Journal Broadcast Group and Time Warner Cable (finally) reach agreement

[EJM]

Unfortunately for Journal, though, the new agreement means some new channel positions. Also, Nashville's WTVF (which is now Journal-owned) hadn't been blacked out, but is included in the new agreement.

See the full press release, at http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=145779&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1856754&highlight=.

 

[FightingIrish]

TWC is doing a lot of shuck n' jive regarding the channel numbers. Recently, they gave the Journal channel allocations to other cable networks, so, in the case of Milwaukee, WTMJ was replaced on Ch. 4 by Game Show Network (WTMJ will now be on TWC Ch. 2 in Milwaukee and Ch. 83 in Racine and Kenosha). Now, I don't believe for a second that GSN paid ridiculous amounts of money to take Ch. 4. I think TWC is just grandstanding.

http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/TMJ4-returns-Time-Warner.html

 

[crainbebo]

GSN on cable channel 4?! I would expect TBS, CNN, TNT, ESPN to take 4. Especially in very small cable systems. Mainly, those days of cable channels on 2-13 are gone. But, it's just like, let's say, putting something like the Smithsonian Channel, or TVOne on 4. A weird setup.

-crainbebo

 

[gwise96557]

In Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley KMIR (NBC ) lost the Channel 6 position which they always had since they came on the air in 1968 (I believe) to the GSN, They are now on Channel 13 and their sister KPSE MY 13 was moved to channel 20. KMIR is still on the Digital (HD) channel 606. I wonder if they will have to change their branding from KMIR 6 News.

 

[nathannah]

In Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley KMIR (NBC ) lost the Channel 6 position which they always had since they came on the air in 1968 (I believe) to the GSN, They are now on Channel 13 and their sister KPSE MY 13 was moved to channel 20. KMIR is still on the Digital (HD) channel 606. I wonder if they will have to change their branding from KMIR 6 News.

KMIR is actually on Channel 36 over-the-air, and KPSE is really on Channel 50. Proving how boneheaded that 'branding by cable channel' can be if you lose that cable channel.

The real loser among all of Journal's stations is Green Bay's MyNetworkTV station, WACY, which gets Channel 83 in SD, and has three more months to wait to get their HD signal on 1013. Truly this has to be the most lopsided negotiation I've ever seen, and that analog channel 2 position is going to bring with it loads of interference for TV's with a terribly-done cable connection; Journal has to be thankful they kept their HD and subchannel positions.

The only good thing is I don't have to see the Journal Broadcasting CEO on TMJ every single day now. I swear he'll be lucky to have a job next time he tries to renew his contract.

 

[Sammi Brie]

The big ouchie: KMTV channel 99?

 

[nathannah]

The big ouchie: KMTV channel 99?

Not as bad as you'd think, as most TWC coverage in the Omaha market is in the Lincoln area and KOLN/KGIN is the main CBS affiliate there. Also, KMTV's news product is regarded as terrible (WOWT and KETV rule all in Omaha), so not really a big loss. But once analog and SD is gone, who knows what happens to KMTV there?

What got me though? All subchannel coverage is gone from TWC for Journal stations. Because of Journal's oddly cushy relationship with TWC before this, they refused to share any subchannels with any other providers in their markets except TWC, or priced the other providers out. Which means in Milwaukee both Local AccuWeather and Live Well become antenna-only, and in Green Bay Me-TV is only on Charter and smaller systems.

Something tells me AccuWeather, Live Well and Me aren't going to be pleased at all; none of those networks can really jump to another station rather easily in either market (not for now; WBAY could probably get Me-TV on their .2 in place of their much-loved automated weather station once Media General's Young purchase goes through), as Hearst is done with AccuWeather, WITI will probably become the This affiliate on DT3 on November 1 because of the Tribune sale, and with Nexstar and LIN in the Green Bay market for Me? Forget it.