The parting of ways reflects the new normal in the long-contentious relationship between cable providers and television channels. Small cable operators are putting more emphasis on their broadband services, and many are choosing to walk away from television carriage deals that are too costly, including with longtime partners such as AMC and Viacom Inc. At the same time, media companies, under pressure to show investors growth, are pushing for big carriage-fee increases with pay-TV providers even as their subscribership, overall, is contracting.
Source: Small Cable Firms Go Without AMC’s Channels as ‘Walking Dead’ Returns – WSJ