WPIX and 3 Other Tribune Stations Go Dark on Cablevision Amid Dispute
Over Retrans Fees
by Kimberly Nordyke
UPDATED: The cable operator accuses Tribune of demanding fees that are
too high because of its parent company's financial woes, but Tribune
says it's asking for "less than a penny a day per subscriber."
Several Tribune Broadcasting stations, including WPIX-TV in New York,
went dark on Cablevision at midnight Thursday amid a dispute over
retransmission consent fees.
Other stations that were affected include CW affiliates WCCT, carried
in a small portion of Connecticut, and KWGN in Denver, which is
carried in some of Cablevision's Optimum West markets, as well as
MyNetwork affiliate WPHL in Philadelphia, available in a small portion
of New Jersey.
In a statement, Cablevision accused Tribune asking for retrans fees
that are too high because of parent Tribune Co.'s financial troubles.
"The bankrupt Tribune Co. and the hedge funds and banks that own it,
including Oaktree Capital Management, Angelo Gordon & Co. and others,
are trying to solve Tribune's financial problems on the backs of
Cablevision customers," Cablevision said. "Tribune and their hedge
fund owners are demanding tens of millions in new fees for WPIX and
other stations they own. They should stop their anti-consumer demands
and work productively to reach an agreement."
For its part, Tribune said it wasn't notified that Cablevision was
dropping its stations and that the move happened while the two
companies were in the middle of negotiations.
"Cablevison took this action despite our offer of an unconditional
extension of the current carriage agreement with no change in terms
while negotiations continued," Tribune said in a statement. "To be
clear, Tribune was willing to provide Cablevision subscribers access
to the valuable programming on these stations while working toward a
new agreement. Tribune never made any threat to withdraw these
stations or any demand that Cablevision remove them. Tribune makes a
substantial annual investment in local news, live sports and
high-quality entertainment programming. Cablevision has never
compensated Tribune for the retransmission of its local stations,
which are among the most highly watched channels on Cablevision's
lineups."
The company said it has proposed a new deal that would amount "to less
than a penny a day per subscriber," which is less than what
Cablevision pays to other "less well-watched channels."
Earlier this year, Tribune was embroiled in a similar dispute with
DirecTV that resulted in a four-day blackout of 23 TV stations and WGN
America on the satellite TV provider.
The Chicago-based Tribune Co. filed for bankruptcy in 2008, a year
after the company -- which owns 23 TV stations and several big
newspapers -- was purchased by financier Sam Zell in a $13 billion
leveraged buyout. In June, a Delaware bankruptcy judge approved a
restructuring plan for Tribune Co. to emerge from Chapter 11.
> WPIX and 3 Other Tribune Stations Go Dark on Cablevision Amid Dispute
> Over Retrans Fees
> by Kimberly Nordyke
> UPDATED: The cable operator accuses Tribune of demanding fees that are
> too high because of its parent company's financial woes, but Tribune
> says it's asking for "less than a penny a day per subscriber."
> Several Tribune Broadcasting stations, including WPIX-TV in New York,
> went dark on Cablevision at midnight Thursday amid a dispute over
> retransmission consent fees.
Ouch for CW Network. Losing NewYork City is a big market. They better hope they get it back by the time they start their Fall schedule next week.
> For its part, Tribune said it wasn't notified that Cablevision was
> dropping its stations and that the move happened while the two
> companies were in the middle of negotiations.
That would help explain why we haven't see a dozen earlier 'news' posts with threats of a deadline looming.
> "Cablevison took this action despite our offer of an unconditional
> extension of the current carriage agreement with no change in terms
> while negotiations continued,"
'unconditional' does not mesh with 'no change in terms'.
> Tribune said in a statement. "To be
> clear, Tribune was willing to provide Cablevision subscribers access
> to the valuable programming on these stations while working toward a
> new agreement. Tribune never made any threat to withdraw these
> stations or any demand that Cablevision remove them. Tribune makes a
> substantial annual investment in local news, live sports and
> high-quality entertainment programming.
Which sounds like Tribune wanted to start getting paid while negotiations were still underway.
> Cablevision has never
> compensated Tribune for the retransmission of its local stations,
> which are among the most highly watched channels on Cablevision's
> lineups."
So Cablevision is paying nothing and was willing to continue 'unconditionally' under those terms. Aren't they generous.
> The company said it has proposed a new deal that would amount "to less
> than a penny a day per subscriber," which is less than what
> Cablevision pays to other "less well-watched channels."
There probably are cable channels with fewer viewers than CW that have carriage fees of over $0.30, but most cable channels also turn over airtime to the cable network to sell. I'm guessing that broadcast channels being retransmitted on cable don't offer that extra income source to the cable companies.
> > WPIX and 3 Other Tribune Stations Go Dark on Cablevision Amid Dispute
> > Over Retrans Fees
> > by Kimberly Nordyke
> > UPDATED: The cable operator accuses Tribune of demanding fees that are
> > too high because of its parent company's financial woes, but Tribune
> > says it's asking for "less than a penny a day per subscriber."
