a statement, Versus said that it is negotiating in good faith with DirecTV and hopes a deal can be reached soon.
"Since our last deal with DirecTV, Versus has added many marquee properties and has become the fastest growing sports cable network in the country," the network said in a statement. "Despite this tremendous momentum, we are offering DirecTV the ability to carry Versus the same way it does today at the market price for the network. We continue to talk and are hopeful that we will reach an agreement."
Since its re-branding three years ago, Versus has indeed increased its distribution: it is available in 75 million homes compared to 62 million in 2006 and has beefed up its programming lineup, expanding its college football coverage from 9 games in 2006 to more than 20 games this season, as well as adding other programming.
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This is the most BS I have seen in a while. I like DIRECTV. I want VERSUS back. COMCAST stop being a bunch of pus$ies, hungry as$ morons and give us Versus. This is total BS. You money gauging pricks. Get the owners of Comcast and drop them in Iraq, for this stupid act. 1st, Comcast made Massachusetts residents pay taxes for the use of Direct. Now Comcast cries foul and takes out Versus. I mean come on??? Enough BS, you retards. It's not like if Directv doesnt get Versus back, I'm going to be a customer of Comcast. The way Comcast is acting why would anyone want to be a cusdtomer of theirs????
Paul - 9/30/2009 12:55:14 AM EDT -
I know i will drop direc tv if they do not put versus
back on.
richard depolo - 9/7/2009 2:14:28 PM EDT -
DIRECTV SUBSCRIBERS AND HOCKEY FANS: PLEASE CONTACT DIRECTV AT VERSUS@DIRECTV.COM AND VERSUS AT FEEDBACK@VERSUS.COM TO URGE THEM TO REACH AN AGREEMENT. EACH NHL HOCKEY TEAM HAS REGULAR SEASON GAMES ON VERSUS THAT DIRECTV SUBSCRIBERS WILL MISS AS WELL AS PLAYOFF HOCKEY. IF THEY ARE INUNDATED WITH EMAILS THEY WILL KNOW WHAT AN INCREDIBLE INCONVENIENCE THIS IS TO DIRECTV SUBSCRIBERS AND HOCKEY FANS.
Stacey - 9/4/2009 12:53:45 PM EDT -
we just recieved direct tv in the last 30 days, now they pull this crap.
If versus is not put back on, we will be leaving at
the end of our contract.
dennis brechbiel - 9/2/2009 11:33:23 AM EDT -
lisen you guys at direct tv has to get that channel bach on asap or i will switch to dish net my huntingf ,fishing And wec cage figting is all i watch and i will drop youall like a bad happet if it nopt back on wiyh in 2 weeks and you con kiss it the contract because that why i subscribe to you all in the first place so pay the bill or i want pay mine
phil nolan - 9/1/2009 12:38:50 AM EDT
Versus, DirecTV Talk; Remain Disconnected
09/20/2009Let Name Game Begin
09/16/2006
