Posted on 12/19/2012 5:49:44 AM PST by AT7Saluki
Ovation, the arts-culture cable channel that's enjoyed a distribution surge the last several years, said Tuesday it expects to be dropped by Time Warner Cable on Dec. 31, potentially losing about 7 million subscribers and the key markets of New York City and Los Angeles.
The independently owned network, reaching 51 million homes via cable, satellite and telco providers, went public about the expected drop in hopes of gaining support from viewers and arts organizations that would persuade Time Warner Cable to rethink the decision. “If Time Warner Cable proceeds then, in 2013, its customers who love the arts will miss out on our enlightening and entertaining shows like Song by Song and A Chance to Dance, ...
Time Warner Cable countered in a rebuttal statement that "steeply escalating programming costs are forcing us to closely assess each network as it comes up for renewal. We look at many factors in making programming decisions. Three of the important factors we look at are unique content, cost and viewership. If a channel’s cost is too high relative to its popularity and viewer appeal, then we may discontinue carriage or move it to another tier. Ovation is among the poorest performing networks, and is viewed by less than 1% of our customers on any given day. We’ve paid more than $10 million in carriage fees to Ovation over the past several years. They’ve had ample opportunity to improve the ratings and the content, and have failed to deliver...
A public-relations firm said New York politicians (state senators, a state assembly member and several city council members) will be rallying on the steps of City Hall in Manhattan on (Dec. 19) at noon, protesting the planned drop of Ovation, under the umbrella of a newly formed organization, Citizens for Access to the Arts.
(Excerpt) Read more at multichannel.com ...
I had TW for 15 years. Never heard of this channel.
“A CHANCE TO DANCE FOLLOWS MICHAEL NUNN AND BILLY TREVITT, TWO OF THE UK’S MOST PROMINENT CONTEMPORARY DANCERS AND CHOREOGRAPHERS, IN THEIR QUEST TO CREATE A NEW DANCE COMPANY FOR NIGEL LYTHGOE IN JUST 28 DAYS. “
...Michael already knows so he’ll simply have to roll over and give Billy the bad news.
Not hard to predict. Ovation is one of those channels that should be digital only. Put the content up on Hulu or Netflix.
Hey, citizens: I see pay per view in your future.
Leni
As a former TWC employee, I can honestly say that the content providers - like Ovation - make it very difficult for TWC to carry their services. Each one of them hikes fees to the point where a whole package of channels becomes prohibitively expensive.
The only real answer is to make it a true market choice: figure out how to offer a la carte channel selections. If your channel doesn’t sell, change your business model.
BTW - I’m fully aware that means TV will be controlled by people who want to see more Honey Boo Boo. That’s why I don’t have TV any more - just Netflix over broadband.
This is why nutcases are shooting up schools. There’s no appreciation for the arts any more. If Lanza had been watching Ovation instead of playing video games, Newtown would be a different place today.
I blame global warming.
I'm willing to pay $3/mo for 10 channels.
TW is moving more and more “good” channels off the basic tier. We get, I guess you’d call it tier 2, and it seems every couple of weeks another channel disappears.
But we stiil get about 6 shopping channels and around 4 spanish channels.
Through in the ABC/NBC/CBS/ROC channels that have around 4 different spots each and we’re paying more and more for less.
Ovation sounds like it is up my alley; but I seldom watch it. For one thing, it has commercials. More egregiously, it is available on DISH in standard (low) definition only.
Outstanding!
I’m sure my Time Warner bill will go DOWN now!
A tragedy. So senseless.
Considering the iq of America today is it any wonder the channnel is doing poorly?
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