Embattled over-the-air web TV service Aereo has just had it up to here with CBS and its pesky lawsuits, it seems, as the company has filed a complaint to try to block the network from filing any more lawsuits against it. CBS and other networks say Aereo infringes on their copyrighted material, with some (including CBS and FOX) even threatening to pull their broadcast signals if Aereo wins the day. [More]
Aereo Files A Complaint Against CBS Saying It’s Sick & Tired Of Getting Sued
By May 6, 2013
CBS CEO Says Network Could Switch To Cable If It Loses Aereo Lawsuit
By May 1, 2013
CBS and the other over-the-air broadcast networks are currently suing Aereo, the New York-based startup that transmits live TV over the Internet to subscribers who pay a monthly fee, but doesn’t pay anything to the broadcasters for doing so. Now, the head of CBS is saying the network might pull its signal off the air and go cable-only if it can’t stop Aereo. [More]
CBS Asks Consumerist To Change Headline On Kaley Cuoco/Dish Story
By February 28, 2013
Earlier today, I posted a story about Dish Network’s allegations that CBS had made Big Bang Theory actress Kaley Cuoco remove a Tweet in favor of Dish’s ad-skipping Hopper DVR. Since then, I’ve received a request from CBS to change the headline on the post. [More]
Dish Says CBS Made Big Bang Theory’s Kaley Cuoco Delete Tweet About Hopper DVR
By February 28, 2013
CES Kicks CNET To Curb, Gives “Best Of Show” Award To Dish’s Hopper DVR
By January 31, 2013
The fallout over CBS’ idiotic decision to forbid CNET staffers from bestowing an award on Dish Network’s ad-skipping Hopper DVR continues to rain down on, with the folks behind the Consumer Electronics Show not only deciding to give Dish the award, but also ditching CNET as the producer of the annual awards. [More]
CBS Also Refuses To Let CNET Review TV-Streaming Service Aereo
By January 25, 2013
Hot on the heels of inadvertently giving Dish’s ad-skipping Hopper DVR a publicity boost by refusing to let the editors of CNET give an award to the device, the executives at CNET’s parent company CBS apparently want everyone to hear about live-TV streaming service Aereo. [More]
CNET Not Allowed To Consider Dish’s Hopper DVR For Award Because Of CBS Lawsuit
By January 11, 2013
Last spring, Dish Network introduced its ad-skipping Hopper DVR and was quickly sued by the networks. Now, CNET can’t consider the device for its “Best of CES” award because of the suit filed by CBS. [More]
Dish Tweaks Ad-Skipping DVR Service To Be More Broadcaster-Friendly
By July 27, 2012
Back when Dish Network first released its AutoHop ad-skipping DVR feature, the service automatically recorded prime-time network broadcasts so that viewers could watch all their favorite NBC, CBS, ABC, and Fox shows at a later date without having to fast-forward through commercial breaks. But now that Dish has been sued by those same broadcasters, AutoHop is slightly less “auto.” [More]
The Legal Battle Begins Over Dish's Ad-Skipping DVR
By May 25, 2012
As was predicted when Dish Network announced its Hopper DVR would allow users to skip commercials on recorded prime-time network TV shows, the so-called “holy grail for TV viewers” has ended up in court, with both sides racing to sue each other. [More]
TV With 2011 "Country Strong" Promo Inserted Into 2009 HIMYM Rerun
By July 8, 2011
Looks like the ad sales team over at CBS sold more than one digital insertion ad slot on “How I Met Your Mother reruns.” Now here’s one with CGI television running a promo for the 2011 Country Strong injected into the background of a replay of a 2009 episode of “How I Met Your Mother.” [More]
Comcast Customers Now Have On-Demand Access To Prime-Time Shows From All Networks (Except The CW)
By April 29, 2011
In an effort to actually provide its hordes of unhappy customers with something useful for their cable dollar, Comcast has announced that it has made deals to bring almost every prime-time network show to its on-demand lineup. [More]
Could An NFL Lockout Force Networks To Run Even More Ads?
By January 12, 2011
Now that the NFL’s postseason is in full swing (even though my beloved Eagles were so quickly eliminated), it’s time for many to start wondering if owners and players will be able to resolve their problems before the start of the next season. If not, the biggest losers could end up being the networks and, by extension, TV viewers — whether they watch football or not. [More]
Catch Consumerist On CBS This Sunday
By November 5, 2010
UPDATE: Here’s the video!
If you’ve ever banged your head against the brick wall of calling customer service, you’re going to love CBS this Sunday at 9 am Eastern/Pacific. Check your local listings.
Watch Consumerist On CBS Sunday Morning News 11/7 9 AM
By November 1, 2010
Consumerist is going to be on the CBS Sunday Morning News on 11/7 at 9am Eastern. They asked me about some of our all-time worst customer service horror stories. We should get a decent amount of screen time. Set your DVRs to stun! [More]
Would Adding CBS To HuluPlus Make It Worth The Price?
By August 3, 2010
Right now, CBS is the only major U.S. broadcaster without any of its shows appearing on popular streaming video site Hulu.com. But that may all change, as the network’s CEO says the two companies are currently having chats about providing CBS content to the site’s HuluPlus subscribers. [More]
Viacom's Redstone: All Newspapers Dead In Two Years
By May 4, 2010
Sumner Redstone, the boss of Viacom and CBS, has gazed into his crystal ball, and what he sees may not cheer up anyone in the newspaper business — though it may, conveniently, be good news for broadcasters. According to Redstone, “there won’t be any newspapers in two years.” [More]
How Real Is Undercover Boss?
By March 22, 2010
Have you caught this Undercover Boss show on CBS? For the unitiated, they take corporate head honchos and send them undercover at their own companies for a few day. To the skeptics (like yours truly), it always seems a little too packaged and contrived to be genuine, but some of the workers featured on the show say it’s the real deal. [More]
