VIACOM: SPIKE SUIT COSTING US A FORTUNE

New York Post ^ | 6/18/03 | DAREH GREGORIAN

[kattracks]

That's the amount of cash The National Network says it has lost by not being allowed to change its name to Spike TV - and the network fears it could wind up losing "hundreds of millions of dollars" more.

TNN, owned by Sumner Redstone's Viacom Inc., made the claims yesterday in the state Appellate Division, where it is seeking to lift a lower court's temporary ban on the name change, which was supposed to go into effect this past Monday.

[BlessedBeGod]

All because of Spike Lee's massive ego. Disgusting.

[Leisler]

They're both hard lefties. Let them sue each other.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Wait 'til Viacom sees how much it loses after the name change.

[BrooklynGOP]

Lefties still win, though. Lawyers get the $16 mil.

[sticker]

Are railroads going to have change the name of the device that hold the rail to the tie?

[RippleFire]

"TNN "sought to exploit" his persona with the name Spike TV, which it had marketed as an "aggressive and irreverent" network for men.

TNN President Albie Hecht "has conceded that Spike Lee was one of the role models for the network name,"

Who's zooming whom? Why didn't they just name it the Pee Wee Herman Network?

[UNGN]

"VIACOM: SPIKE SUIT COSTING US A FORTUNE"

Where is the headline "VIACOM: Fake Hype for Hillary's Book Costing us a Fortune"

[Aquinasfan]

Sumner Redstone is a sleazeball. No tears here.

[Highest Authority]

A good compromise would be to name a toilet "Spike"!

[just mimi]

He also found while "the word 'spike' has many meanings," the focus in this case is the word's use in "the film and television industry."

I hope they (Viacom) win. Even if those who came up with the idea thought of "Spike Lee" when they were brainstorming for a new name, there 'are' many meanings of the word "spike" in "the film and television industry." And this should not be the sole factor in deciding this case anyway.

The reason for this is that the name of a station is an advertising decision. A carefully made decision, I assume.

I find it more likely that they would NOT have used the name if they thought that everyone would first think of Spike Lee -- that would alienate some regular viewers of TNN right off the bat. They would want to keep thier regular viewers and gain more.

So I'm sure while they were brainstorming and expressing their freedom of 'word association', they discussed all the ways the word spike might attract men to their station. Men wear spikes on their sports shoes, they spike their footballs and volleyballs, they spike their drinks, they use spikes in contruction, see spikes on young antlers while hunting, some spike their hair and they like women in spiked high heels.

I am sure this decision was made after such a session of brainstorming and a presentation done to the powers that be by a team. Of course "Spike Lee" came up in this brainstorming session, of course he did. So what? He doesn't own the word "Spike" or the sole right to be irreverent and whatever the heck else he thinks he is.

Oh well, we'll see how this comes out.

[Redleg Duke]

Spike Lee would look so much better with a railroad spike driven into his forehead!

[DoughtyOne]

Aclaimed artist? Hey Spike, it's your friggen first name, it's not your ownly name. Are you saying not child can every be called Spike, no product can ever be called Spike and not entity can every be called Spike.

Hey all you Ron's out there, my attorny is on the phone.

Lee's publicity agent must be doing cartwheels right now.

Any judge that would buy into this is a moron.

[tbpiper]

demeaning, vapid and quasi-pornographic content

Said the pot to the kettle.

[tiamat]

How about "Bruce TV"?

THAT has a ring.......!

Tia

[theFIRMbss]

>That's the amount of cash The National Network says it has lost by not being allowed to change its name to Spike TV - and the network fears it could wind up losing "hundreds of millions of dollars" more.

I think this is all
a big, fat, hairy-assed LIE.
Now think about this:

Millions of people
never would have heard of this
name changing business

if Spike hadn't sued.
Now, the network's getting TONS
of publicity

and even people
who don't get cable know it.
I believe lawsuits

are being used as
advertising gimmicks in
many media

driven cases. (Like
the whole Winona Ryder-
Saks Fifth Avenue

sequence of events.)
I think these are planned-out ways
of just getting press...

[Mike Darancette]

Hey Spike, it's your friggen first name, it's not your ownly name.

"Spike" is not his real first name this self important P.O.S was born "Shelton Jackson Lee" in 1957. Who is he to reserve names of his choosing being named after a Southern Civil War Hero.

The descendents of band leader Spike Jones should sue Shelton Jackson Lee.

[Skip Ripley]

and at least 7 million of that will wind up in the Edwards campaign. Donated by clerks, interns and copy machine repair technicians, of course...

[DoughtyOne]

I agree. Our society is so f'd up. Why this piece of human refuse can raise this issue and actually get anyone to listen to him is beyond my understanding. Some judge is actually willing to allow him to cost the corporation millions for this flimsy reason. I doubt it cost the corp this much, but in truth I wouldn't be surprised if they are experiencing certain large losses.

[far sider]

According to Google:

Spike Lee didn’t show up until page 5.