Lock Out ABC: a How-To diary

There is nothing a network wants more for its shows than eyeballs.  TV is advertiser driven.  In essence, TV looks to pave highways that drive you past advertiser billboards.  "The medium is the message."

The Path to 9/11 appears to be so egregious to me that I have decided to eliminate ABC and all of its affiliated channels from my viewing selection.  Eliminate it entirely.  That's right, ABC, and its sisters will not pop up on my box even if I happen to channel surf for want of something to watch.  Ever.

This how-to diary applies to those with Time-Warner cable, and specifically my former Verizon/then Adelphia service.  If anyone else has the specifics on how to remove ABC from their channel selections on other cable services, i.e., Cox... please post in thread and I'll update this how-to special.  If you're ready to change the channel, please flip...

 

I felt the need to add this threat to my angry missives to ABC and Disney as I believe it will have the greatest effect.  BTW, I have already done this, and my family has accepted my argument of its necessity and we have now moved on to our other viewing options.  Just like that.  The kids were a little sore at losing Disney, but I've made it up to them.

First of all, you have to tell these people that there are consequences for their actions.  See highacidity's list of contacts if you're ready to send another letter.  I suggest FAXING in addition to emailing as the shelf life of a FAX is longer, and more annoying, than a deletable email.

With your TV on and Time-Warner remote in hand, select "Main Menu."  (on my remote, this means I have to push "Guide" twice.  It's arcane, I know, and that's why I'm doing this diary.  
Then select "Setup."
Next select "Locks Setup"
You will be asked to enter a 4 digit PIN number.  
In the next Menu, scroll down to "Channel Locks."
When you get to your ABC station, select.  ABC is now Locked out.  Do this also for ABC Family, ESPN, ESPN2 and the Disney Channel.  And make sure you tell them.

Channel surf to see that it works.  You should see a black screen.  Sweet music.

"The Path to 9/11" has no advertisers, but "Lost" does, so does "Nightline," so does all their soaps, their news, so does "Sportscenter..."  And trust me, it's all replaceable, you'll find something else.

Next up, I need to compile a list of the top 10 advertisers who may want to know that the ABC universe no longer exists on my cable box.  Procter & Gamble is a start.  

As a screenwriter myself, I fully understand the need to create "composite characters" and "synthesized scenes," however, when the DNA of the entire project resides in the right-wing hit squad, I felt the need to take extreme action.

•  P&G

  Next up, I need to compile a list of the top 10 advertisers who may want to know that the ABC universe no longer exists on my cable box.  Procter & Gamble is a start.  

  Isn't Procter & Gamble a reasonably blue company? Or am I thinking of something else?

  by Grassroots Mom on Thu Sep 07, 2006 at 02:55:41 PM PDT

  •  they are based in Ohio, and whether they are

    blue or red does not matter to me or this action.  I am not threatening P&G, I named them because I worked on a TV show that was sponsored by them.  

    I simply want them to know that ABC will be a bad place to advertise after this episode.  They are very smart people, they will know what to do.

    by dash888 on Thu Sep 07, 2006 at 03:00:27 PM PDT

    •  Thanks

      I was wondering because if they are blue, then they might be a little upset, too about this.

      by Grassroots Mom on Thu Sep 07, 2006 at 03:19:48 PM PDT

      •  Short answer re P&G: no.

        http://www.buyblue.org/...

        But they are smart marketers.

        by noweasels on Thu Sep 07, 2006 at 03:23:40 PM PDT

•  Great idea

  can someone offer us a definitive list of cable channels owned/controlled by ABC/Disney?  I wouldnt want to miss a single one!

  by Voxbear on Thu Sep 07, 2006 at 03:01:20 PM PDT

  •  I mentioned highacidity's diary, which in fact

    left out a few Disney/ABC owned channels.

    This from Disney corporate's website:

    Disney Media Networks

    The Media Networks segment encompasses a vast array of properties on the television, cable, radio and Internet landscape. The ABC Television Network includes ABC Entertainment, ABC Daytime, ABC News, ABC Sports, ABC Kids and the Disney-owned production company Touchstone Television. ABC Owned Television Stations operates 10 stations in top markets across the country, ABC Radio owns 72 stations nationwide, and the company's expansive radio offerings include Radio Disney, ESPN Radio and ABC News Radio.

    Media Networks incorporates a suite of cable networks, including ESPN, Disney Channel, ABC Family, Toon Disney, and SOAPnet. The segment also operates Walt Disney Television Animation and Fox Kids International, and holds the company's equity interest in Lifetime Entertainment Services, A&E Television Networks and E! Networks.

    by dash888 on Thu Sep 07, 2006 at 03:37:47 PM PDT

    •  a definitive list is a great idea

      From this page

      ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic, ESPNEWS, ESPN PPV, ESPN Deportes, ESPN International, ESPN Classic Sport Europe, ESPN Latin America, ESPN Asia, ESPNU, ESPN2 HD, Disney Channel (cable and satellite), International Disney Channels, Toon Disney, SOAPnet, ABC Family Channel, JETIX Europe, JETIX Latin America, A&E Television Networks (37.5% equity; includes A&E, The History Channel, The Biography Channel, History International, A&E International), Lifetime Entertainment Services (50% equity; includes Lifetime Television, Lifetime Movie Network, Lifetime Real Women, Lifetime Radio for Women, Lifetime Home Entertainment), E! Networks (39.6% equity; includes E! Entertainment Television, The Style Network), Buena Vista Television, Walt Disney Television

