In the 49th State, it is known as GCI. That’s the Liberty Broadband-owned MVPD that, as of Jan. 1, discontinued carriage of “FOX Alaska,” “ABC Alaska,” and “The CW Alaska” on a newly launched “skinny bundle” offering designed to discourage subscribers from fleeing to such services as Hulu and YouTube TV.
It is pointing fingers at the broadcast TV station owner providing the three signals. Naturally, the broadcaster feels otherwise.
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Coastal Television Broadcasting Holdings LLC — operating Coastal and Vision-licensed stations in Alaska — is presently battling GCI over the Jan. 1, 2021 launch of its Yukon TV streaming service “by discontinuing its carriage of the FOX, ABC and The CW networks.”
How can a new service discontinue carriage?
According to Coastal, GCI “with no warning” shifted from its traditional cable TV service to exclusively offer its Limited Yukon TV Skinny Bundle.
GCI calls Yukon TV “Alaska’s ultimate streaming experience,” one that “ditches” the set-top box. It promises “Everything you love … anywhere you choose.”
And, that promise comes with an asterisk. That’s because the available network channels are comprised of just the local CBS, NBC, Telemundo and PBS stations. A review of channels available to GCI Yukon TV subscribers in Wasilla, Alaska, included two independent over-the-air stations: MeTV Network affiliate KACN (KDMD-DT3); and “Family Safe” KCFT-CD.
How does GCI explain the absence of two of the “Big Four” networks, plus The CW Network?
“Our contract with Vision Alaska and Coastal Television expired at 5pm on December 31, 2020,” GCI says. “We are still negotiating with Vision Alaska and Coastal Television to resume carrying these channels, but they are asking for a nearly 40% rate increase that is not the best outcome for GCI and our valued TV customers. Because we did not reach a deal by the deadline, they have pulled our right to continue bringing these channels to our customers. We are working hard to come to a reasonable agreement to restore these channels and will be offering bill credits to eligible customers.”
GCI employees, bulk/hotel customers, and landlord-provided services are not eligible for credits, the MVPD says.
Alaska is unique with respect to the ABC, FOX and CW affiliates, as Anchorage-based KYUR (ABC) and KTBY (FOX) serve as the originating stations for satellites KATN in Fairbanks and KJUD in Juneau. Those stations have ABC as the primary DT1 feed, with FOX and The CW on the DT2 and DT3 feeds, respectively.
Thus, the “blackout” is a state-wide matter with Vision and Coastal sharing a much different explanation than GCI. And, Coastal Television Broadcast Holdings isn’t relenting with its version of events.
“GCI believes that it educated its subscribers with this move,” it says on the YourAlaskaLink.com website for the three stations. “They are correct. GCI educated its subscribers that it doesn’t give one Alaskan damn about its customers and seeks to enrich themselves on their customers’ backs.”
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