Re: July 14 expiration of contract with AMC

unhappybirthday · ‎10-18-2008

SomeJoe7777 wrote:
AT&T put out a message on STBs which gave the URL of the U-Talk forum. That's why we have so many new people registering today regarding this.

Most of them are legitimate U-Verse customers, but few understand the negotiation process, and most don't know who Rainbow Media is.

Not sure what AT&T was expecting people to post. Maybe "Rainbow Media is greedy and I would rather lose these channels than pay more"? If so, they seem to have made a serious miscalculation, as all of these postings could weaken their bargaining position.

As others have mentioned, this is the periodic negotiations that all carriers (not just AT&T) go through with the content providers. Over the past few years, this process for all carriers has occaisionally de-volved into a game of chicken. It is likely AT&T will not drop the channels, may pick up the HD versions, maybe add the channels to additional markets, pay Rainbow a bit more (but not as much as they want), and raise the price of TV service for us.

BigRedDogATL · ‎07-09-2010

I am a soon to be customer of AT&T U-verse. My installation of TV, Internet, and voice services are scheduled for July 17th.

If I read that AT&T has dropped any channels, such as AMC, then I plan on cancelling the install and going to Comcast Cable as an alternate. I have had to put up with Dish Network playing these contract negotitation games before and losing channels as a result. I won't put up with it with AT&T U-Verse. At least Comcast Cable is still licensed and regulated by our local City and they have to approve any channel drops first.

SomeJoe7777 · ‎01-30-2008

BigRedDogATL wrote:

If I read that AT&T has dropped any channels, such as AMC, then I plan on cancelling the install and going to Comcast Cable as an alternate. I have had to put up with Dish Network playing these contract negotitation games before and losing channels as a result. I won't put up with it with AT&T U-Verse. At least Comcast Cable is still licensed and regulated by our local City and they have to approve any channel drops first.

That's why cable always costs more. Regulation weakens their bargaining position.

gbh62 · ‎11-28-2009

SomeJoe7777 wrote:

BigRedDogATL wrote:

If I read that AT&T has dropped any channels, such as AMC, then I plan on cancelling the install and going to Comcast Cable as an alternate. I have had to put up with Dish Network playing these contract negotitation games before and losing channels as a result. I won't put up with it with AT&T U-Verse. At least Comcast Cable is still licensed and regulated by our local City and they have to approve any channel drops first.

That's why cable always costs more. Regulation weakens their bargaining position.

Costs more? Here in Orlando, cable (Brighthouse Networks) is pretty much the same as Uverse, probably a bit less. Uverse saved me money for the first 6 months but no longer.

June06 · ‎07-09-2010

Not only are Mad Men and Breaking Bad good shows, but The Walking Dead premiers on AMC in October as well. I don't think I've ever looked forward to a show so much. I got U-Verse a couple of months ago and I'm going to be severly pissed if they drop AMC. Directv now offers the "watch your DVR in any room" option. What's really keeping me from from going back to Directv? The "record 4 shows at once" option? Not really since only 1 of those shows can be in HD........something I found out during the intallation. U-Verse really hasn't distinguished themselves from other providers like I initially thought and dropping channels like AMC certainly isn't going to help bring in many customers.

GuruMittar · ‎07-09-2010

If Uverse drops AMC, I have to drop Uverse, I must have my Mad Men!

wchambers_1 · ‎07-09-2010

I agree - my internet is slower, my land line echoes, my cell phone reception is no better, even with a MicroCell...I just wanted TV5 Monde, AMC, IFC and a paltry few others...to get those, I had to sign up for hundreds I do not want and now I might lose 2 that I do want...this is ridiculous!

playsindirt · ‎07-09-2010

I was really bummed when I got this message this morning when I flipped on the TV. We been thinking about a dish because U-verse, while I love it, is pretty expensive comparatively. I hope AT&T realizes they risk a mass exodus if they lose AMC and IFC. I mean there goes "Mad Men." It's like the best show on TV and starts it's new season soon.

