We’ve Made Progress With Disney, Working Together to Beat the Deadline

Aug 29 2010

We’ve Made Progress With Disney, Working Together to Beat the Deadline

You better believe that it brings me a deep and tremendous pleasure to share the following statement with you, straight from our negotiating room this weekend:

The Walt Disney Company and Time Warner Cable have made significant progress in our negotiations for continued distribution of ABC, Disney and ESPN networks and services. We are now focusing all our attention on a successful conclusion of these efforts prior to the September 2 deadline.

Like I said on Friday — Relax. Breathe. We’re committed to keeping Disney, ESPN, and ABC on the air. And we’re doing everything we can to get this over with as smoothly and as early as possible.

And, as always, we’re happy to hear from you in the comments.

Categories: What's New

79 Comments »

79 Responses to “We’ve Made Progress With Disney, Working Together to Beat the Deadline”

GEoff Wasmer
Aug 29, 2010
at 12:43 pm

I am relaxing and breathing… But really, doesn’t the multinational Disney corporation make enough money. Walt Disney’s frozen body must be generating enough heat to melt the polar ice caps. It would be a significant leap back to a happier planet if Disney would re-adopt the style and character of its name sake.

Disney relax, breath, and remember your humble “Steam Boat Willy” beginning. I do.
Kat
Aug 29, 2010
at 1:11 pm

Thanks for rolling over…and I mean that in all seriousness. Unfortunately, because it apparently took you so long to decide you could not afford to lose ESPN (the channel my husband and son can’t live without) and Disney Channel (my daughter’s favorite channel), you lost us as a subscriber. It is a pain to switch, but as a smart shopper I will now treat my tv provider as I treat shopping for my groceries, and look for the best deals.
Jeff Simmermon
Aug 29, 2010
at 1:29 pm

Kat — We encourage people to find the best deal and the best package for themselves/their families. Of course we’re sorry to lose you as a customer, we’d love to have you back. Please bear in mind that this issue may well follow you to your new service provider, too — like I mentioned in a recent blog post, Disney/ESPN have had public spats with DISH and Cablevision already this year.
Hep
Aug 29, 2010
at 2:05 pm

you’re going to continue to raise our rates anyways, so at least make sure that we get ESPN3 as part of this deal. at least that way it’ll offset the 300 channels I never tune into but have to pay for anyways.
Jeff Simmermon
Aug 29, 2010
at 2:48 pm

Fair enough. I’m not privy to the negotiations apart from what I share with you guys, so I can’t offer any insight there. However, consider this: I can’t stand sports. Never liked ‘em, probably never will. By that rationale, it’s bad enough that guys like me have to pay $4 a month for ESPN — a channel I never use but have to pay for. If ESPN3 is a part of the new deal, then people like me will have to pay for expensive channels they never watch, and a website they’ll never visit. Bottom line: we all fund each other’s niches to some extent.
Rachel
Aug 29, 2010
at 4:10 pm

Touche!! (on the espn3 comment)
TJ
Aug 29, 2010
at 4:41 pm

What would be really cool, and obviously I don’t know if this is possible or how it could be done, but what if customers got to pick their own cable channels? You’d still pay a flat fee or even a tiered package fee based on how MANY channels you actually want out of the 300 or so that are offered. I could eliminate all the Spanish language channels, sports and MTV-genre cr*p that clogs up my channel surfing!!
TJ
Aug 29, 2010
at 4:47 pm

For every person like Kat who wrote that her family canceled Time Warner because they were afraid they’d lose ESPN and Disney, there are probably five other people who wouldn’t miss those channels at all. Peersonally, I never watch either of those conglomerates and, like, Jeff Simmermon, I hate sports, too. I say we should have more educational programming like the Discovery channel, Science channel, Smithsonian and PBS channels offer! Our society is becoming so dumbed down, maybe it’s time to lose some of the mind-numbing garbage programming, which I feel Disney contributes to. Disney sure ain’t what it used to be.
aaron
Aug 29, 2010
at 5:02 pm

i love espn its the only channel i watch. it saddens me that it might be leaving because the cable company didnt make efforts before hand to re-negotiate a deal with disney before this all got started
Jack
Aug 29, 2010
at 5:33 pm

Thanks Jeff for the updates on the negotiations! Where would we be without this blog? It is so cool! That’s the thing about sports, people either like them for the most part, or hate them. I watch boxing and sometimes MMA, that’s it for me in sports.

I am a movie fan (mainly 70′s-80′s, my favorite era. I am also addicted to a lot of stuff on Food Network and the Cooking Channel. Aren’t we supposed to be getting Cooking Channel in HD soon?

