The Mark Cuban-owned premium satellite and cable network, HDNet, could be pulled from all Time Warner cable packages as soon as May 31, 2009, according to MMAFanHouse.
The report indicates that the network and the second largest cable company in the United States are having a hard time coming to terms on a new carriage agreement.
What does this mean for MMA fans?
The answer is obvious for those who already subscribe to HDnet. Besides the Friday night program, “Inside MMA,” which gives a weekly recap of all things happening in the world of mixed martial arts, there are countless events aired live and via tape delay on the station.
Popular Japanese promotions DREAM, Fields K-1 and World Victory Road have a partnership with HDNet that allows the network to air their events live in North America. So, too, does Maximum Fighting Championships, Xtreme Fighting Championships, Adrenaline MMA and other small organizations. And they’ve also aired live events from promotions like Strikeforce in the past.
In short, HDNet has quickly become the home channel for MMA fans to get their fix of the fastest growing sport in the world on a daily basis. There would be a lot of angry MMA fans waking up on June 1 if they no longer had the high definition channel.
Time Warner is responsible for distributing HDNet to more than 1 million of the network’s subscribers. In all, there are about 15 million HDNet subscribers nationwide, meaning the loss of the Time Warner carrier would be a sizable hit for the MMA-friendly network.
The good news is that the talks between the two sides are still ongoing, and Cuban, as usual, isn’t going down without a fight. And he doesn’t think you should either.
Here’s a snip:
“We are still in discussions. The best thing fans can do is call their local Time Warner general manager and tell them that they love HDNet and would be upset if its taken off.”
May 31 is less than two weeks away — MMAmania.com will keep you posted on the outcome of this little dispute.
In the meantime, if you want to keep HDNet on the Time Warner airwaves, take Cuban’s advice and make a phone call … or two or three.
28 Comments »
I don’t even have HDNet and I’ll contribute 1 call, whats the #?
I’m with ya.
That sucks. Cuban isn’t having very good times lately
.
He’ll just have to cheer himself up by doing something billionairey.
ya…like buy a dinosaur
or swim in his pool full of change
With 10 supermodels…
and a dog dipped in gold…
ya bI have comcast and they dont carry it either pisses me off!!!!!!!!!!
You’re missing out. HDNet is the shiz when it comes to MMA.
What is Time Warner’s deal? Earlier in the year they were trying to hold MTV and several other high profile channels over the fire, and force them to give up more of their profits to remain in the TW line-up. And for the record, TW has the worst customer service ever!!!
I love HDNet, great channel. Inside MMA is great, much better than Mauro Ranallo’s MMA Show and you can’t beat all the MMA and K-1 events HDNet shows.
AGREED! HDNet is great! I have Directv and it always has great fights showing all the time.
Leave Time Warner and get satellite. It’s better and cheaper anyways!
DirecTV can suck my balls. I had it for about a week at my apartment, then my complex told me the dish didn’t comply with apartment regulations after the installation guy swore that it did. Now DirecTV is charging me a $460 early cancellation fee.
I agree. Why would anyone have cable when satelitte is an option. Sometimes you cant get a satelitte but anybody else should have it. More options and better channels. Cable is the worst.
Time Warner?
They suck. just cancel crappy TW and get satallite.
Done!
this is an amazing channel. Strikeforce, MFC, Sengoku, DREAM, and K-1 for free in 1080. this is a shame.
Kenny Rice will be missed…..NOT…
I cant stand that MoFo!!! Even more when he tries to be funny.
or when he claims to have “a great idea” which ends up being to put a boxer against an MMA guy…like Bas said “isn’t that already MMA”…Kenny to this day still tries to get that point across
LMFAO! Thats true. What I do now is just fast forward the DVR to the panel or Bas.
Mania, please delete my previous post as I can’t belive I typed NOT
too late… proof in print that you are a dork.
As far as Kenny goes; on Inside MMA he is kind of an idiotic boring host but when it comes to calling fights its a whole different story. Kenny is a broadcaster by trade and he takes it very seriously. He is the only mainstream MMA play-by-play man to actually show growth. Some of his most recent performances have shown a tremendous ability to call an exciting MMA fight.
I know you think I’m full of S but its true.
Here are some Time Warner Cable executives’ email addresses:
Time Warner Cable Executives:
Darryl Ryan – Director Of Media Relations
darryl.ryan@twcable.com
Alexander Dudley – Vice President, Public Relations
(212) 364-8229
alex.dudley@twcable.com
AlexTWC on Twitter
John Orzolick – Customer Care Advocate, Corporate Office
customercarefeedback@ndc.rr.com
Mariam Asmar
mariam.asmar@twcable.com
MsmarTWC on Twitter
thanx for the links.. ok maniacs lets get busy!!!!!
Perhaps this has something to do with the controversy from the Denver/Dallas game 3 last week?
Just turned it to HDNet,its not there anymore, its the crappy Smithsonian channel now!