Weather Channel fans seek help

[Geee]

The Hill:

Members of Congress are under pressure to intervene in an escalating dispute between the Weather Channel and DirecTV.

 

Lawmakers in recent days have received about 300,000 calls, emails and faxes protesting DirecTV’s decision to drop the Weather Channel from its subscription service, according to a House Republican aide.

A sample constituent email in support of the Weather Channel’s position obtained by The Hill slams DirecTV’s decision to drop the channel.

“By dropping it from the lineup, DIRECTV is forcing me to live without a vital resource — one that protects my family and my community,” the email stated. “They're taking away crucial, life-saving information without giving me any choice in the matter.”

“Please help keep the community that you represent safe,” the letter added.

The two companies are locked in a battle over fee contracts known as carriage agreements. DirecTV wants to pay fewer fees to the NBC-owned Weather Channel. The channel, meanwhile, wants an increase.

Last week, DirecTV dropped the Weather Channel from its lineup, in a move that the head of the channel’s parent company, David Kenny, called “reckless.”

Andrew Reinsdorf, DirecTV’s senior vice president for government affairs, told The Hill that the dispute involved “two private companies” and should not warrant lawmakers’ attention.

“I don’t see the nexus with Congress,” he said.

Nonetheless, the satellite provider has received “inquiries from congressional offices,” about the dispute, Reinsdorf said.

“We eagerly explained our side of the negotiations,” he said.

[clearvision]

I believe DirecTV has already replaced them with another weather service. Not sure how there is any threat to life or community. Also Weather Channel has mainly become a stupid reality show channel over the past 5 years. Very little weather until there is a Hurricane for them to stand around in.