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Comcast (Connecticut) Dropping WTNH/WCTX

R

RadioMan203

While running the channels at 10pm I saw a banner which I thought was a weather bulletin, but it was a banner informing Comcast subscribers that WTNH/WCTX will no longer be available on Comcast cable (I don't know if this is generic to all Comcast CT systems or any particular location). They even had in the banner to "Sign up for Dish (Network) and get $50."

I'm a little surprised Comcast can kick local channels off.

Then again, it's Com-crap-stik
 
Does this include Comcast of New Britain? I ask only because WTNH's website mentions a dispute that LIN Broadcasting is having with Charter Communications and not Comcast. ???
 
A similar thing happened in NYC a few years ago. Time Warner cable dropped WABC due to a dispute. But I think WABC was back on in just a few days.
 
Actually, the statement mentions Charter Communications and not Comcast. The whole thing is a bunch of posing and chest pounding.

The good folks at LIN Communications want to scare you (the subscriber) into applying pressure on Charter in order for them to capitulate to LIN's demands. Meanwhile, I am sure that Charter's website has their side of the story about how greedy LIN is being and how they are working oh-so-hard to keep your monthly bill low. Under the Cable Act of 1996, LIN can pull their channels off of a cable system if there's no retransmission agreement.

The question I'd have: does Charter in CT carry WABC? If so, then it would be kind of fun to see them give WTNH's management the proverbial finger. Not that I'm any fan of cable systems - but it would make for an interesting game of oneupmanship!
 
It says on the link from the WTNH website that they air New England Patroit games. Thats gotta be wrong as ABC doesn't air football anymore. Only CBS, NBC, and FOX.
 
BRNout said:
The question I'd have: does Charter in CT carry WABC?
Click to expand...

Most of Fairfield and New Haven counties (which get NYC channels) are Cablevision and Comcast systems. I believe Charter's footprint is pretty small in CT.
 
I saw some kind of crawl at the bottom of the screen mentioning Charter Cable, but nothing about Comcast.

My first thought, they must be having the same issues they had with Metrocast in Southeast CT last summer.

What's going on with LIN/WTNH/WCTX? Can they really hold cable companies hostage like this? I thought there was an FCC law guaranteeing their carriage on all in-market franchises? How can they pull their stations like this?

(Re: the Metrocast issue - if I'm not mistaken, LIN wanted increased revenue for allowing their stations on Metrocast's system! Of course, the cable company then passes these increased costs on to the consumer. Pretty rediculous seeing that these stations are all free with a little bit of effort and a nice antenna!)
 
oldschooltv said:
I saw some kind of crawl at the bottom of the screen mentioning Charter Cable, but nothing about Comcast.
Click to expand...

It very well could have been a mistake on my part, but I honestly thought it was Comcast.

Does Charter have any real market penetration other than in Fairfield County (Monroe - New town area)? It seems they are a relatively small player in the mix so I would just tell 'em to pound sand. I got DirecTV as Comcast in my area plain ol' sucks, but that's for a different thread.
 
MarcB said:
Charter is available in parts of Litchfield County too, I think. I remember being at a friends house in Newtown a couple of months ago and a crawl on the Weather Channel was listing channel changes and it had changes for Fairfield County and changes for Litchfield County.
Click to expand...

You're right.

The Newtown franchise covers portions of Fairfield, Litchfield, and New Haven counties: Bethlehem, Bridgewater, Brookfield, Kent, Monroe, Newtown, New Fairfield, New Milford, Roxbury, Sherman, Southbury, Trumbull, Washington, and Woodbury.

The Winsted franchise also covers portions of Litchfield county: Barkhamsted, Colebrook, Harwinton, New Hartford, Winchester, and Winsted.

Then there's the Willimantic franchise which covers portions of Tolland, Windham, and New London counties: Ashford, Brooklyn, Canterbury, Chaplin, Columbia, Coventry, Eastford, Hampton, Lebanon, Mansfield, Pompfret, Thompson, Willimantic, Willington, Windham, Woodstock.
 
