network has filed a complaint at the Federal Communications Commission that accuses AT&T of engaging in the type of discriminatory conduct that it promised it wouldn't during the historic merger trial.
"This instant action requires AT&T to be held to its word that the Commission can use its regulatory powers – in this case, the program carriage rules – to address AT&T’s discriminatory and anticompetitive use of the disproportionate bargaining power that it now has as a result of the AT&T-Time Warner merger to unlawfully disadvantage a programming competitor," continues the complaint which claims a violation of Section 616 of the Communications Act of 1934.
First, AMC is upset that AT&T is "increasing what it pays its own networks" and "pouring money into HBO’s programming content since its acquisition," while holding the line when it comes to a third party network like the one that airs. The complainant points out that HBO and TNT's license agreements call for annual service fee increases. AMC asserts it's not getting equal treatment despite being a "must-have network.
AT&T has not yet responded to a request for comment while AMC spokesperson comments, "We have had a long and successful relationship with AT&T and we hope to continue our strong partnership well into the future. We are only asking AT&T to treat our networks fairly and not competitively disadvantage our programming and business interests as compared to the manner in which they treat their own networks like HBO and TNT.
Amc is acting like children recently. First with universal, saying that they won’t play ANY universal movies, then they betray other chains by signing deals with the same company they had beef with, now they blame At&t for something. Can they chill for a minute?
Cry me a river. Ever since AMC screwed over Frank Darabont I could care less what they do.