Have you vowed to watch less television in 2009? Time Warner Cable might be able to help you with that.
The cable provider is currently locked in a dispute with Viacom over licensing fees for access to channels like MTV, Nickelodeon, and Comedy Central. If it goes unresolved, Time Warner customers could see their Viacom channels go dark at midnight.
“The renewal we are seeking is reasonable and modest relative to the profits TWC enjoys from our networks,” according to a statement from Viacom. “We have asked for an increase of less than 25 cents per month, per subscriber, which adds up to less than a penny per day for all 19 of MTV Networks’ channels.”
Viacom wants the rate hike because Time Warner “has so greatly undervalued our channels for so long,” the company said. “Our fees amount to less than 2.5 percent of what Time Warner generates from their average customer.”
Time Warner accused Viacom of extortion, and said the move was an attempt to make up for declining ad dollars.
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