Viacom decides not to block ‘Daily Show,’ ‘Colbert’ online amid fee dispute with DirecTV

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Viacom has decided to let new episodes of “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” and “The Colbert Report” be shown on its websites, easing a blockade of online viewings that it imposed last week in a fee dispute with DirecTV.

Tuesday’s move came a day after both shows resumed new episodes. The blockade had affected all online viewers, not just DirecTV subscribers.

Stewart ripped the Comedy Central network owner in a segment that aired Monday night, saying: “You’re pulling shows from the Internet? Viacom, what are you, China?”

Viacom says it hopes the decision is helpful to its fans who subscribe to DirecTV.

Since last Wednesday, some 20 million DirecTV customers have been without Viacom channels like MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon while the companies haggle over a new contract.