Jack
Brody
Aug 29, 2010
at 5:53 pm

Why does it have to be, “well I hate sports anyways, so why do I have to pay for YOUR shit?” when it should be just providing service everyone enjoys at a decent price… You guys should have the most networks, and the best ondemand service known to man. I should be able to download music, movies, and tvshows. Whenever with no commercials . I can make that happen with my computer for almost the coast of Internet service. So why even try to keep espn? Change the way we watch tv already, Stop bitching with these rich jackasses and do it yourself people.
Mike in San Diego
Aug 29, 2010
at 5:54 pm

We don’t watch ESPN or Disney, seldomly we watch ABC. Actually most of our cable/network watching is limited to about 10 channels.

May be it is time to change the business model, make all channels “a la carte”, pay for your choice of channels.
ramsbringit
Aug 29, 2010
at 5:58 pm

Good God TWC let the Disney channel go there crap shows anyway make them pay you for even airing there garbage. Stinks are rates will increase and go to Disney GOOD GOD!!! I will be visiting Disney forums and making my voice heard about there scamming ways thats for sure. Maybe you could get us some kind of nfl ticket from the nfl instead of the dang Disney garbage Id happily pay for the NFL.
David
Aug 29, 2010
at 6:29 pm

If we’re going to end up raising prices, can we PLEASE improve the HD lineup? When I was in Kansas City (Time Warner), we got G4HD, Comedy Central HD, and a few others. UVerse and DirecTV counter with the additions of SpikeHD, LifetimeHD (my wife watches Project Runway), and some others.

As far as ESPN3 goes, almost 90% of your users are college football fans, and until FOX or another network successfully attacks ESPN’s stranglehold on NCAA Football, that’s what we have to live with.
Pat Leonard
Aug 29, 2010
at 6:57 pm

Jeff, why not streamline cable channels and let us pay for what we want? Currently we have to pay for basic and digital tiers that essentially have the same programming plus or minus a few channels. To get high definition,which is advertised for free, you must purchase the digital tier which essentially mirrors the HD tier(except for the gold pack which has an upcharge) so it isn’t really free. If all the tiers were different then that would be a choice.
Mickee
Aug 29, 2010
at 7:50 pm

I am just hoping that I can continue to keep the service that I have without another hike in my payment. I am not a sports fan, but I do enjoy ABC. I agree with Geoff, that SOMEONE should remember their humble days. I have to pay for channels that I absolutely do not watch, either, in order to get the few channels that I do like or that over the years have been following a series. I pray that the negotiations go well for us customers, but I also pray that you, TWC, would come up with a better method of packaging for customers – packaging the channels we like, instead of forcing us to take channels we do not like. I have been a customer for 12+ years and have stayed true to you even when others offered me better deals and rebate cards. I hope you all do right by the customers, because without us you have nothing to fight over.
Jeff Simmermon
Aug 29, 2010
at 8:38 pm

I see where you guys are coming from with your a la carte discussion. Before I worked in cable, I would have been right there with you. And it can be argued that I completely drank the Kool-Aid, fair enough. However, a la carte programming is not exactly what it seems to be on the surface. Check out this article for the best explanation I’ve ever read — and from someone that’s not in the cable business:

http://nyti.ms/ahEUsW

Here’s the thing. If I and all the other nerds out there stop paying for ESPN because we just want AMC for Mad Men and the Walking Dead (stoked on that) — the cost of filming, producing, and distributing professional sports doesn’t drop. But the amount of money that comes in to cover those costs drops a LOT. Consequently — the cost of the channel has to go up for everyone that actually wants it. This debate is huge, and bigger than these comments, but that’s the thrust of it.
Pat Leonard
Aug 29, 2010
at 8:53 pm

Jeff, I appreciate the honest back and forth with you, but let’s be honest there is alot of repetition on every tier. If you have an HD tv then you will watch 99% of your channels there. This makes basic analog and digital tiers something we have to pay for, but never use. So like I said HD service is not really “free” per say.
mayor bongo
Aug 29, 2010
at 9:00 pm

Time Warner and Disney both deserve criticism for the way the contract talks took place. I am angry that you both tried to frighten me about my TV services. There is more than enough uncertainty in the world without you adding to it.
Dana
Aug 29, 2010
at 11:07 pm

Im not going to go as low as some of the comments above were. I called TWC the past few weeks asking what the options were. If we do lose those channels how much will my bill be decreased? OR Where TWC stands as far as the negotiations….. Couldnt get an answer. Even if there is an agreement…Im gone. Direct TV and the NFL this week. Later TW!
Marty J.
Aug 29, 2010
at 11:13 pm

Holy smokes, the networks are taking advantage of people that are too shallow to realize that THEY are the ones gouging us with the increases, they make it sound like the cable company…do you HONESTLY think that ESPN would be cool with the idea of losing 3 million customers…really, you think so? ESPN KNEW you wouldn’t call their bluff, didn’t have the stomache for it, knew football season was around the corner and you all played right into their hand.

