LIU TO TWC, CBS: TAKE THREAT OF SERVICE DISRUPTION OFF THE TABLE IN NEGOTIATIONS
NEW YORK, N.Y. – With a new deadline looming, City Comptroller John C. Liu once again urged Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC) and CBS Corporation (NYSE: CBS) not to disrupt service to the more than one million TWC customers in New York City as they negotiate. Liu reiterated his offer of his boardroom as a venue and his staff as facilitators for the talks:
"At 5 p.m. today, TWC customers may lose access to CBS and Showtime if an agreement is not reached. Over the weekend, both sides continued to use their New York City customers as leverage in this dispute. This is unseemly conduct for two industry giants. We are asking both sides to take this threat off the table and negotiate in good faith until this issue is resolved. My office is ready to help in any way – as we said last week, with our boardroom as a venue and our staff as facilitators if they like."
Comptroller Liu sits on the New York City Franchise Concession and Review Committee, which authorizes the television franchise agreement between New York City and Time Warner Cable and provides TWC access to New York City customers.
Background
Liu to CBS: Come Together Now
http://comptroller.nyc.gov/press/2013_releases/pr13-07-135.shtm
Video release of Comptroller Liu's invitation to CBS and Time Warner Cable:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zX1FYSssXPA&feature=youtu.be