Suddenlink-LIN TV Retransmission-Consent Spat Continues
TV-Station Owner Pulled Signals of KXAN Austin, Texas; KBIM Albuquerque, N.M., from Cable Operator
By Michael Malone -- Broadcasting & Cable, 1/4/2008 6:23:00 AM
The retransmission-consent row that saw LIN TV yank the signal for KXAN Austin, Texas, on Suddenlink Communications cable systems in Texas earlier this week shows no signs of ending.
Suddenlink announced a carriage deal with another NBC affiliate in the region, Temple, Texas-based KCEN, to provide NBC programming to the estimated 30,000 Austin homes that went dark on New Year’s Eve. But LIN said the station, located some 60 miles north of Austin, won’t provide true local news to the Austin market.
“It appears to be all too representative of Suddenlink’s customer sensibilities that it would think that a Temple, Texas, station reporting on news in Temple and Waco will be regarded by the folks in Georgetown and other communities it serves in the Austin market as an adequate substitute for one of the strongest Austin news stations,” LIN said in a statement.
LIN and Suddenlink attempted to negotiate a carriage deal for KXAN and KBIM Albuquerque, N.M., throughout the fall until the talks broke down several days before the Dec. 31 deadline. A Suddenlink spokesman said LIN requested “nonstandard things” during the negotiations, and the cable operator does not pay “direct cash for any transaction.”
In its statement, LIN said Suddenlink “has made it clear that it does not value or understand the importance of local stations.” While negotiations are on hiatus, Suddenlink’s spokesperson said the cable operator was willing to talk.
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I was one of the viewers affected by the loss of KXAN in the Round Rock/Pflugerville area. Since Suddenlink has added the Temple NBC affiliate, I couldn''t be happier! We now have NBC in digital/Hi-Def, something that was sorely lacking before this whole tiff. That was the only one out of the big four we were missing. It''s obvious that LIN wanted much more than other stations (too much?) for the rights to broadcast the digital signal, and perhaps for even the standard signal as well. I never watched the local news on KXAN anyways, and there are still three other local providers for that if need-be...
Jason B - 1/7/2008 11:16:00 AM EST -
KXAN lost 30,000 viewers because it wanted fair market value for carriage of its station and Suddenlink couldn't/wouldn't pay what they asked. Instead, Suddenlink let the channel go, offered antennas to anyone inconvenienced, then made the deal with KCEN. In the process customers of basic HD tiers got NBC, ESPN, TNT and FSSW in HD. KXAN wasn't sending their HD signal to Suddenlink.
I think if anyone was looking out for its customers, it's Suddenlink. KXAN was looking out for its wallet.
xadrian - 1/4/2008 4:28:00 PM EST
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