I remember along while ago,in the early 1990's, I dont remember what channels were involved when this thing happend and it was resolved by the deadline.When TCI,Heritage,AT&T Cable what ever was the name at the time ironed out the deals on time.
 
oldschooltv said:
MarcB said:
Charter is available in parts of Litchfield County too, I think. I remember being at a friends house in Newtown a couple of months ago and a crawl on the Weather Channel was listing channel changes and it had changes for Fairfield County and changes for Litchfield County.
Click to expand...

You're right.

The Newtown franchise covers portions of Fairfield, Litchfield, and New Haven counties: Bethlehem, Bridgewater, Brookfield, Kent, Monroe, Newtown, New Fairfield, New Milford, Roxbury, Sherman, Southbury, Trumbull, Washington, and Woodbury.

The Winsted franchise also covers portions of Litchfield county: Barkhamsted, Colebrook, Harwinton, New Hartford, Winchester, and Winsted.

Then there's the Willimantic franchise which covers portions of Tolland, Windham, and New London counties: Ashford, Brooklyn, Canterbury, Chaplin, Columbia, Coventry, Eastford, Hampton, Lebanon, Mansfield, Pompfret, Thompson, Willimantic, Willington, Windham, Woodstock.
Click to expand...

So, basically, Newtown franchise viewers could still get ABC via WABC-7 and MNT via WWOR-9. Willimantic viewers could still get ABC via WCVB-5 but no MNT (hardly a big problem for them). Either way, both franchises are covered for ABC viewership - right?

Winsted viewers, on the other hand, are screwed. They don't get an alternate, do they?
 
BRNout said:
oldschooltv said:
MarcB said:
Charter is available in parts of Litchfield County too, I think. I remember being at a friends house in Newtown a couple of months ago and a crawl on the Weather Channel was listing channel changes and it had changes for Fairfield County and changes for Litchfield County.
Click to expand...

You're right.

The Newtown franchise covers portions of Fairfield, Litchfield, and New Haven counties: Bethlehem, Bridgewater, Brookfield, Kent, Monroe, Newtown, New Fairfield, New Milford, Roxbury, Sherman, Southbury, Trumbull, Washington, and Woodbury.

The Winsted franchise also covers portions of Litchfield county: Barkhamsted, Colebrook, Harwinton, New Hartford, Winchester, and Winsted.

Then there's the Willimantic franchise which covers portions of Tolland, Windham, and New London counties: Ashford, Brooklyn, Canterbury, Chaplin, Columbia, Coventry, Eastford, Hampton, Lebanon, Mansfield, Pompfret, Thompson, Willimantic, Willington, Windham, Woodstock.
Click to expand...

So, basically, Newtown franchise viewers could still get ABC via WABC-7 and MNT via WWOR-9. Willimantic viewers could still get ABC via WCVB-5 but no MNT (hardly a big problem for them). Either way, both franchises are covered for ABC viewership - right?

Winsted viewers, on the other hand, are screwed. They don't get an alternate, do they?
Click to expand...

On cable, no. I checked their website and there was no secondary ABC affiliate on their lineup.

However, there's WTEN (ABC) out of Albany, and their satellite station WCDC out of Adams, Mass. Those stations are definitely within reach.

I remember at one time, the Waterbury Republican-American used to list WRGB (CBS) out of Albany in the Sunday TV book. It leads me to believe that some of these Albany stations were offered on Litchfield County cable at one time.
 
On cable, no. I checked their website and there was no secondary ABC affiliate on their lineup.

However, there's WTEN (ABC) out of Albany, and their satellite station WCDC out of Adams, Mass. Those stations are definitely within reach.

I remember at one time, the Waterbury Republican-American used to list WRGB (CBS) out of Albany in the Sunday TV book. It leads me to believe that some of these Albany stations were offered on Litchfield County cable at one time.
Click to expand...

Yes but I'd be willing to bet IF WTNH gets pulled, they'll pull in ABC from either WGGB or WABC before WTEN.
 
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