Earlier this month we noted how Disney and ESPN had sued Sling TV for the cardinal sin of actually trying to innovate. Sling TV’s offense: releasing new, more convenient day, weekend, or week-long shorter term streaming subscriptions that provided an affordable way to watch live television.

These mini-subscriptions, starting at around $5, have already proven to be pretty popular. But, of course, it challenges the traditional cable TV model of getting folks locked into recurring (and expensive) monthly subscriptions. Subscriptions that often mandate that you include sports programming many people simply don’t want to pay for.

So of course Time Warner has now filed a second lawsuit (sealed, 1:25-mc-00381) accusing Dish Network of breach of contract. In the complaint, Warner Bros lawyer David Yohai argues that this kind of convenience simply cannot be allowed:

“The passes fundamentally disrupt this industry-standard model by allowing customers to purchase access to the most sought-after programming, such as major sports events, essentially a la carte for a fraction of the cost that the consumer would have had to pay to watch the event on a pay-per-view basis. For example, a sports fan could simply purchase a day pass and watch select programming, such as a highly popular sports game, without purchasing a month-long subscription or paying a higher pay-per-view fee.”

Not disruption and convenience!

  • JakenVeina@midwest.social
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    9 hours ago

    There’s maybe a bit of an argument here if Sling is subsidizing their low prices with losses or debt or revenue from other projects. And let’s be real here… that’s absolutely what they’re doing, cause that’s what they ALL do. Offer services at unsustainable prices, in the hope of cornering a chunk of the market, and exploiting it for profit, later.

    • Zink@programming.dev
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      8 hours ago

      I was actually going to comment that I now know about this cheap option thanks to the lawsuit, lol.

      I don’t watch live TV because I value my time, but every once in a while there’s a reason to tune into that one thing.

  • LoafedBurrito@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    18 hours ago

    This is so petty and a perfect example of why american capitalism is horrible and the government does nothing to control corporations or monopolies.

  • falseWhite@programming.dev
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    21 hours ago

    “For example, a sports fan could simply purchase a day pass and watch select programming, such as a highly popular sports game, without purchasing a month-long subscription or paying a higher pay-per-view fee.”

    WOW. The greed is insane! What total pieces of sh*t! They’re not even hiding it

    • ouRKaoS@lemmy.today
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      14 hours ago

      To paraphrase:

      “For example, someone could purchase a single sandwich, instead of a loaf of bread, several pounds of meat and cheese, various produce items, and a few jars of condiments.”

      Do they not see how dumb they sound!?

  • november@piefed.blahaj.zone
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    16 hours ago

    The passes fundamentally disrupt this industry-standard model by allowing customers to purchase access to the most sought-after programmin

    Wait wait wait, I thought disruption was good? 🤔

  • DebatableRaccoon@lemmy.ca
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    21 hours ago

    They’re suing over the creation of competition in the market? Certainly an interesting strategy. I hope WB, Disney, and every other scum-sucker that thinks suing is acceptable gets raked across the coals.

    • suzucappo@lemmy.ml
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      16 hours ago

      This is suing for the ability to price fix.

      They said it without directly saying it. They want to be able to price fix to keep their investors happy and someone is now stepping on the toes of the investors and they want to force sling to raise their price or pay them (mafia tactics) to continue operating.

      Any company involved in this lawsuit should be forced to provide their subscription to all current users for free for the next 2-5 years or shutter their streaming service indefinitely.

      • DebatableRaccoon@lemmy.ca
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        13 hours ago

        I know what it’s about. Best part is that at an entry fee of $5, Sling aren’t even undercutting the market enough to allow an anti-competition lawsuit against them. So long as Sling can afford the lawyer fees, a dismissal and reversal should be a cake walk.

    • Fyrnyx@kbin.melroy.org
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      21 hours ago

      The only competition they want to have, is basically when they put their acquisitions against eachother like fighting with toy soldiers and see who can impress their corporate masters the most. It’s sickening.

  • sfxrlz@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    1 day ago

    The quote is chefs kiss they’re not even trying to hide that shit. Imagine you could watch a sports event without getting virtually mugged

  • aramis87@fedia.io
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    24 hours ago

    The passes fundamentally disrupt this industry-standard model

    Funny how they didn’t care about how streaming in general disrupted cable. Or how cable disrupted broadcast. Or how tv disrupted radio …

    • antipiratgruppen@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      9 hours ago

      “Video Killed The Radio Star”, even, was distributed in Canada and Brazil by WEA [Warner, Elektra, Atlantic], according to Discogs. Interesting!

      EDIT: But wait for their next big release with a more aggressive tone: “Sling TV Pissed Off Conglomerates”…

    • ThePantser@sh.itjust.works
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      22 hours ago

      I pray to no false gods. But I do cherish Jellyfins daddy Emby. I would probably use Jellyfin but I have a lifelong emby paid from donating when they first took over MB.

      • cerothem@lemmy.ca
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        21 hours ago

        I too have lifetime Emby and still use it today. Media browser renamed to Emby. They took the M and B from the old name to get the new one.

    • blueworld@piefed.world
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      19 hours ago

      I always wonder why people venerate Edison so much. He did innovate, but man was he a shifty barron.

      • Trainguyrom@reddthat.com
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        4 hours ago

        Edison’s lightbulb invention story makes for a really good rugged individual story. Dude keeps trying after 400 failures finally finds the one that worked and becomes rich and famous for it

  • Fyrnyx@kbin.melroy.org
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    21 hours ago

    I expect them to come after Pluto and Tubi in the future…

    We can’t have nice things. Either those two get sued or outright bought.

    Also, choke on a dick, Yohai, you fucktard.