DiSH, AMC, IFC, WTF?
DiSH network, the satellite company, is in a legal situation with AMC Networks, who also owns IFC.
I don’t know the details, but for quite awhile now, viewers of the channels owned by AMC have been inundated with ads telling us to call DiSH and complain about the possibility of losing our favorite shows.
This is fine with me. I responded by calling DiSH to give my point of view and I signed all the online petitions I could find on the matter. I did so because I could not possibly care less what the issue is between the companies or who started the fiasco; I only care about the shows I watch and I don’t want to miss them.
You know, just like most television viewers.
A few days ago – and just to be difficult it seems – DiSH moved AMC and IFC to the 9600 range of the channels. Kind of a dick move, but no big whoop, as our TiVO just switched our season passes to the new channel for us. Hence we didn’t miss the premieres of Comedy Bang Bang and Bunk, but more importantly, the season finale of one of our all-time favorites, Mad Men.
So why am I irritated beyond belief – nay, absolutely still hopping mad – 24 hours after that finale?
Because DiSH chose to interrupt actual scenes in the middle of a show to air their grievance.
I am not talking about an ad inserted between commercials, nor a scroll running on the top or bottom of the screen during the show; I would have accepted those options as I have since they started just that a week or so ago. No, I am talking about a sudden, disconcerting, loud interruption in the middle of a scene during a season finale of a popular and long-running program.
Worse, when the scene returned, it was obvious a few seconds had been cut from it to make room for this bullshit.
Prior to last night, I had not chosen sides in this media fight, but thanks to this latest move, I have to say AMC and IFC are winning the argument with me.
To quote my mother, because it seems like even large corporations like DiSH need parental guidance like this:
I don’t care who started it, BUT IT ENDS NOW.
Don’t make me come over there.
I swear I’ll throw a shoe.