LIN TV says it expects Time Warner Cable to pull the plug on its stations in 15 markets come October 2nd when the current retransmission agreement expires. LIN CEO Vince Sadusky says he is still hopeful of negotiating a new retrans pact, but that Time Warner cable has not responded to proposals from LIN.
“Most cable operators, like their satellite and telecommunications competitors, now understand and acknowledge that fair and equitable compensation is essential to ensure the viability of local television,” said Sadusky. “We look forward to negotiating with Time Warner so we may reach a deal with them before our contract expires,” he added.
LIN, which signed a new retrans deal with cabl3 giant Comcast in June, noted that it has successfully reached agreements with every major cable, satellite and telecommunications company, except for Time Warner.
If no agreement is reached by October 2nd, LIN stations will disappear from Time Warner Cable systems in Austin; Buffalo; Columbus; Dayton; Ft. Wayne; Green Bay; Indianapolis; Mobile; Springfield, MA; Terre Haute and Toledo.
In the event that LIN’s signals are pulled, the company noted that viewers may continue to watch their local news and top-rated programming through alternative means, including switching to a satellite service such as Dish Network or a telecommunications service such as Verizon’s FiOS TV.
LIN TV has formed a marketing and promotional partnership with Dish to encourage consumers to switch to Dish Network if a LIN TV local station signal has the potential to become unavailable or is removed from a cable system. For a limited time, all new subscribers to Dish Network in the Austin, Buffalo, Columbus, Dayton, Ft. Wayne, Green Bay, Indianapolis, Mobile, Terre Haute and Toledo markets will receive a $50 incentive to switch to Dish Network.
Verizon’s FiOS TV service also carries LIN TV stations in the Buffalo area and the Ft. Wayne market.
