Another retransmission battle is brewing—this time with four LIN TV stations and Cox Communications. The channels, KSNT-TV (NBC), KTMJ-TV (Fox) and KTKA (ABC) in Topeka and KSNW-TV (NBC) Wichita could go dark 3/14 if a new retrans agreement isn’t reached.
KSNW has already alerted its viewers and provided suggestions on how to contact Cox, DirecTV, Dish and AT&T U-verse, according to The Wichita Eagle.
“We feel it is our duty to keep our viewers informed when a contract deadline approaches and a new agreement has not yet been reached,” KSNW President/GM Eric Schrader told the newspaper. “Our stations are important assets to the local community and we only want what is fair so we can continue to serve our viewers.”
Said Sarah Kauffman, Cox spokeswoman in Wichita: “Our goal here, and it always has been, is to continue to provide to our customers the best programming at a reasonable price,” Kauffman said. “We are working very hard to come to an agreement with LIN (Media).”
Said KSNW on its website: “Despite our superior ratings and service to the community, we are compensated far less than many cable networks. The bottom line is Cox profits by including broadcast stations like ours in its line-up. Like any other business, it should pair fair market value for the ability to resell our programming to you. The rates we are asking for are far less than what Cox pays for major sports networks and comparable to what they pay for some other cable networks that are viewed less than (KSNW). [we are] negotiating for fair compensation and an even playing field with cable networks.”
See the full Wichita Eagle story here.
