Suddenlink Drops NBC, CBS Affiliates

[cablewithaview]

Lin TV Fails to Reach Distribution Deal with Cable TV Operator

Lin TV said Suddenlink Communications dropped the feeds for its KXAN-TV (NBC) station in Austin and its KBIM-TV (CBS) station in Albuquerque, N.M., after the station group owner failed to reach a carriage agreement with the cable TV operator.

The retransmission consent agreement between Lin TV and Suddenlink expired today (Dec. 31), Lin TV said.

The station group owner said it wants a cut of the cash that Suddenlink charges its cable TV subscribers to receive its stations. Lin TV said it successfully reached carriage agreements with other pay TV providers, including cable operators, satellite providers and telephone companies.

“Local broadcast stations are among the most important channels cable operators provide,” Gregory Schmidt, LIN TV executive vice president digital media, said in a prepared statement Monday. “Suddenlink charges its customers a fee for local broadcast stations and our stations deserve a fair share of that, so we can continue providing the premium news, sports, entertainment, and other local programming that is most important to our viewers.”

Lin TV stock was trading a $12.05 per share Monday morning, down 9 cents, or 0.74%.

Lin TV owns 29 TV stations in 17 U.S. markets.


Suddenlink Drops NBC, CBS Affiliates - 12/31/2007 1:15:00 PM - Multichannel News