Cablevision customers may not be able to watch the Academy Awards telecast on WABC-TV owing to their retransmission disconnect, but they can still screen some Oscar-nominated films.
Cablevision, in a message to its customers late Sunday afternoon, said it would give its subs free access to a host of flicks.
"Due to the disruption ABC has caused, Cablevision invites you to enjoy our entire slate of on demand movies at no charge today, Sunday March 7th. To order, go to the iO TV main menu, select On Demand, then Movies on Demand, then choose your movie," the email communication read. "We appreciate your patience and hope ABC allows our customers to view their programming in the very near future."
In a retransmission-consent dispute, WABC-TV pulled its signal from Cablevision at 12:01 on March 7.
Among the films Cablevision is making available are best picture nominees District 9, The Hurt Locker, Inglorious Basterds, A Serious Man and Up.
Additionally, films nominated in other categories that are available on iO On Demand include: The Cove, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Julie & Julia, Star Trek and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.
Cablevision also sent its customers another late-afternoon email pointing them toward various online outlets to keep abreast of the Oscars. The cable operator provided the following links: E! at http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/redcarpet/2010_oscars/index.html; Livestream at www.livestream.com/aplive; and LA Times Blog: Gold Derby at http://goldderby.latimes.com/