> > Several Tribune Broadcasting stations, including WPIX-TV in New York,
> > went dark on Cablevision at midnight Thursday amid a dispute over
> > retransmission consent fees.
> Ouch for CW Network. Losing NewYork City is a big market. They better hope
> they get it back by the time they start their Fall schedule next week.
> > For its part, Tribune said it wasn't notified that Cablevision was
> > dropping its stations and that the move happened while the two
> > companies were in the middle of negotiations.
> That would help explain why we haven't see a dozen earlier 'news' posts with
> threats of a deadline looming.
> > "Cablevison took this action despite our offer of an unconditional
> > extension of the current carriage agreement with no change in terms
> > while negotiations continued,"
> 'unconditional' does not mesh with 'no change in terms'.
> > Tribune said in a statement. "To be
> > clear, Tribune was willing to provide Cablevision subscribers access
> > to the valuable programming on these stations while working toward a
> > new agreement. Tribune never made any threat to withdraw these
> > stations or any demand that Cablevision remove them. Tribune makes a
> > substantial annual investment in local news, live sports and
> > high-quality entertainment programming.
> Which sounds like Tribune wanted to start getting paid while negotiations
> were still underway.
> > Cablevision has never
> > compensated Tribune for the retransmission of its local stations,
> > which are among the most highly watched channels on Cablevision's
> > lineups."
> So Cablevision is paying nothing and was willing to continue
> 'unconditionally' under those terms. Aren't they generous.
> > The company said it has proposed a new deal that would amount "to less
> > than a penny a day per subscriber," which is less than what
> > Cablevision pays to other "less well-watched channels."
> There probably are cable channels with fewer viewers than CW that have
> carriage fees of over $0.30, but most cable channels also turn over airtime
> to the cable network to sell. I'm guessing that broadcast channels being
> retransmitted on cable don't offer that extra income source to the cable
> companies.
> > WPIX and 3 Other Tribune Stations Go Dark on Cablevision Amid Dispute
> > Over Retrans Fees
> > by Kimberly Nordyke
> > UPDATED: The cable operator accuses Tribune of demanding fees that are
> > too high because of its parent company's financial woes, but Tribune
> > says it's asking for "less than a penny a day per subscriber."
> > Several Tribune Broadcasting stations, including WPIX-TV in New York,
> > went dark on Cablevision at midnight Thursday amid a dispute over
> > retransmission consent fees.
> Ouch for CW Network. Losing NewYork City is a big market. They better hope > they get it back by the time they start their Fall schedule next week.
The CW is starting really late this time, remember.
Ian (Like, November *2014* LATE, if I remember correctly!...)
-- "Surf-crazed aliens... Of course." - Amber, "Alien Surf Girls", Episode #1.1, "Wipeout". Wait a minute... "Of course"?! "*Of course*"?!! Did I miss a step here??!!
ich Bien Der Fuzzy Wuzzy <IB_Der_fu...@fuzzywuzzy.com> wrote:
>Why are OTA stations getting retrans fees anyway!?!?!?! Who needs whom >more? DBS/craple? Lets see with no carriage on either that takes 90+% of >your audience.... if anything the broadcasters should be paying DBS/
>crabple to carry them!
National Association of Broadcasters has really good lobbyists. Why was
there ever a must carry rule prior to the Telecom Act of 1995?
> In article <k0lr39$rm...@dont-email.me>, "Obveeus" <Obve...@aol.com>
> wrote:
>> Ouch for CW Network. Losing NewYork City is a big market. They better >> hope
>> they get it back by the time they start their Fall schedule next week.
> The CW is starting really late this time, remember.
>WPIX and 3 Other Tribune Stations Go Dark on Cablevision Amid Dispute
>Over Retrans Fees
>by Kimberly Nordyke
>UPDATED: The cable operator accuses Tribune of demanding fees that are
>too high because of its parent company's financial woes, but Tribune
>says it's asking for "less than a penny a day per subscriber."
>Several Tribune Broadcasting stations, including WPIX-TV in New York,
>went dark on Cablevision at midnight Thursday amid a dispute over
>retransmission consent fees.
>Other stations that were affected include CW affiliates WCCT, carried
>in a small portion of Connecticut, and KWGN in Denver, which is
>carried in some of Cablevision's Optimum West markets, as well as
>MyNetwork affiliate WPHL in Philadelphia, available in a small portion
>of New Jersey.
-----
The dispute must be over since I am getting WPIX over Cablevision here
in New York City (which is channel 11), but it wouldn't much matter to
me if it went dark for a while since I am still using digital over
the air for the broadcast channels.
------>Hunter
"No man in the wrong can stand up against a fellow that's in the right and keeps on acomin'."
