Petitions to get MSNBC on FIOS!!

[lrsachs]

Here are links to two online petitions to get MSNBC on FiOS.  For those who haven't been following, MSNBC is not available to customers in Cablevision areas b/c Cablevision originally had an exclusivity contract with MSNBC back when it was first broadcast.  That was a looong time ago and it shouldn't be relevant any more.  Put the pressure on so we can get MSNBC wherever FIOS is available and not let your former less-favored cable company dictate what channels you can watch!

• http://www.petitiononline.com/MFios/petition.html
• http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/msnbc-let-verizon-viewers-have-your-cable-channel

I'm not sure how effective these petitions are, but please contact Verizon at your local 914.890.2100. 

• Additionally you can contact MSNBC at 212.664.4444, ask for MSNBC and they will put you through to their viewer comment line where you can record a message

[drooplug]

Why would the FCC get involved? It's a contractual agreement between Cablevision and MSNBC.  What FCC regulation does that violate? Cable channels do not have to allow themselves to be carried on any provider and any provider doesn't have to carry every cable channel.

[skottey]

---

@drooplug wrote:
Why would the FCC get involved? It's a contractual agreement between Cablevision and MSNBC.  What FCC regulation does that violate? Cable channels do not have to allow themselves to be carried on any provider and any provider doesn't have to carry every cable channel.

---

Actually, there are rules cable companies have to follow. There are rules that say for every channel carried owned by the cable company, they have to carry so many comprable channels owned by other cable companies. In other words, Time Warner Cable cannot just have CNN and not carry Fox News or MSNBC. This is actually a good requirement. Can you imagine if they didn't have this requirement and providers like Time Warner blocked out channels like those? So it is more than just a contract. The FCC can certainly get involved. Don't like it? Write your congressman, but I think they have other, more important things to worry about right now. Like stopping a president fro ruining health care in this country. 

[DMZ]

{please keep it relevant}

Message Edited by KaLin on 07-19-2009 10:03 AM

[skottey]

{please keep it relevant}

As far as MSNBCHD. I am all for new channels in HD. Everybody should get their favorite channels in HD. I still want my AMC for Breaking Bad in HD. 

Message Edited by KaLin on 07-19-2009 10:04 AM

[lrsachs]

Well for me, Shottey & DMZ, I'm just happy to see open dialogue and more postings which keeps this topic up on the list.  There was another topic about MSNBC which got about 2 exchanges in before someone started blasting away that we should all be watching Fox News and then it just devolved into the red state/blue state bashing. {please keep it relevant}

Back to the topic at hand...MSNBC and the regulations of the FCC for providers.  Thanks Shottey for chiming in on that.  I'm still trying to find out where VZ is at with the FCC.  I've actually reached out to some of the contacts at http://policyblog.verizon.com/policyblog/blogs/policyblog.aspx.  Some interesting stuff there if you like telecom policy & an example of corp. PR trying to 'get down w/the people.'  They do allow comments and though they don't let anyone shoot their mouth off, reasonable dissent is all over.  

Still looking for MSNBC and still fighting for it.

Message Edited by KaLin on 07-19-2009 10:05 AM

[deangallea1]

I say, pressure all parties (Verizon, MSNBC, FCC) to initiate a Constitutional lawsuit against the Cablevision contract, as restraining speech under the 1st Amendment. MSNBC is not just an "entertainment" channel that may be carried of not at the whim of business interests. It's a legitimate national news channel that is an exclusive outlet for certain points of view that should be available to all subscribers to common-carrier cable services.

[spacedebris]

From what I've read, Verizon has already taken legal action trying to get MSNBC. I havent read much about it the last few months but there was a big flurry about it late last year. Also I read that Verizon is trying to hit MSNBC in the pocketbook by refusing to carry the MSNBC-HD in any of the area's until they are allowed to carry it in ALL the areas. Since most channels are supported by advertising, getting their channels out to fewer customers hurts. The question is...Will it hurt enough?

[lrsachs]

Thanks Spacedebris & DeanG...please let me know where you read that VZ actually filed something with the FCC or took any action.  I haven't been able to get any news on this, but I am trying to get to some of the people in VZ mgmt. who might be able to shed light on the issue.  I don't think VZ is doing anything to block MSNBC HD anywhere.  It's not really in their interest to do that, if I understand correctly.

(Dean...you sound like more of an MSNBC fan than my wife...she's starting to think CNN is as conservative as Fox...whoa!)

But thanks for bumping the topic.  

lee

[spacedebris]

I'd have to look through my archives to find the first ones that I read but here is a new one

http://www.multichannel.com/article/314875-Cablevision_Hit_On_Exclusives_.php

[KaLin]

Moved to create a new thread.

[ggma11261]

anyone outside cablevision area should have msnbc sd  only customers in cablevision territory do not have it.  I am in delaware and have had msnbc from the getgo

---

[thetick]

Wow very cool article.  Looks like we might get MSNBC and MSG HD early next year at the earliest.  Way to go Verizon... too bad it took years to appeal to the FCC.  Large elephants like Verizon take sometime to start running , but when they do they have lots of power.

[jgold50]

I spoke to a verizon exec and they don't expect any content before 2011. The agreements are enforce at least through then. It may run longer as the legality of the contracts seems to be intact.

[MarvKirsch]

It is 11/30/2009 as I write this.  Still no MSNBC on Long Island, all due to the secretive (to some extent) relationship between MSNBC & Cablevision.  To be really frustrated, many months ago I complained to the FCC.  Within a few days of that, Cablevision contacted me to deny they were blocking Verizon from showing MSNBC.  A lawyer called me, so what chance did I have in answering them back, I'm no lawyer.  I got nowhere.  I find it hard to believe that MSNBC is such a valuable property.  Now I understand that everyone is entitled to their opinion, and since there are many different news channels on FIOS, all that I am asking is to get MSNBC.  MSG HD would be nice, but considering how bad the Knick are playing, no great lose.  Of course next season might be a different story if they play the free agent field correctly.  For now, I would be happy to finally get MSNBC.  Am I asking for so much?  I don't think so.