Andre Yoskowitz
16 Oct 2010 2:11
Following months of negotiations with no resolution, News Corp. has blacked out their Fox broadcast signal to over 3 million Cablevision subscribers in metropolitan New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia.
Cablevision refused to negotiate any longer and declared an impasse at 8 p.m.
Says president of Fox Networks Affiliate Sales and Marketing Mike Hopkins: "We started this process in May and made numerous reasonable proposals. We remain far apart and Cablevision has made it clear that they do not share our view regarding the value of Fox’s networks."
The blackout affects Fox, Fox Business, Nat Geo Wild and Fox Deportes.
Sports fans should be incredibly upset by the turn of events, as Fox is the broadcaster for Giants games and the MLB playoffs, where the Yankees are in the ALCS.
Following the impasse, News Corp. began urging Cablevision subscribers to switch to Verizon FiOS or a satellite provider.
Cablevision responded by saying News Corp. "failed to negotiate in good faith" and called the black out "a black eye for broadcast television in America."
Fox was looking for exaggerated fees for their signal that used to be free. Cablevision has so far refused as they do not want to tack on extra fees to consumer's monthly bill. Cablevision says they already pay $70 million per year for Fox's "retransmission fee" but now Fox wants $150 million per year. Cablevision was willing to submit the case to third-party arbitration but Fox refused.
News Corp. is also currently fighting the Dish Network over fees for Fox regional sports networks, and Fox has blacked out those sites for over two weeks now.