A contract dispute between AMC parent Rainbow Media and AT&T’s U-Verse could prevent some 2.3 million customers from tuning into the July 25 return of the Emmy-winning Mad Men. U-Verse’s contract with Rainbow – which provides AMC, IFC and WE to the broadband TV operator - expired July 1 but a contract extension was granted until July 14 so the two sides can iron out a deal. But talks have stalled, so much that Rainbow and U-Verse have begun warning viewers that the networks could go dark before Don Draper stages his comeback.
“It is troubling that AT&T is threatening to yank AMC, WE tv and IFC, and leave their customers without the hottest show on television, AMC’s Mad Men, just before the premiere of the new season. AT&T is acting in an aggressive manner that puts their corporate interests ahead of their customers,” according to an AMC Statement. “We are negotiating in good faith with AT&T and are hopeful that we can reach an agreement as soon as possible so that our viewers don’t lose out.”
U-Verse followed up with a statement of their own: “We’re willing to continue to work toward reaching a fair agreement, but frankly, we seem to be at an impasse with Rainbow so we’re starting to let customers know that Rainbow may force us to remove their channels from our lineup on July 14. We want to reach a fair deal for our customers that reflects our growing subscriber base and that reflects the appropriate value of Rainbow content. Based on aggregate data we obtained from third party industry sources and our own subscribers, some of the Rainbow channels are among the least-watched and most overpriced per viewer compared to other major programming providers. They’re also trying to force the renegotiation of a contract for one of their other channels that is not yet expired and force us to carry a new channel that wasn’t even formally presented to us until after the recent July 1 contract extension.
“We want our customers to know that we can’t and won’t give in to unreasonable deals that unfairly disadvantage our customers. However, if a fair agreement isn’t reached by July 14, Rainbow could require us to remove their programming to try to force us into an unfair deal. This is about protecting our customers and representing their interests to get the content they really want at a fair price.”
Mad Men scored multiple Emmy nominations on Thursday, including another one for Outstanding Drama.
just watch it online like the people who dont have AMC do.
Shhh…
Yeah, for real.
As a U-Verse customer, I’ll be pissed if this doesn’t go through. I’m sure both parties are guilty of greed, but you can’t tell me that Rainbow isn’t wanting more money now the AMC has two hit shows–Mad Men and Breaking Bad–both of which I watch religiously.
I am confused – I’ve had Uverse since last year and don’t get AMC now – how are they dropping something we don’t get? What channel is it on?
Unless you have the basic or family package you should get AMC. The channel varies by location. Check the U-verse website to see what you have.
i’m to a uverse cusomer and i could care less if it’s going to make my bill go up screw rainbow see how much money they have when you cannot aford it and you cancel
I’m a U-Verse subscriber as well and I can guarantee I’ll be switching if this happens… No MLB network and no AMC is enough for me
You’ll probably be switching back just as quick once you get a load of your cable bill or, if you choose satellite, you lose reception because it’s drizzling rain outside.
I just saw the message about the negotiation issues between Rainbow Media and ATT. I did an Internet search and found the http://www.iwantmytvchannels.com web site. I find it interesting that it allows us to only send a message to ATT and not to Rainbow Media to let them know how the public feels about this issue.
First I wonder what Rainbow Media is asking for. I am not seeing anything published about their asking price. Is it that they don’t want to publish it because the viewing public would find it so outrageous we would agree with ATT? The cost ends up hurting the TV viewer because Rainbow Media’s outrageous asking price is passed on to us the viewer. I also find it interesting that Rainbow Media is a subsidiary of Cablevision. Would perhaps that be the reason why Rainbow is being unreasonable in these negotiations. Perhaps the real reason is to cut into ATT market share of viewers where thsey compete with ATT? Since ATT has a better product than Cablevsion, perhaps this is just sour grapes.
In my opinion ATT can drop the channels. Rainbow Media shows the same movies over and over again on AMC and it is not worth having anyway. I applaud ATT for trying to hold the line on costs to the viewer.
U-verse? Who has U-verse?
They dropped coverage in Mississippi last fall, and yet no one at AT&T has been able to tell me anything (even though other states with the same package as me could get AMC and IFC). When I would ask about it, they would just say “not all channels are available in all markets”. But this is crazy! I already had to get Breaking Bad via iTunes — stop dragging my heart around, Rainbow Media!!
I’m a U-verse customer and I saw that message this morning. I don’t watch mad men until the dvds come out so Mad Men isn’t a problem for me. The problem for me is when it comes Oscar time and I’m missing my 31 days of Oscar movies that’s when I’ll be royally pissed. Also I would miss Bridezilla on WE. Its one of my guilty pleasures.
Then these idiot corporate yuppies wonder why we all download shows illegally.
Ugh, when I moved into the heart of Minneapolis two summers ago, suddenly AMC was a premium channel for Comcast. My dad in the suburbs gets it despite having the same basic cable plan as me. I don’t get cable companies in the slightest.
I’m a Uverse customer in the KC area and I would only miss AMC for Mad Men. But since there are other ways to get it, it’s not that big of a deal. I don’t want my bill to go up because of it.
I wish this posting gave some info on where U-Verse customers are. I know my cable is Time Warner, but still it’d be nice to know what states or markets this conflict might hit.
I was mad enough that UVerse doesn’t have AMC in HD, and now this.
I dont care much AMC, WE and IFC, in replacement there should add more HD channels, Rainbow these are tough times, take it or leave. it.