According to industry sources, the DirecTV Group is currently in talks with both TBS and TNT about offering their TV content online.
If the deal goes through, satellite subscribers would be able to watch the cable content on their PCs or TVs via the Internet, on demand.
The deal has not been made of yet, and is still in negotiations, say the anonymous sources, via Yahoo Tech.
Just recently, Time Warner Cable announced it had deals with 12 cable networks to have their content on the Internet.
The 12 networks are TBS, TNT and HBO; CBS Corp.’s CBS network; Syfy from General Electric Co.’s NBC Universal; BBC America, Cablevision Systems Corp.’s AMC, WE tv, IFC, Sundance, Discovery Communications LLC’s Discovery and the Smithsonian Channel.
Result for: discovery communications
Yesterday we reported that conglomerate Viacom was threatening to pull 19 channels from Time Warner systems if the cable company refused to give higher fees for use of the channels.
A few of the affected networks would have been powerhouses such as Nickelodeon, MTV, VH1, Comedy Central and Spike TV. In all, the 19 channels accounted for 25 percent of total cable network viewers at any given time.
The two companies have come to a resolution however: “We are pleased that our customers will continue to be able to watch the programming they enjoy on MTV Networks,” responded Glenn Britt, CEO of Time Warner Cable.“We are sorry they had to endure a day of public disagreement as we worked through this negotiation.”
Viacom had claimed that it’s “average daily license fee was 65 percent lower than that of networks run by The Walt Disney Co., News Corp.’s Fox, Time Warner Inc.’s Turner Broadcasting System and Discovery Communications Inc,” despite bringing in much more viewers.
Although terms of the deal were not disclosed it appears that every current Time Warner Cable subscriber will be expected to pay an extra 19-to-23 cents per month on top of their current bill, amounting to just under $3 USD a year.
Result for: discovery communications
Sony and Discovery Communications have announced a new Blu-ray-based promotion in which all buyers of Sony standalone Blu-ray players will receive a free, exclusive Blu-ray title from Discovery.
The promotion will begin on October 5th and is for “a limited time only.” Over 11,000 retailers are paricipating in the promotion including Sears, Circuit City and Sony Style, and when purchasing a Sony standalone you will be given a coupon redeemable for the Discovery BD. The disc will have episodes of Fearless Planet and Sunrise Earth which are nomally seen on Discovery’s HD Theater network.
To promote the partnership, in-store trailers for Discovery on Blu-ray Disc will be played on Sony Bravia LCD TVs at retailer locations.
“Discovery has emerged as the gold standard among high-definition television programmers,” said Patrick Gates, president and general manager of Discovery commerce. “We could think of no better partner than Sony Electronics to help showcase our spectacular adventure and nature programming to Blu-ray customers.”
Chris Fawcett, VP of marketing for Sony, added, “The Blu-ray Disc format unlocks the true potential of today’s high-definition TVs with stunning full HD experience. Discovery’s high-quality programs are a tailor-made showcase for Blu-ray Disc and a great first experience for a consumer new to the format.”
