FCC Joins Customers' Anger at Fox, Cablevision

According to published reports, the FCC has stuck it's long nose of inquiry into the ongoing dispute between the broadcaster and provider. In an attempt to not miss any more episodes of Glee, FCC Media Bureau Chief William Lake has inquired as to whether the two are actually trying to make peace or just spending time running attack ads like Cuomo and Paladino.

"I know that you are aware that both broadcasters and multichannel video programming distributors have a statutory duty to engage in 'good-faith' negotiations," the Los Angeles Times has reported Lake wrote, also going on to say that if either party is "aware of any conduct by the other side that you believe violates the good faith requirement, please so indicate and provide supporting evidence."

In a clear sign that the two sides are amicable, Fox advised customers unable to access their programming to "switch providers or purchase an over-the-air antenna now," also according to the LA Times.

What both these two fail to realize is that no one who watches Fox on Cablevision actually cares about this game of right and wrong. As far as all affected customers are concerned, both sides are equally wrong and need to resolve this dispute before the world series. Everyone in NY, NJ & CT knows the same family that owns the Knicks and Rangers also owns Cablevision. That bottom line is about to shrink if this problem doesn't disappear faster than Isiah Thomas.

Cablevision-Fox Feud Now 5 Days Old

Each time the Yankees win FOX execs hear dollar signs. Should the Bombers make the World Series, they will be in a position to force Cablevision to take whatever deal they throw on the table because of the serious problems the cable company will have if 30% of the tri-state area misses the pinstripes' chase of a 28th and 2nd championship in a row.

Cablevision's Twitter account, @No_New_Fox_Fees, has gone from being an auto-tweeting propaganda machine to a magnet for anger from Cablevision subscribers. One user wrote: "Unfortunately, this issue is bigger than Fox to us subscribers. We're pretty sick of service issues. Fios looks pretty good." Another wrote: Will you allow Verizon FiOS, ATT U-Verse to carry MSG HD feeds and put MSG back on Dish pending binding arbitration?" Which is a reference to Cablevision not allowing it's proprietary sports channels broadcasting Knicks, Rangers (NHL), Sabres, Liberty and Red Bulls games on the above providers in HD or at all in the case of Dish Network.

Fox's twitter account, @KeepFoxOn, has also become a lightning rod, though it appears more people support Fox than support Cablevision; which might be due to the latter having had this issue with multiple providers recently. Most notably, ABC being blocked until 15 minutes through the most recent Oscars telecast. One user wrote: I really think it is time to bring this to an end one way ore another. Why don't you guys be the adults and break the logjam." Another said: "You know what would be useful? FOX 5 Investigations on why Cablevision really sucks & holds viewers, like me, hostage..."

The Dolan family, which owns Cablevision, also owns MSG, the Knicks and the Rangers. Having recently run the Knicks into the ground like a wagon train in Oregon Trail at breakneck speed on barebones rations, they don't have too many friends in the NYC area. This problem is just adding feul to what had become a smoldering fire. Should the Yankees make the world series and there not yet be a resolution to this issue I would not want to be Charles Dolan. If he doesn't yet have a personal security detail he might want to start considering one.