News Alert – CBS, Showtime Going Dark on Time Warner Cable

Here we go again… At 5pm, Time Warner Cable began taking down CBS’s signal in NYC, L.A. and Dallas. It said it is also in the process of removing Showtime, TMC, FLIX and Smithsonian across its footprint.

“We agreed to an extension on Tuesday morning with the expectation that we would engage in a meaningful negotiation with CBS. Since then, CBS has refused to have a productive discussion,” the MSO said. “It’s become clear that no matter how much time we give them, they’re not willing to come to reasonable terms.  We thank our customers for their patience and support as we continue to fight hard to keep their prices down.”

CBS said the MSO has conducted negotiations in a “combative and non-productive spirit, indulging in pointless brinksmanship and distorted public positioning– such as the fictional and ridiculous 600% increase CBS supposedly demanded—while maintaining antiquated positions no longer held by any other programming distributor in the business.” The broadcaster repeated that it’s the 1st time a cable system has taken CBS dark (it has gone dark on DISH previously). As for the Showtime blackout, CBS called it “completely unnecessary and totally punitive” to TWC subs.