allbritton commuications

[joe]

Does allbritton communications own any cable stations they may have been trying to make Dish Network carry?

[Brett]

Allbritton owns NewsChannel 8.

However its exclusive to Comcast in areas Comcast services.

http://www.ncta.com/pdf_files/MB02-145_Reply.pdf

Comcast told Allbritton, they'll continue to carry it if its exclusive to them. Allbritton was able to maneuver to get Cox to carry it, since Cox services different areas. Cox and Allbritton had their dispute awhile back.

However, the overbuilders (RCN) and the satellite companies cannt carry it because its exclusive to Comcast.

So, Comcast is willing to spend $$ for the channel. Allbritton would rather viewer have Comcast, over Dish or DirecTV.

In Anne Arundel, Carroll and Howard Counties, WJLA is on Comcast, but its Baltimore DMA. So, CN8 is carried on CH.8, not NewsChannel8. Allbritton has no coverage for its cable service in Baltimore market.

(In Howard County, WBFF 45 (Fox) was moved to Ch.5, so viewers default tune to WBFF instead of WTTG 5 (now moved to Ch.75).

Comcast owns and operates CN8 here, and CN8 has been unprofitable. Comcast invests in newschannels directly or indirectly, as a selling point over satellite services.