TCU Daily Skiff - DISH Network, Viacom at fault

	*Wednesday, March 10, 2004*

DISH Network, Viacom at fault
Government oversight has hurt consumers

Shame on you DISH Network.

Shame on you Viacom.

But most of all, shame on you government.

Yesterday, DISH Network rid itself of seven popular channels, including MTV, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central. What this means is we consumers may have to look a bit harder for a good laugh. Rest assured though, big business will continue to laugh all the way to the bank.

DISH Network, which is TCU’s cable provider, has gone to “media war” with media giant Viacom and the fight is over — you guessed it — money.

DISH Network subscribers even lost their CBS affiliate programs here in the Metroplex and other major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Austin.

Perhaps nearly 2 million DISH Network subscribers could have avoided this inconvenience if the government didn’t allow for one company to own so many stations.

The two companies shouldn’t be playing hardball with public property.

It seems that this game of hardball is causing American consumers to suffer as the two media mongrels have their showdown over the almighty buck.

We can’t fully blame just DISH Network and Viacom. It’s only natural that each of these companies wants to make the biggest profit possible.

All of this could be alleviated if the government would put some action into place to break up these media giants. What happened yesterday is just a natural consequence of media conglomeration.

So while you may be sitting there placing the blame on TCU, don’t. Place the blame on these two media giants and the government.

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