If you are a Spectrum TV customer, you may be missing some channels next week. These channels include some local CBS channels, Nickelodeon, and other Paramount-owned TV networks. (Note: This will be limited to CBS locals owned by Paramount.)
This comes as Paramount and Charter Spectrum Cable TV’s parent company have until April 30to reach a new contract or the channels will go dark, according to CNBC. An extension is possible.
According to the Hollywood Reporter in December, Spectrum plans to drop less popular channels and bundle more streaming services. The hope is that they will be able to create smaller, cheaper bundles of channels and streaming services.
“By pushing value back into the bundle, including the SVOD service, you create value, which helps you from a consumer perception standpoint. And creating a skinnier bundle, where customers get the content that they want for a price that they’re capable of paying, creates value,” Spectrum’s CFO Jessica Fischer told the UBS Global Media and Communications Conference.
“If there’s a programmer who is making their content available in a direct-to-consumer service, and our customers are paying for that content in a linear service, our expectation is that direct-to-consumer service would be a part of our bundle,” Fischer insisted.
But will Paramount be willing to drop channels? So far it has been clear that it wouldn’t. Now that it’s time to reach a new deal will it be willing to stand firm and risk affecting a merger with Skydance or will they be willing to drop channels from some packages or all together to reach a new deal.
Spectrum is clearly ready and willing to get into fights with media companies to reach deals to bundle streaming services and offer smaller bundles of channels to consumers.
Spectrum declined to comment on our story when we contacted them.
Please follow us on Facebook and X for more news, tips, and reviews. Need cord cutting tech support? Join our Cord Cutting Tech Support Facebook Group for help.