-----William J. McDonald
Captain, Texas Rangers from 1891 to 1907
>>WPIX and 3 Other Tribune Stations Go Dark on Cablevision Amid Dispute
>>Over Retrans Fees
>>by Kimberly Nordyke
>>UPDATED: The cable operator accuses Tribune of demanding fees that are
>>too high because of its parent company's financial woes, but Tribune
>>says it's asking for "less than a penny a day per subscriber."
>>Several Tribune Broadcasting stations, including WPIX-TV in New York,
>>went dark on Cablevision at midnight Thursday amid a dispute over
>>retransmission consent fees.
>>Other stations that were affected include CW affiliates WCCT, carried
>>in a small portion of Connecticut, and KWGN in Denver, which is
>>carried in some of Cablevision's Optimum West markets, as well as
>>MyNetwork affiliate WPHL in Philadelphia, available in a small portion
>>of New Jersey.
>-----
>The dispute must be over since I am getting WPIX over Cablevision here
>in New York City (which is channel 11), but it wouldn't much matter to
>me if it went dark for a while since I am still using digital over
>the air for the broadcast channels.
------
I take this back. WPIX is indeed off the air. Cablevision is running
another channel signal on what supposed to be channel 11, New York's
WPIX affiliate and I didn't check thouroughly enough.
------>Hunter
"No man in the wrong can stand up against a fellow that's in the right and keeps on acomin'."
-----William J. McDonald
Captain, Texas Rangers from 1891 to 1907
Hunter <buffhun...@my-deja.com> wrote:
>Hunter <buffhun...@my-deja.com> (Hunter) wrote:
>>>http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/wpix-cablevision-tribune-dark-3... >>>WPIX and 3 Other Tribune Stations Go Dark on Cablevision Amid Dispute
>>>Over Retrans Fees
>>>by Kimberly Nordyke
>>>UPDATED: The cable operator accuses Tribune of demanding fees that are
>>>too high because of its parent company's financial woes, but Tribune
>>>says it's asking for "less than a penny a day per subscriber."
>>>Several Tribune Broadcasting stations, including WPIX-TV in New York,
>>>went dark on Cablevision at midnight Thursday amid a dispute over
>>>retransmission consent fees.
>>>Other stations that were affected include CW affiliates WCCT, carried
>>>in a small portion of Connecticut, and KWGN in Denver, which is
>>>carried in some of Cablevision's Optimum West markets, as well as
>>>MyNetwork affiliate WPHL in Philadelphia, available in a small portion
>>>of New Jersey.
>>The dispute must be over since I am getting WPIX over Cablevision here
>>in New York City (which is channel 11), but it wouldn't much matter to
>>me if it went dark for a while since I am still using digital over
>>the air for the broadcast channels.
>I take this back. WPIX is indeed off the air. Cablevision is running
>another channel signal on what supposed to be channel 11, New York's
>WPIX affiliate and I didn't check thouroughly enough.
"Hunter (Hunter)" <buffhun...@my-deja.com> wrote:
> I take this back. WPIX is indeed off the air. Cablevision is running
> another channel signal on what supposed to be channel 11, New York's
> WPIX affiliate and I didn't check thouroughly enough.
On Sat, 18 Aug 2012 07:50:34 -0400, "Obveeus" <Obve...@aol.com> wrote:
>"Hunter (Hunter)" <buffhun...@my-deja.com> wrote:
>> I take this back. WPIX is indeed off the air. Cablevision is running
>> another channel signal on what supposed to be channel 11, New York's
>> WPIX affiliate and I didn't check thouroughly enough.
----
The Style Network.
On the other hand Antenne TV which is a Tribune property and was on
channel 114 is off altogether. No matter in my case since I still have
my antanae attached to a digital converter box which is attached to my
12 year old analog TV and so can get both WPIX and antenae TV over the
air on 11 aand 11.2 respectively.
------>Hunter
"No man in the wrong can stand up against a fellow that's in the right and keeps on acomin'."
-----William J. McDonald
Captain, Texas Rangers from 1891 to 1907
>>"Hunter (Hunter)" <buffhun...@my-deja.com> wrote:
>>> I take this back. WPIX is indeed off the air. Cablevision is running
>>> another channel signal on what supposed to be channel 11, New York's
>>> WPIX affiliate and I didn't check thouroughly enough.
>----
>The Style Network.
>On the other hand Antenne TV which is a Tribune property and was on
>channel 114 is off altogether. No matter in my case since I still have
>my antanae attached to a digital converter box which is attached to my
>12 year old analog TV and so can get both WPIX and antenae TV over the
>air on 11 aand 11.2 respectively.
-----
This was the answer to the quesiont "Obveeus" asked:
"So, what is really airing on the channel?"
------>Hunter
"No man in the wrong can stand up against a fellow that's in the right and keeps on acomin'."
-----William J. McDonald
Captain, Texas Rangers from 1891 to 1907
