If you are a DirecTV subscriber, you could lose all channels and related programming owned by Viacom tonight at midnight as the two companies have yet to agree on a new carriage contract. Spike TV, which includes TNA, is one of the network's 17 channels (others include MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon) that would be pulled from the carrier if Viacom follows through with their threat.
DirecTV opened a website a while back, www.directvpromise.com, dedicated to the ongoing dispute between the two companies. Their defense is that Viacom is taking an "all or nothing" approach, demanding a rate increase (that would be passed on to DirecTV subscribers) to the tune of $1 billion-plus in just one year to carry all of their programming, not allowing users the option of only paying for channels they actually want.
Viacom is claiming their existing agreement is seven years old and basically ancient compared to modern TV practices, plus DirecTV is already paying them less than every other carrier.
We will keep you updated on this situation, but be aware that agreements are generally reached in these situations, as stated personally by Mike White, CEO of DirecTV.
