CBS blocks Time Warner Cable subscribers from watching shows online
Time Warner Cable subscribers who want to watch CBS programs on the network’s website are out of luck as a result of the distribution fight between the two companies.
CBS makes a substantial amount of its content available on CBS.com, but it’s blocking Time Warner Cable broadband subscribers from accessing its programming as of Friday afternoon.
When a Time Warner Cable broadband customer requests to see a CBS show on the CBS website, the words “content not available” appear at the top of the screen and then an ad critical of the cable company appears.
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The move is similar to what Fox did in a fight with New York-based cable operator Cablevision Systems in 2010 after its signals came down.
Earlier on Friday, Time Warner Cable stopped carrying CBS signals in several markets, including Los Angeles, when the two sides failed to come to terms on a new carriage agreement.
CBS said in a statement that “as soon as CBS is restored on Time Warner Cable systems in affected markets, that content will be accessible again.” A Time Warner Cable spokeswoman declined to comment.
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Follow Joe Flint on Twitter @JBFlint.
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