For the love of God, TWC, for once, take the chance and call the bluff and come out with a PR machine about how much of an increase ESPN wants and call it what it is, them gouging for sheer profit because they know their audience is to weak to stand up to them…both TWC and the viewing public…
Chip Strand
Aug 29, 2010
at 11:26 pm

How about an update to our cable boxes? TWC has to have the oldest DVRs out there. Very little space, can’t share with other DVRs in the house. It’s not the loss of ESPN that is making me look elsewhere. It’s the outdated equipment. The new guide has slowed down everything on my cable box.
Lily
Aug 30, 2010
at 12:01 am

I agree. I would like to pick my channels because I dont want to pay for ones I dont use. thats an idea Cable companies need to look at now. I am thinking of dropping cable.
Jamie B
Aug 30, 2010
at 12:33 am

I am with Chip on this one. Upgrade the damn DVR! It has less than half of the space of other DVRs. I like the new guide better than the old one, but it is NOTHING compared to DirecTV’s. I would switch except it’s a freaking hassle, and I expect satellite would be pretty spotty in the winter here.
As for the “I don’t watch ESPN/Disney, so just drop it” comments… you guys clearly don’t realize how it works. A la carte would cost a hell of a lot more, more than likely.
Vanessa
Aug 30, 2010
at 12:40 am

I think Walt is turning over in his grave! Living in the shadow of Disneyland, we are well aware of the greed the Disney Co. exhibits. Shame on Disney for not negotiating fairly with the various unions – but now, to hold TWC (& other providers) along with their customers hostage is unacceptable. I guess they are not making enough money from the tourist trade on their recently increased admissions fees!! My hat is off to the negotiators at TWC – we support your efforts.
Mike M
Aug 30, 2010
at 7:25 am

UNPLUG your TV and GET A LIFE. You’ll all be much happier for it and this whole issue will go away.

ps You may even thank me later
Jose
Aug 30, 2010
at 8:36 am

ESPN3 should be included in the deal if, and when, a deal with Disney is brokered.

Also, as a couple of others have said, the dvr’s desperatley need to be upgraded. They are so outdated it’s sad. I switched from DirecTV to TWC, and overall, I’m happy with the service except for the ancient dvr’s.
Charlie Jones
Aug 30, 2010
at 11:56 am

Does Time Warner ever go back and open discussions with channels TW dropped? TW used to have HDNet and HDNet movies. HDNet was replaced with the most useless channel MAVTV.

I wonder if TW looks at channel viewership when dropping a channel and bringing in a new channel that isn’t comparable to the existing channel.
Yaeger Downs
Aug 30, 2010
at 12:04 pm

I love how TWC plays the victim in all of this – 6% Net Income, means they still get to pay all those hugh salaries and bonus – and still have 6% left over… But in all these ‘negotiations’, TWC does a good job demonizing ‘evil’ Disney, or Fox or whoever it is next week.. All of these ‘negotiations’ have one thing in common – TWC!!! It seems that TWC is doing the same thing they are accusing the channels of doing…
Roger
Aug 30, 2010
at 12:18 pm

Until Time Warner gets on the ball and adds NFL Network and Sunday Ticket they will continue to lose subscribers to Directv. Regardless of all the politics around the way they want to charge, the fact of the matter is that peolple will go to where the product is offered. Those that don’t want it will not be effected but in the end the NFL Fan is the largest fan base out there. With out Sunday Ticket and the eclusives rights to it, Directv would be doomed to the other cable providers.
TC
Aug 30, 2010
at 2:50 pm

Even with a preteen in the house (who doesn’t contribute to the cable bill – btw), I wouldn’t be phased if those bullies Disney and ESPN went away. Especially if we as subscribers are going to be expected to pay more bc they stay. I look at it this way – Not only does ESPN not want to risk loosing 3M+ viewers, the leagues they broadcast for would also loose out and have to start looking for other ways/channels to get their events broadcast, which also hurts ESPN. We’re avid NBA fans (and get League Pass every season). I can’t tell you how awful we think ESPN’s NBA pre/post game commentators are. As soon as the game ends, we quickly flip to NBA.TV for post action highlights.

Oh and agreed on the need to u/g the dvr equipment
DISH
Aug 30, 2010
at 4:00 pm

Disney didnot leave Dish Network
Jeff Simmermon
Aug 30, 2010
at 4:02 pm

They did, however, try this kind of a thing with DISH – http://online.wsj.com/article/NA_WSJ_PUB:BT-CO-20100622-712323.html.
David
Aug 30, 2010
at 4:49 pm

Those four channels are hardly in the same class as ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, and ABC.
Jonathon
Aug 30, 2010
at 6:19 pm

Mr. Simmermon,

So do you know if you guys are trying to add espn3 if a deal is reached? It was kind of hard to believe that the 2nd biggest cable company ( or 1st not sure) didn’t have espn3!
george
Aug 30, 2010
at 7:43 pm

GET NFL NETWORK ALREADY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
sam
Aug 30, 2010
at 7:47 pm

NFL NETWORK NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Roger
Aug 30, 2010
at 7:48 pm

If TW had nfl Network this wouldn’t be causing so many people to leave.

