DIRECTV and Viacom Reach Agreement for Return of Viacom's 17 Channels Including Extensive New Digital Rights for DIRECTV Customers
EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
DIRECTV has reached a new long-term agreement with Viacom to restore 17
channels (including Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, MTV, BET, Spike, CMT,
TV Land and ten other channels) that Viacom had taken away from DIRECTV
customers on July 10. Viacom has returned all affected networks.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
In addition to the channels' return, DIRECTV customers will also gain
the ability to see Viacom programming on tablets, laptops, handhelds and
other personal devices via the DIRECTV Everywhere platform. Carriage of
the EPIX movie channel is not required as part of the new agreement.
"We are very pleased to be able to restore the channels to our customers
and thank them for their unprecedented patience and support," said Derek
Chang, executive vice president of Content Strategy and Development for
DIRECTV. "It's unfortunate that Viacom took the channels away from
customers to try to gain leverage, but in the end, it's clear our
customers recognized that tactic for what it was."
Chang added, "The attention surrounding this unnecessary and ill-advised
blackout by Viacom has accomplished one key thing: it serves notice to
all media companies that bullying TV providers and their customers with
blackouts won't get them a better deal. It's high time programmers ended
these anti-consumer blackouts once and for all and prove our industry is
about enabling people to connect to their favorite programs rather than
denying them access."
The dispute helped generate significant public support from hundreds of
thousands of customers and also, surprisingly enough, many high-profile
DIRECTV competitors. The 850 small and independently owned local cable
systems that make up the American Cable Association joined the
anti-blackout chorus, as did Cox Communications, Time Warner Cable and
Mediacom.
About DIRECTV:
DIRECTV (NASDAQ: DTV) is one of the world's leading providers of digital
television entertainment services delivering a premium video experience
through state-of-the-art technology, unmatched programming and industry
leading customer service to 33 million customers in the U.S. and Latin
America. In the U.S., DIRECTV offers its 19.9 million customers access
to more than 170 HD channels and Dolby-Digital® 5.1 theater-quality
sound, access to exclusive sports programming such as NFL SUNDAY
TICKET™, Emmy-award winning technology and higher customer satisfaction
than the leading cable companies for 11 years running. DIRECTV Latin
America, through its subsidiaries and affiliated companies in Brazil,
Mexico, Argentina, Venezuela, Colombia, and other Latin American
countries, leads the pay-TV category in technology, programming and
service, delivering an unrivaled digital television experience to 12
million customers. DIRECTV sports and entertainment properties include
three Regional Sports Networks (Northwest, Rocky Mountain and
Pittsburgh) as well as a 60 percent interest in Game Show Network. For
the most up-to-date information on DIRECTV, please visit www.directv.com.
DIRECTV
Darris Gringeri, 212-205-0882
dagringeri@directv.com
or
Robert
Mercer, 310-964-4683
rgmercer@directv.com
Source: DIRECTV
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