      From wikipedia, a broader list of Disney properties

      Walt Disney Pictures
      Touchstone Pictures
      Hollywood Pictures
      Miramax Films

      Buena Vista Music Group
      Walt Disney Records
      Mammoth Records
      Lyric Street Records
      Hollywood Records

      Walt Disney Theatrical
      Hyperion Theatrical

      Walt Disney Feature Animation
      Walt Disney Television Animation
      DisneyToon Studios
      Pixar Animation Studios

      Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
      ESPN Zone sports-themed restaurants

      Walt Disney Television
      Touchstone Television
      ABC Entertainment
      ABC Television Network
      Buena Vista Television
      ESPN
      SOAPnet
      Lifetime

      Disney Publishing Worldwide

      Disney Store

      Jim Henson's Muppets
      Buena Vista Games

      by zzmarkzz on Thu Sep 07, 2006 at 03:47:52 PM PDT

      •  Do you see why our fight is so hard?

        These greedy bastards own a LOT. Corporations are getting way to big. That's all there is to it.

        They get more desperate for profit and do whatever it takes. They have started wars and supported wars.

        About five corporations control just about all of the information we get

        . This must change!!!!!!!!!

        http://www.corporations.org/...

        In 1983, 50 corporations controlled the vast majority of all news media in the U.S.In 2004, Bagdikian's revised and expanded book, The New Media Monopoly, shows that only 5 huge corporations control most of the media industry in the U.S

        They play "both sides" for ratings. MSNBC uses Keith Olbermann to get us watching. CNN uses Glen Beck to get the right wing.

        Their bottom line is profit. When you are a corporation that facts do not come in to play. EVER!

        You need to look no further then the blatent lies ABC has told in the last 48 hours. What took them so long?

        Well, they had to have the meetings, talk to the sharks eeer Lawyers and come up with "talking points". It sounds like the Bush administrations doesn"t it? Well it should because we have a corporate administration.

        by dynamicstand on Thu Sep 07, 2006 at 04:43:19 PM PDT

        •  There goes my "Golden Girls!"

          but damn... it is so worth it!

          by Voxbear on Thu Sep 07, 2006 at 04:52:21 PM PDT

          •  Bye bye

            In a French accent; "The golden girls are dead to me"!

            by dynamicstand on Thu Sep 07, 2006 at 05:25:40 PM PDT

•  I called DISH ...

  earlier this afternoon.  I cannot remove the local ABC affiliate from my lineup.  Wish I could.  

  I can live without ABC's programming without missing anything.

  by SusanHu on Thu Sep 07, 2006 at 03:02:08 PM PDT

  •  You could possibly do a lock-out in the

    "parental controls" menu.  And select the lowest TV "rating" so that every show, in essence--the whole channel, will be locked out.  

    I'm calling my DISH and DirectTV friends to find some specifics.

    by dash888 on Thu Sep 07, 2006 at 03:06:47 PM PDT

•  I have been telling every single one

  all the heads at ABC, the local affiliate, Disney, etc. that I'm blocking the channel, not just boycotting, so no one in the house will be able to access it.

  I'm mad and I'm letting them know it. I'm also serious. I checked the lineup and we don't watch anything of note on there anyway - so we won't be missing anything to begin with.

  But notifying the advertisers is a good idea. I haven't gotten this out of my system.

  by paluxy1945 on Thu Sep 07, 2006 at 03:09:10 PM PDT

  •  exactly. It's all or nothing here. And true, in

    my case, I'm also "not missing anything."  4 years ago, I watched "Alias" for a season.  I also watched some World Cup games this summer on ESPN.  

    But it's all so easy to give up for this...

    by dash888 on Thu Sep 07, 2006 at 03:28:00 PM PDT

•  I can't say it would make me unhappy

  to never hear that Mickey Mouse Clubhouse song again.

  by Jesus was a Liberal on Thu Sep 07, 2006 at 03:24:30 PM PDT

•  thanks, dash888

  for some reason this has incenced me more than the usual crap you see going on these days. But it's been cathartic to phone & email people, & encouraging to see that it's making a difference.

  by mimuspolyglottis on Thu Sep 07, 2006 at 03:40:56 PM PDT

  •  you're welcome. I also feel incensed by the

    "history is written by the winners" aspect of this whole episode.  For all the recent talk about comparisons with Nazism, this overt propaganda appears to be of the same cloth.

    by dash888 on Thu Sep 07, 2006 at 03:46:32 PM PDT

•  Bravo!

  I also blocked the channel. I will never, ever have it. Even if they decide not to air the show. The damage has been done! How dare they do this!

  by dynamicstand on Thu Sep 07, 2006 at 04:23:32 PM PDT

•  Partial list of sponsors

  Thanks for this Dash. Benjamin put together a pretty good list of ABC sponsors here. He has click-through set up for as many of them as he could find, so you can register your comments directly from there. Give 'em hell!

  by carolita on Thu Sep 07, 2006 at 04:34:03 PM PDT