Enough crap, get with what every other cable provider has, NFL Network!
George Hausladen
Aug 30, 2010
at 10:08 pm

This is a joke. Since Time warner is going to save us all this money will we get discounts for the days you withold service from us.? Good deal, you don’t carry the programs and we still pay for the, ATT U Verse is looking very nice. I will be watch the Atlanta 500 in my home on Sunday. It is TW’s decsion on which service I will be watching.
Murtaza Rajabali
Aug 30, 2010
at 11:13 pm

Please do not send me emails TIME WARNER! You have to bargain your own deals. They charge a fee for you to receive their programs and you charge us.

So I dont want to hear your complaints. What are you afraid of? Some competition?

Afraid of loosing part of your Monopoly?
DH
Aug 31, 2010
at 4:34 am

Record profits = record greed! It’s amazing the corporate spin that’s always in high gear, so aggressively attacking the other guy. However, if you look at history, this happens every year with many of TW’s negotiations. Where’s our NFL network, where’s our NASN? Give me a break.

The problem is that until MILLIONS of us leave, this large conglomerate won’t feel a thing, and won’t change their ways.
Brandon
Aug 31, 2010
at 9:16 am

I always loved ESPN. I always check ESPN everyday for the latest news. I always check them for the score from my favorite baseball teams game from the previous night. So pretty much if TWC got rid of ESPN, i would have gone crazy.

Now for ESPN3.com, I am one of those people who like ESPN3. I wanted to watch some stuff online but TWC isn’t an affliated provider, So if this is in the agreement, then i will be thrilled to the extinct where i am jumping for joy. I have an Xbox 360, and i use it for “family entertainment” when we are not watching TV. With the new ESPN feature coming to Xbox LIVE in November, it would be awesome (as long as ESPN3 is in the deal) to have my family watch NFL games, and MLB games through my Xbox 360. That would be pretty wicked.

The only thing i have to say that wasn’t so good was the fact that those advertisements were actually getting old, and was scaring people. I didn’t think that was nessesscary.
dread pirate roberts
Aug 31, 2010
at 10:37 am

@Murtaza Rajabali ….”Afraid of loosing part of your Monopoly?” perhaps you should look up the meaning of a monpoly!!
JH
Aug 31, 2010
at 11:46 am

ESPN3 must be added!!! regardless of the outcome of the regular channels, this will also have an impact on whether I stay a TWC subscriber or not…
Sunny
Aug 31, 2010
at 12:51 pm

We are TWC customers because we don’t have many choices. AT^T Uverse would be great except for the $450 non refundable deposit, correct me if I am wrong but wouldn’t that be considered an installation fee?

In our house we could live without multiple sports networks but we understand that others do enjoy them. We have basic cable and already pay some hefty bills. So what’s next. Which network is going to be the next ones to jump on the bandwagon to threaten us with pay to play costs?
RS
Aug 31, 2010
at 1:47 pm

You guys go through this at the same time every year with different channels. You hoot and holler about how they are raising their prices and how it will cause us to pay a lot more or lose channels. Magically at the midnight hour you somehow manage to”negotiate” with them to not raise their prices too high. Six months down the line you raise the prices for customers anyhow. I’m not going to get worked up about this.
DJE
Aug 31, 2010
at 4:59 pm

If ESPN or Disney leave so do i. I am already mad about not having NFL network. TW you do what you have to do and i will do what i have to do.
Larry Austin
Aug 31, 2010
at 11:39 pm

Why did the customer service rep who called me two days ago to sell me phone service tell me the issue with ABC/Disney/ESPN was already resolved? The fact is, it isn’t resolved yet, and certainly was not two days ago when she called me. Why the lie?
Jeff Simmermon
Sep 01, 2010
at 8:52 am

It’s entirely possible that he/she misinterpreted the statement in this blog post. I know that a lot of reporters/news media misinterpreted it too and were reporting that we had an actual deal. The rep could have read one of those stories.

In any event, I’m sorry for the miscommunication.
bobbie myers
Sep 01, 2010
at 12:06 pm

jeff — so you don’t like sports — but isn’t the founding principle of cable television….. CHOICES — choices for you and different choices for me and all subscribers….. cost of doing business has risen for ALL industries and my cable bill has also risen, but you have not heard me complain….. I would think cable companies would be looking to expand inventry choices for customers — not deleting entertainment choices….. and that is the bottom-line ( the foundation of your industry ) DELIVERING CHOICES….. thank YOU in advance for getting this settled in a positive manner without one second of interruption…..