Austin360 blogs > TV Blog > Archives > 2010 > November > 05 > Entry
AT&T U-verse drops HGTV, Food Network and three other channels
The latest carriage dispute between content producers and providers has resulted in five channels being dropped from AT&T’s U-verse lineup. The Cooking Channel, DIY Network, Food Network, Great American Country and HGTV disappeared from the U-verse program guide Friday after months of negotiations (the contract expired at the end of October).
John Lansing, President of Scripps Networks, was quoted in a press release as saying that the stalemate was not over finances. “We reached an agreement in principle with AT&T U-verse on the distribution fees we would receive for these networks well in advance of last month’s contract deadline,” Lansing said.
The sticking point, according to Scripps, was U-verse’s insistence on usage of the channels’ product in “emerging platforms,” which sounds like code for online and mobile delivery.
For its part, AT&T claims that money is a problem.
“Scripps Networks is demanding that AT&T pay double what other competitors pay — including smaller-sized affiliates — and has yet to provide a proposal that gives AT&T a choice in the channels we carry and pay for, despite repeated requests,” the provider’s press statements say. AT&T also categorizes the access to content Scripps was willing to allow for other platforms as “inferior.”
Scripps says it is ready to resume negotiations should AT&T return to the table, while AT&T says it will continue to fight for a fair deal to bring these channels back to its lineup. It’s unclear exactly how that can happen if the two sides aren’t talking to each other.
Meanwhile, 2.7 million customers are left in the lurch.
Permalink | Comments (16) | Post your comment Categories: TV Technology
Comments
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By Deborah W.
November 8, 2010 7:36 PM | Link to this
I agree with all of you. Don't ya just love it when you pay for something and then it's taken away!! Adding an upgrade for complaining isn't what I want. I want what I pay for!! If they can't do that.....I will be an ex-customer REAL SOON!
By Johanna Muller
November 7, 2010 6:02 PM | Link to this
Iam disgusted with U-verse. All this companys do is put you in a contract take the money and run. This sounds to me like another ploy to hike the rates
By Johanna Muller
November 7, 2010 5:56 PM | Link to this
As far as Iam concerned ATT-uverse just bit the dust.
By everette
November 7, 2010 4:26 PM | Link to this
I would like to get rid of the Spanish Channels. Why can't I have a choice of keeping HGTV and not having Spanish channels?
the cost of uverse is too expense to have if i cannot enjoy watching it.
Please give us something descent to watch.
By mikki carpenter
November 7, 2010 3:00 PM | Link to this
I dont enjoy many tv shows but the food network and the cooking channel were 2 of my favorite why couldnt you not come to agreement on one of the manyyyyyyyyyy sport channels PLEASE BRING THEM BACK
By tom
November 7, 2010 12:24 PM | Link to this
My wife says in our town hallmark has been cut, but in a small city 20 miles from us Mandeville LA, they still have it. I tell you AT&T better give a refund for me having to listen to all of this. She watches these channels while I watch football, and she has nothing to watch. Somebody's going to give me a refund, for having to listen to all of this!
By tbrown17
November 6, 2010 2:55 PM | Link to this
Actually, yr bill will be going up. Rising costs you know.
By Alonzo
November 6, 2010 11:52 AM | Link to this
I also got the free 6-month upgrade to U300 by calling and complaining. I had to hold for about 15 minutes during which I got a recorded message about the Scripps Network dispute. The service rep repeated the corporate line from the press release. I pointed out - politely - that I didn't appreciate being used as a pawn in negotiations between 2 megabucks corporations, and I had other options available for service. Perhaps if enough people complain, AT&T will be encouraged to resolve their dispute more quickly. For sure if you don't complain, they have no incentive to do so.
By Bobby Crisler
November 5, 2010 8:56 PM | Link to this
I really don't care about contract disputes. I have an agreement with ATT uverse to provide programing which included HGTV and DIY networks. The failure of ATT to provide that, violates our agreement and I will be forced to find another provider.
By rebecca
November 5, 2010 8:04 PM | Link to this
It would be nice if they could offer us some of the premium channels for free until they give us the others back!
By Rachel DeMent
November 5, 2010 7:38 PM | Link to this
I am disappointed and appalled at ATT for doing such a thing to me as a customer. I will be calling tomorrow. If I am missing 5 channels I WILL demand a discount until the channels are restored. If this is not restored in a timely manner it is enough to make me cancel my service and switch to another carrier, one who is not willing to put me in this situation for their own gain. Fix it, fix it soon, or I will leave...and I'm sure I'm not the only person who will do so!
Disgrunteled,
Rachel DeMent
By matt
November 5, 2010 4:13 PM | Link to this
they will be receiving a call from me
By Norma B
November 5, 2010 4:13 PM | Link to this
My husband called AT&T to find out what the h**l is going on. We were offered HBO & Cinemax for free for just 3 months. Maybe we need to call back and see if we can get U300 for six months free.
By Cathy B
November 5, 2010 3:50 PM | Link to this
I called AT&T to ask if they were going to decrease my bill or add 5 channels that are of equal value to me and they upgraded me to U300 for 6 months for FREE! If you have U-Verse, call and complain about these channels being gone for your free-bees. :)
By Bob
November 5, 2010 3:24 PM | Link to this
So is AT&T planning to give its customers who are now receiving fewer channels a refund? H*ll no!
It is time that we the consumer got to choose what channels we want to watch and pay only for those. of the "200" channels uVerse provides there are maybe 25 we ever watch.
By Cathy B
November 5, 2010 3:18 PM | Link to this
Does that mean our AT&T rates go down while we wait without these channels? Of course not. AT&T needs to keep broadcasting these channels while they get their negotiations done or reduce our rates.