We told you previously about our negotiations with AMC Networks. We’ve now learned we could be forced to drop a collection of channels by AMC Networks on January 1, 2016 after AMC proposed unreasonable terms and rate increases in the contract set to take effect in 2016.
We don’t want to put the cost burden on our customers. And yes, we know you love “The Walking Dead.”
However, AMC Networks is demanding a 10-year contract, as opposed to the industry standard three- to five-year agreement, and forcing the carriage of additional, lower-rated channels for members of the National Cable Television Cooperative (NCTC), which includes TDS. The contract includes rate increases of up to 350 percent in the first year for some NCTC members.
“The Walking Dead” is currently on a mid-season break in its sixth season, but TDS cannot accept a 10-year agreement based on the value of one popular program that will likely end during the industry standard three- to five-year term for programming agreements.
TDS will continue to carry AMC, IFC, WeTV, and BBC America through the end of the year. If an agreement is not reached before midnight on December 31, 2015, those networks will be dropped from the lineup on January 1. But we are prepared to help our customers find new episodes of their favorite shows using other technologies and services like Amazon, iTunes, VUDU, Google Play and AMC’s own website.
We work hard during every contract negotiation, and we won’t let unreasonable terms and prices sacrifice the best interests of our customers. For the latest on the AMC contract negotiations, please visit TVonmyside.com.
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