With the October 31st deadline fast approaching, Dish Network satellite TV provider and Fox Networks finally came to an agreement Friday afternoon that kept the Fox local channels on air and brought back the Fox channels dropped at the beginning of the month.  More importantly, the deal will finally end the very public PR battle which had the two companies bad mouthing each other for weeks.

Dave Shull, Senior Vice President of Programming for DISH Network, sums up the battle with a word of thanks, “We thank our customers, our retail and channel partners, and our employees for their support through these negotiations, which we believe resulted in a fair deal that reinforces DISH Network’s position as the best value in television.”

However, Evie Haskell of Sky Report appropriately comments on the finality of the argument by stating, “And so the battle ends.  For now.  Because there will be a next time … and a next … and a next until (and unless) the FCC and/or Congress take another look at what is, inherently, a rigged negotiations process.  Caught between retrans, must carry and the free ‘public’ spectrum granted to broadcasters, cable operators, satellite folks and telcoTV players have negotiating power about on a par with a high school football team facing the mighty Steelers.”

So what about Cablevision and other cable TV providers?  Where does the Dish Network victory leave Cablevision in its battle against Fox Networks?  Well, they renegotiated a retransmission contract that would allow Cablevision customers to finally catch the World Series, but they weren’t happy about it.  According to a statement released by Cablevision, the cable company ultimately agreed to pay Fox an ”

unfair price for multiple channels of its programming including many in which our customers have little or no interest.”  Meaning, its customer have access to Fox sports and local Fox programming, but Cablevision is also forced to pay for lesser viewed channels that don’t appeal to many viewers.

There’s good news for Cablevision cable TV customers being affected by the bitter Fox/Cablevision retransmission argument.

As many of you already know, especially if you’re a Cablevision customer in the New York area, Fox has pulled its programming, most notably Major League Baseball’s World Series broadcast.  Unfortunately, as the two companies battle it out over rate increases and programming valuation, the true victims of the situation are Cablevision customers and Fox Networks’ loyal viewers.  It’s especially painful to lose your access to Fox during one of the most watched sports events of the year, the World Series.  However, Cablevision is offering its customers an olive branch.

According to Fierce IPTV, “The IPTV Weekly Monitor”, Cablevision is offering its customers a $10 credit if they subscribe to the World Series broadcast directly through MLB.com.  While the primary victory is bypassing Fox in an attempt to please its World Series hungry customers, the offer addresses another issue - the validity of Internet Protocol television (IPTV).

Think about it.  Could Cablevision’s offer to pay for the MLB.com World Series broadcast help push IPTV further into the mainstream by suggesting customers bypass traditional programming in favor of Internet TV?  It definitely puts a national spotlight on the issue.

In a more negative light, NJ.com is reporting that Fox claims that Cablevision representatives have been directing their customers to “illegal websites” to watch pirated Fox programming.  In fact, Fox went so far as to send Cablevision a cease and desist letter.  Cablevision claims the action is merely a publicity stunt to try and lure eyes away from the Fox blackout.

No matter which company ultimately prevails, greed is never pretty and consumers pay the price.

Fox Networks went black over the weekend for Cablevision subscribers in New York and Philadelphia.  That puts Cablevision in the same boat as Dish Network as both companies continue to negotiate/battle with Fox over retransmission rates.

Fox continues to suggest its loyal viewers jump ship and find alternate satellite or cable TV providers.

According to Katy Bachman of Mediaweek, Fox has also refused Cablevision’s request for binding arbitration claiming that “direct business-to-business negotiation is the only way to resolve the issue”.

While the companies continue to battle it over “equitable value” for Fox programming, cable TV viewers continue to suffer.

So Dish Network isn’t the only satellite or cable TV company embattled with Fox Networks, and its parent company News Corp.  New York area cable TV provider Cablevision has entered a very public dispute with Fox by taking out a full page ad in New York’s Newsday paper.  The ad, picturing a disheveled football fan, jersey and all, simply says, “Hey News Corp, you negotiate by taking my football away?”  As if the News Corp owned Fox Networks is simply taking its ball and going home.

The Cablevision ad claims Fox is attempting to more than double its fees from $70 million to a whopping $150 million.  Anyone would complain of such a drastic rate increase.  However, according to a statement from Fox,  ”Cablevision is being hypocritical if it believes Fox’s proposal is not fair. According to SNL Kagan, in 2009 Cablevision paid itself and charged other pay TV companies considerably more for just two of its sister company channels (MSG and MSG Plus) than all 12 of the Fox channels they carry, even though the Fox channels enjoy significantly higher ratings.”  So it would seem that Cablevision is just as guilty as Fox Networks.

Again, just like the Fox/Dish Network dispute, Cablevision customers could lose their Fox programming, including baseball’s post-season, mid-season football and the beginning of the hockey season, if a deal isn’t agreed upon by tomorrow.  And who ultimately loses here?  That’s right.  It’s you, the viewer.

The ongoing battle between Dish Network satellite TV and Fox Networks seems to be getting uglier and uglier.  As an outsider looking in, Dish Network’s “stop bullying the little guy” image seems to be legit and Fox Networks isn’t helping overcome that image.  In fact, they seem to be proving Dish Network’s point, over and over again.

As noticed last week, Fox is puling no punches with its dump Dish Network web site, GetWhatIPaidFor.com.  The site specifically asks Dish Network customers to find new satellite or cable TV providers.

Today, the Sky Report has noted another “strong arm” tactic from Fox.  The report claims that “FOX has apparently muscled the NBA and the NHL into backing its position.  Note, for example, this statement from an article  on the NHL LA Kingswebsite:  ’If DISH refuses to reach a fair agreement with Fox soon, there’s a good chance DISH customers will miss the Kings’ entire schedule of games on FOX Sports West … As you can imagine, DISH’s competitors are ready, willing and able to make great offers to DISH customers that don’t want to miss their Kings games.’  With sharp elbows flying, the piece goes on to list those competitors. ”

Sure, consumers want to watch their favorite teams, but should those teams be joining in the fight between a network and a satellite TV provider? Did Fox ask them to voice an opinion?  Regardless, the Kings seem to be overstepping their boundaries there.

If you’re wondering if the Dish Network and Fox Networks battle could get any worse, well, maybe.

A commercial aired last night advertising a new site, “GetWhatIPaidFor.com”.  The site and commercial are direct jabs at Dish Network, asking current Dish Network subscribers to jump ship to find new cable or satellite TV providers.  The site and commercial truly pull no punches.

The rather large banner on top of the site actually states “Dish Network Longer Carries” the National Graphic Channel, FX, and Fox Sports Network.  The banner goes on to claim that Dish Network may no longer carry My Network TV and Fox as of November 1.

From the outside looking in, it looks like corporate hardball.  Of course, you never know who to believe in these matters, but this new site certainly shows an ugly side of Fox Networks.