Clouds on the horizon in central Ohio

[Raymie]

The contract between WTHR and WBNS (collectively stations of Dispatch Broadcast Group) and Dish expires at the end of the month. Dish and Dispatch have been arguing over HD carriage for three years. (thanks to a SatelliteGuys member for posting about this)

This gravely concerns me. It's two stations but it could be a total breakdown. Be scared...could Dispatch disappear into a foggy patch?

[scooper]

It's business as usual for Dish. At worst, you'll lose them for some period of time while the parties are negotiating, but you'll probably also get a credit while they are not available in your locals.

[Raymie]

I'm not affected (I'm in Arizona and not a Dish sub), but I know several people would want to hear about this.

[phrelin]

The Dispatch Broadcast Group includes the CBS affiliate WBNS in Columbus and the NBC affiliate WTHR in Indianapolis. The company is a division of The Dispatch Printing Company, owned by the Wolfe family since 1929, which owns the Columbus Dispatch newspaper. The Dispatch Broadcast Group also operates a bunch of radio stations.

This seems like a problem for all kinds of reasons, not the least of which are economic as newspapers and radio stations aren't doing well. And I thought how'd they get by the FCC cross-ownership rules? Wikipedia explains (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dispatch_Printing_Company) "the family was granted an exemption because their ownership pre-dated the regulations." Ok.

So, I guess since it is a family corporation local viewers won't know what their financials look like, but I have to guess that newspaper, radio, and TV ad revenue might be down a bit in Indiana and Ohio.

As I've repeatedly pointed out to anyone who'll listen, and most recently in my blog (http://thelostscripts.blogspot.com/2009/08/broadcast-station-retransmission-fees.html) on August 9: The problem is simple. Local broadcast TV stations owners want a significant source of non-advertising revenue as their commitment to producing local programming, including local news, ceases. The national broadcast network executives, whose programming is carried on those stations, also appear to want a significant source of non-advertising revenue. Both have determined that the source will be "retransmission fees."Although Charlie fights while getting crap from us, the reality is that local broadcast channels cost a fortune in satellite transponders and uplink facilities. The satellite carriers are doing this so that we can have the broadcast networks through a stupid system. The satellite carriers retransmit hundreds of local channels each of which are themselves retransmitting basically seven sets of programming - from ABC, CBS, Fox, MyNetworkTv, NBC, PBS, and The CW.

Advertising revenue is down. So now the locals want more money and the networks want more money to be retransmitted from us by Dish to them.

Just as there's a limit to what I'd pay for the premiums, there should be a limit to what I'd pay for local broadcast channels. I'm not quite sure what that is, but I suppose it's more than $5. What makes me mad is that these folks have a license that allows them to use the common airwaves to provide the signal for free. Why should people living in the DMA licensed to a particular station have to pay them for it?

If these negotiations result in signal loss, start by writing your Congressman and U.S. Senators first, then bitch at Charlie and the Wolfe family.

[Slamminc11]

I for one am glad the Dish fights the locals about re-trans. If more companies would do the same, then we really would see lower price increases (across the board).

[nmetro]

As fro former Central Ohioan I know full well about The Dispatch Printing Company, WBNS TV, WBNS-AM and WBNS-FM. The Wolfe family is very powerful, though their control over Columbus is much less than it was back in the 170s. At one time all the outlets metioned dominate Columbus. This, coupled with The Columbus Dispatch, dominated Columbus. Since then, the WBNS powerhouse is been slightly dimished by WSYX, WCMH and WTTE mainly their owners put money into the stations, which they did not do 20 or 30 years ago.

With that said, WBNS still has the tallest transmitter and powerful signal in central Ohio. It can reach over 75 miles in any direction from it central location. So, getting WBNS over the air is not a problem for anyone in central Ohio.

Begin political rant.

The money push put on by broadcasters like the Wolfe family for retransmission is just another greed tactic; like the rest of those who control the wealth in this country. In the case of television stations they are operated in the public trust over public own airwaves. But, the NAB and our so called representatives in Congress, have made it so that cable and satellite companies have to pay to retransmit free public signals. Then, if the cable or satellite company balks at unreasonable fees, they owners of said station deny retransmission and the channels is pulled. They people get mad at their carrier, unaware that it is the television station (which is broadcasting on public owned airwaves) is the cause.

Like health care, TARP, the stimulus bill, the "doughnut hole" in Medicare, insert other recent Congressional legislation here, etc., the country is run by special interest lobby groups who pay Congress to pass legislation that favors those interests. In this case it is the NAB. And the taxpayers? Well, if the banks did not "pay" Congress remove all safeguards in 1999 we would not be in the worse recession since the 1930s.

End political rant.

SO, what will happen. WBNS is pulled, people in Central Ohio will get mad, DISH will come up with some compromise and the channels will be restored. This scenarios will be played out again and again for every television station in the country. All this in the name of greed.

[l8er]

.... In the case of television stations they are operated in the public trust over public own airwaves. .... [broadcaster rant on]

Actually the FCC regulation says broadcast stations should serve the "public interest, convenience and necessity".

That does not mean operate non-profit, break even, or lose money. The majority of broadcast stations (AM/FM/TV) are operated by companies or corporations and are programmed and operated to make a profit for the owners, while serving the public interest, convenience and necessity. Broadcast stations are expensive to establish, operate and maintain and like any other company are expected to make money for their owners. Broadcast stations do not receive any government funding for their operation, with the exception of public television and public radio (non-profit), which may receive grants or other funding.

Yes, "the airwaves" are "public", but all broadcast stations pay thousands of dollars each year in "regulatory fees" for the privilege of using those public airwaves.

[broadcaster rant off]

[Paul Secic]

The contract between WTHR and WBNS (collectively stations of Dispatch Broadcast Group) and Dish expires at the end of the month. Dish and Dispatch have been arguing over HD carriage for three years. (thanks to a SatelliteGuys member for posting about this)

This gravely concerns me. It's two stations but it could be a total breakdown. Be scared...could Dispatch disappear into a foggy patch?

Stick an antenna up. I could do without locals but I can't due to my roommates. I don't watch local news becausse they repeat stories every half hour. Network shows are junk.