Why Kurt Sutter Is Wrong About DirecTV (Updated)

As a rule, I try not to write anything about what "Sons Of Anarchy" creator Kurt Sutter posts online. It's not that I don't read his tweets and blog posts, or that I don't appreciate his honesty. I do.

But I know he gets a lot of crap from industry publications every time he writes something vaguely controversial. And while it's doubtful that there is anything I could say that would have an impact on his venting, I want him to have as much space as possible to say what he wants without any breathless recapping of his every tweet.

Sutter is a passionate guy, particularly when it comes to SOA and I understand that completely. As a guy who's been fired from more than one job for refusing to back down from what I believe is right, I appreciate his drive and need to protect every aspect of his show.

But today he wrote a piece on the ongoing battle between Fox and Direct TV. He has a right to his opinion, but in this case his love of his show is blinding him to what's really important in this story. Not that I can blame him, since it's difficult to find anyone in the television industry who appears to give a damn about their customers wallets.

The Fox/Direct TV battle is an increasingly common one in the TV industry. In this case, the deal between the two companies is nearing an end, and Fox wants more money. Which is their right. But they also insist on more money for not just their crown jewels such as Fox or FX, but for lesser channels such as Fuel or Speed. It's not clear how big of an increase Fox is demanding, but since they're bundling all their channels into one negotiation, it ends up being a no-win battle for Direct TV.

While it will no doubt eventually get resolved (most likely in Fox's favor), both sides are running commercials and touting web sites arguing the other guy may force "your favorite channels to disappear" from DirectTV.

This brings us to Sutter, who rightfully is not thrilled with the prospect of losing a few million potential viewers as the show is approaching its final episodes of the season.

Sutter posted an image on his blog of an airship that reads "Direct TV, Fuck You."

Along with this post:

I just did a promo that will air before Tuesday night's episode.  It's aim is to mobilize fans against DirecTV.  But they refused to let me speak honestly, I had to follow an FX legal script that felt like complete bullshit. I'm sure it will serve it's purpose, but I feel compelled to let SOA fans know what I WANTED to say.

First off, I am well aware that I am working for the right-handed smoking man.  Truth is, every large entertainment company is an extension of some corporate behemoth.  FX is no exception.  The thing that keeps me there is that they care as much about the creative process as they do their bottom line.  That's not only rare, it's pretty much nonexistent everywhere else in Hollywood.  That bubble is floated by John Landgraf.  If it weren't for that guy, I'd be selling star maps and handjobs in front of the Motherlode.  I also have no delusions that Fox has a big horse in this DTV race.  Like all big corporate deals, the Goliaths are fighting for bigger chunks of the pie and in the process, the Davids who feed off of the crumbs, are getting screwed.  But if you look at the facts, you'll see that DirecTV is applying orange rules to an ever apple-ing world and using their large customer base as leverage.  Basically, fucking over the customers that already pay a lot of money for their service.

Here is the script they wouldn't let me use --

SOA (:45)

HEY, I’M KURT SUTTER, CREATOR OF SONS OF ANARCHY.

STARTING NOVEMBER 1ST, DIRECTV IS PULLING FX FROM YOUR BOX.

THAT MEANS YOU'LL MISS THE LAST FIVE EPISODES OF SONS THIS SEASON.  PERHAPS FIVE OF THE MOST CRITICAL EPISODES OF THE SERIES.

I KNOW FOX HAS A HORSE IN THIS RACE, BUT THEY'RE TRYING TO NEGOTIATE IN GOOD FAITH.  DIRECTV IS SHUTTING DOWN ALL CONVERSATION AND USING  THEIR CUSTOMERS AS LEVERAGE.  IN THE PROCESS, YOU'RE GETTING FUCKED OVER.  THEY'RE RUNNING ADS WITH THEIR CORPORATE SHILL TELLING YOU HOW MUCH "THEY CARE ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS"; THAT DUDE'S GOT ONE SINCERE HAND ON HIS HEART WHILE THE OTHER GREASES YOUR UNSUSPECTING BACKSIDE.  BECAUSE THEY'RE ABOUT TO FLIP YOU OVER AND FUCK YOU UP THE ASS TILL YOU BLEED.

