[opendtv] Re: News: Northwest Station Pulls Signal In Retransmission Battle
- From: "John Willkie" <johnwillkie@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 2 Jan 2007 15:13:10 -0800
Well, that is not what Mr. Willkie said. I said that broadcasters can't
unilaterally schedule the term of a retrans agreement, that it needs to be a
matter agreed upon by all parties to a negotiation.
Maybe some foolish cable guy/gal though it would be a good to schedule it
for day x. So be it.
And, an anecdote proves nothing.
John Willkie
> -----Original Message-----
> From: opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
> On Behalf Of Craig Birkmaier
> Sent: Tuesday, January 02, 2007 5:43 AM
> To: OpenDTV Mail List
> Subject: [opendtv] News: Northwest Station Pulls Signal In Retransmission
> Battle
>
> So Mr. Willkie tells us that he does not understand how a
> broadcasters can "schedule" a retransmission consent battle to
> coincide with highly desirable programming, like college bowl games,
> for example.
>
> This story may give him a clue. In a nutshell, here's how it works.
> The existing retransmission consent agreement is about to expire, so
> the station and cable companies begin to negotiate. At first the
> station's demands are high but not obscene. The cable companies say
> no, but the timing is not "just right," so the station issues an
> extension of the expiring agreement. They continue to negotiate, now
> with the station increasing it's demands. The cable guys still say
> no, but NOW, the station has some leverage; the college bowl season
> is about to begin, and the station will be carrying most of the BCS
> championship games, including the national championship game. So they
> elect to pull their signals to put consumer pressure on the cable
> companies to capitulate.
>
> And this iis EXACTLY what is happening RIGHT NOW in Spokane...
>
> Regards
> Craig
>
>
> http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6403295.html?display=Breaking+N
> ews&referral=SUPP&nid=2228
>
> Breaking News
> Northwest Station Pulls Signal In Retransmission Battle
> By Anne Becker -- Broadcasting & Cable, 1/1/2007
>
> In an escalating battle over retransmission consent, KAYU-TV, the Fox
> affiliate in Spokane, Wash., has yanked its signal from Time Warner
> Cable systems in three states.
>
> The station's demand that Time Warner pay cash for the right to
> retransmit its signal-and its willingness to go dark until the cable
> operator relents-is the latest indication of broadcasters' increasing
> boldness over this perennial issue.
>
> At midnight on Dec. 14, KAYU went dark in more than 25,000 subscriber
> homes in Pullman, Wash., Libby, Mont. and two cities in Idaho, Coeur
> d'Alene and Moscow. Time Warner, which took over the systems from
> Adelphia in August, is offering advertising time, but KAYU says
> that's not enough.
>
> "Time Warner puts no value on over-the-air broadcasting," says Brian
> Brady, Chairman of the Fox affiliates and president of Northwest
> Broadcasting Corp., which owns KAYU among other stations in Oregon
> and New York. "They think because it's free, they should have the
> right to put that signal on their systems and charge the subscribers
> for it."
>
> Neither side will say how much KAYU is seeking, but the station says
> it is asking for fees smaller than what cable companies pay many
> cable channels for the right to carry their programming.
>
> Time Warner says it does not want to set a precedent by paying
> retransmission fees that would lead to higher bills for subscribers.
>
> According to a Time Warner spokesperson, KAYU has rejected several
> offers the company made during negotiations, increased their cash
> demand by some 400% and refused to grant the company another
> extension.
>
>
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