Topeka, Kansas' CBS affiliate about to be dropped by Cox
As enthralled as we are to see new HD channels arrive in varying parts of the world, it's equally depressing to hear when any vanish. Nevertheless, we're looking at yet another classic battle between station and carrier in Topeka, Kansas, as the region's CBS affiliate (WIBW-TV) is threatening to remove its analog and digital HD signals from Cox unless it ponies up in a hurry. Needless to say, WIBW feels that it's not being compensated fairly from Cox for its retransmission of signals, and unless the two parties strike a deal before midnight on Friday, citizens in the area will have to bust out the antenna (or switch to satellite) to catch the looming March Madness. So, what exactly is WIBW asking for? A penny a day for each Cox subscriber.
Filed under: Industry, Regulatory, CBS, Cable, OTA
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Adam @ Feb 28th 2008 7:55AM
For only pennies a day...you too can help the people of Topeka.
FINN @ Feb 28th 2008 9:36AM
The same thing is happening here in Orlando with Bright House and our CBS affiliate. Their general manager even had the audacity to come on TV begging for us to support them and bombard Bright House with emails supporting the CBS cause. And even better, they took out a full page ad in the Orlando Sentinel urging people to switch to Dish Network. I think we all know what's going on there. Hopefully Bright House tells them to pound sand. OTA networks have always been and should always be free and if Bright House caves and pays, then all the other network affiliates will be at the door with their hands out and our cable bills go up.
Mike @ Feb 28th 2008 9:36AM
I'm sorry, but, a penny a day is a penny to much.
This is no doubt a newsweek station, as WKMG in orlando is doing the exact same thing here, and Brighthouse refuses to pay out.
Over-the-air stations broadcast for FREE kids. They are NOT cable channels. You NEVER paid for these channels on cable before. They seem to think like they are getting "ripped off" but, cable doesn't make their profit on basic cable as it is....
And let's do some basic math:
One Penny * 30 Days ( ABC + CBS + NBC + FOX + CW + MyNetwork) = $1.80 a person.
If this region had 100,000 cable viewers, that adds up to $180,000.
This is just going to raise your cable bill higher!
And why should these networks get free handouts....they have WAY more viewers then cable...so can easily make lots of $$$$ via commercials.
Greed Much?
Don't pay em. Goodbye WKMG and any other channel that asks for a handout.
TVGenius @ Feb 28th 2008 9:56AM
The thing is, a lot of stations already get paid by the cable companies, and in some places the stations pay the cable companies. The whole retransmission concept as it stands now is a joke. It makes no sense. It basically gives either side the right to demand payment, but doesn't offer a clear guidance toward resolution. Just wait, there will be even more fights in the future over secondary digital channels and whether or not they're carried, in what 'tier' and for how much $$$.
James @ Feb 28th 2008 12:01PM
I live in Topeka and I'm an avid lover of everything HD so I've been following this closely. According to an article in today's local paper, the HD signal will NOT be going away. Here's a quote from the article on cjonline.com:
"Kaufmann also said she wanted to clarify one other point in the contract talks. The agreement that expires either at midnight tonight or midnight Friday covers only WIBW's analog signal.
A separate agreement, the time parameters of which Kaufmann didn't have readily available, covers WIBW's high-definition signal, which Cox subscribers get on Channel 612.
Therefore, Kaufmann said, even if WIBW goes dark on Channel 12, those Cox customers whose subscription includes the HDTV digital tier will still be able to see the local CBS affiliate's programming, including the NCAA Tournament to which CBS Sports has the broadcasting rights."
Hopefully they are right about this and I will continue to get the HD feed on my CableCARD PC (if not, I have a back Media Center PC that gets OTA but I'd rather not have to mess with that).