[Darkman]

Contract dispute could mean loss of KGAN

Published: 10/26/2006 11:00 AM
By: Associated Press

DES MOINES, IA - A federal judge's refusal to intervene in a contract dispute between Mediacom Communications Corp. and Sinclair Broadcast Group means cable television viewers of 22 stations in 12 states could suddenly lose their favorite channels.

In Iowa, for example, Mediacom carries KDSM, a Fox TV affiliate in Des Moines owned by Sinclair. The station carries the popular "American Idol" and "The Simpsons."

If Sinclair carries through with threats to pull its 22 stations off Mediacom's cable system at midnight Nov. 30, cable viewers would be forced to go without the programs, buy a satellite dish system or try to get the signal from an antenna...

... ETC ...

Sinclair said that since satellite carriers such as DirecTV and The Dish Network were willing to pay for retransmission of its stations, Mediacom should as well. The satellite carriers compete with cable providers such as Mediacom.

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( The entire article is at the following source: http://www.gazetteonline.com/2006/10/26/Home/mediacomsinclairdispute.htm )

 

[Mark Holtz]

It's antics like these that we must protect the local broadcasters and prevent subscribers from adding in out of market stations to their packages. :bang