Viacom and DirecTV continue to spar

July 13, 2012|By Joe Flint

<p>DirecTV subscribers looking to plop the kids in front of the TV to watch Nickelodeon this weekend will likely have to use Netflix instead.</p><p>Although talks between the satellite broadcaster and Viacom Inc., parent of cable channels MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central<span> and VH1 continue, reaching a deal before the end of the weekend seems unlikely. <span>DirecTV</span> subscribers have been without Viacom's channels since Tuesday night.</span></p></div></div><div class="float" style="clear:both;height:1px;line-height:1px;"><img src="/images/pixel.gif" height="1" width="1" alt="" /></div><div id="mod-ctr-lt-in-top" class="mod-latarticlesadcpc mod-adcpc with-fourth-cpc"><script type="text/javascript"> var adSkipCounter = 0; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ var loc = window.location.href + ""; var float = ""; google_hints = "directv";google_ad_client="pub-0227802054925200"; google_ad_output="js"; google_ad_channel="5212128158,8274478924,8321278795,8261105409"; google_ad_type="text"; google_image_size="300x250"; google_safe="high"; google_feedback="on"; google_max_num_ads="2"; google_skip="" + adSkipCounter + ""; google_adtest="off"; google_page_url=document.URL; function google_ad_request_done(ads) { if (ads.length == 0) { return; } // If no ads are returned then dont build the ad block if (ads[0].bidtype == "CPC") { adSkipCounter += ads.length; } // Increment ad skip counter when cpc google_ad_request_done_internal(ads, "", "", "true", "medium_rectangle", "", "", "pgtp=article&pi=34&ci=32666429&cat=business+%26+industrial&pe_id=32666429&tv=ap-LA12-G02&rna=pub-0227802054925200&rn=g&rnrci=5212128158&rnrcn=CMI-A-002&rncci=8274478924&rnccn=CMI-A-007&rnpci=&rnpcn=&rntci=&rntcn=&rnlci=8261105409&rnlcn=8261105409&rnp=c&rt=cpc&paidClick=1&placement_id=ctr-lt-in-top", "", "", "", "", "", "ap-LA12-G02", "Los Angeles Times Articles"); } //]]></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/google_ad_request.js.php"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script></div><div id="mod-a-body-after-first-para" class="mod-latarticlesarticletextwithadcpc mod-latarticlesarticletext mod-articletext"><p><span>Meanwhile, the war of words continues. Viacom has been bombarding the airwaves and newspapers with ads critical of <span>DirecTV</span> and encouraging its subscribers to switch to other distributors. It even made an ad spoofing <span>DirecTV</span>'s popular commercials about what happens if you don't have its service (see above).</span></p><p><span><span>DirecTV</span> is countering with its own campaign about how it is trying to draw a line in the sand on rising programming costs with Viacom, as well launching new ads promoting itself versus rival satellite broadcaster Dish, which has been very aggressive in trying to woo new subscribers.</span></p><p><strong>RELATED: </strong></p><p><a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-viadish-20120710,0,4339293.story">Viacom and DirecTV at odds over new deal</a></p><p><a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ct-directv-viacom-20120712,0,5563710.story"><span><span>DirecTV</span> not carrying Viacom channels as negotiations continue</span></a></p><p><a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-viadirect-20120712,0,4033378.story"><span>The <span>sitdown</span>: A chat with the negotiators for Viacom and <span>DirecTV</span></span></a></p><p><br /></div><div id="mod-a-body-after-first-para-ad-cpc" class="mod-adcpc"> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ var loc = window.location.href + ""; 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