Earlier this month we noted how Disney and ESPN had sued Sling TV for the cardinal sin of actually trying to innovate. Sling TV’s offense: releasing new, more convenient day, weekend, or week-long shorter term streaming subscriptions that provided an affordable way to watch live television.
These mini-subscriptions, starting at around $5, have already proven to be pretty popular. But, of course, it challenges the traditional cable TV model of getting folks locked into recurring (and expensive) monthly subscriptions. Subscriptions that often mandate that you include sports programming many people simply don’t want to pay for.
So of course Time Warner has now filed a second lawsuit (sealed, 1:25-mc-00381) accusing Dish Network of breach of contract. In the complaint, Warner Bros lawyer David Yohai argues that this kind of convenience simply cannot be allowed:
“The passes fundamentally disrupt this industry-standard model by allowing customers to purchase access to the most sought-after programming, such as major sports events, essentially a la carte for a fraction of the cost that the consumer would have had to pay to watch the event on a pay-per-view basis. For example, a sports fan could simply purchase a day pass and watch select programming, such as a highly popular sports game, without purchasing a month-long subscription or paying a higher pay-per-view fee.”
Not disruption and convenience!
The quote is chefs kiss they’re not even trying to hide that shit. Imagine you could watch a sports event without getting virtually mugged
They’re suing over the creation of competition in the market? Certainly an interesting strategy. I hope WB, Disney, and every other scum-sucker that thinks suing is acceptable gets raked across the coals.
This is suing for the ability to price fix.
They said it without directly saying it. They want to be able to price fix to keep their investors happy and someone is now stepping on the toes of the investors and they want to force sling to raise their price or pay them (mafia tactics) to continue operating.
Any company involved in this lawsuit should be forced to provide their subscription to all current users for free for the next 2-5 years or shutter their streaming service indefinitely.
I know what it’s about. Best part is that at an entry fee of $5, Sling aren’t even undercutting the market enough to allow an anti-competition lawsuit against them. So long as Sling can afford the lawyer fees, a dismissal and reversal should be a cake walk.
it pretty much depends on what their distribution agreements have in them–there could be something in there that requires monthly or longer terms for subscribers. if there isn’t, there sure af will be from now on for streaming services carrying ‘cable’ channels
This is basically mafia. Boycott them, people!
The passes fundamentally disrupt this industry-standard model by allowing customers to purchase access to the most sought-after programmin
Wait wait wait, I thought disruption was good? 🤔
i ask everyone i meet if they’ve accepted their lord and saviour jellyfin into their lives.
Wrong prophet but I like the religion.
you know whats cheaper than sling? VPN!
🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️
⛵🌊
🎶Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate’s life for me🎶
🎶We pillage, we plunder, we rifle, and loot🎶
We download and jailbreak and don’t give a hoot
Warner bros joins Disney in the “shit I’m going to avoid giving money to” list
Normally I’d say Sling didn’t have a prayer under this administration, but Disney has pissed everybody off - including the Grand Cheeto - so I’m just gonna go stock up on some popcorn…
I wonder if these guys somehow have something to do with the DRM lockdown that ATSC 3 is trying to pull for OTA broadcast TV as well.
It’s already been pulled. All 4 major networks in my area have had the flags enabled on their 4k streams for months now.
