Retransmission consent deals with multiple MSOs in Sacramento are set to expire 12/31 and TV stations owned by Hearst Television are beginning to warn viewers in the market they could soon lose local programming. Hearst says it is attempting to negotiate increased retrans. fees for its KCRA-TV (NBC) and KQCA-TV (MyNetworkTV) with Charter, AT&T, SureWest, Wave Broadband, Cableview Communications, Caltel Cable, Coast Cablevision and others.
“If negotiations are not successfully concluded before December 31, 2011, you may not be able to view KCRA and KQCA on your local cable system, but you will be able to receive KCRA and KQCA over the air and from other cable and satellite providers,” Hearst wrote in a message to viewers posted on KCRA’s website.
With deals between many local broadcasters and pay TV distributors set to expire 12/31, retrans. consent battles should be popular over the next few weeks.
