Overview
Reuters reports that today Cablevision filed an antitrust suit against Viacom, alleging that Cablevision forced it to pay for fourteen "ancillary" networks it did not want -- including CMT, MTV Hits, Nick Jr, Nicktoons, Palladia and VH1 Classic -- as a condition to a deal that would permit Cablevision to carry "must-have" networks such as Nickelodeon, MTV and Comedy Central. Cablevision has issued a statement regarding its lawsuit, which is here. The case is Cablevision Systems Corporation, et al., v. Viacom International Inc, et al., U.S. District Court, Civ. No. 13-1278, but the case was filed under seal, and a public version of the complaint is not yet available. We will update with the complaint if and when it becomes available.