GO TO KEEPMYNETS.COM OR call 866-KEEPMYNETS TO GET THE REAL STORY.

DO IT NOW.  LET 'EM KNOW THEY CAN'T FUCK WITH YOUR SONS OF ANARCHY.

THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT, BITCHES.

SOA (:15)

SOA FANS, LISTEN UP…

STARTING NOVEMBER 1ST, DIRECTV IS PULLING FX FROM YOUR BOX.

GO TO KEEPMYNETS.COM OR call 866-KEEPMYNETS TO GET THE REAL STORY.

DO IT NOW.  LET 'EM KNOW THEY CAN'T FUCK WITH YOUR SONS OF ANARCHY.

THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT, BITCHES.   

Here's my issue with Sutter's post. I understand that he wants fans of the show to see SOA. I can understand his loyalty to FX. And let's be honest, if you have to choose between News Corp. and DirecTV, well...they're both corporate weasels.

But what gets lost in these arguments about carriage and retransmission deals is that the eventual cost of all these negotiations doesn't come out of the pockets of these large media companies. They get grabbed out of the wallets of the customers who have no recourse other than to either cancel their cable/satellite TV completely or just bend over and take it.

No matter what Fox or Direct TV agree to, DirecTV will just pass along the costs to their customers. The customers can't complain, since they don't have the option of paying for channels ala carte. Fox gets more money per subscriber not just for FX, but for channels most people couldn't identify even with a logo slapped on their TV screens.

Most of these negotiations are just two sides of the TV industry whipping it out, splitting the difference and passing all the costs onto their customers.

It's a tough economy right now, but that doesn't stop any of these media companies from continuing to jack up their prices like a drug dealer at a freshman frat party.

Sutter has a right to be worried and annoyed. But Direct TV and Fox are both equally to blame here. If they gave a crap about their customers, they would figure out ways to rein in the rising costs of channel packages instead of figuring out new ways to screw their trapped customer base.

UPDATE: Mr. Sutter responded to my piece in typical style, by tweeting this response late last night:

@allyourtv "why you're a cunt using me for a fucking headline." you make no point but the obvious. if you're gonna call me out, grow a dick.

Sigh. I don't want to get in some pissing war with Sutter. In part, because I like the guy and admire his work. But also because I have no doubt he would burn down everything in sight to make his point. While I stand by what I wrote, I'm not sure this is an issue where I need to make my last stand.

That having been said, Sutter is wrong about a couple of things. I wasn't "using" him for a headline. I was simply responding to a piece he wrote. Hell, his anti-DirectTV spot is going to be airing on FX, so I don't think I'm inventing his connection to the story. 

I realize that he probably feels as if lots of people try and take advantage of him and I know his thoughts on TV writers in general. But if you write something in which you argue DirecTV is going to "fuck you up the ass until you bleed," you can't complain when someone calls you on it. 

I suppose I could have wrote a piece not mentioning Sutter's name, but that would be idiotic.

I still think Sutter is wrong, and even if he can be a dick sometimes, I like the guy. But for someone who dishes it out in bucket fulls, he sometimes sees even the slightest mention of his work as an attack on everything he holds dear.

I'm not the one who needs to grow a pair. If Sutter wants to trash me, fine by me. I can take it. But part of the "growing a dick" part of life is learning how to not take the slightest criticism so personally. If you work in an industry in which success is based in large part by what people think of your work, then you can't bitch when someone mentions they disagree with you.

UPDATE #2: The weirdest thing about @sutterink 's reaction to my piece on his DirecTV spot. I just realized that he's blocked me from following him on Twitter (shrug). Look, I don't quite get his reaction. I've tried to be respectful. But, whatever. I still think he's a talented guy.