Viacom Blockade

When CBS blocked Time Warner Cable subs from viewing its programming online (even in markets that still had local CBS stations), it opened a can of worms. Now after failing to renew with Viacom, Cable One and Liberty Cablevision of Puerto Rico report the programmer is blocking their subs from accessing its websites. “As part of its retaliatory efforts, Viacom's action is impacting access to a subset of broadband customers, also known as 'cord cutters,' who are not video customers of these companies,” ACA pres/CEO Matt Polka said in a statement condemning the action. “We fully expect the list of small cable operators targeted by Viacom to grow based on preliminary information from dozens of ACA members who did not renew with Viacom.” ACA believes Viacom's moves violate Internet openness in a way that should draw the attention of lawmakers and the FCC.