Can I negotiate my Cable bill, I would like to pay less too?

Maybe I am an anomaly, because I am amazed about this Fox (News Corporation) and Cablevision dispute that has been unfolding publicly the last two weeks. With Fox pulling FX, and Fox channels from cablevision right before NFL football they effectively drew a line n the proverbial sand by restricting internet and television content for all customers in NJ & NY (Variety.com). That inst even the part of this entire negotiation that surprises me. It is how Cablevision has almost exclusively vilified the network for asking for more money on their next contract.

“It is outrageous and wrong for Fox to use baseball and football games to hold viewers hostage and extract tens of millions of dollars from Cablevision customers,” the Cablevision spokesman Charles Schueler said in a statement. (New York Times)

While the the fact that FOX is asking for a 100% ($150m)more then their current contract ($70m), It is hard for me to consider or give a Cable provider the benefit of the doubt in this fight. Especially considering CableVision is the same company that is restricting the 1st NY governor debates to exclusivity their broadcast this week. Leaving every other Citizen who doesnt have a cable contract with Cablevision ignorant of what is being said in a the Gubernatorial DEBATE.

"Verizon FiOS TV customers and millions of other viewers served by other providers across the state have essentially been blacked out of the debate, denying them their rights as citizens and voters, since Cablevision is the sole broadcaster of the event," (Michelle Webb PRnewswire)

That being read, I guess I can find the Irony in Cablevision Petitioning the FCC for forced binding arbitration. Especially being that Cablevision denotes

"Cablevision is willing to accept binding arbitration from an independent 3rd party to settle this dispute. We call on News Corp to accept binding arbitration, Cablevision.com"

I am not a fan of Fox News for obvious reason, yet I dont see Mr. Murdochs argument to be unreasonable with the amount for programing NewsCorp provides. Cablevison argues on their page that

"Cablevision has reached agreement with every other major broadcast station, including CBS, NBC, ABC and Univision. But News Corp is demanding more in fees for FOX 5 and My9 than Cablevision and our customers pay for all of the other broadcast stations combined!"

I refuse to believe that cablevision is being entirely truthful, because I couldn't imagine the amount they fork over to Disney every year for the right to transport ABC/Disney channels. while Fox has tried to make a stronger programing line-up everyear. In the last 10 years Fox has secured the rights to broadcast the College Football bowl championship until 2011 at the rate of $20 million a year for 4 games, AFC and NFC championship games as well as the superbowl for a little under 1 billion dollars a year at $4.27B (one billion more than CBS, NBC, ABC pay for their broadcast rights), the MLB NLCS & ALCS as well as the World Series is also exclusively broadcasting on FOX as well as some of the highest rated shows ever in TV history "

1. American Idol
2. House
3. X-Files
4. The Simpson (Longest running series in TV history)
5. Family Guy
6. Animaniacs
7. The OC
8. 24
9. Arrested Development
10. Nascar -left turn league(Came to the current prominence when Fox picked up their rights in the early 90's)
    

To name a few, and that doesnt include the programming Fox has developed on their other stations such as FX, or Fox News. Which has high rated shows such as

1. Always Sunny in Philadelphia (its not)
2. The League (Best Comedy on TV)
3. DVD on TV
4. Rescue Me (6 seasons)
5. Terriers
6. The Shield
7. Nip/Tuck
8. Sons of Anarchy (FX highest rated series ever 4.9m viewers per week)
9. Bill Orielly
10. Glen Beck
11. Tea Party (I blame you Rupert)
    

All of those points being made, I do question with the complaints surrounding the NLCS and football this weekend being blacked out this week of FOX affiliates. Why don't you all just use an anttena, do they not realize that fox broadcast over the air too? Some New Yorkers really are just f'n idiots, or lazy. Maybe you do deserve to pay more if you are to lazy to walk to your tv and plug in bunny ears if you want to see the games or shows. Yet Fox asking for $150m to broadcast their stations seems reasonable, however ridiculous that might sound. Because not once has my cable company allowed me to negotiate rates of what I believe is fair. Is their arbitration for that timewarner, cox, or suddenlink? Cablevision I just see is being unreasonable. Fox clearly has great programing or people wouldn't be so riled up about this issue. MLB, NFL, CFB, simpsons, nascar, can all be seen on fox, do that ABC, NBC, or CBS, SMH.
PAY THEM!

Bailout, Lions, And shares O My

The worst franchise in NFL history, the Detroit Lions are going to retire the number of Corey Smith. (MSNBC)
One of the players that died in the boating accident off the coast of Florida last month is going to have his number retired by the Detroit Lions. I only ask why? I get that it is a sad circumstance in which Mr. Smith lost his life but is it really necessary to retire his number? Sounds like the lions are trying to capitalize off this media attention. I am sure next week we will hear about the commemorative patch they will where in honor of him. The lions feel like this lost is similar to Pat Tillman the former cardinal that traded his career for a military deployment and Gene Upshaw who headed the union and was a hall of famer. Who had commemorative patches and numbers retired, but they didn't die in a boating accident. No offense to the Smith family but it is not the same. I sympathize with your lost, but to let the lions use this as a marketing tool is just sick.

The House of Representatives passes a bill taxing bailout related bonuses 90% (MSNBC)
A 90 percent retroactive TAX is one of the dumbest things lawmakers can propose. They act like they had no idea that these bonuses where going to be paid out when the TARP was first passed. I am as mad as anyone that people are getting positively compensated for doing a horrible job, but do you realize the implications of letting the government tax you after you receive extra money. This means next year after you make all your money for the year the government could conceivable pass a tax at the end of the year saying everyone needs to pay 50% of their income to the government. Not only that, but this is taxation without representation. A tax is not a punishment, it is to be used for necessary services the government provides for the citizens of this nation. what service would the government give this execs after taxing them over 200 million dollars? The politicians are just trying to cover their ass after they let the TARP go through after most of their constituents thought it was a bad idea. On the other hand by publishing the names of these execs publicly, someone will probably get killed by some person who loses it after they loose their savings. These execs could do the right thing and give this money back and put it towards payroll so that AIG could hirer a bunch of people even if they are for menial jobs. 218 million in payroll could go a long way. But that just makes to much sense to ever happen like my friend said to me.

"Its like they(politicians/execs) have horse blinders on and only look straight ahead rather than looking at obvious options around them"

Its just a job! REALLY?

Dwight Smith Safety from the NFL Minnesota Vikings has made a snafu in the American entertainment culture. Sports are entertainment, right? The Viking safety was quoted in an article today in the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Smith said football "is just a job" and suggested fans take the outcome of games more seriously than players.

If you are a super fan than I understand it is a tough day for you, he made it clear that he doesn’t care as much about the football team as you do, and you shouldn't either. I am sure this is not only the sentiment of Dwight Smith, but most football or athletes in general. I knew all that "We feed off the energy from the fans" is bullshit, its just a game. Super fans just don't understand that concept

What message is he trying to send? Is David Carr going to look up after getting sacked again and say, "George Clinton is here, that energizes me."

shared sentiment of all athletes and normal people. Aren't you a little old to be dressing up for an event you paid for to attend, and a organization that finds more ways to make money off of you every year.

Watch a star show you how it is done, I am starting to think he is just making fun of all of his own fans.

Clinton Portis