NO-IFC-I-CANCEL · ‎07-09-2010

If AT&T does not pay to keep IFC, AMC and WE channels, I am CANCELLING MY SERVICE! There are too many channels that I never watch but am forced to pay for. Now some of the few great channels that are not even offered in HD are not going to be included or available. I am finished. Time to use the internet and netflix for my viewing...**bleep** I was looking forward to watching Freaks and Geeks on IFC this summer, but looks like that is not going to happen. Most sports are over until next season, so a summer with no Cable will save me enough for a vacation, get my out of the house and back in shape and I won't be feeding the gready money hungry AT&T empire.

[text removed - keep it courteous]

texasguy37 · ‎05-18-2009

How many times are you going to post this same message in different threads?

rholroyd · ‎07-09-2010

If At&T stops carrying AMC, we will change our Cable provider the same day. AMC is providing quality products (Mad Men, Breaking Bad, etc,) and deserve to be paid for their products.

AT&T certainly increases its rates as it "improves" it's product.

texasguy37 · ‎05-18-2009

rholroyd wrote:

If At&T stops carrying AMC, we will change our Cable provider the same day. AMC is providing quality products (Mad Men, Breaking Bad, etc,) and deserve to be paid for their products.

AT&T certainly increases its rates as it "improves" it's product.

You are willing to pay higher rates with AT&T in order to keep these channels?

lizard1963 · ‎07-10-2010

Go ahead and cancel now. You will NOT be happy. We signed with AT&T Uverse 18 months ago with the promise of getting the channels we were missing after having left Charter. One of them was AMC, we are finally fed up and are switching back to Charter Cable. We were told by the sales rep (sitting in our kitchen) that since they were new, not all the channels were available, but would be coming soon. Well, 18 months has gone by and the customer service people cannot answer any of our questions regarding AMC, BBC America, etc. Goodbye AT&T, hello Charter.

wayniac5 · ‎07-10-2010

This is ridiculous. I've talked so many people into switching to uverse....ATT and rainbow better settle this.... I will be switching providers the first day that AMC goes away,,,,, IFC too for that matter....

I wish the feds would just force ALA CARTE with a max price per channel. And uverse COULD SELL BLOCKS OF 10 CHAQNNELS, 20 , 50 ETC ETC..... i COULD EASILY GET DOWN TO 10-20 CHANNELS IF i CUT OUT ALL TEH BULL**bleep** CHANNELS....

4 LOCAL

HBO

IFC

AMC

MSNBC

SUNDANCE

SHOWTIME

BBC AMERICA

FOOD NETWORK

HEADLINE NEWS

G4

COMEDY CENTRAL

ID NETWORK

BRAVO

PBS

strausy · ‎04-01-2008

I really dislike when cable companies put messages on TV saying the other part is "unreasonable" when they can't so easily respond.

If AT&T can't continue to meet my requirements for a cable company than includes AMC, I will be sending them my own message that is very reasonable. Refund me the money for the lost channels or cancel my service.

ruffers · ‎07-11-2010

" If AMC goes so do I === And I'll take my money with me === This includes all my AT$T services here and other places

gofer6064 · ‎07-30-2007

SomeJoe7777 wrote:

ohsuzanna wrote:
Ditto. If I can't watch Mad Men on AMC (which starts in mid-August), I'm going to move to DirectTV. I, too, like ATT U-Verse, but the loss of AMC would be a deal-breaker for me. PAY THE FEES.

You understand of course, that AT&T won't be paying the fees, you will. How much extra per month are you willing to pay Rainbow Media to get these channels? 50 cents? $1? More?

You have to understand that AT&T has two choices with the current offer from Rainbow:

1. Pay the new higher fees, and distribute that cost to the customers. AT&T will lose customers over the rate hike.

2. Refuse and drop the channels, AT&T will lose customers over the channel loss.

These channels are small potatoes in the grand scheme of things. AT&T will lose fewer customers by choosing option #2 over option #1.

The only other option is if Rainbow comes back with a more reasonable offer.

