DirecTV - Weather Channel Fight

[RainMaker]

Not sure if people have followed this story.

Weather Channel-DirecTV blackout: No end in sight - Jan. 25, 2014 (http://money.cnn.com/2014/01/25/news/companies/weather-channel-directv/)

I think it's kind of fascinating and while we've seen battles before, I really like that DirecTV came out and were honest about why they dropped them. The channel doesn't get nearly the same viewers it used to and there is no reason for the price increase.

I know it's a tough spot for cable operators to be in but I think it's good when they put their foot down on things like this. Too many channels out there charging high carrier fees that are not worth it.

[stevew]

I have no issue with them holding the line on this one. People are more in love with the idea of the Weather Channel rather than the actual station. It's just one place of many I consult with online and I don't thing they are much more accurate than Joe Basement can be on his forecasts. In fact, I prefer the "doomsday" type online models anyways, much easier to scale back from snowmageddon to snow rather than to go from nothing to zomgzombiesnow.

[RainMaker]

I've honestly not turned on Weather Channel in years. It had a purpose years ago when that is how you got your weather unless you were willing to wait for the local news or check out the paper from the morning. But everyone's phone has one and it just doesn't seem like it serves a purpose anymore. It's kind of like the TV Guide channel.

[molson]

I can't imagine anything but sports has much real value for cable and satellite companies now. I'd take a hardline approach too.

[Draft Dodger]

the weather channel on satellite is pretty much useless anyway because they don't do the local stuff

or at least they didn't the last time I had any reason to go there

[ColtCrazy]

The NWS website is my go to site now. The WC site is second. Haven't watched the channel is a long time.

[cuervo72]

I have DirecTV, and I didn't even realize this was going on. We basically stopped watching when we switched from cable (outside of an occasional disaster show) for the reasons DD stated.

[RainMaker]

I can't imagine anything but sports has much real value for cable and satellite companies now. I'd take a hardline approach too.

If it wasn't for sports, I'd have cut the cord. Especially if services like HBO start letting people sign up without cable.