Shadow
02-07-2012, 13:48
*Retrans spats for DISH, Time Warner threaten affiliate feeds* Michelle Clancy ©RapidTVNews | 02-07-2012 Local affiliate retransmission spats are back, with two issues (between Hearst and Time Warner Cable, and West Virginia Media Holdings and DISH Network) making their way into the headlines. DISH has failed to reach a renewal agreement for four stations in West Virginia, resulting in an immediate blackout for its subscribers. The satellite provider no longer now has access to the feeds from WBOY in Clarksburg, WOWK in Charleston, WVNS in Bluefield and WTRF in Wheeling. "We are disappointed that West Virginia Media has chosen to be so unreasonable in their demands, and we think West Virginia Media has done a disservice to its communities by making the news content unavailable at a time when the viewers need their news the most," said Andrew LeCuyer, vice president of programming for DISH, in a statement. Meanwhile, group of stations owned by Hearst in Hawaii, New Hampshire and South Carolina are in talks with Time Warner Cable for new retransmission-consent contracts, which are due to expire. Negotiations have now been forestalled into mid-July, so the outcome is by no means settled.