I just don't understand all these people like you who don't get it. This situation isn't AT&T's fault, it's Rainbow's. Where is your disdain for them?

I agree completly with somejoe. I for one am not willing to pay any extra for these channels, IMHO they are not worth the extra money, my thought is in the long run rainbow media will will get hurt worse, then at&t if they don't settle this deal.

Jstreets6 · ‎07-09-2010

AT&T is playing the game just as much as Rainbow. You 'fanboys' act like AT&T are innocent angels in this situation.

Fact of the matter, ATT will lose a lot of customers and potential customers if they let WE, AMC, IFC go. As mentioned earlier in this thread, I also spread a lot of positive word of mouth "advertising" about UVerse service. Do you think I will continue to reccomend Uverse if this happens? Absolutely not!

Not only will I be switching... let's see free HD for life with Dish. Directv total home dvr. Discounted comcast for a year. Which should I choose... ??

I've put up with a freezing tv/internet for over 2 years of Uverse service. I've put up with a messed up bill for 5 months that required me to call every month and talk to at least 10 different cust. service reps and 2 supervisors. I've been mislead by 4 cust. service reps in that I was locked in to my price package.

I've had 4 replacements of DVR units.

AND now you want to let go AMC, IFC and WE?

Why am I still with Uverse again?

paul416 · ‎10-10-2008

Jstreets6 wrote:
AT&T is playing the game just as much as Rainbow. You 'fanboys' act like AT&T are innocent angels in this situation.

Fact of the matter, ATT will lose a lot of customers and potential customers if they let WE, AMC, IFC go. As mentioned earlier in this thread, I also spread a lot of positive word of mouth "advertising" about UVerse service. Do you think I will continue to reccomend Uverse if this happens? Absolutely not!

Not only will I be switching... let's see free HD for life with Dish. Directv total home dvr. Discounted comcast for a year. Which should I choose... ??

I've put up with a freezing tv/internet for over 2 years of Uverse service. I've put up with a messed up bill for 5 months that required me to call every month and talk to at least 10 different cust. service reps and 2 supervisors. I've been mislead by 4 cust. service reps in that I was locked in to my price package.

I've had 4 replacements of DVR units.

AND now you want to let go AMC, IFC and WE?

Why am I still with Uverse again?

And don't discount the possiblity that this is a smokescreen by AT&T for a reason to up rates.

SomeJoe7777 · ‎01-30-2008

Jstreets6 wrote:

AT&T is playing the game just as much as Rainbow. You 'fanboys' act like AT&T are innocent angels in this situation.

(1) Fact of the matter, ATT will lose a lot of customers and potential customers if they let WE, AMC, IFC go. As mentioned earlier in this thread, I also spread a lot of positive word of mouth "advertising" about UVerse service. Do you think I will continue to reccomend Uverse if this happens? Absolutely not!

Not only will I be switching... let's see (2) free HD for life with Dish. (3) Directv total home dvr. (4) Discounted comcast for a year. Which should I choose... ??

(5) I've put up with a freezing tv/internet for over 2 years of Uverse service. I've put up with a messed up bill for 5 months that required me to call every month and talk to at least 10 different cust. service reps and 2 supervisors. I've been mislead by 4 cust. service reps in that I was locked in to my price package.

I've had 4 replacements of DVR units.

AND now you want to let go AMC, IFC and WE?

Why am I still with Uverse again?

I'm no AT&T fan boy either, but let's just make sure we're all on the same page as far as some "hidden" things that you didn't mention:

1. AT&T will also lost a lot of potential customers if they have to raise prices to compensate for Rainbow's greed. Maybe more customers than they will lose by dropping the channels. AT&T may have to choose the lesser of 2 evils here if they don't come to an agreement.

2. Hehe ... the HD is not "free". It just doesn't appear as a separate line item on the bill. The cost is still there, it's just within the package price now, and is subsidized by those customers that don't have HD. Plus, Dish took away some HD channels with that promotion, including Disney Channel HD, Disney XD HD, ABC Family HD and ESPN News HD.

