Versus-DirecTV Stalemate Continues In Carriage Dispute
Impasse Threatens Comcast-Owned Network's Coverage Of Stanley Cup Playoffs
Mike Reynolds -- Multichannel News, 2/9/2010 6:05:14 PM
There appears to be very little progress in the carriage dispute between DirecTV and Versus that has kept the sports network off of the top DBS provider for over five months.
Although the parties continue to negotiate, sources indicate they remain far apart on a number of issues, with the impasse now perhaps threatening the National Hockey League's postseason. The puck sports playoff are scheduled to face off in mid-April.
"At this time, Versus is not optimistic that we will have a deal in place by the time the Stanley Cup playoffs begin," a spokesman noted.
DirecTV said there was nothing new to report on the negotiations.
The parties' contract ended on Sept. 1 over pricing and positioning issues, with DirecTV saying Versus was seeking a major hike in its monthly license fee. For its part, the Comcast-owned network has balked at the DBS operator wanting to drop it to a less penetrated level of service.
Despite the loss of DirecTV subscribers, Versus said it enjoyed its best year ever from a Nielsen perspective, as the network attracted some 113 million viewers in 2009, up from 97 million the prior year. The service, which benefited from extended free previews on Dish, as well as in select Time Warner Cable and Cox systems, said it recorded its best ever September, October and November this fall. Those previews rolled off in December.
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I've been a DirecTV subscriber for 15 years and I've paid them over $25,000 for services. I was one of those very first customers who PAID 699.00 of a receiver!
I've HAD IT!!! I've informed them that they have until April 1 to resolve the Versus mess or I'm gone.... AND I MEAN IT!!!
A previous poster is absolutely right in the observation about the impending Comcast/NBC deal. I'm afraid the honeymoon is over and we (the everyday home viewers) are going to be held hostage to this garbage for a long time. R I D I C U L O U S !!!!!!!!
Mike Pavlik - 2/15/2010 11:40:33 AM EST -
If Comcast acts this way now, what happens if they are allowed to purchase NBC? We will all be at their mercy!
Frank Wislosky - 2/13/2010 4:34:38 PM EST -
I've got news for Directv Customers, DUMP DIRECTV, they are showing no progress @ all trying to Bring Back Versus and worst yet, it may take a while or the network may never be on Directv Again, switch to a Cable Provider that DOES carry VERSUS like Cablevision's iO package, you'd be better safe than sorry. Directv will eventually work out a deal, but it may be until the summer when this mess is resolved.
Juan M. Melendez - 2/10/2010 10:34:49 PM EST -
Apples and oranges. In the NFL deal, the league chose to give exclusivity to the carrier. In the NHL situation, the rights holder is withholding the games from its competitors. The league would like the exposure. Also, the NFL package is for out of market games and everyone gets to see all of the playoff games. In the NHL, a large percentage of playoff games are exclusively on Versus. If it is not settled a large number of viewers will miss out on the majority of the playoffs. Comcast has done much worse by hockey fans than Directv by football fans.
Brian K. - 2/10/2010 9:50:08 PM EST -
I understand the posturing at work here, but this is what bothers me: why is it not OK for Comcast to shut out DirecTV viewers from hockey, yet Comcast customers cannot view out-of-market NFL games thanks to DirecTV's exclusivity deal with the NFL?
If you don't like the label, don't wear the uniform...
Fuller Schettman - 2/10/2010 4:55:40 PM EST
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