CBS confirms it is blocking all Time Warner Cable internet customers from accessing streaming video on its website as the two companies work through a carriage dispute.
Last week, Time Warner Cable removed several CBS-operated channels from its cable lineup in New York, Los Angeles, Dallas and other markets. The cable company also removed Showtime, CBS Sports, the Smithsonian Channel and CBS On Demand in all markets where Time Warner Cable operates. Customers were directed to Aereo and CBS’s website to view programming while the carriage dispute played out.
In response, CBS began blocking Time Warner Cable’s broadband customers from viewing its shows online.
“If Time Warner cable is a customer’s internet service prover, then their access to CBS full episode content via online and mobile platforms has been suspended,” CBS said in a statement to The Desk on Tuesday. “As soon as CBS is restored on Time Warner Cable system in affected markets, that content will be accessible again.”
CBS confirmed to The Desk that the block affects all Time Warner Cable internet customers, even those who do not have a cable TV subscription through the company. The blackout also affects Time Warner Cable internet customers who live in cities where CBS does not operate local television stations, a CBS spokesman said.
Time Warner claims CBS is demanding a 600 percent increase in retransmission fees for carriage of its channels, including CBS affiliates in New York and Los Angeles as well as CBS Sports, the Smithsonian Channel and others. CBS denies this, but the company won’t say how much it is asking for in retransmission fees.
A message left with Time Warner’s press office was not returned.
