Because we’re all basically pawns when it comes to billion dollar companies fighting over dollars, CBS has just blocked Time Warner Cable customers from watching any video on CBS.com. Basically, if you’re a TWC customer and head to CBS.com, instead of CBS video, you’ll see anti-Time Warner Cable ads. Classy.
There’s actually precedent for using the Internet as a bargaining chip in negotions. Back in 2010 when FOX was battling with Cablevision (not unlike how CBS is battling with TWC), FOX not only prevented Cablevision customers from watching video on FOX.com but also disallowed them from using Hulu. That’s pretty rough.
https://gizmodo.com/news-corp-bans-cablevision-customers-from-watching-hulu-5665721
Usually, these negotiations get solved before blackouts like this happen but it’s quite obvious that CBS and Time Warner Cable have some serious issues to figure out.
New wrinkle in @CBS blackout: at home with my @TWC broadband, videos on http://t.co/I2DDrGudN0 are blocked. In their place: anti-@TWC ads.
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) August 2, 2013
