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Charter Spectrum-Tribune dispute causes TV channel blackout that hits millions across US
Source: USA Today
Charter Spectrum-Tribune dispute causes TV channel blackout that hits millions across US
Mike Snider, USA TODAY Published 8:54 a.m. ET Jan. 3, 2019 | Updated 8:55 a.m. ET Jan. 3, 2019
Another new year, another TV carriage dispute.
About six million Spectrum TV subscribers have lost local channels in New York, Los Angeles, Denver, St. Louis and 20 other markets amid a contract standoff between pay-TV provider Charter and the Tribune Media broadcast group.
Tribune's 33 channels went dark Wednesday across Charter's Spectrum TV system, which serves 41 cities. The two companies had only temporarily extended the contract, which expired Monday. In addition to subscribers in Seattle, Denver and St. Louis losing Fox channels – and Indianapolis losing Fox and CBS channels – just as NFL playoffs approach this weekend, more than 14 million subscribers also lost WGN America, Tribune Media says.
“We’ve offered Spectrum fair market rates for our top-rated local news, live sports and high-quality entertainment programming, and similarly fair rates for our cable network, WGN America,” Gary Weitman, Tribune Media’s senior vice president for corporate relations, said in a statement. “Spectrum has refused our offer and failed to negotiate in a meaningful fashion.”
-snip-
Mike Snider, USA TODAY Published 8:54 a.m. ET Jan. 3, 2019 | Updated 8:55 a.m. ET Jan. 3, 2019
Another new year, another TV carriage dispute.
About six million Spectrum TV subscribers have lost local channels in New York, Los Angeles, Denver, St. Louis and 20 other markets amid a contract standoff between pay-TV provider Charter and the Tribune Media broadcast group.
Tribune's 33 channels went dark Wednesday across Charter's Spectrum TV system, which serves 41 cities. The two companies had only temporarily extended the contract, which expired Monday. In addition to subscribers in Seattle, Denver and St. Louis losing Fox channels – and Indianapolis losing Fox and CBS channels – just as NFL playoffs approach this weekend, more than 14 million subscribers also lost WGN America, Tribune Media says.
“We’ve offered Spectrum fair market rates for our top-rated local news, live sports and high-quality entertainment programming, and similarly fair rates for our cable network, WGN America,” Gary Weitman, Tribune Media’s senior vice president for corporate relations, said in a statement. “Spectrum has refused our offer and failed to negotiate in a meaningful fashion.”
-snip-
Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/media/2019/01/03/charter-spectrum-tribune-dispute-means-millions-lose-tv-channels/2470752002/
______________________________________________________________________
Source: Washington Post
Millions of Spectrum cable TV subscribers lose access to local stations amid Charter-Tribune dispute
By Brian Fung January 2 at 6:11 PM
Broadcast channels in major markets suddenly went dark for Spectrum TV customers on Wednesday as Charter Communications — the nation’s second-largest cable company with over 16 million TV subscribers — failed to sign a new programming contract with Tribune Media.
As many as 24 markets are affected by the TV blackout, including Denver, Houston, New York, Los Angeles and St. Louis. Tribune pulled its signal at 5 p.m. Eastern time after negotiations stalled.
The programming outage comes days before sports fans are expected to switch on their cable TV to watch highly anticipated postseason college and professional football games.
Although Charter subscribers can still catch the playoffs through other means, such as by streaming games on Yahoo Sports or the National Football League app, the contract dispute threatens to disrupt a key television weekend.
-snip-
By Brian Fung January 2 at 6:11 PM
Broadcast channels in major markets suddenly went dark for Spectrum TV customers on Wednesday as Charter Communications — the nation’s second-largest cable company with over 16 million TV subscribers — failed to sign a new programming contract with Tribune Media.
As many as 24 markets are affected by the TV blackout, including Denver, Houston, New York, Los Angeles and St. Louis. Tribune pulled its signal at 5 p.m. Eastern time after negotiations stalled.
The programming outage comes days before sports fans are expected to switch on their cable TV to watch highly anticipated postseason college and professional football games.
Although Charter subscribers can still catch the playoffs through other means, such as by streaming games on Yahoo Sports or the National Football League app, the contract dispute threatens to disrupt a key television weekend.
-snip-
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/01/02/our-stations-will-no-longer-be-accessible-tribune-blackout-begins-fee-dispute-with-charter-intensifies/
4 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
Luckily, I already have spectrum and never even noticed. 
F' em.
