Ad taken out by Viacom regarding Time Warner dispute

This appears to be a classic struggle between the provider, who wants more money, and the cable company, who wants to retain more money. The provider side says it will only cost subscribers pennies a month ($0.23 per subscriber per month), the cable company says that they are looking out for the best interests of their subscribers by holding costs down (it’s a 22 to 36% increase).

Typically it’s the innocent bystanders, the people who just want to watch TV, that lose out in these deals. Really though, I can’t see how a cable provider cannot have the Viacom suite in their offering because the channels are such strong brands and really represent what cable TV is from a programming standpoint.

There has been a crawl on Noggin today urging customers to contact Time Warner. The number they are providing is: 1-800-762-3786. Bright House Network customers are also effected and Bright House can be contacted at 1-866-309-3279.

UPDATE 12:28 ET: In fairness, here is the number for Viacom 212-258-6000. Also, Time Warner’s CEO has released a statement.

Time Warner Cable Loses Viacom: MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central To Go Dark

To kickoff the move Noggin has some new programming planned for New Year’s Eve including a 90 minute Franklin movie.

• 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. (ET) “Franklin and the Turtle Lake Treasure” (*TV Premiere)
• 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. (ET) “Dora Saves the Mermaids”
• 8:30 – 9:00 p.m. (ET) “Save the Wonder Pets!”
• 9:00 – 10:30 p.m. (ET) “Franklin and the Turtle Lake Treasure”
• 10:30 – 11:00 P.M. (ET) “Great Jaguar Rescue”

In “Franklin and the Turtle Lake Treasure,” Franklin is on a holiday break from school when he receives a surprise visit from his Aunt Lucy, an explorer whose specialty is finding archaeological treasures. This family reunion gives Franklin’s Granny the chance to relive her own childhood. When she mentions a box filled with treasures that she buried at Turtle Lake as a child, Franklin is intrigued. When Granny falls ill and Aunt Lucy remembers a talisman that was hidden in the famous box, a treasure hunt becomes extremely important. Franklin decides immediately to hunt for this remedy which could save his grandmother. His friends Beaver and Bear accompany him, with Aunt Lucy and her goddaughter Samantha, a headstrong little turtle with whom Franklin has a hard time contending with. It’s a difficult journey, but Franklin is ready to do anything to help Granny and it also gives him the chance to make new friends.

As a parent who has Noggin on while I’m getting dinner ready, I like this move. Sometimes it would switch over at 6pm and I’d look up to see stuff that really a preschooler doesn’t need to be seeing.

It will mean competition for Sprout’s The Goodnight Show as there will be another preschool alternative in the evenings.

A Coming of Age at Nickelodeon: Noggin and the N Will Get Their Own Channels – New York Times

To this I say, “whatever.” I’d rather my kids see non-offensive commercials for products they have no interest in than be bomarded with questions like “can we get Floam?“

* Thomas & Friends(TM): — In an agreement with HIT Entertainment, a leading provider of quality preschool entertainment, Six Flags will build special Thomas & Friends playlands in several Six Flags parks in 2007. The themed areas will include attractions and rides featuring Thomas the Tank Engine and other friends from the Island of Sodor. In addition, Sir Topham Hatt, Controller of the Railway, will be available daily for meet & greets and photo opportunities. This deal marks the first of its kind for Thomas & Friends with a US amusement park.

In addition, here is a little more info about The Wiggles World:

In an agreement with world-leading children’s entertainers
The Wiggles, Six Flags will build unique “Wiggles World”-themed areas in its US branded parks over the next five years. Six Flags parks will be the exclusive North American destinations to find “Wiggles Worlds,” three of which will debut at Six Flags for the 2007 season, including one at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, NJ. These areas will include Wiggles-themed rides; a stage show performed by Dorothy and Friends with multiple daily performances; play areas; monitors for showing Wiggles video clips and their annual North American tour.

the wiggles, thomas the tank engine

Toon Zone – Your Source for Toon News!

Disney Channel’s premiere of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on Friday, May 5 (7:30 p.m.), delivered the highest ratings ever for a Playhouse Disney series premiere among Kids 2-5 (6.2/767,000), Girls 2-5 (6.0/375,000), Households (2.2/1,960,000), and Total Viewers (1.2/2,777,000).

• Downward Doghouse: Twenty episodes have been ordered for the show which is set to launch March 2007. The show aims to teach preschoolers about Chinese culture, much in the same vein as Dora the Explorer. The show aims to help kids understand their emotions and be mindful of the feelings of others.
• Wow Wow Wubbzy: Twenty-six episodes of the show have been ordered. Originally it was slated to debut in the fall of this year, but now appears to be set to premiere in 2007. The press release was corrected, and the show is still set to debut in 2006.
• New episodes of current shows slated for 2006-2007: On tap are 18 episodes of LazyTown, 20 episodes of The Backyardigans, and 20 episodes of Go Diego Go.

Nick also announced the Inkubator Lab. The Inkubators Lab will be dedicated to the development of original animated content made specifically for a diverse range of platforms, including broadband; wireless; portable video devices; online and gaming.

What is interesting is that Nick Jr. is leveraging NickJr.com to help with the launch. Starting on February 17th they will be streaming one of the stories from the second episode. In addition to the internet sneak peak, there will also be clips available on Verizon Wireless V Cast starting February 24th. This follows a similar approach that the network took with offering sneak peak vodcasts of Wow Wow Wubbzy.

nick jr., television