AMC to Dish: We'll go ahead and stream Breaking Bad for free. 'K bye.

AMC has some very good news for Dish Network customers who are being denied their Breaking Bad season premiere this weekend: They will be streaming the show as it airs for the low, low cost of zero dollars. So, take that, Dish Network! Those jerks!

Just in time for the fifth (and final) season premiere for one of cable's most popular shows, Dish Network failed to reach an agreement with AMC, IFC, and WE and dropped them as part of their cable offerings as of July 1. But in a classy display of support for fans and a middle finger to Dish, AMC will provide a consolation viewing experience in the form of a live stream of the premiere of Breaking Bad at 10:00 PM EST. Here is their statement:

“Every cable, phone and satellite company other than Dish carries AMC,” the company says. “AMC wants its loyal Dish viewers to experience the excitement of the Breaking Bad premiere at the same time as their friends and neighbors, and we want to give Dish customers an extra week to switch providers so they can enjoy the rest of the season.”

Oh no you didn't, AMC with your Z-snapping diss-o-matic.

If you are one of these unlucky Dish customers, all you have to do is pre-register starting on Saturday, July 14 at 3:00 PM EST. It costs nothing, and you just have to visit AMC's specially-designed page just for you. (via Deadline)

• [Mister44]

  I’m TV-less right now, and this show is the one I will miss the most.

  • [timquinn]

    Why not watch it on your phone then? 

    • [Mister44]

      My phone isnt that fancy ;o)

• [Thad Boyd]

  So Viacom decides to punish the entire Internet*, and AMC decides to REWARD the entire Internet*.  Wonder which one of THOSE strategies will work out better.

  * Yes, it’s probably region-locked.  Yes, you can probably get around it.

  • [mccrum]

     This strategy of AMC’s is not helping my confusion.

• [boingboingdave]

  Do you work for AMC or something? sheesh. Also, I don’t know if I’d regard forcing your provider to pay more for their channel and carry their shittier channels, and then pass those expenses on to you, a reward.

• [royaltrux]

  Thanks for posting this, I was unaware that Breaking Bad was returning so soon. And I definitely prefer AMC’s snarky strategy to Viacom’s.

• [bcsizemo]

  So they will stream you the first episode for free…but now that you have started the season what next?  I hope if things don’t work out they continue to stream all the episodes.
  (I don’t watch Breaking Bad anyway, so no loss to me.)

  • [SoItBegins]

    Dunno, but the first one is always free.

    • [hassan-i-sabbah]

      “I don’t watch Breaking Bad anyway, so no loss to me” By not watching Breaking Bad, You are missing out on some great TV.

• [Sterling Anderson]

  Register now so AMC can send even more emails telling you to call and bitch to Dish. I’ll just torrent The Walking Dead if necessary when it returns, thanks.

  • [Ray Perkins]

     Ooooh, copyright infringement. Better call Saul! http://www.bettercallsaul.com/

• [noahmckinnon]

  Tight Tight Tight!

• [Boundegar]

  Sad about the Daily Show.  I watch it online regularly.

• [copperwatt]

  The first one is always free… just like meth.

  • [hassan-i-sabbah]

    Where do I get this free meth?

• [niktemadur]

  In a petulant industry seemingly run by greedy, control-freak, tantrum-prone lawyers, AMC goes in the opposite direction, cool move.
  Now if only they’d do reruns of Mad Men in a time slot other than Saturday night going on Sunday morning…

• [Jonathan Peterson]

  Wow – two corporations picking a fight over revenues and the post is a total suck up to the one that is using it’s media power to force increased costs on Dish’s customers.  Why is that? 

  FWIW – I’ve been a happy Dish Network customer for more than a decade.  Their customer service and willingness to fight over price increases that cable routinely passes on is the reason.