Ask Philbony - DirecTV vs. Versus

Mucous writes: So is DirecTV (screwing) us or Comcast or both? I don't know who to believe, but I will believe you.

Philbony says:

My dearest Mucous,

Yours is an interesting question, one by which I too have been consumed.

DirecTV has unilaterally taken Versus off "air" because it says Comcast -- Versus' owner -- is demanding an exorbitant license fee increase that is not being assessed on other providers (Dish Network, Time Warner Cable, et al). If this is accurate, my sympathies tend toward DirecTV.

Comcast says, "No no!" It is DirecTV that is to blame for the fee increase because it plans to move Versus to a pricier programming tier. This robs Versus of viewers because current subscribers who don't care about hockey or bull riding will just let it go. Meanwhile, DirecTV would make money off the loyal Versus customers held hostage by the lack of alternatives to exclusive NHL or PBRA action and reduce its carriage payments to Versus because it garners fewer viewers. In this case my heart goes to Versus.

Ah, but the plot thickens. Notice the NHL is backing Comcast/Versus in the matter. There is an open letter on NHL.com advising afflicted fans to express their displeasure to DirecTV. The layman might logically suppose the NHL is wounded by the dispute, but impartial in its assessment. This would be a faulty assumption. Comcast owns the Philadelphia Flyers via its subsidiary, Spectacor (eerily similar to James Bond's nemesis, SPECTRE). So the NHL plainly has a conflict of interest and is not to be trusted in the matter.

Versus recently ran advertisements in the LA Times, Houston Chronicle, and other newspapers twisting the knife in DirecTV's side, particularly with regard to the pending NHL searson. It ended with the advice to DirecTV customers to switch providers. This is rich! Cable giant Comcast telling people they should drop a satellite provider over a carriage dispute manufactured partly or largely by the cable giant itself. For its part, DirecTV calls Versus "basically a paid programming and infomercial channel with occasional sporting events of interest." Childish.

Bottom line: Both sides suck. All three, if you include the NHL.

In summary,

1. While it bills itself as the "fastest growing sports cable network" in the USA, Versus clearly isn't ESPN. It isn't even USA, TNT or A&E.
2. DirecTV is displaying naked greed and callousness toward its own customers by extorting those who are passionate about the premier offering on an otherwise low-rated network.
3. The NHL is being disingenuous about telling people to complain to DirecTV only. And they are being downright deceptive about their relationship with Comcast.

I propose a short-term solution to at least built goodwill and save face: Any DirecTV subscriber who currently buys the NHL Center Ice package should receive Versus for free. DirecTV should return -- or be allowed to return -- Versus to "air" forthwith!

That problem solved. On to health care!