3. Remember that to get DirecTV's THDVR service, you need WHDVR service ($3/mo), HD service ($10/mo), DVR service ($7/mo), and HD receiver lease fees ($5/each/mo). So that's at least $25/mo added onto your bill for this service.

4. Comcast receiver, HD, and DVR fees are similar and will add more cost to the base package than U-Verse's charges will.

5. You have some technical problems with your service that should not exist, and can be fixed if you want to put in the effort to get AT&T to fix them.

Mako8841 · ‎07-11-2010

AMC used to be much better years ago when it was commercial free. Now AMC shows the same commercials over and over again so much, one must change the channel to avoid getting sick. I hope AT&T drops AMC. It won't bother me one little bit since there's so much more out there! AT&T can keep costs down also.

gofer6064 · ‎07-30-2007

Just some thoughts to go with my previous post, and somejoes last post. If Rainbow media does force AT&T to drop these channels they stand to loose quite a bit of money, that they get from AT&T, i wonder how they are going to make up the money they loose, i think it will force them to raise the rates they charge DISH,DIRECT, and the other cable companies to provide these programs,sure if you switch you will get your programs but you will end up paying more in the long run. As for Dish having free HD you better take a long hard look at the fine print in there package deals, because as i read it IMHO they get you comming and going, and your still paying for the HD its just not a billing line item.

tiggerfan · ‎10-22-2008

So it's not unsreasonable for AMC to charge AT*T more but it would be unreasonable for them to charge us more ?

Professor1977 · ‎07-12-2010

It's ridiculous what Rainbow Media is doing....

http://www.iwantmytvchannels.com/

send ATT a message, call them. hope for the best, but it doesn't look good. looks like I'll be watching Mad Men and BB Online from now on.....

RCSMG · ‎12-10-2007

It could get resolved in the 9th hour. I saw this happen when I had Comcast. They sent out screen messages, and post cards to that affect. The day came, and late that evening they sent a message that negotiations were resolved and the channel would not be dropped. All of the posts people have left are not falling on deaf ears.

JefferMC · ‎11-16-2009

RCSMG wrote:
It could get resolved in the 9th hour. I saw this happen when I had Comcast. They sent out screen messages, and post cards to that affect. The day came, and late that evening they sent a message that negotiations were resolved and the channel would not be dropped. All of the posts people have left are not falling on deaf ears.

This is just part of the negotiation process gamesmanship. Each is trying to get the other company's feedback channels stuffed with their supporters to try to get them to move off their current position. I think it highly unlikely that these channels will go away, but I could certainly live with that if they did.

vschickie · ‎07-13-2010

Dear AT&T,

We are hearing several news reports that AT&T is not renewing their contract
with the Rainbow Media-owned network of AMC!
example:
http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/content_display/news/cable-tv/e3ic1df212a5f55796febd23aacb223f309

This means we will be unable to watch the new season of Mad Men (which airs July 25th, 2010).
This is an OUTRAGE!

We absolutely WILL cancel our AT&T Uverse service, and go to another cable provider, if you do not rectify this situation!!!

kuehnercop · ‎07-13-2010

i have had uverse for a year. at first major technical problems had to replace box 4 times, and i can say great customer service. i was replying to the posting that you only get 1 hd channel at a time to record. that is not true you get two hd channels and two regular channels. as far as losing the channels if they take those channels away we should be at least compensated for them.

gkolanowski · ‎07-10-2010

I also recently switched to U-verse and one of the reasons was because Comcast dropped AMC from our basic cable package. I will be very disappointed if they don't work this out. I'm not so invested in U-verse that I wouldn't look around for other options. AT&T knows how popular Mad Men is and they shouldn't underestimate it's fans.

mmaslar_1 · ‎02-21-2010

I originally thought this was AT&T being selfish and not willing to budge to offer channels to its customers. Having read numerous articles about this dispute, though, I must say, this seems like Cablevision's doing. They have gone through similar disputes in the past (with Disney/ABC). This actually seems to be that AT&T is truly defending its customers in this case. What are the odds!?!