We're still following this battle between CBS and Time-Warner, fantasizing there's some way we can get our CBS-owned channels back but both sides in the dispute can lose. My guess would be that most subscribers think it's all just a matter of corporate avarice and that Time-Warner — because they seem to be satisfied with the status quo and no price increases — is the lesser greedhead by a slim margin. CBS Channel 2 has now disappeared completely from my TV and been replaced by what I think is the Starz Kids channel. My TiVo, of course, has no idea what it's showing.
There's a lot here I don't understand. One thing is why if Time-Warner wants to keep the good will of its customers and put pressure on CBS, they don't give that cherished Channel 2 spot over to free access to a great premium channel that everyone will love. The Showtime channels (owned by CBS) are off but some of us would be really happy with a free channel that showed the same kinds of things. That seems like it would be cost-effective to Time-Warner based on how it would get the public on their side.
Another thing I don't get is this…
[Time-Warner Cable CEO Glenn] Britt…called on CBS to stop blocking Time Warner Cable customers from viewing programming on the Web. CBS makes a substantial amount of its programming available on its website CBS.com but has been blocking access from Time Warner Cable's Internet subscribers since Friday afternoon.
Wouldn't it be in CBS's best interests to make those shows viewable on the web? It would stop some fans of ongoing series from drifting away. It would make CBS look like it cared about its viewers. It would cause many of Time-Warner's customers to think, "Hey, we don't need Time-Warner Cable." I know the premise is that if folks can't watch The Mentalist, they'll call Time-Warner and threaten to switch to DirecTV or Dish or (gasp!) roof antennas…but Time-Warner isn't afraid of those complaints. They can just tell those callers, "We could have the CBS stations back in two minutes if we pay them what we want but then your bill will go up."
Not a lot of folks are actually going to switch because they figure that the minute you go to DirecTV — which can involve a lot of hassle, plus often the abandonment of all you've saved to watch on your DVR — DirecTV will be fighting over retransmission fees with Disney and then all those channels will be off. Granting access to Time-Warner subscribers to watch CBS shows on the web would also enable them to insert commercials and plead their case to Time-Warner subscribers.
So far, the impact on CBS ratings is microscopic. Last night, their Big Brother cleaned up in the numbers.
Anyway, let's keep watching the knife fight. It's a lot more interesting than watching anything that's been on CBS lately. All I care about is that they get this settled in time for me to watch The Tony Awards next May. Especially if Neil Patrick Harris hosts again.